Tree stand practice
 

Many people including myself hunt from tree stands. The question is, how many of you practice from tree stands? I practice with both bow and rifle. Today I decided to take the .58 caliber Renegade with the Green Mountian Barrel out to the tree platform (I will call it). I set a popular board up at the crossing where the deer come through and cross a small area. It is between 30-35 yards.

On the board I used black electricans tape and a red magic marker to make the bulls-eye. It is about 2 inches square. I fired twenty Speer Round ball using a moose milk patch, 100 grains of Goex FFg and CCI magnum caps. I did not swab between any of the shots. I wanted this as close to hunting circumstances as possible. I do have a set of shooting sticks that fit in the tree platform that I always shoot from. I can not remember the last time I took a free hand shot at something with a rifle out of a tree.

The over all results were very good. I was pleased with the way the rifle handled, loaded and fired from the tree. It is only 12 feet off the ground but it sure makes the target seem a long ways away.

RE: Tree stand practice
 

Have never practiced from a tree stand, but it is a good idea. I think it is always good to shoot just like you do in hunting situations. When I was new to blackpowder and foolish, I never practiced past about 50 yards because that is how far I could shoot at a range I could easliy get to. I was foolish too in that I didn't practice out to the distances I might expect in hunting. I also did not do enough research on my trajectory. I was shooting a 425 maxiball with my T/C renegade and I thought the bullet would drop pretty fast beyond 50. Boy, was I wrong.

Well I had a nice bull at 80-90 yards broadside and standing still and I had a good rest. However, I figured that the bullet would drop some in that distance. He was uphill at about a 45 degree angle (which should make the same difference as shooting down from a treestand). Anyway, I foolishly put the sight right on the top of his back and pulled the trigger and simply shot over his back. Not only was my bullet dead on at that range (no drop below the bull which I found out after the miss), but I think the steep angle was responsible for my bullet flying above what its path would have been on flat ground. Should never make that mistake again.

So, practicing at some steep angles if that is what you do in real hunting is a great idea. I just wish I had learnd that prior to missing that bull. If I had aimed low in his chest, he would be on my wall today.

RE: Tree stand practice
 

Reminds me of two old sayings I was taught decades ago:
1) "always aim at the middle of the biggest part of the deer's front"
2) "never hold sights off hair"

RE: Tree stand practice
 

txhunter58 I did the same thing you did with a deer using a bow one fall afternoon. I was climbing up out of a steep (and I mean steeeep) ravine and there was a nice little buck coming over the top of the ridge. I had heard something coming and had crouched down behind some bushes and got all set to shoot if need be. He stopped on the top just down the hill a little and was trying to find me. I figured the same thing and let fly only to see the arrow sail right over his back. Since that day I have always practiced any kind of a shot I might encounter.

The more I shoot this .58 caliber Green Mountain Barrel the more I really like this rifle. It really is a good shooter.

RE: Tree stand practice
 

did your shots hit low or higher or the same?? my dad told my poi will be higher or lower shooting "downhill" like that...i cant remember....i think...higher downhill lower uphill??? did it effect you at all?? id like to know...my shots are about exzactly as far as yours....and my tree stand will be 10-15foot high if i use one......but i dont own land i cna do what you did on....so did the POI change at all from sighted in on the ground??? just wondering if i HAVE to get out there and find a tree stand i can shoot from to adjust my sights.....i have 4 treestands me and dad bought over a few years(he used to have many but they came up stolen every season....and he quit bow hunting(sure thats one of the reasons...)and never bought more stands till i started hunting...we find spots we can use them but never have....but i can now if i want to...and might this year...my buddys have farms noone hunts i can hang them and leave them and noone but me will ever see so i might....thanx alot

RE: Tree stand practice
 

I was using a modified 6 o'clock hold on the bottom of the square. In fact the one low shot was the first shot off a clean barrel. After that the rifle (I realize was shooting just a hair to the right) started laying them right into the square. Whether it was shooting high I could not say. Shooting off sticks is hard to judge as compared to off a bench rest. Also it is not all that far of a distance. In your case if you can not practice the shot I would say hold center in the front shoulder and you should be fine.

The best I could tell you is find a place with a steep hill and shoot down to the bottom of the hill if you can't get in a tree. I have a friend that shoots all the time off his porch roof. Might look a little strange standing on top of your house shooting a rifle, but then he is a little strange....

RE: Tree stand practice
 

The POI of a bullet will be HIGHER for both shooting uphill AND downhill. At distances mentioned in the first post (30-35 yards), I doubt if it would make that much difference unless it is really steep. At 100 yards it is probably a couple of inches.

Therefore, If I had shot and the middle to lower chest cavity of the elk, he would have been mine.

Good rule of thumb as stated above: always hold on meat.

RE: Tree stand practice
 

For muzzleloader or rifle shooting from "average" tree stand heights, out to 100 yds, you can forget about holding low to compensate for the angle introduced by the treestand. It won't amount to anything. The further you get from the stand, the angle decreases.

Shoot for the center of the deer (top to bottom). If you sight your muzzleloader to hit dead on at 100, you'll be fine for 99% of the shots you'll need to make. Just aim dead on and shoot. Unless you already know you'll be shooting 150 - 200 yds, that is.

RE: Tree stand practice
 

All the deer I have taken out of this tree stand I personally can not remember compensating for the fact I was in a tree. I do still practice out of them. Especially with bow. It was interesting to shoot with the tree moving a little in the wind. Concentration is a whole new concept. I will be looking forward to trying some of these shots with a flintlock.

RE: Tree stand practice
 

cayugad,

What's up with all the dead trees?