Help shooting from stand.

[blind one]

I have been practicing shooting from my climber and just cant do it for some reason. I'm hitting high right most of the time and when I try to correct this I have no idea where the arrow is going to go. Im only about 15 feet in the air and dont want to wound an animal. Is there a trick to doing this or am I just using bad form when on the platform?...Thanks, Roy

[stiknstringer]

Try bending at the waste to compensate for the steeper angle.Also, it may help to anchor slightly higher.  

[Terry Green]

SHOOT THE SAME EXACT WAY....just BEND at the waist and cant your bow a little more than normal.

Most times when you shoot high from a treestand is that you ARE NOT bending at the waist and are just lowering your bow arm...this is causing you head to get out of its normal position changing the site picture ...and BAMB...you are TOO HIGH.

Maintan everything from the waist up and get the angle from bending at the waist.

[BobCo 1965]

How close in are you attempting to shoot? IMO, there is an area which is too close to attempt a shot. – Too little room for error at such a steep angle. I’d like them out 10-20 yards.

Keep in mind Terry’s philosophy that feet position is not all that important, it’s what happens from the waist up that’s important. Also keep in mind Coach Lee’s philosophy that a twisted towel (or rope) is stronger then straight fibers (in reference to an archer’s torso).

Personally when shooting from a stand, I like to stay with a very open stance (feet almost point at the target), I can get much more bend from the waist, and in doing so keep my upper body posture (back to Terry) in perfect alignment.

[blind one]

Thanks guys....I'll try bending at the waist. I wasn't doing this. I was trying to shoot the same as I do from the ground. I shoot pretty much standing straight up when on the ground and didnt think about the angle from a stand. I'm shooting about 10 yards now. Should I draw then bend to keep in line or bend first. This will be all new to me so I want to try and do it correct.

[Whump]

Whump Sez: Speaking from a position of stand hunting for about 40 yrs--I never thought about how I did it until you asked. But you are correct; if possible draw and then bend over to shoot. I have hunted from elevated positions so long I can do it either way--lean and then draw or draw and bend. If you are planning on stand hunting and you have a place to install a ladder stand the same height you  hunt, it makes it a lot easier to practice as you can go out, climb up and take a few shots a day. This eliminates a lot of work and you can concentrate on your shooting instead of climbing. I have taken many deer from elevated positions, but a shot directly under the tree is a difficult one even when practiced repeatedly. If you plan on taking that shot I suggest you practice shooting at a 3d target about 6-10ft from your tree until you can make it happen.  You also need to check your bow/arrow set up to make sure it is getting good penetration from 15 feet--you may be surprised that if not tuned properly your penetration will be cut in half at that distance. If you have been shooting at 15--20yds with good tuning but not great tuning, the arrow has had time to right itself on a straight flight--move up to [15 feet] and shoot into the same medium and check your penetration, looking for any indication of nock left or nock right arrows. You can do this on flat ground, compare the penetration  and it can save you a long tracking job or a lot of heart ache.   Hunt safe

I have found that it is easier to shoot bending over with good form if you have a good safety harness and have confidence in it. Just make sure that you have it set so that you can bend far enough to make the shot you want.  I have only shot practice shots, squirrels and rabbits and one pheasant shooting straight down off the front of the stand, but I am better if I completely flip my longbow for that shot, upside down except pointing straight down.  I would not try it on a deer without plenty of practice first.

[Bunny buster]

I second the leaning technique said by Pavan. the arrow usually shoots considerably higher when shot from a high treestand (about 19-20ft). aim low and shoot slow  

[FlintRiverKen]

I live/hunt on a mtnside so I'm trying to prepare for the eventual extreme up/down opportunity. Practicing bending at the waist per the stick figure examples, so far I do the best holding form if I draw horizontal, then rotate from waist up/down to target, then expand-release.

Are other folks bending at the waist first, before starting to draw? It seems like that would be smoother if I can attain it. (like Mr.Whump)

[Terry Green]

Yes Flint.....you should bend 1st...going to be a lot of movement if you have to draw horizontal and then bend with a deer in range.

[Diamond Paul]

Arrows (or bullets) always hit high when fired from angle, whether it's up or downhill.  It has to do with distance from you to the target being greater than the actual distance as measured from the base of the tree (or mountain, etc.) to the target in a straight line (think of a triangle; the length of the side created by you to target is longer than the length of the base of the triangle created by tree to target).  I'm too dumb to properly explain the physics, but if you used sights, you would need to use your 15 yard pin on a 20 yard shot, or something like that.  However, Terry is right, you need to bend at the waist, as that it making the problem even worse.  Paul.

[FlintRiverKen]

I understand the ranging and trig part, I need to keep working on the waist bending. I've worked so hard on correct form on level ground maintaining it while bending is a little challenging-to be able to do it without thinking about it. At 10yds the lower dot on my bag target is down enough that i need to bend just a little. Then i go up on a big rock outcrop and i'm 15ft above the targ and need to bend even more.

If you look at the stik figures in the form clock thread it makes perfect sense, but going out and doing it right is my task at hand.

[Terry Green]

Aw heck...if this little gal can do it...so can you.

Bent her waiste and droped her rear foot back to keep balance and the straight shoulderline to the target...

   

[FlintRiverKen]

No pine cones safe there.

We have 10 yr old nephew coming up for some time this summer. Young Maxwell will be receiving training in trad bowshooting and maybe some flemish twisting and arrow building. He'll be shooting my old Shakespeare B9 Fury 18#. I'm sure he'll get the waistbendin thing quick then he can straighten me out on it.