This is my 11th season to bow hunt but my first with trad gear. I have really been working hard to get to my comfort zone (and make an ethical shot) with taking my trad gear on opening weekend. Since I'm grouping really well and being a rookie to trad hunting I have one last question for you experts on the green screen. I will be sitting in a 12ft elevated blind and since I have not been able to practice from a elevated spot my question is: Do I still shoot low compared to my level practice shooting?
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Depends.
I think if you shoot 3 under and aim with the arrow tip then you probably need to practice the shot a few times and will probably need to aim low.
I don't aim low consciously because I shoot split and instinctive. I just look where I want it to go and concentrate on release and follow through.
I've never shot 3 under from a tripod or tree stand so I may be all wet. -
The most common mistake made by traditional shooters from an elevated stand, is not bending their upper torso for the shot. Instead, they lower their bow arm which changes their anchor point in relation to where the eye is looking. Best of luck to you!Comment
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you really need to take some practice from your elevated blind
to know> the distance to the target is horizontal - from the base of the tree to the target is the true target distance
gravity has the same affect on the arrow even through you are shooting down at an angle
the base of the tree might be 15yds from the target, and you might be 17~18yds from the target because of your elevation in the tree, but the shooting distance is still 15yds
your target area is smaller shooting down on a deer or hog, and it is harder to get to the heart and liver, but still easy to hit one lung, but hard to hit both lungs.
how I practice my elevated shots
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X2 -BINGO - we have a winner! Tom hit the nail on the head. 12ft is not really all that high, esp if the deer is say 15yds out. I always aim where I want the arrow to go. The way I look at it, I can't know whether or not an animal is gonna move and I try to aim in the best spot that would still keep me in the vitals, even if the animal did move.Originally posted by Tom Kidwell View Post
It would really be best to try practicing from the same height as your stand, even if you have to throw a stand up in a tree in your yard. Whatever you do, make sure you bend at the waist and not lower your bow arm.
BischComment
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Make sure you keep your shoulders square. Bend at the torso as Kidwell stated.
I have shot over the back from a tree stand several times, and I think i was dropping my bow arm down instead of bending over.Comment
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Thanks guys, I pumped up. I remember the first time I hit the first animal with a wheelie bow and how that next level was achieved and now I'm trying brace my self for the time I hit the first one with trad gear.Comment
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I would hop up on a ladder, roof, or other structure and try it. I'm trad-kill-less because of two misses over (hog & a ewe) hog at about 10 yrds, and ewe at about 15. I have since practiced it more, and found that I have less of an issue standing than sitting (it takes more focus for me to 'bend at the waist' when you're on your butt).
I think the form change is the biggest issue, but if you shoot pure instinctive, your mind CAN play a little trick on you - the animal will look further than the horizontal distance, but this really should only result in a variance less than most of our range-judging ability anyway.Comment
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You need lots of practice before taking a hunting shot. Out in the field isn't the place to "discover" your hitting..Hi..Low..left ..right..
Remember it's a "One shot quick clean kill"Comment
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CaptJack, i've got a question. I think it may be a negligible change with trad equipment, so lets talk about it as if shooting a compound. Distance from base of tree to target = 15 yards. Actual distance from shooter to target = lets say 20 yards. I agree that the 15 yards is the actual yardage BUT, would a 15 yard pin be right on the money? I believe it would hit high due to the fact that gravity is actually assisting the arrow to the target. Been too long since i shot a compound from elevation but as best i can remember, thats how it played out.Comment
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Gravity is a constant - doesn't matter if you are shootin up or down - The acceleration of gravity is 32 f/s in the 'y' direction - the effect gravity has on your arrow is still the same as a 15yrd horizontal shot. You can extrapolate that when shooting down or up, gravity has a positive or negative impact on the deceleration of the arrow because there is a y quotient applied to the force on the arrow, but when factoring in time in flight, wind friction, terminal velocity, etc. It's negligable.Comment
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Aim low. Pick a spot at his brisket. The sound of the arrow will arrive much faster than the arrow and he will most likely drop to spring away therefore, allowing the arrow to . I normally draw to the spot I want to release and then drop the arrow a bit more. Works for me, anyway.
Best of luck to ya.Comment
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I'm with Mark.Originally posted by Sticbow View Post
....well, not really WITH him since he's like in Huh Y yuh and all. But I do agree with him.Comment
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