effect of elevation on point of impact

[Woodson Archer]

I have only shot my recurve from ground level at targets. My mind knows the elevation required for my bow to send an arrow to a target. If I am in a tree stand 15 feet in the air, will I have to pick a spot lower than what i want to hit? Will I hvae a tendency to over shoot the target {assuming less gravitational effect on the arrow shooting down}? Thanks,

[Terry Green]

You really want the correct answer??????

Get up in a tree stand 15 feet and start shooting.  That's the only way to find out how you will shoot from a tree stand.  Make sure you bend at the waist to get the angle don't just lower your bow arm.

All the theoredical gravitational pull, earth's rotation, planetary alignent is good for conversation....but you are not going to learn to shoot from 15 feet up unless you practice shooting from 15 feet up.  

Experience it, learn it, then this fall.... execute it.    

[Hardhed]

It's easy to shoot high when you are high up.

[Rob DiStefano]

terry nailed it for a bull's eye and killed it stone dead.

like so many things about stickbows and bowhunting, all the talk and opinions in the world are merely secondary at best to experiencing it yerself.

[Mark Hedges]

As far as the ballistics go, the only distance that matters is the horizontal distance to the target, and uphill or downhill does not matter.  So typically if you don't keep that in mind you will miss high if you are shooting at an uphill or downhill target.

Mark

[bowtime]

I take issue with Mark. Gravity is the most important factor in uphill or downhill shots. The
gravity pulls the arrow down to earth at a faster
rate than horizontal shot...thats why you hold
a little lower. On uphill the arrow is pulling against gravity.... so you must hold above the target overcoming the pull. Think of gravity as a
constant wind blowing toward center of earth. The arrow is either with the wind or against it. If you don't believe this then walk up hill then turn and walk down the same hill...which is easier?
When you take a stress test they tilt the treadmill upward making it harder to walk,increasing your heart rate because you are
pulling away from gravity.

[Terry Green]

Nope...PRACTICE is the most important factor.

If you actually practice... and stop looking for reading an answer and practice...you WONT have to keep it in mind.
 
You will groove it into your system and you will run the shot automatically without having to think about it.  Again, that is if you really actually practice.

[AllenR]

Originally posted by bowtime:
 ...On uphill the arrow is pulling against gravity.... so you must hold above the target overcoming the pull...  

With all due respect, this is absolutely wrong.  You cut yardage or hold lower for both up & down hill shots.  The greater the angle up or down or the greater the distance, the more you have to cut.

Mark has it exactly right.  It's the horizontal distance that is the "true" yardage.

However, you are right that this is due to gravity.  A projectile is falling at 32 feet per second per second (remember freshman physics) In the real world, it doesn't matter if it is perfectly horizontal or at an angle.  The only thing that affects this is if the projectile is getting lift from it's shape or some sort of wings.  

If you have to hold higher on uphill shots, it's likely that you are not bending at the waist and simply raising your bow arm.  This has the effect of reducing your draw length.  

If you don't believe me, check with any of the compound field archers.  They spend a huge amount of time getting their "cuts".  

Of course I totally agree with Terry that it's best to figure this out for yourself through practice.  Get in a tree, find a hill and shoot until it is subconscious.

Allen

[Terry Green]

The last thread like this got pulled...so I'm locking it down.