Softball size group up to 20 yards. Just enough to be hunting effective!

Accuracy is relative to the target size. The precision needed for a squirrel is an awful lot different than that for a deer. With that in mind I view accuracy in terms of being CONSISTENTLY tight enough for ethical shots on game. Good food for the table is my measure of accuracy. Last night I prepped and individually vacuum packed 174 venison backstrap filet mignons. My setup in my hands was accurate enough for deer at least...

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Here's my .02: My personal big game test is to be 90% accurate at a given distance before I shoot at an animal from that distance. Practice is 1 shot at a time for a 10 shot round, never shooting from the same place twice in a row. I have to hit within 4 1/2" of the "spot" that I'm aiming for (9" vitals). I write every round down with notes on what was going on that day, etc so I don't 1. Get discouraged by 1 bad round or 2. Get over confident by 1 stellar round.

You can see that I was not shooting well initially but I changed bows and my form on June 9 and... a dramatic improvement. At the 200 shot mark, I had 3 misses at 30 yards (3/40 shots at 30 is 92.5% accuracy) and 2 misses at 25 yards (95% accuracy) with closer ranges being 100%. The last couple rounds have been worse but my arms have been toast from working in 100+ temps so I'm blaming that. I even had a 20 yd miss in that heat! Using this charting I am confident out to 30 on big game. I practice out to 40 yards but I'm only shooting 66% at 40 so 30 is my max on 1st shots (a follow-up shot at 40 is ethical IMO).

Man Doug,  now that's what I'd call "methodical"!
You aren't messing around,  pretty cool approach 

Quote from: GDPolk on July 31, 2022, 11:15:14 AM
Accuracy is relative to the target size. The precision needed for a squirrel is an awful lot different than that for a deer. With that in mind I view accuracy in terms of being CONSISTENTLY tight enough for ethical shots on game. Good food for the table is my measure of accuracy. Last night I prepped and individually vacuum packed 174 venison backstrap filet mignons. My setup in my hands was accurate enough for deer at least...

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We have a winner!!!
Best answer I've seen yet!!!  Now I'm hungry .

Quote from: LookMomNoSights on August 01, 2022, 09:20:28 AM
Man Doug,  now that's what I'd call "methodical"!
You aren't messing around,  pretty cool approach 

I am methodical because I've seen a lot of hunters get overconfident from having a great shooting session so they think the're golden out to 45 yards when really, the're maybe consistent out to 18. We all tend to forget the bad shots and remember the good ones. If I write it down, I'm less likely to lie to myself about how good I am and take a marginal shot that's just beyond my consistent yardage.

I don't score or shoot at bullseyes. Most of my shooting is at unmarked brown feed sacks on my bag course through the back woodlot. Trying to pick a spot is tough and takes some hard concentration. When I drill the spot I know it. Then I always try to hit my first arrow, which is much easier to get close.

The other accuracy test is by simple roving with a judo. You either hit the mark or you dont.

I'm just glad I don't have to be an expert shot such as a quarterback or pitcher to enjoy the game. I'm an average shooter at best so I change my strategy to very close shots . But if I ever perfect the sport I may lose interest. A fist size group at 17 yards is a good day for me. But I don't care one bit about comparing my shot to the next guy. I'm in it for the hunt. That's just me.

And the closer the hunt, the higher the adrenaline rush.  At least for me . . .

How many deer is 174 blackstrap fillets?

Quote from: JR Chambers on August 10, 2022, 08:50:19 PM
How many deer is 174 blackstrap fillets?

Not really sure to be honest. I guess it would depend on size and what other cuts you used for meat for. I process all of it for both myself and my father in law.  I typically foodsaver the meat and save it for the off season to process in bulk after I get back all the CWD tests. We had to toss out one doe this go around.

Oh Ok. So you freeze it until a later date and thaw it to process and refreeze? Thanks

Quote from: JR Chambers on August 10, 2022, 09:25:28 PM
Oh Ok. So you freeze it until a later date and thaw it to process and refreeze? Thanks

Yep. We have the CWD in our state and so I have every deer tested. We age and break them down when shot and then freeze in either roasts, steaks, stew, or grind bags labeled by date and sex of the deer. If we get a positive CWD test it goes out without truly being butchered. Once all tests are in I finish butchering it all for me and my father in law by cut in a big batch at a time. John doesn't eat much of it anymore...usually 1/2-1 deer a year and he gets first cut of whatever he wants. The rest we eat. 

So you don't have a problem refreezing it? Thanks for the info

Not at all. Honestly the big issue with that is how long it sits thawed and what bacterial breakdown happens during that time. If it's frozen, mostly thawed to process and refrozen the same day that doesn't leave much time for anything to spoil and with everything in foodsaver bags in single serve portions I thaw to cook under running water about an hour before cooking it. There's as close to zero risk possible when doing it this way. I wouldn't recommend thawing and letting it sit around for a week or two then refreezing. But to just partially thaw, portion out, and put back up until time to cook it there isn't any significant health risks. 

So what do you do with a deer that tests positive for CWD?

Quote from: GCook on August 11, 2022, 08:15:56 PM
So what do you do with a deer that tests positive for CWD?

Cried and trashed.

Huh.  Well, guess I'd never have one tested.  Cause I'm eating em regardless.

Groups like this at 20 work for me.  But there are few times I shoot that far.  Just gives me confidence up closer . .  .