Treestand rule

[Bear Heart]

I was told by a very experienced bowhunter that his rule of thumb for shot distance for his treestand height is: for every foot of treestand height the ideal shot is approximately the same number in yards out.  For example: you are 20 feet up so the ideal shot is 20 yards out.
Anybody else use a rule like this?

[BowDiddle]

I don't use the rule, but it makes sense.

[huskyarcher]

I think its somewhat true. I live in the mountains of NC , and in some of my stands (wgich are 30-35ft up) a 15 yd shot is dead flat. Angles are very important for vitals tgough, no argument there.

[VictoryHunter]

Never heard that before but it's a good rule.

[moleman]

Im not sure I agree with the height V.S yardage theory, as im a firm believer in staying within your effective range and that differs from person to person.
Practice from your desired height and find out what your effective range is and stay within that  range, poking and hoping based on a theory could = a bad shot and unrecovered game.
Base your shots on the confidence you have gained through practice and not on a silly theory.
   

[dougedwards]

I don't see the relationship. Does that mean if I get 30 feet up then I am ok to shoot 30 yards out but if I only am 12 feet off the ground then I can only shoot 12 yards out?

I must be missing something.

 Doug

[MR BILL SHORTY]

If I"am 20ft up something chased me up there.

[awbowman]

I think he is referring to having a good angle to the deer's vitals.  Not necessarily the "ideal" shot, just a closer shot will affect the angle of entry limiting the "vital" area.

[dougedwards]

Originally posted by awbowman:
I think he is referring to having a good angle to the deers vitals.  Not necessarily the "ideal" shot, just a closer shot will affect the angle of entry limiting the "vital" area.

You know....I think you are right about that.  I didn't read it that way.   He might be on to something there.

 Doug

[moleman]

Ding, Ding, Ding! awbowman is the winner!
After rereading the post I think you got the jest of what he was asking, which obviously I missed.
In review, the theory sounds pretty sound to me when you start considering angles.  

[awbowman]

I have used this basic rule when picking trees to get a loc-on in.  It is a good "rule of thumb".  You can a Tuvalu get a little higher, but much above this the angle will get steep.

[tippit]

Fred
Forget the good angle...You have to calculate the refractivity of water from your tree stands to even know where the deer's vitals are as it swims by your stand  

[awbowman]

The refractive calculation method  is  only for graduate level Louisiana hunters Jeff, of which you are now a part of

[awbowman]

It calculates to about an 18 degree angle to the deer.  I don't like much more than 25 degrees.

[awbowman]

Less if you count the height of the deer

[Bear Heart]

Yes, it is for getting good shot angles.

[gregg dudley]

Originally posted by awbowman:
I think he is referring to having a good angle to the deers vitals.  Not necessarily the "ideal" shot, just a closer shot will affect the angle of entry limiting the "vital" area.

Which is why ultra-high treestands for bowhunting are less preferred.  Give me 12 feet up with good cover.

[awbowman]

Delete

[Knawbone]

To simplify it, he is saying that shooting at less than a 45 degree angle is undesirable.I think most of us could agree with that.Shooting outside our competent range is just that, whether in a tree or on the ground.