RE: recurve out of a treestand
Practice from the stand at the same heights you plan to hunt from. The higher you go, the more deceiving it can be. You have to keep in mind that regardless how far you are up the tree, the deer is the same distance from the base of your tree. For instance, if you are 25' up it's going to seem like a further shot than if you are 12' up. Get used to the rail (if you have one), and practice with a safety belt on. To me, the straight down shots are easier with a trad bow. Where I used to work, several of us would get together after our shift was over (at 7am) and go to my house to shoot bows. I had a treestand set up in the back yard, and could wear them out on those straight down shots (they shot compounds).
As with any bow, "aim" for the off-side and take the shot angle into consideration.
Chad