shooting from a treestand
 

how important is it to shoot from your treestand before going hunting? the reason i asked is because i have people say that you dont need to, then i have heard people say you need to. so which is it?
thanks

RE: shooting from a treestand
 

Well think about it! Do you plan on hunting from a tree stand? If your answer is yes then I think you know the answer already. Always practice the way you will be hunting.

RE: shooting from a treestand
 

Its a must. Practice sitting down and standing up and shooting from the stand. Your feet will probably be closer together when you shoot from the stand. Remember to bend at the waist. Take notice of any differences in arrow flight from the stand at diffferent distances.

RE: shooting from a treestand
 

Miller...

If you've never done it.....it's a "must" (like someone above stated). You'll find that your POI (Point of Impact) shouldn't change.....but the BIGGER issue is your comfort level at standing on that platform and drawing and shooting your bow (at least it was, for me). It takes a while to get comfortable at drawing while standing in different positions.

Get up a tree in the yard or nearby woods and go through the motions. You'll be glad you did.

As Predator says...... Again...more great advice. Good luck!

RE: shooting from a treestand
 

Also need to practice bending at your hips or waiste, if you do not and just lower your arm you will shoot much higher. As stated above practice the way you will be hunting gloves, cloths and all.

RE: shooting from a treestand
 

Oh and dont forget getting used to shooting with your safety harness. They tend to get in the way sometimes![:@]

RE: shooting from a treestand
 

WOW. Can't believe I forgot that. That is HUGE.;)

You'll likely HUNT several, several times befor eyou come up with a method that is both safe and "the best" for YOU. Experimenting NOW "might" save you a shot at a good deer.

That's a BIG one......and great catch, Predator.;)

RE: shooting from a treestand
 

I put up a stand in my yard the other day to practice putting it up and getting comfortable at that height (20 ft), so I climb up there and I say to myself.. this isn't bad! then I grab my bow, wow! what a difference! drawing from up there is allot harder! Maybe it was just me being nervous but it was harder to draw and shoot from the tree stand. If I were you I would shoot of the stand till you're completely comfortable shooting in the stand and at the height you want to be hunting in..

RE: shooting from a treestand
 

This is a related story... I've got a buddy who's killed a few deer with his bow but has missed many more than that. He said he shoots over there back and had determined the reason for that was that he didn't have one of the new range finders with angle-compensation. I told him that was probably not the cause but he went out bought one anyway.

He came over recently and shot from the ground and was spot on. Then I put him in oneof my treestands andall of a sudden he'****ting high and to the left everytime, even at 20 yards.

The culprit? He wasn't bending at the waist and he was canting the bow. After a few form adjustments, he was hitting right where he aimed again.

He was simply amazed b/c he'd never practiced from a stand before. It can be quite eye-opening if your form is suspect.

RE: shooting from a treestand
 

While I agree it's best to practice from a tree stand if that's how you'll be hunting, where I live I don't have that as an option. You can't go on public land and practice (out of season)out of a tree either. If you exercise the basics of proper shooting there shouldn't be a problem with the POI being the same at reasonable distances. JMO

RE: shooting from a treestand
 

A 100% must. About a month out from season, I start doing nearly 90 percent of my shooting from elevation. Also, shoot with your broadheads from elevation as well. They will shoot a little different as compared to shooting from the ground.

One last tip.....make sure you are practicing shots from elevation that are from between 3-10 yards. If you do not aim at the lower 1/3rd of the deer, you will notice how far up the shot will hit compared to where you are aiming. Most people forget about practice close shots, and then really make a bad shot when the deer comes in real close.

RE: shooting from a treestand
 

Excellent point Shadow!! This happens all to often I believe.

RE: shooting from a treestand
 

Another alternative from practicing from a tree stand would be to find asteep bank to shoot down. You can even set up a stand about a foot up a tree and shoot downthe bank to get used to the limited foot space. We have a couple set up at our club that way and it seems to work well.

RE: shooting from a treestand
 

Shoot Bob, I put up a ladder to the deck above my bedroom window and then shoot downhill standing from the deck. It puts me at around 18 feet up.

RE: shooting from a treestand
 

Brett:

I'm curious about this one.....as I agree with you (in principal) on the 10yd shots.......BUT....the 3 yd shots (from an elevated platform....OR NOT)....you're gonna need to aim HIGH to hit your "normal" POI (assuming you're using your 20yd pin......which would be the "norm").

Shooting 3D taught me this.

From 3 yds ......you're probably gonna use your 40 or 50 yd pin to hit your intended "spot".

RE: shooting from a treestand
 

Yup, I shoot out my upstairs back window also. :D Be careful of the window sile. [:@]

RE: shooting from a treestand
 

I think that’s why he says to practice, to see where you need to aim high as you come in close. If I remember correctly for my setups in the past, at 4-5 yds I had to aim a couple inches high, at 7-8 I was dead on and from there on out to 15-16 I aimed low. Since my shots are almost always under 20 yds, and often times 10-13, I kept my “20” yd pin @ 17 yds so I didn’t have to aim too low for those 12 yarders.

RE: shooting from a treestand
 

I see Rybo....but for the 3 yd shot....that's what I was referring to. Really, though.....I'd shy away from this shot if I were really new.....and I still wouldn't take this shot, today.;)

RE: shooting from a treestand
 

Jeff read nice and carefully, thats why he said practice at that range so you know!!:eek:

RE: shooting from a treestand
 

You also need to put on your face mask if you wear one, this can change how you anchor...I found with mine on that I don't feel the bow string with my nose as well, so I pull it down when I shoot...
Practice with broadheads as well...I also go up in my treestand as from the roof of a house just isn't the same as being on a small platform...

RE: shooting from a treestand
 

Gotcha Jeff about the 1/3 comment. Brain ran out of steam sometime yesterday afternoon.
Tight shots are a paradox. IF you know and can put your shot exactly where it needs to go, they are just as deadly as anything. BUT shooting down at sharp angles is tough for many people and it throws off your perceived view of the vitals. It’s certainly not an easy shot to make for many.

RE: shooting from a treestand
 

I could not imagine going into the woods without having shot out of a tree stand first.

RE: shooting from a treestand
 

You also need to practice hanging/attaching your quiver in a place where if a second shot opportunity arises, you will be able to quietly and with the least amount of movement, retrieve another arrow.

LT

RE: shooting from a treestand
 

PRACTICE HOW U PLAY, GOOD LUCK

RE: shooting from a treestand
 

Do it.

RE: shooting from a treestand
 

thanks for all the replys guys, i havnt been able to post because i have been working to much, this weekend, i am going to try these tips you guys gave me, i have shot out of my tree once, at i guess around 15 feet at 17 yards and it was just a hair high but still great shot,


P.S IS IT NORMAL TO BE ALITTLE NERVIOUS WHEN YOU GO UP IN A TREE STAND THE FIRST TIME AND SETUP????? cause i was, but after i setup and sat down i was fine, just alittle wiery about moving around.

RE: shooting from a treestand
 

Yep, i have my harness loose enough to shoot comfortably but tight enough to do the job

RE: shooting from a treestand
 

If you have a consistent anchor point yourPOIwill not change. I use a nose button to keep my sight plain consistent.

RE: shooting from a treestand
 

Yes it's normal, but I don't recommend hunting out of the stand at that height unless you are comfortable.

RE: shooting from a treestand
 

i was comfortbale after i got settled in it was just getting up their, and getting setup.

RE: shooting from a treestand
 

see i have two major anchors, where my nose hits the string and where my thumb hits my cheek, so hopefully i dont have a problem there.