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.

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.

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.

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.

Exactly

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.