Accuracy standard before taking to the woods?
 

I'm new to bowhunting and I just want to know what is YOUR standard before you take to the woods in the hopes of scoring a kill? I've only been practicing a few days now and now I'm wondering just exactly I should be trying to accomplish as far as accuracy is concerned. At 12 yards, inside the house at ground level, I can move my hits to all 5 dots on the block target at will. I havn't tried any 20,30 or 40 yard shots yet, but I'm just wondering what type of accuracy I should be striving for. It wouldn't be fair to the deer if I didn't make a killing shot and I'd be pissed if I missed as well. Your thoughts please.........:)

RE: Accuracy standard before taking to the woods?
 

I would say 20 yds a 3 inch group would be pretty good. Sounds like you could probably handel that. Put the target outside and give it a try.

RE: Accuracy standard before taking to the woods?
 

Well....for me it's the ability to put 3 arrows in a group
of no more than 6" at 45 yards. Of course this is in the vital area,
not the gut! For me aiming low cuz it's usually farther than I guess.
Some guys can nail tacks and ruin arrows/nocks, but I just dont get
out to the range enough. I'm going to make it a point to shoot more this next year and
get that group tighter.

RE: Accuracy standard before taking to the woods?
 

Keeping all your shots in a 4" circle at your maximum distance under simulated hunting conditions. (hunting clothes, with broadheads and in the positions you will shoot from) Even though I practice out to 50 yds I won't shoot past 30.

RE: Accuracy standard before taking to the woods?
 

It just depends on you. I went out many times w/ my bow just to geta feel for the tree stand and the environment. I also practiced shooting from my stand at a 3-D target. I think it helped me alot. Your confidence is the most important thing. When you feel confident, go for it. Bowhunting is going to change your life forever.

RE: Accuracy standard before taking to the woods?
 

The reason I wanted to get into bowhunting in the first place was because of the longer season, buck or doe is legal and the weather is more comfortable so I don't have to worry about freezing my hands and feet in the stand. I will admit that I should have done this a long time ago, but then again I should have moved out of CA a long time ago also:eek:. The only thing that concerns me is that deer shot with an arrow always run a distance before they drop. That is why I'm so concerned with the accuracy thing. I don't want them running THAT far. I want that broadhead to cut both lungs up.

RE: Accuracy standard before taking to the woods?
 

Personally, I want all my arrows in a 3" group at 30 yards. That's my max shooting range. I practice farther, but this is the standard I hold to.

RE: Accuracy standard before taking to the woods?
 

I started bowhunting when I was about 13. My dad told me I wasnt allowed to actually hunt until I could put all 6 practice arrows in a 3 inch group from 10, 20, and 30 yards. Needless to say after some time I needed new nocks every other week. I was determined to go hunting with a bow.

RE: Accuracy standard before taking to the woods?
 

I'd have to agree with some of the others on this forum. I wouldn't go out until you are confident in your shots. This is only my second year of bow hunting. I practiced for about 3-4 months before I went out my first year. I agree with needing to have a min. of 3" groupings at 20-30 yards, perferably further. After practicing a lot both from the ground and from a tree stand, I can group my shots at 20 yards in the size of about a half dollar piece and not much different at 30 yards. At 45 yards they are all within about a 4-5" circle (all in the kill zone), but I probably wouldn't take a shot at 45 yards unless all the conditions were just perfect and I was sure of the distance and everything. I like to get them in 30 yards or closer. I've only killed one deer so far with a bow and he was about 20 yard mark. He only ran 30 yards from the place I shot him and I watched him go down. There's nothing like bow hunting and it's a great feeling to get your first deer with a bow. Good luck and practice, practice, practice!

RE: Accuracy standard before taking to the woods?
 

I don't like to shoot at the same bullseye because I've destroyed several arrows like that. So, I make sure I can hit 3" circles / squares consistently out to about 35 yds. At 40 yds I shoot at a deer sized paper target with styrofoam backing and ensure I can consistently hit vitals.

RE: Accuracy standard before taking to the woods?
 

I shoot at #D targets and i like to make a killing shot at least 5 times in a row from various ranges. I dont think it is realisic to sit there at a perfectly marked range and shoot groups, it is good practice but it is differrnt then hunting i think. personally i dont shoot farther than 30 yards but if i had more time to practice i would increase my range i think.

RE: Accuracy standard before taking to the woods?
 

i practice at fourty yards just so 20/30 yard shots come easier. my personal standard is to hit a pie plate at 30 yards. anything over thirty yards is letgo unless it feel i can pull it off, but everything has to be perfect and i got to be feeling it so to speak.

RE: Accuracy standard before taking to the woods?
 

I have practiced enough to be confident out to 40 yds. I would not
risk a shot that I did not feel confident. I would suggest in the off
season to shoot in some 3D ranges or tounaments. You will not
believe how much this will help your shooting and yardage estimates.

RE: Accuracy standard before taking to the woods?
 

Don't go worrying about some mythical standard you should adhere to before going hunting. There is a distance you are comfortable with, right now. That is the distance where you are absolutely confident you can hit where you aim. Whether that's 5 yards or 30 yards, keep your shots within your confidence zone and go hunting.

Then, during the off season, shoot 3D's and practice. There is always room for improvement, and improvement doesn't come when the bow is gathering dust and cobwebs in the back of the closet.

RE: Accuracy standard before taking to the woods?
 

That's a wonderful reply....and good advice.

I practice to 40 yds......and I ALWAYS practice with broadheads during hunting season. I put the little 1" "sale" sticker dots on my layered target....and shoot at the different dots (So as not to destroy arrows/broadheads).

If you guys are shooting tight groups....how are you not KILLING arrows/broadheads??? Are you doing this with field points? I had my bow ABSOLUTELY dialed-in at one point this Fall. I was ABSOLUTELY amazed at how in-tune my bow was (I even made a post here about comparing it with a fine instrument being in tune). THEN.....I shot a broadhead. Different story....by a few inches at 30 yds.

Jeff

RE: Accuracy standard before taking to the woods?
 

I use the 1" bullseye stickers and it improved my accuracy a lot. It's like Mel Gibson said in The Patriot, "aim small, miss small."

As far as what standard, like Arthur said, shoot at a distance you are comfortable with. If you are confident you can hit the vitals at that distance, then make that your max. With practice that distance will increase. You should simulate real hunting situations when you make this decisions; clothing, stand height, broadheads, 3D target, etc...

RE: Accuracy standard before taking to the woods?
 

He made a great point here......."simulated hunting conditions. (hunting clothes, with broadheads and in the positions you will shoot from)"

You MUST practice in the gear you'll wear in the field. Shooting with a tee-shirt on is ALOT different than having a heavy winter coat on.

RE: Accuracy standard before taking to the woods?
 

4 inch groups does it for me, whether its at 15 or 50 yards. i just dont exeed my 4 inch group distance in the stand.now i can consistently shoot 4 inch groups at 40 yards, though i have yet to shoot at a deer that far. 30-35 yards is about it for me.