What's good enough to hunt?

[reagansquad]

What size groups at 20, 40 and 60 yards are good enough to hunt? If you maximum effective range is 60 yards, what kind of groups are you shooting at the range?

[Special T]

I would say that during practice you had better be able to hit a pie/paper plate at what ever range you think your maximum is... Better yet, put up a steel target with a 12 in hole cut in it... How far do you think your max range is then?

[Broken Arrow]

I think groups of anywhere from 4 to 6 animals at those distances are all good enough to hunt. Sorry, with all the joking going on today about where to hunt etc, really on the fence if this is a real question. If so, you really need to practice and would advise you probably dont try bow hunting for the games sake, until you understand a bit more about your own skill set and dont try to establish your your own moral code based on what others may or may not group. 

[h20hunter]

In a nutshell I guess I would say it simply depends. What is the distance you can most consistently hit a "kill zone" with your weapon in a real world hunting situation?

The range is different than the hunt. Guys shoot long range with their bows all the time at the range. However, when they they hunt some impose a 30 yard, 40 yard, whatever restriction. They know that with excitement, higher heart rate....it changes things.

[Special T]

And maybe i should ad that it is smaller for deer than elk so 12 in may be a little big for just hunting deer. 

[jackmaster]

here is a funny story, who knows the guy might even be a member on here, i knew this guy that could put a dozen arrows in a playing card out to 60 yds, one of the best bow shooters i have ever seen, but this poor fella couldnt even hit an elk at 20yds, and that aint nooo B.S. so i guess my advice would be what ever your comfortable with and your emotion during the shot is everything, if you cant control the addrenaline then it doesnt matter how well you shoot at the range.. good luck to ya

[sirfunkeybut]

And be sure and practice shooting in all kinds of scenarios, a deer or elk isn't going to stand there fully level to you and broadside for long periods of times.   

[Gringo31]

At 60 yards, I believe you better be putting broadheads in a group under 6 inches.  You need to be shooting tight enough that you are afraid to shoot multiple arrows in fear of taking out the ones you already shot.

[Button Nubbs]

Shooting a target at a flat range will tell you nothing about how far to shoot while hunting.

[Rainier10]

I would set that distance based on your own judgement after doing a walk through range and shooting targets uphill and downhill at 23 yards, 36yards and 44yards or whatever they are and shoot at each target at least 3 time to see how you are grouping, don't walk to 20,30,and 40 yards dead on and shoot that won't happen in the real world.  After you shoot those odd yards you will have a better idea of you effective range hopefully and you can decide yourself what to limit yourself to.

[buckfvr]

If you understand ethics and the nature of bow hunting, you will practice like a mad man out to 60 yards, and then place a conservative limit on yourself until you have  enough experience to make your own ethical decision based on your ability. 

[adamR]

In my opinion this is not a question you can ask a bunch of people, this is a question for yourself.  if you shoot all the time and feel comfortable at a range of x amount of yards then shoot that during hunting season. 

That being said, on my glendale buck I have the broadside vitals target showing, if i can't consistantly put my arrows in the heart every time I won't shoot from that range.  So I guess you would say I have to be able to shoot about a 4 inch group from 60 yards before I'm ready to hunt from 60 yards.

[bloodhound]

11 out of 12 in a playing card at 200 yards. if you cant do that you shouldnt be hunting with a bow.  ,im sure with that info out now there will be fewer people during the season for me to run into. by the way, i can do it blind folded!

[AKBowman]

here is a funny story, who knows the guy might even be a member on here, i knew this guy that could put a dozen arrows in a playing card out to 60 yds, one of the best bow shooters i have ever seen, but this poor fella couldnt even hit an elk at 20yds, and that aint nooo B.S. so i guess my advice would be what ever your comfortable with and your emotion during the shot is everything, if you cant control the addrenaline then it doesnt matter how well you shoot at the range.. good luck to ya

Well said, too many guys out there put too much emphasis on how tight their groups are. To me a tight group doesn't mean much when everything relies on 1 arrow. I worry about the first shot when I go to the range and the first shot of the group b/c that is what really matters when hunting.

[reagansquad]

I think groups of anywhere from 4 to 6 animals at those distances are all good enough to hunt. Sorry, with all the joking going on today about where to hunt etc, really on the fence if this is a real question. If so, you really need to practice and would advise you probably dont try bow hunting for the games sake, until you understand a bit more about your own skill set and dont try to establish your your own moral code based on what others may or may not group. 

Trying to learn to hunt. Can't just randomly know the answers without asking. 

[Rainier10]

If I modify your original question to "What kind of groups do you shoot out to 60 yards?" My answer would be I shoot 20-40 yards for practice all year long and don't ever aim at the same dot on the target twice in a round because I hit arrows, rip fletches and break nocks if I aim at the same target.  As hunting season gets closer I practice out to seventy yards and still don't shoot at the same target to save my equipment.  I also walk a 3d course and shoot at odd ranges, 27 yards, 33 yards and such. When I get to my hunting location the day before I shoot a few times and make sure nothing changed on my setup.  As long as I am still hitting in a 3" circle at all yardages I am ready to hunt.

[MIKEXRAY]

It's true an elks kill zone is about 12 inches around but I think that groups that size are to big to call that your effective range. I also think it should be about a six inch circle.   As discussed hunting shots are way different then flat range shooting.  Six inches.  Mike

[pips4bucks]

As mentioned before, it's really what you're comfortable with.  A good "rule" is figure out what you're comfortable at shooting cosistently, then take off at least 10 yards due to the nature of bowhunting.  Adrenaline can cloud judgement, unseen branches can jump in the way, animals can spook....
The goal should be to get as close as possible, not how far away can I shoot this animal. 

That said, I find it kind of irritating that arrow manufacturers make "hunting" arrows that have much lower straightness tolerances than target arrows.  That's basically saying you don't have to be as accurate for your hunting arrows.  Personally, I want my set up to be as accurate as possible, not just "good enough" out of respect for the animals we hunt.   

Oh yeah, a good practice is to jog between targets on your favorite archery range.  That'll get your heart rate up and partially simulate a hunting situation.  It'll really show you what your true range could be.

[lokidog]

Get a turkey target, kill shots to 60 yards, then you will be fine to 60, maybe.....   

[reagansquad]

Thanks guys. I'm practicing as much as I can and getting better every week. I think I'll be fine out to 40 yards this year. Maybe I can get more work next off season and push it out. Really really don't want to cripple some poor animal. 

[Special T]

http://www.washingtonarchery.org/about-us/clubs--shops/

Not a complete list but a good start. Find a club and shoot with some people.  Form, muscle memory and yardage estimation... those are the 3 things to make a great hunter... I shoot pretty good left to right just need to work on my yardage estimation...  I think 3D shooting is as close to real hunting as you can get, especially with out a range finder. 

[oneezreiter]

11 out of 12 in a playing card at 200 yards. if you cant do that you shouldnt be hunting with a bow.  ,im sure with that info out now there will be fewer people during the season for me to run into. by the way, i can do it blind folded!

Blind folded is easy, try it one handed.  Then you know your a man.

[runamuk]

11 out of 12 in a playing card at 200 yards. if you cant do that you shouldnt be hunting with a bow.  ,im sure with that info out now there will be fewer people during the season for me to run into. by the way, i can do it blind folded!

Blind folded is easy, try it one handed.  Then you know your a man.

no guys when you can do this then you are ready

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=re4Mff7FhNc&feature=related

[DOUBLELUNG]

First, shoot your broadhead setup, don't depend on your field points to tell you how to hunt.  I was more inclined to push my limits when I was a new archer.  I practice to proficiency at 60 yards, I hold my hunting shots to 40 yards.  This gives me a cushion for recovery if I wound an animal.  Not telling anyone they need to do this, this is what I have found works well for me with elk and open country mule deer.

[oneezreiter]

Run, I stand corrected, she is the man

[DOUBLELUNG]

[/quote]

no guys when you can do this then you are ready

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=re4Mff7FhNc&feature=related
[/quote]

I would love to do that Run, and I am ready - but she won't even return my calls.

[PolarBear]

I don't understand guys who feel that being able to hit a paper plate at 30-40-50 yards is "good enough".  For God's sake, that is around 8-9" groups.  If you can't cut that down to a third, you need to switch to rifle.  On that note, I know guys who feel that hitting that same paper plate (8-9" groups) at 200 yds is "good enough".  Come on folks, do some freakin' practice!

[buckfvr]

Thanks guys. I'm practicing as much as I can and getting better every week. I think I'll be fine out to 40 yards this year. Maybe I can get more work next off season and push it out. Really really don't want to cripple some poor animal. 

Knowing what an animal can and will do at 35 to 45 yards while the arrow is in the air, I look for much closer shots.  From a tree stand, 20 and under is where its at.....exciting, nerve racking, amazing.  I realize most guys still hunt or spot and stalk, but at that point....Id be working on my stealth skills to get as close as possible......I practice almost daily to 50 and 60 yards.....I still want 20.

[BULLBLASTER]

I don't understand guys who feel that being able to hit a paper plate at 30-40-50 yards is "good enough".  For God's sake, that is around 8-9" groups.  If you can't cut that down to a third, you need to switch to rifle.  On that note, I know guys who feel that hitting that same paper plate (8-9" groups) at 200 yds is "good enough".  Come on folks, do some freakin' practice!

  polarbear you are starting to scare me... we are agreeing on numerous things lately... 

[Huntboy]

Shooting a target at a flat range will tell you nothing about how far to shoot while hunting.

[Special T]

But shooting severl 3d's likely will.

[pianoman9701]

This sounds like an odd question - good enough? It sounds a bit like, "how little can I do to get by." I like the responses that reccomend a lot of 3-d shoots. I think someone should practice out to 60 or 70 yards and be able to kill zone consistently and then they'll feel incredibly confident for a 40 or 45 yard shot. 

I know on Western Extreme that he shoots 90 yards and never misses ( , yeah right). For my own personal ethics standard, regardless of my confidence on an 80 yard range (which is pretty tight), I won't ever take more than a 45 yard shot.

[Special T]

I would likely guess that unless you put a bunch of time in practicing then 30yrds is far enough...

[reagansquad]

This sounds like an odd question - good enough? It sounds a bit like, "how little can I do to get by." I like the responses that reccomend a lot of 3-d shoots. I think someone should practice out to 60 or 70 yards and be able to kill zone consistently and then they'll feel incredibly confident for a 40 or 45 yard shot. 

I know on Western Extreme that he shoots 90 yards and never misses ( , yeah right). For my own personal ethics standard, regardless of my confidence on an 80 yard range (which is pretty tight), I won't ever take more than a 45 yard shot.

I asked because it's my first hunting season w/ a bow and I want to make sure I don't do something stupid out of ignorance. 

[PolarBear]

I don't understand guys who feel that being able to hit a paper plate at 30-40-50 yards is "good enough".  For God's sake, that is around 8-9" groups.  If you can't cut that down to a third, you need to switch to rifle.  On that note, I know guys who feel that hitting that same paper plate (8-9" groups) at 200 yds is "good enough".  Come on folks, do some freakin' practice!

  polarbear you are starting to scare me... we are agreeing on numerous things lately... 

Actually, you would be surprised on how much we do agree on, it is the stupid stuff that doesn't matter get's in the way.   

[RadSav]

Don't forget to practice stalking!  I used to tie my dog up in different areas of our property and practice stalking him.  Dogs are the hardest thing I have ever tried to stalk up to.  If you can consistently stalk to within 30 yards of your dog you won't have to worry too much about how far you can shoot.

The best bowhunter I know is Anthony "Del" DelMastro. http://www.osegsportsmens.com/html/del_delmastro.html
Del has hunted all over the world and seems to always come home with something that blows your mind it's so huge.  A few years ago he quietly confided in me that he had taken a long shot to tag a big mule deer.  "I drew back about three times and just couldn't get myself to take the shot", he said.  "It was so far out of my comfort zone I was sweating and shaking.  I finally said to myself, 'Del if you are ever going to kill this buck you had better shoot him right now!'  So scared as heck I drew and put one right through his heart.  Man!  I don't think I have ever been that nervous about a shot in my whole life."  If I remember correctly the shot was 42 yards.

Point is you don't have to be a world class shooter if you are great at getting close!  In Del's case he is both!  Which does make bowhunting a whole lot easier.

[pianoman9701]

This sounds like an odd question - good enough? It sounds a bit like, "how little can I do to get by." I like the responses that reccomend a lot of 3-d shoots. I think someone should practice out to 60 or 70 yards and be able to kill zone consistently and then they'll feel incredibly confident for a 40 or 45 yard shot. 

I know on Western Extreme that he shoots 90 yards and never misses ( , yeah right). For my own personal ethics standard, regardless of my confidence on an 80 yard range (which is pretty tight), I won't ever take more than a 45 yard shot.

I asked because it's my first hunting season w/ a bow and I want to make sure I don't do something stupid out of ignorance. 

Well, it was a great question to ask and always sparks a lively conversation. It's so cool you chose a bow. You're going to be addicted if you aren't already

[reagansquad]

Good news guys. I went to the Kenmore walkthrough range and was shooting great. Definitely going to do that as much as possible. Seemed like my biggest issue was estimating the range on my first shot. 2nd shot would be a good one just about every time. The short, 1st pin shorts were dead on. Gotta work on my range estimation.

[Special T]

Don't forget Silver arrow Up in Mt Vernon! open 7 days a week! www.silverarrowbowmen.com/ Also on face book!