VTbowman Posted October 11, 2007 Report Share Posted October 11, 2007 I had a nice doe at exactly 30 yards out from my stand and the stand is at 31' up. I was sitting and she was prefect to my left, prefect broadside. I settled my 30 yard pin on the 2/3 mark down from her back and let loose. The arrow barely missed her high. May of shaved some hair it was that close. I have a ligthed nock so I saw exactly how far it missed by. I can only assume she jumped the string but like every missed shot, you start to question everything. I have never had one jump the string on me and always put yardage markers out in all my lanes/plots so to not have a yardage-fart guesstimation when the moment of truth comes. I then remember someone telling me a very long time ago that he used his 20 yard pin at 30 yards when that high up. What pin do you use? My bow stats are: Switchback XT set at 70#, 351g arrow total, I think its getting around 260 to 265 fps. I suppose a few good practice shots from that hieght would solve my worries but I dont have a practice stand that high. Maybe the peak of my house and shoot down into the front yard. (sloped) Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckbuster11 Posted October 11, 2007 Report Share Posted October 11, 2007 It doesn't seem like it should have been a distance issue. At 31 feet high, a deer at 30 yards from the base of your tree would actually be around 31-32 yards from where your stand was. The only thing I can think of is maybe the angle was steep enough that it affected the shot??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buckslayer Posted October 11, 2007 Report Share Posted October 11, 2007 The easiest thing to remember is that only the horizontal vector of distance plays a role in arrow drop. It doesn't matter how high you are, if you do the following. Estimate ground distance not distance from you to the deer. It is that easy. Say I am 30' up in a tree. The deer is only 4 yards from the base of the tree. I aim where my bow hits at 4 yards shooting on the ground. Say I'm 150 feet up in a tree and the deer is 15 yards from the base of the tree... use your 15 yard pin. If your deer was 30 yards from the base of the tree, you should have used your 30 yard pin. If the deer was 30 yards from your spot up in the tree, then it is a shorter distance on the ground which would explain you hitting high. So, what I always do is step off the yardage on the ground and don't use a rangefinder. Then I don't have to worry about where I aim if I know the yardage from the base of the tree. :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buckslayer Posted October 11, 2007 Report Share Posted October 11, 2007 It doesn't seem like it should have been a distance issue. At 31 feet high, a deer at 30 yards from the base of your tree would actually be around 31-32 yards from where your stand was. The only thing I can think of is maybe the angle was steep enough that it affected the shot??? Maybe affected your form or the way you bent at the waist can change too with steep shots. Remember John, if the deer was 31-32 yards from the stand, and 30 yards from the base, only the 30 yard distance plays a role in the drop of the arrow (the horizontal vector (30yds) is the only one the experiences the drop). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VTbowman Posted October 11, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2007 Like I said, I measure out yardage markers, orange survey tape set at 20, 30 and 40 in every lane. I literally measure this with a 100' tape from the base of the tree and practice this way too. My 30 yard pin is exactly 30 yards to the inch. LOL I was sitting dwon so I had no real bend at the waist, more of a slight bend and a lean combo. I had good form in other words. It may just be as simple as she jumped the string. But one will never know sonce I do not have hi speed video. LOL Thanks for your input. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buckslayer Posted October 11, 2007 Report Share Posted October 11, 2007 Like I said, I measure out yardage markers, orange survey tape set at 20, 30 and 40 in every lane. I literally measure this with a 100' tape from the base of the tree and practice this way too. My 30 yard pin is exactly 30 yards to the inch. LOL I was sitting dwon so I had no real bend at the waist, more of a slight bend and a lean combo. I had good form in other words. It may just be as simple as she jumped the string. But one will never know sonce I do not have hi speed video. LOL Thanks for your input. I would guess you were set up for a good shot --- they say an alert deer can drop a good 8-10 inches at that distance so that would be my guess too Shawn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted October 11, 2007 Report Share Posted October 11, 2007 The only thing I can think of is maybe the angle was steep enough that it affected the shot??? That would be my guess too. That or as mentioned a change in your form. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hutchies Posted October 11, 2007 Report Share Posted October 11, 2007 It is very possible that she could have ducked it. Had that happen last week. 20 yards 25 feet up and she ducked it. Aim for the top of the heart. At best you get heart lungs.........as worst she ducks and you still get top of lungs or spine. They can easily drop a foot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VTbowman Posted October 11, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2007 I just thought Id ask since the advent of this new ARC technology range finders and all. I's say from 1 to 10, 10 being hi strung alert, she was at about a 6 or 7. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhine16 Posted October 11, 2007 Report Share Posted October 11, 2007 On MB XV(not sure which volume), Blanton is hunting on his usual trip to Wyoming at the first of the season. He was perched high up in a pine that was sitting on a hill. I think he said he was around 35 feet. Anyways, he shot a deer at 30 yards while using his 20 yard pin. He told about while they were doing the footage at the end of the hunt. Might want to watch that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buckslayer Posted October 11, 2007 Report Share Posted October 11, 2007 On MB XV(not sure which volume), Blanton is hunting on his usual trip to Wyoming at the first of the season. He was perched high up in a pine that was sitting on a hill. I think he said he was around 35 feet. Anyways, he shot a deer at 30 yards while using his 20 yard pin. He told about while they were doing the footage at the end of the hunt. Might want to watch that. Yeah in that instance horizontal distance was 20 yards, even though distance to the deer from his perch was 35. Because the deer was down the hill and he was up the tree. Those rangefinders use a level mechanism to measure angle from horizontal and then simple trig calcs to determine horizontal distance (what your gun/bow is set up for usually). Neat idea as long as they perform as advertised... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildthing Posted October 11, 2007 Report Share Posted October 11, 2007 how was the view from there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
razortec_hunter Posted October 11, 2007 Report Share Posted October 11, 2007 31' up???? lol i would be hold ing on to the stand not my bow!! lol i couldn't stand that!! i have my stand at like 18-20' right now lol i bet the doe jumped ur string i had the same thing happen but i was on the ground a couple days ago. those are fast animals! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leo Posted October 11, 2007 Report Share Posted October 11, 2007 It honestly depends on the speed of your bow when shooting at steep angles. The faster your bow the higher it will hit at a steep angle versus flat. At 30yds that's probably only a couple inches. But to put your mind at ease you should at least take a couple practice shots at that distance from that height. Then you'll know for sure where your setup hits at that distance. In an elevated stand that you legitimately know the distance to the target you should use that distance pin. Aim to hit in the bottom three inches of the deer. If you hit there fine. If you hit higher, still fine. I'm betting the fact at that angle the bow was hitting a little high plus the deer dropping caused the miss. Playing the different pin at this height game can really confuse you at the moment of truth. Keep it simple. Aim low Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbone7213 Posted October 11, 2007 Report Share Posted October 11, 2007 I do all of my practice shooting from my deck which is 8 ft off the ground. My yards slopes away from me so on my 30, 40 & 50 yard practice shots it is about the same as being 15-20 feet up. I have never had a problem with it. One day right b4 season started I practiced from the ground and was still on. The deck is a heck of a lot easier than climbing in and out of a ladder stand like I used to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
earnhardts12000 Posted October 11, 2007 Report Share Posted October 11, 2007 i agree think was little high at that angle always aim low Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MUDRUNNER Posted October 11, 2007 Report Share Posted October 11, 2007 I pretty much always aim low in the kill zone.If she ducks you should still get lung and if she doesn't you get heart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buckslayer Posted October 11, 2007 Report Share Posted October 11, 2007 I pretty much always aim low in the kill zone.If she ducks you should still get lung and if she doesn't you get heart. Yep I aim low in the kill zone, but not below the deer. I usually go for behind the armpit and back about 2". They all drop a little I think, a few drop A LOT. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VTbowman Posted October 11, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2007 I thought I was aiming low at 2/3 down from the top of her back at the angle/height. I guess not low enough... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbuck145 Posted October 11, 2007 Report Share Posted October 11, 2007 I know when I'm up 18' i will shoot alittle high because i'm elevated so i will aim about the top of the heart. If they drop any i still get a good clean shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest antlerhead Posted October 12, 2007 Report Share Posted October 12, 2007 She Ducked It. Was The Deer Nervous Or Alert?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deer_slayer08 Posted October 12, 2007 Report Share Posted October 12, 2007 I had the same thing happen to me. I missed a 8pt thought it was 20 yards. Used my 20 yard pin shot right over his back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhine16 Posted October 12, 2007 Report Share Posted October 12, 2007 Those rangefinders use a level mechanism to measure angle from horizontal and then simple trig calcs to determine horizontal distance (what your gun/bow is set up for usually). Neat idea as long as they perform as advertised... My fault, i thought that the deer was thirty yards from the base of the tree. BTW- That trig formula would be the pythagoream theorem (sp?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buckslayer Posted October 12, 2007 Report Share Posted October 12, 2007 Its all good rhine! That simple formula is based on the Sine, Cosine, Tangent rules. Which, using Calculus in a much less "simple" manner LOL, were derived from (you guessed it) the Pythagorean Theorem. :cool: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted October 12, 2007 Report Share Posted October 12, 2007 heres why. your shot should have been low since it was actually almost 32 yards from your stand. but the reason you shot high might be this. the reason you shoot high form a treestand is not using proper shooting form. when your on level ground you use classic T form. but when in a stand aiming at a target lower than you, lots of guys draw and then lower their sights to the target. this changes your form and you dont even know it. which changes your point of impact. it will cause you to miss deer at simple ranges if you do not follow good shooting form. you should draw your bow, then bend at the waist to bring the sights on target. this will allow you to shoot dead on as long as your not shooting at a extreme angle. also another reason most guys dont bend at the waist is because there not wearing safety belts. bending at the waist without a safety belt on is DANGEROUS from a treestand. as for the angle or trajectory of an arrow i know from my target shooting that steep angles up or down, make me shoot high. if the angleis steep enough, you MUST use a range finder and a device to figure the angle. i know of many shoots where the distance was only 25 yards to the target, but i had to shoot it like it was only 15. i use a range finder for all my shots and have done so for many years. i have nailed every deer from 13 to 38 yards exactly where i aimed due to knowing the yardage and bending at the waist. except the few i missed and were mostly due to too much adrenalin and forgot to bend at the waist. Shoot Strong Tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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