What is acceptable accuracy?

[moog5050]

36 minutes ago, Biz-R-OWorld said:

Back to the real thread of bow hunting. I would say whatever distance you can keep groups within 4-5" groups, whether that's 10 yards or 100yards.

However, I found this interesting- certain parks in Westchester (3S) allow bowhunting if you pass a "profiency test'. That test is defined as follows:

applicants must hit a 9-inch target at 25 yards in three out of five tries.

I've only been shooting a compound for about a month, but have never been off by 9" on a shot. If hitting a 9" target 3/5 tries is all you need, I would think I could get myself out to 60+ yards in a week or two.

I think those tests were formulated when most shot traditional bows.  Different ballgame than a compound.  Not that its an excuse not to be proficient.

Edited September 13, 2017 by moog5050

[chas0218]

Bow 2" group at 60 is my best so far this year. I haven't got in as much practice as I would like.

Rifle less than 1" at 100 yards because I know the gun can do it I just need to do my part.

Shotgun 3" at 100 yards.

ML not sure haven't tried to group it.

[BizCT]

I think those tests were formulated when most shot traditional bows.  Different ballgame than a compound.  Not that its an excuse not to be proficient.

Yea, must be something because 3/5 in 9" at 25yds seems pretty weak


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[moog5050]

7 minutes ago, Biz-R-OWorld said:

 

 

Yea, must be something because 3/5 in 9" at 25yds seems pretty weak


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Try it with a recurve/longbow with no sights.  Maybe you are a natural but I have seen more people miss a 2'x2' target at 10yds when they start.  Just requires lots of practice.  You would hate it!

[Core]

16 hours ago, stubby68 said:

For me it is one inch at 250 yards. I do not think there is a wrong answer though. What ever someone is comfortable with and gets the job done for them. When I started hunting inside 6 inches at 109 yards was good.

Nobody can consistently group 1 inch at 250 yards. I can do 3" at 100 yards consistently, but I don't consider myself that great.

Wait, unless you're talking about rifle and not bow? Yeah, 1 inch at 250 offhand is minimum IMO. If you can't get sub MOA groups off hand, with iron sights, you have no business hunting.

[chas0218]

6 hours ago, WNYBuckHunter said:

If I can't keep a softball size group or less at a given distance, I'm not even considering shooting that far. At this point, my max hunting range is @ 45 to 50 in perfect conditions shooting at a calm feeding deer. I will target shoot at 60, but that is just to make shorter shots easier. Last year I killed my buck at 40 yards in the woods, and it felt like a hell of a poke even though I knew the lane was completely clear, I had practiced that distance a ton and the deer was at a dead stop completely broadside. I hit that deer about an inch from where I wanted. 

I shot a deer at 50 in an open field when he was after a hot doe the arrow seemed like it took an eternity to get there. The doe jumped the string but the buck just stood there like "what's your problem?".

[ATbuckhunter]

4 minutes ago, Core said:

Nobody can consistently group 1 inch at 250 yards. I can do 3" at 100 yards consistently, but I don't consider myself that great.

Wait, unless you're talking about rifle and not bow? Yeah, 1 inch at 250 offhand is minimum IMO. If you can't get sub MOA groups off hand, with iron sights, you have no business hunting.

There are people that can do better than 1 inch groups at more than double that range. Its entirely possible. The Average shooter probably won't be able to, but some can. 

[Core]

47 minutes ago, Biz-R-OWorld said:

Back to the real thread of bow hunting. I would say whatever distance you can keep groups within 4-5" groups, whether that's 10 yards or 100yards.

However, I found this interesting- certain parks in Westchester (3S) allow bowhunting if you pass a "profiency test'. That test is defined as follows:

applicants must hit a 9-inch target at 25 yards in three out of five tries.

I've only been shooting a compound for about a month, but have never been off by 9" on a shot. If hitting a 9" target 3/5 tries is all you need, I would think I could get myself out to 60+ yards in a week or two.

Remember, though, this actually requests that you are not off by more than 4.5". I can tell you I've seen a lot of bow hunters at my range who would fail that test. 

[BizCT]

7 minutes ago, moog5050 said:

Try it with a recurve/longbow with no sights.  Maybe you are a natural but I have seen more people miss a 2'x2' target at 10yds when they start.  Just requires lots of practice.  You would hate it!

No, I meant weak for a compound.

[Core]

6 minutes ago, ATbuckhunter said:

There are people that can do better than 1 inch groups at more than double that range. Its entirely possible. The Average shooter probably won't be able to, but some can. 

But with a bow?

[BizCT]

5 minutes ago, Core said:

Remember, though, this actually requests that you are not off by more than 4.5". I can tell you I've seen a lot of bow hunters at my range who would fail that test. 

That's scary. If someone can't hit a big 9" target 60% (3/5) of the time from 25yds with a compound, then they shouldn't be hunting.

[moog5050]

5 minutes ago, Core said:

But with a bow?

I caught the sarcasm Core.  It was funny.  And offhand, I usually am good for 1" groups at 250yds with iron sites as far as you know.

[ATbuckhunter]

6 minutes ago, Core said:

But with a bow?

Don't believe he was talking about bow though. I would also find that hard to believe if that was the case, but i don't think it was.

[Core]

13 minutes ago, Biz-R-OWorld said:

That's scary. If someone can't hit a big 9" target 60% (3/5) of the time from 25yds with a compound, then they shouldn't be hunting.

Let's just say I've seen plenty of people shooting at the 20 and their group is so huge I don't know exactly what point on the 20 they are even aiming for. Just seems center mass, with groups easily a foot in size. 

[steve863]

12 minutes ago, ATbuckhunter said:

There are people that can do better than 1 inch groups at more than double that range. Its entirely possible. The Average shooter probably won't be able to, but some can. 

I honestly don't know how many shooters or rifles are capable of 1 inch groups at 500 yards?  I'm sure even snipers with top notch equipment couldn't do this consistently.  At those distances groups will start opening up.  Lots of wind doping at those type of ranges also.  I love watching those 1000 yard kills on youtube.  What they don't show you is all the misses they probably had before they actually connected on something.  Even snipers can take a crapload of shots before they actually connect. 

[ATbuckhunter]

4 minutes ago, steve863 said:

I honestly don't know how many shooters or rifles are capable of 1 inch groups at 500 yards?  I'm sure even snipers with top notch equipment couldn't do this consistently.  At those distances groups will start opening up.  Lots of wind doping at those type of ranges also.  I love watching those 1000 yard kills on youtube.  What they don't show you is all the misses they probably had before they actually connected on something.  Even snipers can take a crapload of shots before they actually connect. 

I would bet very, very few

[Doc]

57 minutes ago, Core said:

Let's just say I've seen plenty of people shooting at the 20 and their group is so huge I don't know exactly what point on the 20 they are even aiming for. Just seems center mass, with groups easily a foot in size. 

And then there was Stacey Groscup that would shoot hand-thrown aspirins and life savers out of the air with recurve, longbow and compound. I watched him do it! Huge range of skills out there.

[Core]

2 hours ago, Doc said:

And then there was Stacey Groscup that would shoot hand-thrown aspirins and life savers out of the air with recurve, longbow and compound. I watched him do it! Huge range of skills out there.

And there's Tim Wells who's videos have to be seen to be believed.

[Lawdwaz]

3 hours ago, chas0218 said:

I shot a deer at 50 in an open field when he was after a hot doe the arrow seemed like it took an eternity to get there. The doe jumped the string but the buck just stood there like "what's your problem?".

And if the doe didn't jump the string but the buck did?

I bet we wouldn't be reading about it...............

[growalot]

Did anyone click that link...I'm curious as to what you thought of it...

[BizCT]

And if the doe didn't jump the string but the buck did?
I bet we wouldn't be reading about it...............

50 is a chip shot out west. Do they have to even worry about string jumping out there or is too far for the deer to notice? Maybe the strong winds deflect the sound? I've seen tons of videos of 60-100yd shots where the animals just stands there while the arrow lobs right into the killzone


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[Pygmy]

The OP was talking about bow shooting, and since I no longer bow hunt I have hesitated to comment..

However, since rifle grouping has been discussed also, I have to put in my 2 cents, as little as it is worth...

I would be willing to bet that that  there are damn few members of this forum that could consistently shoot a 3 or 5 shot  group into one inch at 250 yards with normal hunting ( not benchrest gear)  rifles and scopes...

I ain't from Missouri, but I would have to say  " Show Me".......

[Buckmaster7600]

And if the doe didn't jump the string but the buck did?
I bet we wouldn't be reading about it...............

I have found that deer tend to jump string more for the 25-35yd shots than further. I haven't shot enough deer at beyond 45 to have a very accurate assessment but the few I have shot at that distance none have jumped string yet.


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[Lawdwaz]

8 minutes ago, Buckmaster7600 said:

 

I have found that deer tend to jump string more for the 25-35yd shots than further. I haven't shot enough deer at beyond 45 to have a very accurate assessment but the few I have shot at that distance none have jumped string yet.


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Heck all they have to do is take a step.........

[Lawdwaz]

21 minutes ago, Biz-R-OWorld said:

 

 Maybe the strong winds deflect the sound?


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HA..........perfect; plenty of wind to muffle the shot. 

Think that'll effect the mystical flight of the arrow?  (Thanks uncle Ted)