Tip 1: Good Enough, Every Time.

There is a main difference between hunters and shooters: for most shooters, exact accuracy is the goal. For hunters the goal is to put a killing shot on an animal with the first round—every time. For a white-tailed deer, that killing shot can be anywhere within about a 4-inch circle, but it must be placed in the chest to hit the heart and lungs. And you have to hit it every time.

Tip 2: Range vs. Field.

That 4-inch target might sound pretty sloppy when your shooter buddies are talking about half-inch groups, but they are in short sleeves shooting for hours from a bench at a fixed distance, with a stationary target, in good weather. Hunters are shooting once at a mobile target, at a random distance, in all kinds of weather, after sitting for hours waiting for something to happen. And there is no ‘X’ inside concentric circles to know where to aim. However, that deer will be just as dead if you hit the edge of the heart instead of the point where the atria meet the ventricles, so hitting inside that 4-inch circle is acceptable accuracy.

Tip 3: Practice, Practice, Practice.

Working on 100-yard groups from a bench is a great way to start, but hunters need to develop a lot of other skills, like estimating range to target. Practice different shooting positions that you may experience, in different weather conditions. If you will be hunting in cold weather, get to the range on a snowy day, wearing your hunting clothes. Same with rain or hot weather. Holding on a deer with sweat dripping into your eye, waiting for him to turn for a clean shot with the sun behind him is much different than punching holes in paper while sitting at a bench.

Tip 4: Know Your Limits.

As you practice you will find your limits, and you need to understand and hunt inside those limits. For me, I’m confident with a compound bow to 35 yards, a crossbow to 45 yards, a scoped .45 Magnum handgun to 80 yards, and various rifles from 90 to 300 yards, depending on caliber and open sights or scope. All of these limits were determined by practicing, and all of them are based on my ability to hit that 4-inch target area ten out of ten times. However, that 300-yard rifle shot is from a supported position; offhand with the same rifle, I’m good to 100 yards. The ultimate accuracy of your gear at the range has no connection to how accurately you can shoot in the field.

Tip 5: You Can’t Buy Success.

If you give a lousy shooter a $6,000 rifle topped with a $2,000 scope, he will be no more successful than if he used a $500 rifle with a $150 scope, because he’s a lousy shooter. Conversely, a good shooter will hit that 4-inch target every time with the most basic firearm because they know their limits and can get the most out of marginal gear. Good shooters get good by practicing. Spend your money on more ammo instead of new gear.

Tip 6: The Mental Component.

Spend time working on the fundamentals: breathe, aim, relax, sight, squeeze. Develop muscle memory so it’s second nature. Work on range estimation, point of aim, and be honest with yourself on how your mental condition can affect your shooting. There is not much emotion involved when shooting at the range, but when your heart starts pounding because a huge buck just came out of the tree line, you need to recognize and control those emotions. How much “buck fever” each person exhibits is variable, but if it hits you hard, you will need to figure out ways to control it.