RE: Stand heght for recurve?
Shew--you think too much! lol
Another thing to consider when shooting at a hard downward angle is the spot on the animal changes considerably. On a straight-down shot, a double lung is pretty much impossible, and the spine is a small target--a shot I'd try to avoid.
From what I can gather, deer usually don't look higher than the first branches in a tree. If you can get about that, or have some type of cover below you, it sure helps. I've had several deer come in looking up in the trees--they get educated pretty quick it seems. Getting higher seems to help, but can limit your shot options.
With all that said, I was only 12 feet or so off the ground last year (in a friend's ladder stand) and the buck I got never looked up. I've heard of other sucessful hunters that don't like to get over 15' off the ground--I don't think it would work real well around here though.
Chad