#1 Question: I shoot all year long. I love 3D's. When deer season starts, I bow hunt. When deer season is over, I shoot 3D's.

#2 Question: No it is not required.

Now my two cents: a 6" group sucks. I'm assuming at 20 yards? Reason I say this is the judging yardage equation is taken out. There's more to bowhunting than shooting groups at KNOWN yardages. And an additional 5- 10 yards can be hard to see from an untrained eye. And that additional yardage will result in a wound or miss. JMHO