I think ready to hunt is knowing one's rifle, coupled with knowing one's skill, sufficiently to know that a given shot offers nearly 100% likelihood of successful POI within an acceptable miss. Might sound complicated but it really isn't. For Chasam it is threading a 1" needle at 85 yards, a testament to his skill and knowledge of his rifle/load. Being ready is as simple knowing your rifle/load and your own skill. There is always a range at whichone can rely on his rifle andhis skill. At this range and less, one is red-eye . In this sense, outdoorslover is ready. He knows what his rifle/load will do when he shoots it. He know when he can shoot and when he shouldn't, so he is ready. He has room for improvement and is improving, so someday he may thread a 1" cylinder to 85 yards, in any case, as long as he spends time at the range and knows his rifle and himself, he is ready to hunt.