AO

Hello All,
I am new to the board and newer to hunting. This is my first year and I have been practicing like crazy at all yardages. I got some new sites and I am keyed into 15, 20, and 30 yards.

I have seen the tree stand that I am going to be hunting on and it is about 20 feet in the air. I have talked to a lot of people and some claim that shooting out of a tree is going to change your sites vs. shooting level to the ground like I do in my back yard.

With the engineer coming out in me, I would have to challenge that things should be the same. I would have to think that the only thing changing would be the distance that you are shooting. If the game is 15 yards from the tree I am in, and I am 20 feet in the air, then the game is actually 16.5 yards away. If you happen to be 30 feet in the air (hope you have the harness on) the game is 18 yards away.

Just my thoughts, let me know if there are people out there that have seen quite a difference between elevated and level shooting.

Good Luck All!!! I still have 2 weeks until I can get out. Wish I would have saved some vacation for the end of the year.

Thanks.

Aaron

jetblast

At 20 yds and under, I don't think the yardage is the big factor. What you should pay attention to is form. When shooting down, bend at the waste. Practice, practice, practice.

BGfisher

You are correct that the distance is actually longer when elevated. Hypotenus (spelling) of the triangle. However, since you are shooting down gravity has less effect on the arrow so you should shoot it for whatever the horizontal distance is (physics, the effect of gravity on a mass). There is always the chance that you'll shoot high. This has nothing to do with the distance but with shooting form. When you practice and sight in your bow your are standing in a "T" form. So to keep your shooting form correct when shotting from an elevated position you should bend at the waist to keep the upper body part (arms and shoulders) in alignment. Hope this makes sense to you.

AO

What you are saying makes sence to me, but my thought is that gravity is a constant. The arrow weighs the same, it has the same center of gravity and should be affected the same. I am wondering if the vertical component of the velocity is accelerated by the gravity different. The gravity will pull your arrow less torward the ground and actually contribute to the vertical velocity. Thus making gravity have less of an impact on your shot.

I got it now. Thanks.

Bees

Don't worry about the small increase in distance, Just remember to bend at the waist and hold you correct anchor, if you don't you will shoot high. Now this bend at the waist has been said 3 times or maybe 4 bend at the waist, bend at the waist, bend at the waist! how important is it??? Don't forget bend at the waist and get to your proper anchor point and shoot the yardage like you were on the ground. Let's see, did we mention to bend at the waist? Good luck.

ChiefHeadhunter

I also think the biggest change you'll see is because of the effects of gravity, all else being equal. And I totally agree with BG on this.

I use a nopeep and bend at the waist so I'm pretty sure my form is correct. I've found that from an elevation (my feet at 20' up) my 10 yard pin shoots to 17 yards. My 20 shoots to 24 yards. My 30 shoots to approx. 32 yards. So I believe it is entirely gravity at work because the difference is greater the closer to the bottom of the tree I'm shooting.

My advice is to shoot from an elevation that replicates that at which you will be hunting from. You need to not only get your form worked out (you want to be comfortable making the shot at the moment of truth), but you also want to know exactly how your bow will shoot from that hieght. You'll figure it out<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>.

God luck this season Aaron and everyone!

-Chief

ChiefHeadhunter

I don't know about gravity adding to your speed but I totally agree with this &quot;Thus making gravity have less of an impact on your shot.&quot;

-Chief

Kanga

The most important factor between shooting from a tree and the ground is as simply as it gets.
Just use your ground setting and BEND AT THE WAIST<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_tongue.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

AO

I think I will try the &quot;bend at the waist&quot; thing.

Thanks guys. Great board.

AO

MATTHEWS

Get up in a tree and the same height that you will hunt, and have your buddy move a 3D deer target all around, while you guess the yardages and shoot. Have him move it all over. Practicing in a similar environment to what your hunting is a great idea. I do this every year about 10-15 times before the opener. To me at 20ft high and 20yds or less shooting distance, there doesnt seem to be any difference. (just my OPINION)