How close to your 'spot' should you be at any given distance to consider yourself good enough to hunt game. Sometimes I'm less than an inch, other times I fall apart and I'm six inches or more away. Also if there is anyone in the Hampton Roads, VA area would they let me know. The only other archers I can find shoot training wheels or cross bows. Thanks.

When I was a kid, my Dad said I could shoot at any deer, at any distance; as long as I could prove to him I could hit a paper plate with 6 arrows at that distance. Needless to say I was limited to mostly 12 or 15 yard shots.

(EDIT:I think those were standard 6" Safeway/Homeland paper plates)

I still abide by this rule 35 years later.

OkKeith

That's a good rule there OkKeith.  

I second that; that's a good rule OkKeith

An outstanding rule to go by. I"ll keep this in mind.

I agree, if you can hit a paper plate, you can probably hit in the kill zone of an avarage sized deer.

9" paper plate is the kill zone on a deer. Our local in town hunt has a range test - 3 out of 5 in the 9" target at 20 yards to qualify. Believe it or not, some wheelies have trouble with this.

My set range varies but basically is whatever range I am confident at.

depends on what you are hunting.

Elk and moose are not the same target as deer or pigs.  Squirrels and bunnies are on the other end of the scale.

Depends on how the game effects you.  If you have trouble breathing when a deer approaches... if you have trouble putting the arrow on the string when a bugling elk approaches, that 6" rule may be out the window.

Depends on the weather, and if you are shooting from above but practiced on the level.

Depends upon how strong the wind is blowing and if the buck is world class or simply a spike.

I guess what I am trying to say is......it depends.
ChuckC

hit within 3" of the spot with first arrow every time you go out and shoot. Yardage you can do this will determine how far your longest shot will be. just how I do it.