[Buckshot]

I always love this discussion. The bottom line is that gravity pulls on the horizontal plane not the vertical, the easy fix is to range on something that is the same elevation as you are shooting from. Check the ranges to a point up the tree instead of the base. I usually check a few trees at first light then adjust accordingly to where the deer is standing.

SM, something else, in Bruce's example the hunter is only 12' up the tree, when your 20 or 25' up it makes even more difference. When you consider there could also be a change in elevation from your stand to the deer the difference could be dramatic, what reads 25 yards could actually shoot 18.

 

[Buckshot]

Bruce I was adding in the extra elavation if the deer was down hill. It was really more of an example based on some bad shots I have made in years past than in the actual math. It was years before I understood what had happened to me. I think it is great that this thread may save somebody else the same fate.

The bottom line is range from point to point at the same elevation your stand is at and you don't need the trickynomitry reguardless of the angles.:biggrin:

 

[Buckshot]

SM look at it like this; say you are standing on the ground shooting at three targets. The 15 yd is on the bulls eye, the 20 yd the arrow drops say 1", and at thirty yard say the arrow drops 3".

Now you shoot the same targets from a stand 20' high. As you climb the tree the flight of the arrow is a longer distance to the targets but the drop on the arrow is the same as it was at the base of the tree.

Theoretically even if you climbed to a height where the flight of the arrow was 30 yards to the 15 yard target you would still select your 15 yard pin. All because the distance straight out is still only 15 yards and gravity only effects the arrow on that 15 yard horizontal plane and not on the 30 yard flight that has the 15 yard horizontal plus 15 yard vertical.

Once again if you use a rangefinder and take your ranges straight out to a tree trunk instead of down on the ground it won't be an issue.

 

[Buckshot]

Dang is there ******** in NH? who would have thunk it.:w00t: