aeroslinger

I' ve been shooting bows for about a year now but only at targets. I just now started deer hunting with my bow and have shot twice at deer and shot low both times. I' m in a 15' ladder stand somewhat downhill so probably about 10' above level with the deer and about 20 yards (or less). Do you need to aim higher when shooting down? I' ve seen pendulum sights - do they compensate for this? Or am I just missing my target? I even shot some arrows at my target after the first miss but was still right on. Now just missed another. [X(]

orthobowhunter

Practice as much as possible from the stand. If your shoot broadheads that are the same as your field points (I shoot Spitfires), you can always aim at a leaf with a practice arrow. I do this every hunt to make sure my sights aren' t screwy. (You can use a practice broadhead too). I always aim at the junction of the bottom and middle thirds of the deer' s body. That way if it ducks I get 2 lungs, if not, I may get 2 lungs, I may get lung and heart.

aeroslinger

Thanks. ortho. I am using mechanicals (forget brand). So you think I' m just missing? You use same yardage pins whether in stand or on ground?

orthobowhunter

I' m not sure exactly what you are doing but I do not change how I aim based on height.

CAJUNBOWHNTR

Make sure you follow through by holding the sight on your target until the arrow hits.If you drop your bow arm you will shoot low.

CB

Doemasters

I think cajunbowhunter is all over it. Yardage is yardage. Looking up at the fleeing deer will cause you to shoot low every time.

Tazman

I hardly ever hunt from a tree stand, but the advice I have heard given by those who do it all the time is to make sure you bend at the waist. I practice from a 10 foot elevation which is about half way between ground level and tree stand height and still hit dead on from level ground so I would imagine I would be fine from 20 foot up.

aeroslinger

Thanks all for the advice. I' ll keep working on it.

aero

Sitter

Are your field tips and your broadheads shooting the same?

aeroslinger

Sitter,

Yes. I re-checked after the first miss just in case something got out of whack but still on target with the broadheads. I' m thinking it was bad technique. It was dusk and I probably rushed them. I have been getting a pretty good number of deer so hopefully I' ll get more chances soon.

Thanks