Acceptable hunting accuracy?
 

I am new to bowhunting and have this question: how accurate does one need to be?
I have heard that..."Ïf you can hit a 5" circle at 20 yards then you are ok."
This seems like CRAP accuracy to me. In my gun hunting days I worshiped sub MOA at 100+ yards, i.e. exteme accuracy for sub100yard shots. Am I trying for too much accuracy?
I can hang around 3" groups at 20yards and around 4" at 30yards (occasional flyer ;) but I am considering dumping my whisker buiscuits for hopefully more accuracy...Am I being too anal?

THANKS in advance

RE: Acceptable hunting accuracy?
 

Oh yeah, the other reason for the question is that I'm starting to practice with a lighter weight bow (Renegade Tominator2 vs. Bowtech Patriot)that is opening up my groups about and inch. I like the lighter bow better to hunt with but is convenience worth the drop in accuracy???

RE: Acceptable hunting accuracy?
 

I dont think you are being to anal when it comes to accuracy.
I try to maintain groups of 1 inch per 10 yards.
Plus I dont think the convience of a lighter bow to be worth the loss of accuracy.
I also shoot the Patriot and yes it is a little on the heavy side but thats one of the reasons I like it so much.

We owe it to the animals we are hunting to be the best shot we can be and to make a clean and ethical shot.

RE: Acceptable hunting accuracy?
 

I've always heard that one should be able to hit a pie plate at varius hunting distances. A pie plate is what, about 8" across? Seems somewhat reasonable since a pie plate would be about the size of the broadside killzone of a deer correct? Obviously we should strive for better groupings than pie plate sized ones. I'm sure the vast majority of bowhunters will work towards hitting much smaller areas.

-Mike

RE: Acceptable hunting accuracy?
 

I'd say wherever you can group 3" or less ,and then limmit your yardage according to your downrange ke .A lightweight arrow out of a light draw weight bow will not be worth much past 30 yards ,and if you are shooting that tpye equipment it should be with a sharp 2 blade broadhead not last years 4 blade muzzy .

If information provided by the members of this board have helped you please let us know .

RE: Acceptable hunting accuracy?
 

You should see what range will allow you to consistently place all of your arrows in the kill zone. Practice out to that range and beyond. HOWEVER, when you are hunting, many other factors can come into play (nerves, moving deer, concern that you'll be discovered by the deer to name a few) and you should consider your maximum kill range to be significantly <u>less</u> than your practice limits.

Your concern for accuracy is commendable. I hope others strive for the same goals.

RE: Acceptable hunting accuracy?
 

JWhite, I think you've got the right idea about your group size. You'll find most of the guys here are just as, if not more, anal than you when it comes to this. My feeling on it is this; if I am shooting two inch groups at 20 yards and the vitals of a deer are 8 inches in diameter I'm in good shape. Since my groups are 2 inches, if I slip up and miss my mark by 2 inches I'm still in the kill zone easily. If my groups are 5 inches and I slip up by 2 inches where does that put me? A missed or worse, wounded deer.

RE: Acceptable hunting accuracy?
 

Hey JWhite its only normal to be anal when it comes to tight groups. The tighter your groups the more confidence you will have in your equipment. If you can do anything more to tighten up your groups than I would highly reccomend it. Practicing, practicing and more practice this will always tighten up your groups as well.

RE: Acceptable hunting accuracy?
 

A lighter bow is just as accurate, You just need to get used to it. Your body/mind is used to the bow you've been shooting. You can never be too anal about accuracy.IMO <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

RE: Acceptable hunting accuracy?
 

My perception is to be as accurate as possible. I like to stack arrows. Then if you are a little off, you are still in good shape. I have also heard hitting a pie plate is the preferred accuracy.

A bad day of hunting beats a good day of work!

RE: Acceptable hunting accuracy?
 

Minute of pie plate is great, as long as the deer doesn't move, or you don't hit a limb, etc. Then your shot at the edge of the pie plate could become a gut shot or worse.

I want my arrow to hit where my pin is in a hunting situation. Practice until you are as accurate as possible at a given distance, then limit your shots to that distance and below.

I had a one pin set up that allowed me a 6&quot; kill zone, 3&quot; up and 3&quot; down, out to about 35 yards. I've since gone to a pendulum, as it will put my arrow where the pin is, shrinking my kill zone and increasing my margin for arrow should a variable change. See the spot, hit the spot, is what I strive for.

RE: Acceptable hunting accuracy?
 

ijimmy,

I am shooting fairly light arrows with 100gr heads at 235fps. (61# draw wt)
What two blade are you referring too?

RE: Acceptable hunting accuracy?
 

You should go into the woods with the confidence of knowing your going to hit where you aim and knowing your limitations.

BTW , the whisker biscuit is no less accurate than any other rest that I've found. In regards to accuracy , very rarely is poor accuracy the fault of the equipment when you have a properly tuned bow.

&quot;Nocked,cocked & ready to rock&quot;

RE: Acceptable hunting accuracy?
 

JWhite magnus ,ziwicky , or simmons. Some like steel fource but they did not do as well in 5shoots test he he knows broadheads better than most . I used magnus 100 grain last year and took 2 deer very clean and fast. It was the first year I did not have to track them .I watched both deer fall from my stand .

If information provided by the members of this board have helped you please let us know .

RE: Acceptable hunting accuracy?
 

Just a tip if you don't allready know this.
I mark my muzzy 100 tipped arrows on the fletching with a small marker. I put a 1 and a 1.5 on my arrows depending on the consistancy of their accuracy. The arrows that continually hit dead on get a 1 and if there within 1.5&quot; off at 20yds they get a 1.5 anything less than that- the broadhead comes off the arrow and it does not enter my quiver. I have used this system for years and it is a confidence booster when I look at my bow with an arrow knocked on it with a 1 designation. This year I have two 1+ arrows that will be my first to get used, they just seemed to do no wrong.
Good luck to ya!!

RE: Acceptable hunting accuracy?
 

I shoot one of the lighter bows ( Parker UL31 )with the 57lb draw weight with 344 grain arrows with the 4 blade steelforce broadheads and the 3 blade Satelite straight razor broadheads and( Forge Lighting Strike ) it works great out to 40 yards, I get 2-3 inch groups at 40 yards,and a few robin hoods at 30 and 20 yards, I have also taken deer with other less poundage setups , so much for the lighter set up not being worth much :)I also like DaveC mark my arrows on the fletching according to grain weight and straightness from the arrow spinner and on best true flight. I also find it gives me that added little boost when I look at the arrow that I have built so much confidence in when Im ready to harvest the deer or on the 3D range. I feel I owe the deer to be the most accurate I can be.

RE: Acceptable hunting accuracy?
 

I find that you also need to add a small fudge factor for shooting at live game of at least 50%. So if you're shooting 5&quot; groups at 20 yards you can realistically expect something in the neighborhood of 7.5&quot; in real life. In my opinion you should also get a 3D deer target so you are actually shooting at something that doesn't have a bullseye on it. Call me anal but it is the small things that make the difference in being successful archery hunting. Everyone else has also passed on some good ideas. One more might be to take a few shots from your tree stand at a 3d deer target if possible, and remember the distance to the deer from your stand is from the base of tree to the deer not your line of sight.