i usually try to have a smaller grouping if i can, each animal has different size vitals, so the smaller the better i feel

Lol heck give it a try see what happens. Talk about practicing from an elevated postition. shoot long enough from there and 18 feet up will seem like nothing.

Some folks kinda skirted the issue, which I thought was a good one. What is an acceptable group at 40 yards to allow you to think about taking a shot at 40 yards in a hunting situation? Ya gotta get proficient and then shoot that one arrow. Many times before I leave for an afternoon hunt I'll shoot 5, 10 twenty arrows so two hours later my "first arrow" isn't my first. I've shot one or two or three arrows a morning before leaving for work as well and it does allow for better concentration and for making every shot count, BUT I've got thousands of arrows shot going into that session of 1, 2 or three arrows. I've looked at thousands of groups at 20,25, and thirty yards over the years. If anyone thinks they made that one shot count without the benifit of good groups they've been hunting too long to remember when they first started out and couldn't shoot one arrow close enough to another to even call thier six shots a group. Repitition of form, muscle memory, etc. etc. Without a bunch of groups behind you will be less likely to make that one shot count!
When I was shooting at 40 yards I always tried to be within three inches of center. I could have pulled it in plenty tighter, but never practiced much at that range and my hunting situations don't lend themselves to farther shots. Perhaps a new bumber sticker is in order: Archery Hunting- it's a group thing!! Enjoy, Juniorpc.

I think that it should be respective of the distance you plan on shooting the animal and relative to the size of the animals vitals. For example, I believe a 3-4 inch grouping at 20 yards is acceptable for whitetail deer in my area.

Shoot the absolue best you can, realize what shots you can and cannot make and go hunting.

Thank you, juniorpc ,for your insight. This was the the kind of information I was searching for when I posted this topic. I want to practice at different ranges to become proficient. Was just wanting to know what most people felt was an acceptable group at those ranges. Really wasn't looking for all the preaching and snide comments in the above posts. Just want to learn and be an ethical steward of the wildlife.

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ohiogleanerman, 5 inches at 40 yards is not too bad. Tighten it up some and you'll be even better at 30 and 20, which is where 99% of your shots will appear.