Is my angle too steep?
 

I put the bottom of my Summit Viper 15' up in the tree. My shot comes from abotu 18' up. I do not have a shot opportunity past 14 yards. I am shooting roughly at a 45 degree angle at 14 yards. Is this too steep to catch both lungs?

P.S. I just got back from hunting for 5 hours. I didn't see a thing. It was GREAT!

RE: Is my angle too steep?
 

Your angle is fine. Just don't aim too high up the deer. 2/3 of the way up should put your arrow through both lungs and give you an exit hole.

RE: Is my angle too steep?
 

It depends on a number of other factors. Shot placment becomes much more critical with elevation. I would try to visualize the exit hole and make my decision. If the anamal is quartering it will help also.

RE: Is my angle too steep?
 

Those angles are fine. I've made that shot on many occasions

RE: Is my angle too steep?
 

I think you can make the shot work but accuracy is critical. One thing is remember to aim for your exit location rather than your entry point. There is risk of messing up a steep shot but you also tend to see more spine shots shooting down more than out. It would be a shot that I would practice if at all possible. Does your ladder stand allow you to set up lower? My 15' ladder has 5' ladder sections and where I hunt a tall reasonably straight tree is hard to find and never in the porper location. Too bad trees aren't portable! Anyway, I have sat at 10' for 2 seasons with complete success. I think deer tend to look up to that heigth more often than say 15-20' stands but if you keep your cover around you and keep pretty still lower stand work just as well.

RE: Is my angle too steep?
 

I have a portable climber.

RE: Is my angle too steep?
 

You are fine. I rarely hunt with the base of my stand lower than 18 ft, and nearly all of my shots have been less than 15 yds. With shots that close, lowering your stand will make it harder to draw and get the shot off.


PS 14 ft high, needs a 14 FT shot to make a 45 degree angle.

RE: Is my angle too steep?
 

Oh I did not know that. I was pretty close just guessing.