Shooting from a treestand

[Jock Whisky]

I've often heard it said that you should bend at the waist when shooting down from a tree stand. So here's my dumb question. Do you bend forward or to the side?

JW

[Terry Green]

Forward on downward angles....and rearward on upward angles.  

When shooting downward.....

The Brown line is the waist......

     

  Same as shooting upward, don't just raise the bow arm....bend at the waist and keep your alignment the same.

[Jock Whisky]

So Terry that looks like you bend to the side as opposed to bending forward

JW

[Terry Green]

I bend to the side most shots in the field....but that diagram is for a downward shot bent forward...

[BobCo 1965]

In order to keep the best center of gravity try shifting the hips back (not behind as in squatting :-)). This will put more weight on your back leg then a normal shot, however the lean forward from above the hip will offset and distribute the weight better.

[Jock Whisky]

Oh buggers now I'm confused. Terry how do you define "to the side" and "forward". I define "to the side" as to MY left or right. "Forward" is toward MY front, as in the act of "bowing to your partner"

Bobco thanks for the tip

JW

[Fletcher]

Jock, you bend at the waist in the direction of the shot.  The objective is to maintain your upper body "T" alignment.  That is what Terry's stick drawings are showing.  If you simply lower your bow hand and arm, it throws your alignment off, and the shot with it.

[moebow]

Jock,  What Terry is saying is this (I think):  THINK of drawing on the horizon (level to the world) so the arrow would go over the deer's back right behind the shoulder (where you would want it to hit).  That keeps that critical 90 degree angle of your bow arm and spine. Now lean forward (toward the target and bending at the waist or that and a combination of flexing your shooting side knee) so you come to an aiming point that will hit the target.

Trying to say it a different way; draw, then keeping the bow arm 90 degrees to your spine lean towards the target until you get the sight picture you want.

You NEED  to practice this!!!!

[David Dumke]

Originally posted by Terry Green:
Forward on downward angles....and rearward on upward angles.  

When shooting downward.....

The Brown line is the waist......

       

  Same as shooting upward, don't just raise the bow arm....bend at the waist and keep your alignment the same.

I believe the diagram is as such, Front red is your bow arm back red is your drawing arm, blue is the alignment of your shoulders and green is your torso. Brown, being the waist is your bending point. Hope this helps some.

[fmscan]

Terry, Love your teaching ability. Few words and lots of content. I read every post you make. Thank you.

[Jock Whisky]

Thanks folks. That clears it up.

JW

[Terry Green]

Wow...thanks for the compliment Mr Mosley Sir!!!

[Longspur77]

I found a way to help myself bend at the waist. It is a little odd at first but it works. if you are lined up on a target/deer from above. Right handers take your left Knee and try to touch it to your left knee. It is like Bobco said, it shifts the hips away from the target and makes your torso/waist bend. It may take a few practices and you might feel like you are crushing the jewels at first and the first time i tried to tell my pop how to do it he said the same.

I went out and shot a few from the ladder stand in my backyard to see what I do. I do bend forward but I find that it is most important for me to get the bow canted way over to keep from shooting higher than I want.

[amicus]

I was practicing this from my treestand the other day. What I found was that the times that I thought I was bending at the waist my shots were still high. I had to feel the bend at my waist before I was actually hitting my spot.

Gilbert