Shooting from a tree stand - Advice ??

[suzyandal]

Having never bow hunted from a tree stand,only gun hunted, I have a few questions. How different is it shooting the bow from a tree stand. I don't have the ability to practice from a tree stand during the off season. Is there anything I could do to help prepare for the hunt ? and is there any advice you fine folks could give a beginner. Thanks As always Al

[bigcountrysg]

Having never bow hunted from a tree stand,only gun hunted, I have a few questions. How different is it shooting the bow from a tree stand. I don't have the ability to practice from a tree stand during the off season. Is there anything I could do to help prepare for the hunt ? and is there any advice you fine folks could give a beginner. Thanks As always Al

The best thing to do is practice from a tree stand.

Make sure you always have a safety harness on.

Find a range near you that has an elevated shooting plat form. What I do is go to where my stand is with my 3-d target. My hunting buddy sets up my target for me. Then he stands in a safe place usually by the tree I am in. I take my practice shots. Then he moves my target to a new location and I shoot again. I do this over and over through out the off-season. After I shoot in every position I have my stand set up for, we go to his stand and he does the same thing. To me that is the best way to practice in the off-season. We usually do this in August and early Sept.

Other things I do is go to Adams Archery and shoot there 3-d course in the off season. But they would be a long drive for you. I am sure there is a pro shop that has a 3-d range set up somewhere near you. Just find one that has an elevated shooting platform.

[Shop Rat]

For a beginner, I would say to measure out and mark a few points from your stand. Guessing distance is different up in a tree. Find a way to practice from the same tree you will be hunting from with same gear and clothing if you can. A sleeve can catch your string, your harness might need adjusting and find out if you will be sitting or standing when you shoot. Also, on a quiet day move around in your stand and pull your bow and try to fix any squeaks. I have missed chances at deer for almost anything you can imagine. Here are just a few to think about.

Arrow falling off the string, squeaky stand, squeaky bow, noisey arrow rest, bow hitting a limb while pulling back, string hitting my sleeve, using the wrong sight pin, not looking thru my peep sight, deer jumping at the noise of the shot, and tons more. I quess you can say I am a beginner with 25 years experience.

One more thing, the target kill zone is different from 15 feet up. Remember a thru hole will get you a much better blood trail and wait a few hours to recover when in doubt. Also, get a really good flashlight that lasts a long time. I just bought a Streamlite lite box it lasts 9 hours. I did have a 3 hour tracking job last year and the maglights I use were outshined by the Streamlight and Surefire. We did find it, though.

Good luck and have fun.

[marksman72]

I totally agree with everything said. I also shoot with my hunting clothes on during the Spring and Fall to get as realistic as can be...it helps! Go that extra step and shoot with Broadheads. You want everything the same as possible when the real "moment of truth" arrives in the Whitetail Woods.

[bigcountrysg]

I'm lucky I guess my broadheads and target points make my arrows fly the same.

[Chrissy]

i myself will shoot on the ground all summer long come september i will shoot with hunting offit on and just after i put my stand up i do shoot from my stand and see if anything will get in my way. than during the season after an am hunt i will shoot an arrow and make sure i'm still on when i get ready to leave. last year i was so bored i started shooting bushy tail and had a limit by 4:30pm and at 5oclock i shot my 8 point from the same stand. buddy was amused when i came out to the truck with 5 bushy tails and told him we had to go back and get my buck

[Kelly Johnson]

Aim a little high;)

[walleyeman2006]

find a tree put a stand up and practice....if your shooting a fairly flat shooting bow it wont change your impact point much at all but it will make for a less effective kill shot...like kelly said aim higher so you can take out both lungs....if you shoot low from an elevated stand you ll get a one lunger some times they can run a mile like that....spent way to many nights on my hands and knees tracking a freinds deer do to that mistake..i like my ground blinds lol..have done a little climbing in the past few year though

[fulldraw]

the biggest thing that you have to remember is to bend at the waist to compinsate for the angle. If you draw back like you would do on level ground and bend at the waist not the arm, your anchor point will be on and your risk of missing your intended target will drop dramatically. I actually was praticing this weekend off my buddies patio, this works great to.

[TnRidge]

the biggest thing that you have to remember is to bend at the waist to compinsate for the angle. If you draw back like you would do on level ground and bend at the waist not the arm, your anchor point will be on and your risk of missing your intended target will drop dramatically. I actually was praticing this weekend off my buddies patio, this works great to.

Ditto . Bend at the waist to keep your anchor point the same as on level ground . I anchor with the string just touching the tip of my nose . If the string leaves the tip of my nose when shooting downward , I know I am dropping my bow arm when aiming . By bending at the waist , my anchor stays the same .
I allways aim a few inches lower on close shots at steep angles too . The main thing is to practice from the same height you will be hunting from .

[deerslayer#1]

find a tree put a stand up and practice....if your shooting a fairly flat shooting bow it wont change your impact point much at all but it will make for a less effective kill shot...like kelly said aim higher so you can take out both lungs....if you shoot low from an elevated stand you ll get a one lunger some times they can run a mile like that....spent way to many nights on my hands and knees tracking a freinds deer do to that mistake..i like my ground blinds lol..have done a little climbing in the past few year though

less effective kill shot........because of a flat shooting bow? Or because of the tree stand elevation?

[TnRidge]

I'm sorry , but I have never aimed high on a shot from a treestand . It's a sure way to shoot over a nervous deer that may duck at the shot .
My bow is sighted in to be dead on at 25 yards , I aim at the heart or lower for closer or steep angle shots , and double lung 95% of my shots .
Aiming high is likley to strike more bone than catch both lungs on steep angled shots . Imagine aiming for the exit side of the deer that will take out both lungs at any angle . I try to avoid very close , straight down shots

[Drake]

If you plan on hunting from a treestand 90% of the time I would suggest looking into a pendulum bowsight.
It is what I use, it takes the guess work out of yardages out to about 30yds.
As far as practice,if you own a treestand there are plenty of trees on state land around Baldwin.
Good Luck
Dave

[archerjustin]

Aim a little high;)

Aim low on steep angled shots, up or down hill.

Also aim for the exit side, not the point of impact. Shoot a few practice shots out of a treestand and you'll see it is easier than you think.

[bumpbottom]

I practice off of the roof of my pole barn during the summer. I also use a red dot sight that pretty much forces you to be at the right angle for shooting otherwise you can't see the dot. However you do it, practice from an elevated point at many different angles and distances. Practice practice and more practice. You don't want to have to think about it when the moment of truth arives. Practice while make it second nature for you.

[soggybtmboys]

Aim a little high;)

I sincerely hope you are joking......right?

[sbooy42]

Aim low on steep angled shots, up or down hill.

Also aim for the exit side, not the point of impact. Shoot a few practice shots out of a treestand and you'll see it is easier than you think.

I have to agree 100%.

Make sure you bend at the waist. Aim for the lower third. Aim for the exit hole on the other side.

When I have does and non shooters around I like to just sit there and visualize where I would aim , if I were to shoot in all situations.

hang a stand in you yard, shoot from a 2nd level window, from the roof...get elevated and practice.

[carp_assasin]

Aim low on steep angled shots, up or down hill.

Also aim for the exit side, not the point of impact. Shoot a few practice shots out of a treestand and you'll see it is easier than you think.

:yeahthat:

Ben