Tree stand practice without a stand?

[wisconsinteacher]

I live in a duplex so shooting everyday from a stand is out of the question.  So is shooting from the roof.  I am able to shoot up to 25 yards into the garage.  So, what can I do to prepare to shoot from a 15' tree stand this fall?  I plan on setting up a stand at my buddies so I can get a little practice before season.

[rastaman]

Get a tall ladder and set it up in your driveway shooting back into the garage might help some. Otherwise you need to be going to your buddies house about once a week.

[Jim Jackson]

I have set up an elevated practice area on a steep slope to simulate tree-stand height.  Takes some work to find a piece of ground that will substitute, but it is a very effective way to practice and safer than climbing up and down all the time during practice plus you get a workout going up and down the slope.   Trick is to find a place that will allow you to practice that way in an urban/suburban area.

[riverrat 2]

X2 what A.Kinslow said.

[Bill Carlsen]

If there  is a sand or gravel pit nearby you may be able to get permission to shoot from the top of the sand or gravel piles. There is one big pile up at Hunters Point that Birdbow and I use all the time when we are up there bear hunting. Gets us up about 12' so we get a pretty good feel for shooting those kinds of shots.

[Red Beastmaster]

Stand on a chair and shoot down a flight of stairs.

[Matthew Bolton]

I shoot off of my roof.

[khardrunner]

one of the keys for stand shooting is height for sure, but don't neglect balance. Try shooting off of a couple of 2x4's stacked or off of a stool to simulate standing in a precarious position.

[Shortlongbow]

Elevated practice is crucial if you plan to bunt from a tree stand. Please use appropriate safety precautions during practice as well as from your tree stand. Roofs and ladders can just as dangerous as tree stands.

[BWD]

Don't forget to bend at the waist.lol

[Over&Under]

Originally posted by riverrat 2:
X2 what A.Kinslow said.

X3

I need to find one of those places...for now my ladder will have to do.

[bretto]

Pond dams work nice also if you have access to one.
Bretto

[cahaba]

Originally posted by Shortlongbow:
Elevated practice is crucial if you plan to bunt from a tree stand. Please use appropriate safety precautions during practice as well as from your tree stand. Roofs and ladders can just as dangerous as tree stands.

So true and be aware of power lines. I am blessed to be able to shoot out of the top of my barn. It's about 15ft. high. Now if I could talk Sandra into retrieving my arrows.  

[Charlie Lamb]

Get on a stool or bucket and shoot at a very small target like a lifesaver or bottle cap at very close range. It's more about the angles than the distance.

[RUSTY1]

Originally posted by Red Beastmaster:
Stand on a chair and shoot down a flight of stairs.

If someone tries this please get it on video!!! LOL! I would try it but I'm married and I enjoy life!!

[jimneye]

Don't forget too bend at the waist

[KSdan]

I would never discourage a guy from practicing, but I guess I am in the minority of some of this. I do shoot off a chair on my deck occasionally just to have the feel of being on a stand. But when I went back to trad 25 years ago it was all about the ease and fluidity like my athletic days of basketball/football.

I realize there are fundamentals, but when it comes to hunting I have never worried about "bending at the waist" or whether a deer was standing or moving, etc.  

I mentioned in a post a few weeks ago that I harvested a buck this past season from a stand as I drew my bow while slowly squatting from a standing position to one knee, leaning my butt against the seat support, shooting under branches out about 18 yds, while the deer slowly walked at 25 yds.  Not sure I could have ever "practiced" that shot.  

I am sure there is technically a difference, and I probably compensate in some manner, but I honestly have never found a difference from a tree or on the ground. I sure do not think about it and the deer have not noticed!    

Just some thoughts. . .

[Brazos]

Since you have a garage could you buy a cheap 8-10' tall tripod?  The smaller tripods can be taken down quickly and then just stored in your garage.  I have seen, and hunted out of, some short 8' folding tripods (also lightweight) that would be ideal.  Just not sure where to get one.

[wisconsinteacher]

Well I just went out and shot from a 27" stool at 4 yards in the garage.  When I do the math, it is the same angle as shooting from a 15' stand with a target at 25 yards.  I was aiming at spots that were the size of a dime and out of the 16 shots I took, I was within an inch every time.  I am going to move a little closer to get the angle of a 15 yard shot.  So far it feels good and I focused on the spot not so much the angle.  I am going to call my buddy today and ask about setting up a stand in his yard so I can get the real practice.  Thanks for the help.

[KSdan]

WIteacher- one other thing that may make a difference for you that just occurred to me as I re-read these posts (and I bet I do almost unconsciously). . .  I learned years ago from listening to John Schulz and see it play out in my hunting, that when an animal is close (say under 15 yds) and you are high in a tree, if you cant your bow even more than normal you may find yourself to be even more accurate.  

Just 2C
Good shooting and practice
Dan -down here in the hottest KS ever!! YUK