How good do you have to shoot to hunt

[Texas5o]

I am in agreement with many of the posts here, especially Buff's. My .02 worth: If you are consistent at a stationary target at 20 yards, limit yourself to 15 or so in a live hunting situation. Way too many things can happen when there's a live animal involved. Shooting a live animal at 20 yards is not nearly the same as shooting a target at the same distance.
I agree with the confidence statement as well. You have to be confident in your ability to make that shot, under the given circumstances, regardless of the distance of the shot. If you're not confident, it's easy to miss even at 10 yards........I know; I've done it.
That being said, the more you practice - the more confidence you will have. Practice, practice, practice!

[HSULongbow]

OK, a couple have touched on this, but it needs to be emphasized. It doesn't matter if you can shoot a 4 inch group out to whatever yardage because anything under 20 and they can DUCK your ARROW. That is one of the main reasons to get close. You might from time to time get the dumb deer who will stand there while you shoot and not move (even if you miss), but more of6ten than not it has been my experience that they are skittish and VERY quick to move when they hear your bow string snap. You really risk wounding an animal and being heart sick afterward if you shoot 20 yards or farther.

[Draco]

I have killed several deer over twenty and have never had one duck the string at that far. I think that a long bow has a more natural sound, besides being very quiet any way, and the farther you are the quieter the sound would be. Last year, I killed a doe at 28 yds. and a spike at 32 yds. and neither one even lifted their head before the arrow got there. I think the closer you are the more chance you have of a ducked shot. The only thing you need to be careful of at a longer shot is them taking a step before the arrow gets there. But knowing when to take your shot will take care of that.

[HSULongbow]

Well Draco, it can also be a factor of how skittish the deer are and how quiet it is outside. My experiences I must admit have mostly been in the open season where I have been sharing land with gun hunters, and the deer have been jumpy. I have to agree with you that they don't always jump the string---I had a friend miss two times at a doe before he got her from 15 yards (over the back, of course---gotta practice those close shots!). She just looked around the first two times he shot, like "what was that noise?"