tree stand angles

BruceBruce1959 said:

this is one of those subjects that can easily cause debate but I know between the bunch of us, ONE of us would get that deer.
And I'll have you guys know I would be willing to share my venison. :w00t: LOL just kidding guys

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It might sound like one of the quota hunts I used to go on where there were arrows bouncing of trees in every direction and no dead deer.:biggrin:

So, if I am understanding correctly, if I am 20 feet up a tree and range a deer at 30 yards with my range finder, (pre arch function), it's not really 30 yards? It's a strait line, how could it not be accurate? I think the arch theory is true at long distances, say 300 or 400 yards, but not 20 to 40 yards.

muleskinner said:

So, if I am understanding correctly, if I am 20 feet up a tree and range a deer at 30 yards with my range finder, (pre arch function), it's not really 30 yards? It's a strait line, how could it not be accurate? I think the arch theory is true at long distances, say 300 or 400 yards, but not 20 to 40 yards.

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It is accurate. The question is where you should messure from. I say to be accurate on your shot you should messure 20 feet up a tree next to the deer because the diaganal line to the deer will be longer. The longer the distance the more exagerated the difference.

so much compensation time went by the giant buck just stepped out of my max effective range.:crazy: This may require some backyard trials.

buckshot in this case I would shoot the 20 pin. its kinda like if you were up a tree 90 (30yards) ft you wouldn't use your 30 pin to shoot a deer 5 ft from the base of your tree. there is an adjustment to make to your shortest pin to make the shot. and yeah somebody just get that deer. maybe if we were all in trees around that deer hummmmm??? imagine what the arrow patteren might look like?

that takes out one possible excuse. one mistake i done, wrong pin.

I only use one pin myself. Aim a little high or a little low if it's not 23 yards.

one pin brings up another way to deal with the angle thing. Pendulum single pins. the reason they work is they move the pin to less yardage the more the angle is increased. I've often thought about going to one pin because today's bows are so flat shooting fast. problem there its more estimating which leaves room for different mistakes. Its all about what works for you.

Buckshot said:

It is accurate. The question is where you should messure from. I say to be accurate on your shot you should messure 20 feet up a tree next to the deer because the diaganal line to the deer will be longer. The longer the distance the more exagerated the difference.

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Why would I measure from the base of the tree if I a hunting 20 feet up?:wallbash:LOL. Since I bought a range finder I never pace off steps from the base of a tree. This maybe what is confusing everyone?:no:

because the angle affects the yardage. the hypotenuse of a triangle is longer than either side/leg. a2 + b2 = c2

if you are 30 yards up a tree and a deer is at the base of the tree you wouldn't use your 30 pin to shoot that deer even though your range finder says its 30 yards.

ronn said:

because the angle affects the yardage. the hypotenuse of a triangle is longer than either side/leg. a2 + b2 = c2

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It is less than 3 yards difference, which is not enough for my Hoyt and my increments of 10 yard pins to worry about. I don't disagree with your methodology, I'm just saying it is not enough to make a difference when shooting distances that archers normally shoot.

3" is more than enough for a good hit or wounding and losing a deer. for the average hunter who isn't that far up a tree or in billy goat hill country shooting acceptaple distances, you may be right. if one thing is pushing the extreme, different story.

another theory i have come across is that you should look at where you want the arrow to exit the animal and imagine a straight line and that will give you your entrance point. wow, what a hot topic. my father and brother-in-law hung a new stand which was about 8' higher than the old one and that sparked the discussion on angles so i thought i would put it out for all of you to chime in. thanks a million for all the quality insight!

one more thing, my father-in-law has a range finder with angle compensator and we looked out his 3rd story window and the distance was 20 yds and it said to aim at 16 yds. a little more fuel for the fire!

how many inches diff would that be? if the 20 pin on was used, figuring high entrance to angle through to the heart the arrow would go right over the deer . figure 20 low as it was 16, vittles. then there is the old jump the string. which we know is the deer ducking and the miss would be by even more. err on the low side.

Okay, I went out and set up my 15 foot ladder stand. I put the target 20yards from the base of the tree. I then ranged it from the stand it read 23 yards. Used my 20 yard pin holding right on with no compensation and hit the mark. Moved to 30 yrds from base of tree, ranged 31 yards from the stand. Same results as at 20 yards. Moved to 40 yards from base of tree, ranged 41 at 15 feet up, same results as at 20 yards. Did not compensate, held right on the mark and the arrow landed where I was aming.

Please click one of the Quick Reply icons in the posts above to activate Quick Reply. i don't know what thios was all about.

notice the change is less the farther out you get.... because the angle is decreasing. now climb to 30 ft and see what happens. if i'm less than 25 ft up i might as well be on the ground because at least half the range i can shoot is at eye level.
but i will say if whatever you are doing is working for you use it. that confidence thing.