20' Ladderstand shot question

[owlbait]

I will be hunting from a 20' ladderstand. No further then 15 yard shot. I can't practice from that high up. Can only practice about 12' up. Do I need to "think" about anything or just run my shot sequence. I attended Rod's clinic in Michigan this summer and feel confident inside of 20 yards.

[xtrema312]

It is best if you can practice from the height you hunt, but I have found I can be very successful using lower heights for practice.  The two most important things are proper body alignment for consistent form and ranging.  You can practice alignment from lower buy shooting close shots.   Really the angles are no different based on height.  They are just different angels with different distance.  The other issue is ranging shots.  If your shots are close it is probably not a problem.  Sometime the angle will throw off your judgment of distance.  I try to look out at something for reference at my level like a tree trunk at my height.  By studying the trees around me I get a feel for my surroundings and what is in my range before the shot opportunity.  Then when a deer is getting in my shooting area I sometimes glance up at the nearest tree to its location to get a quick range feel.  That is what works for me.

[owlbait]

Thanks. I just helped put up a 16' stand that I can practice on so that will be closer to my heigth. Now I just need to haul my BH target out there and have at it!

[Fletcher]

Xtrema's advise is very good.  Keeping your shoulders aligned with the shot is important and you do this by bending at the waist.  As the angle increases, you may need to bend your forward knee.

Shooting from a stand is pretty different from the ground, but easy to adjust to with a little practice.  Most of us have a tendency to shoot a bit high, but you will get the feel for it in practice.  Xtrema's idea of ranging to trees at eye level is very good.  I'd never heard of that, but you can be sure I'll be trying pretty soon.

One thing to be very aware of is the shot angle on the deer.  The higher/closer the animal, the smaller the double lung target becomes and you have the heavier part of the ribs and a thicker cross section of the ribcage to get thru.  I seldom hunt above 16 ft for this reason.  If you can take out one section of your stands ladder, you will find yourself with a much better shot angle.

[BobCo 1965]

Make sure you also bring a few extra arrows with you when hunting so you can practice shooting into the ground before you get dowm from the stand.

[owlbait]

Thanks guys. My Arrowmaster quiver has plenty of room for extra arrows so that will work. Next year I will definetely think about removing a section, ain't no way I'm takin' that sucker down now!

[kenn1320]

He is hunting Mi, height is to his advantage. I normally hunt 25-30ft up, but the switch to trad I am now at 16ft to my feet. It looks WAY too low, but we shall see. It will work fine when Im out of state, and thats all that matters to me.
 Xtrema's way of judging yardage is the way I did it with sights. I found 20yds from the base of the tree was my 20yd pin, even though the distance to the target was 23yds or whatever. My accuracy might not have been good enough to tell the difference, but looking down to the animal sure makes it look further then it really is. Now with the trad stuff, I dont even think about distance.

[owlbait]

How about the hypotenuse of a right triangle to find the actual distance? My daughter who was no Math genius came up with that one when I was discussing this with a friend the other day. If she is right my actual shot distance is 16-17 yards. Practice at 16' today made me feel confident that I can make the shot! I just need to run my shot sequence like Rod taught me and I think I'll do fine. Hope to report within a couple weeks of some success.

[kenn1320]

Owlbait, that is the correct way to figure the distance. However extrema12 and myself were simply telling you how to determine the rough distance "in the field" when an animal is coming thru. You could either get one of the new range finders, or measure every tree in your area and have your daughter do the math if you need the exact distance. My point is, in all my years of shooting at deer, leaves, whatever from my stand, if the object is 15yds from the base of my tree I aim as if its 15yds. If its 16 or 17yds from me to the object, my accuracy has never been good enough to tell the difference. I suspect you will find the same thing. Good luck, season is right around the corner. 8^)

[owlbait]

Thanks Kenn, I'm excited about next weekend, just being in the woods again, hunting deer. I appreciate your help and extrema, I guess that is what I try to do "normally", just found it amazing that my daughter would even come up with such a thing!