shooting from a treestand
 

Never hunted with a bow from a tree stand how does it work with the range. If the Tree is 20 yards from the bait and the stand is 15 feet hight how far of an actual shot is it.

RE: shooting from a treestand
 

20.6155 yds. A (squared) + B (squared) = C (squared) where A is stand height in yards (3), B is distance on ground from bait (20) and C is actual shot distance from shooting height to bait.

RE: shooting from a treestand
 

As shown, the line of sight distance is the hypotenuse of the triangle. However, due to shooting in a downward angle ou still make the shot as if it were ground level distance. If you use proper form, keeping the upper body in a "T" formation by bending at the waist there should be very little difference in POI compared to ground level.

RE: shooting from a treestand
 

Let's not forget that on level ground gravity immediatly begins to affect the arrow, so you are aiming the arrow up in an arc to make sure your arrow is on target when it reaches it's goal. From an elevated platform gravity has a lesser effect on the arrow. This will throw a slightly straiter trajectory to your shot,not much though. But combine the distance thing, the gravity thing, throw in a little bad form and viola' you've just shot high by several inches (the form thing being the worst).

My advice, climb up that tree with a quiver full of arrows and have at it. Remember to bend at the waist.

RE: shooting from a treestand
 

Exactly

Gravity acts the same regardless if the arrow is shot up/down or sideways.

RE: shooting from a treestand
 

i will second Dr Andy...get up in the stand with a target over the off season and set out your target and let some arrows loose...i do it every year...i take my stand, my hunting arrows and broadheads and broadhead target out to the woods and act like im hunting. i even punish myself and only take 1 arrow up with me. climb up, estimate the range...stand up..draw smooth and quietly like its a pope and young buck standing there...anchor, bend at the waist, float the pin and release...lower my bow, climb down, get the arrow, move the target and do it all again...its punishment in 90 degree weather over the summer! teaches me to make that 1 shot count...and teaches me to shoot from my stand as if i were hunting. no substitute for real practice IMO.

RE: shooting from a treestand
 

The other big thing to consider is how the trajectory of the arrow changes in relation to the vitals as the arrow penetrates your critter. It's generally better to hit animals a bit higher on the chest from above than you would aim at them from the ground. This ensures that you get both lungs (top of near lung, bottom of far lung), especially at steep angles.

RE: shooting from a treestand
 

IN OTHER WORDS- practice shooting from the tree! all these posts bring up the very good points of triangles and gravity effects, so once you measure out the distances, PRACTICE UP THERE to make sure you translate the info to the actual situation.

RE: shooting from a treestand
 

The closer the shot the more acute the angle, the higher the hit. Longer the shot, the less likely the POI will change. I shoot regularly from and elevated position, therefore I'm very comfortable taking treestand shots because they feel like a natural shot to me.

RE: shooting from a treestand
 

I don't shoot the same from a stand as on the ground. If I don't set the bow up from the stand position I wont shoot well.

Best you find out for yourself first.

RE: shooting from a treestand
 

If 10 yards or more from the stand it doesn't matter, use your range finder, aim for the exit hole, bend at the waist and follow through.

In order to obtain the confidence and increase your changes practice the shot from you stand prior to the season....

RE: shooting from a treestand
 

Here's another basic example....

Let's say you were 20 yards up in the tree (I know I know) and a deer was 10 yards from the base of the tree.... Because of the way gravity works, you would shoot for 10 yards - even though your technically 20 yards from the animal and that's what an average range finder would read....

RE: shooting from a treestand
 

If I were 20 yards (60') up in a tree, I would be holding on with both hands...

RE: shooting from a treestand
 

And during the season.....

I take at least one practice shot out of my stand every time in, usually in an inconspicuous place, where I WON'T expect the deer to approach from. If it's a morning hunt, I usually take two, prior to leaving.

RE: shooting from a treestand
 

Like everybody said, practice. I made a ladder stand to practice from in my backyard. I shoot at 2 different 3-d targets, at different distances, with my hunting equipment and safety harness on. And learn to judge your distance, you don't always get to use a rangefinder. My neighbors think I'm weird, but I'm serious about makingthat one shot count. So practice.

RE: shooting from a treestand
 

The only distance that has to be considered is from the base of the tree to the deer . However it is important to bend at the waist so you don't drop your bow arm or that will throw off your shot . In a downward broadside shot , you might want to aim a bit higher so you hit the top of one lung and take out the far lung . Think about where you want the arrow to exit .........

RE: shooting from a treestand
 

it should shot a bit higher (if the ground is level) but again you have to look if there is a downward slopin the directionyou are shooting this willdecress the yardage. ex..if you range a deer at 22 yards(line of sight) butif he is at thebase of the slopethe TBRisacutually less.

RE: shooting from a treestand
 

Set the bow in from the tree stand and go hunting dude, don't over think it. I always set my bow in from the tree at least 18 ft up or higher and I have killed many deer this way.

RE: shooting from a treestand
 

What does bending at the waist do? Ive seen that in other posts but ive never seen it explained. What happens when you bend at your knees?