bow hunting question?

[jemche]

why are you told to aim low when shooting at a deer from a tree stand? almost all of the people that i know that bowhunt tell me this and i have never figured out why?

[rarhomes]

Because when you are shooting down you have less arrow drop and your range finder is ranging the distance plus height. Plus a deer will just about always squat when it hears the shot. And if its looking at you, you can bet its going to drop at least a couple inches.

Capt. Rick

[austin ensor]

i got this new range fider with ARC and it takes all the gusseing away it tells you the angle and the true distance with the angle.... plus string jump!

[rarhomes]

i got this new range fider with ARC and it takes all the gusseing away it tells you the angle and the true distance with the angle.... plus string jump!

String jump ?

Capt. Rick

[Apex Predator]

The difference in trajectory is very minor. Most archers aim low to compensate for their bad form. It is imperative to bend at the waist when making downhill shots. Most have form issues in this situation.

[Dave Sikorski]

Jake-

I agree w/ Apex.

Most shooters throw good form out the window when they get in the tree. Especially when there is a deer in range.

Your arm that holds the bow should be held perpendicular to your torso. Your torso should always be parallel to your target therefore your arm should always be perpendicular to the target.

So, when practicing on level ground it's nice and easy and requires no effort. When you're 20'+ up a tree and the deer is 20 yds away, it's going to be a rather steep angle. If you don't bend at the waist you change all of the mechanics of your shot. The bow is no longer parallel to your body, the arrow is at a different angle, your anchor point angles change, and even though you see the sights through the peep, things aren't the same.

So do I aim low? no. I always aim at the top half of the heart when bow hunting. For me it gives the best margin of error.

Another thing that is overlooked by many treestand hunters, is the angle at which you want your arrow to pass through the vital cavity. Remember the position of the heart/lungs w/ relation to the profile changes when you're 20'+ up a tree.

Jumping the string is a whole other can of worms in bow hunting. For soem reason I can't find the video of my Mule deer kill, but in that vid you can see the deer jump the string.

On that deer I had already missed once, and he was staring right at me on the second LUCKY shot. I anchored properly, got my sight picture....TOP OF HEART...and made a good shot. I hit the deer almost 6 in. higher than where I aimed b/c of him jumping the string. This was all on level ground at about 15 yds.

The only way to beat jumping the string is to be extra anal about not letting the deer know something is up, and being careful when shooting at alert deer.

There isn't a bow hunter in the world who hasn't had a deer jump the string, it's just something that happens, but it is by no means a reason to aim in a different spot.

Don't be like one of those golfers that aims way left b/c he knows he's gonna slice. Practice shooting with every extra minute of the day, and learn your bow. It's the only way to know what will work for you.

-D

[Wild Life Management]

Great explanation there Dave. It really helps to practice from a stand if possible.

[seavee capt]

The difference in trajectory is very minor. Most archers aim low to compensate for their bad form. It is imperative to bend at the waist when making downhill shots. Most have form issues in this situation.

Most novice hunters just drop the arm holding the bow down, not bend at the waist, hence the need to aim lower to compensate for the arm drop.

[Phat Tuna]

I have archery hunted for a long time. If you think there is a form problem then practice up in a tree to see where your arrow is going. Adjust form and yardage if necessary. I have see a lot of good videos to show how much a deer drops. You can not tell "always" if a deer is on alert. I have seen ...on video...deer drop almost 8-12 inches at 20yds. So that being said...1. practice up in a tree! 2. Get to know the deers posture if they are on alert, but do not always assume they are relaxed. 3. Learn by your mistakes. If you have always aimed dead on and killed all of your deer ....don't change! Personally I practice up to 70yds. with a six inch grouping. I hunt within 30yds whitetail. 50yds elk. Most of my whitetail hunts are up in a tree and most of my shots are lower third... at the heart. I have learned by my mistakes. Good luck and a short blood trail.

[jemche]

hey guys thanks for the help. dave great explanation.