Precision shooting in the field
Precision shooting in the field can mean many things. I consider precision field shooting to be placing my bullet exactly where I want within the tolerances expected given the conditions, range, and time allowed to make the shot. (I’m not going to get into the nuances of accuracy vs precision in this piece,)
Given those variables, a 75 yard shot can sometimes be more challenging than a 350 yard shot. The target size, your shooting position, and time allowed for the shot all contribute to the degree of difficulty - as does the weather, your personal/emotional condition at the time, and the terrain and vegetation.
Obviously, with the advances in technology what was considered long range 20, or even 10 years ago is now considered routine by some. The right equipment is the first step to expanding your engagement envelope under hunting conditions. However, it does not matter how much you spend on your gear if you do not train and practice to the point of unlocking the potential of you and your equipment.
Also, precision is relative to the conditions. Shooting a squirrel in the eye at 60 yards with a 22 LR is probably more challenging than making a heart/lung shot on an elk at 150 yards with a 7 PRC.
My advice is always (after making sure that your rifle is properly zeroed) to get off the bench and practice shooting under realistic shooting conditions and positions. Nobody cares if you can shoot cloverleaf groups from a bench, under perfect conditions, with all the time in the world. An example - I often practice off-hand shooting at an 8” steel target at 50 yards - it’s harder than you think. I will never, given the choice, take an off-hand shot at 50 yards but what it does, besides humbling you, is it gives you more confidence - and muscle memory - for when you have milliseconds to decide and shoot in a live hunting scenario. What counts in the field is if you can make the shot you need to right then, under whatever conditions, in the position you find yourself in…without caveats or excuses. Now get out there and practice!