First, I am a long time lurker and this is my first post. Have to say thanks for all of the info you all have already given a guy with no mentor to learn from. MUCH APPRECIATED!!!
Anyway, I currently shoot a 68" longbow and I am 6'4". When I hunt from a treestand it is very hard to get to full draw unless the target is straight ahead of me. Also, in a stand I am seated and I always practice standing up. Do I need to quit hunting from the stand? I would hate that because I feel I see a lot more game when elevated. How can I practice and find ways to achieve full draw at more shot angles while remaining SAFELY in my stand?
Thanks again so much for all of the tips!
Get a full body harness and practice shooting out of a stand standing up. If you aren't comfortable standing, you should be able to shoot anything on your lefthand side to slightly to your right (assuming you are right handed) according to what kind of stand you have. Why can you only get to full draw if the target is straight ahead?
Welcome to tradgang! :wavey:
I definitely am not comfortable standing up even with my harness. There just isn't room. You are correct in that I can get more on my left side, but I would like to get a full 180 degrees in front of me. Is there a stand that is made to stand up in? I use a ladder stand now. Thanks again!
I'm 6'3" and have a difficult time getting to full draw straight ahead because either I'm hittin the tree behind me with my elbow or am held back by the tree strap on the harness while bending at the waist.
Lean out and/or cant the bow more.
I can't (pun intended) say I've ever had much trouble shooting a longbow from a stand. Where there's a will, there's a way. :)
Ok Andy...either you are a really big guy or you aren't real comfortable being off the ground. If the latter, i suggest learning how to make some natural ground blinds in areas where you can see further (that's why i don't like groundblinds as a general rule). For a non climbing stand that will give you lots of room and a sense of security, try the API outdoors deluxe magnum baby grand (what a mouthful)! The ameristep rapid rails give you more room to climb than regular climbing sticks and that is what i would recommend to climb up with. The baby grand will allow you more room to maneuver while sitting. i have a couple and they might be just the ticket. There are some guys here that use climbing stands for big folks that would work also if you like climbers (i don't). Maybe this will help a little. Good luck! :thumbsup:
Take some time and PRACTICE shooting from your stand. I found many years ago that early on the platform of the stand seems small. by the time October is half over I'm thinking about making the platform smaller. Practice as always is the key to comfort aloft.
I think that might be the answer. I can sling arrows all day long at the range but it is totally different from the stand. Thanks!
Have you tried a shorter bow? I love my 56" "short" longbow for hunting out of a tree.
I have a tree stand that is only 5' up to the platform I would stand on. It is in my back yard and I practice shooting using my harness (seat o pants). It will build your confidence re the platform and what the harness will allow you to do. All of my stands have flip up seats and with practice I have learned to stand and flip the seat up in one motion.
I am the same height as you and I shoot a 64" bow out of my stand. I can understand you dilema. I tried to set my stand up so I would be able to shoot at 10 oclock and 2oclock. It hasnt ben that bad, but 10-12 oclock really is what is comfortable for me seeing how Im right handed.,
That is precisely why I use bows 60"(AMO) and less in length. I also like to hunt from pop-up blinds as well. Actually, I would prefer my bow to be 58" or less but I like it too much to not use it so I'll find a way, whatever the situation.
My next bow will definitely be shorter. How in the world am I supposed to pick one though?
I shoot a 62 inch and 64 inch bows out of a treestand. With my stand setup there is only a couple windows I can shoot through so I set my stand up accordingly. I also trimmed the limbs around me to give my bow enough room. I do shoot a lot sitting down and just have to rotate ever so slightly, cant my bow, and get her done. Like mentioned before where theres a will theres a way. I like my longbows and doubt I will shoot anything shorter than 60 inches.
good luck
I'm only about 5'7" and just switched to a 62" longbow. I was told to lay it over if need be. I see my draw shortens slightly, but at the close ranges I'd be shooting (<10 yds) out of a tree, I'm fine. Once the distance increases, it does get more comfortable to draw. I always shoot standing out of a tree.
Shanaar,
Lot's of good advice here from folks that share your disability (too tall -- I'm 5'6"). Being able to stand in the tree is pretty important. Without standing your mobility in the tree stand is much more limited than it needs to be. Of course they make large tree stands. My 6'2" son uses a buddy stand as his solo stand. He is a bit antsy when going up the first time or two. Get those ants under control by trying the stand out, especially moving and standing before hunting from it. You should be tied in when getting in the stand, out of the stand and while in it. A good harness system adjusted so you can feel it holding you when you are standing will do wonders. The key is to adjust it so you can feel it holding you. You can loosen it a bit as you get more comfortable. I really need to be able to turn 45 degrees right or left in my stand to access more shooting windows. Some of us to hang 20-25' in Baker climbing stands in the 70's without safety straps, belts, etc. It was always a bit spooky that first few moments in the stand on opening day! I feel fortunate I survived those days.
I like a lock on stand for bow hunting or a climber that the climbing aid is moved out of the way like you would be in a lock on , that helps out alot so i dont have to worrie that my limbs going to hit anything . I shoot seated 95% of the time from the stand so I do alot of pratice sitting in a chair or drag out my 8 foot step ladder and pratice from that.
You need to lay that longbow down when shooting out of a stand, I cant the heck out of my " Hill when I shoot out of a treestand.
Practice! Practice! Practice! You'll never learn to shoot from a elevated stand while doing all of your practice standing on the ground. I hunt from a 16ft.ladder stand without one of the sections. Makes for ease of handling and puts me at about 10 to 12ft up. I'm just more comfortable at 10 to 12 ft. Most of my shots are taken sitting down, cause I hunted in Texas for many years off tri-pods and learned to do it that way. Where I hunted, there were no trees, just tall bushes(mesquites). Tri-pods are a great way to learn to shoot sitting down. My favories are aluminum, about 7ft tall, and no longer made by Strong, Inc. I'm 6ft., 270 and hunt with Hill bows ranging from 64" to 68" in length without problems from elevated stands or from the ground. If you can't get comfortable shooting from stands, get a "Guille" suit and have at it. You'll enjoy it more and feel a lot more comfortable doing what you love to do, and in the end you'll spend far less money as well. I promise you, safe, comfortable stands for big guys are not cheap. Good luck, be safe, have fun, and enjoy God's gifts. :banghead:
Great thread,a lot of info. Thanks. TERM
I had no problem with a API Aluma-Lock hang on stand years ago.There was nothing around you on the stand(no rails).And it had a small seat.I sold it because I couldn`t use it on gamelands or state forests because of the "T" screw I had to use in the tree.I got a Lone Wolf climber I use now(After a few other stands I didn`t care for).It`s pretty open all around you.(real nice stand).Practice holding the bow in differant angles.The one deer I shot,I held my longbow staight up and down(olympic style),and shot her about 7 yards from my tree.
I shoot 64" and 66" longbows out of a tree without much problem. I have even taken deer that would be at an 8 o'clock position. You just have to get on the front edge of the stand and turn around. If your not comfortable doing this kind of motion, like was earlier mentioned, just practice in the yard. Keep it lower, it just has to be on a tree, no set hight. You could be 6" from the ground to get used to where you feet need to be and get comfortable with different positions.
Good Luck, and welcome.
Oh come on!!! I shoot 68 and 66" longbows all day from my stands and I am all of 5'10". Stands in general should be carefully chosen no matter what kind, as they can have railings, bars, wierd things to get in the way and you need to avoid these stands. Buy simple and good ones. Practice from them. Get them in trees where you can move a little and bring a saw or pruner to make it work. If you need to remove a little limb cover, do it and then just zip tie the limb to your platform. practice!
As an ex cable installer, I can attest to being uncomfortable off the ground on poles and ladders at almost 22' up in the air.
To help with the uncomforable part, wear you body harness, and work at a simplified elevated distance off the ground. Lean out away from the tree, and practice drawing with your bow at full draw. When comfortable, raise your distance, and practice again and again. Then continue to practice raising your stand or platform to gain confidence in your equipment ie body harness in holding you.
I realize you have a ladder stand, but you may need a climber stand to work with to practice.
During pole climbing school, I actually freak out at just 9 feet off the ground free climbing the pole. I looked like a monkey holding on for dear life that day. But once I got comfortable with practice, I could free hand up 22' and belt off.
But I don't think I would be hunting with a longbow from a stand, and have recurves that will work just fine now.
Good luck in gaining confidence.
QuoteOriginally posted by shaanar:
My next bow will definitely be shorter. How in the world am I supposed to pick one though?
You dont, It picks you........atleast thats what they say :knothead: :confused: :archer:
Practice Practice but as you hunt .
I used nothign during the 70s and 80s but my HH BIg Fives at 70ins. and 68ins. in tree stands and ground blinds I had no trouble .
NOW that doesn't mean I had every possible shot there is all the time . But I could take most of the shots in the shooting lanes I had from the stands . I had to practice my shots . I shoot regulary from kneeling, sitting and standing positions. Some of my shots the bow had to be canted almost completely horizontal, but I practice that too .
NOW that being said I now shoot shorter bows but not for any reasons of problems in tree stands . MY newest bow ( Stewart) is sitll 62 inches and my other huting back up bow is 64 ins. ( draw length has shortened over the years) I used to shoot 29.5 now im a hair over 26in .
Some guys use both parts of the climber to get to the desired height and then switch the seat part around the other side of the tree. Then they just stand for the rest of the hunt. That would give you tons of manueverability...if you can stay standing that long!
You are going to have to stand up and lean out. You need to make sure you are secured to the tree. I will help if the stand is open in the front. Like some one said practice in the yard from low hieghts. You have to bend at the waist.LCH
Shaaner, you must have one of those ladder stands with the fixed seat and a foot platform that both ends of your boot hang off of. Their only good point is the price and they still aren't worth it. Find a stand: hang on, ladder or climber, with a decent size platform (min 20x27") and a seat that folds up or back so that you can back up against the tree. Next is a good full body harness; don't go up without it. Practice shooting from it both standing and sitting. Remember to bend at the waist and keep your shoulders in line with and pointed at the target.
A longer bow will have more issues with interference, but the more you practice, you will be surprised by how easy it becomes.
I shoot a 70" Hill and 64" Bob Lee recurve and have no problem from my favorite stand which is a Lone Wolf sit and climb. I'm 6'2" and 280 lbs. and feel safest and most comfortable in this stand. I also modified the bow holder in the platform to hold my bow right between my knees. Comes in handy when rattling or reading etc.. Also agree with those that like the Seat of the Pants harness. I won't climb without it.
The main problem I had with hunting from tree stands with bows over 60" is that I had to cut so many limbs out of my way that it made me stand out in the open more than I wanted to. Yes, I could go higher up in the tree so as to help prevent detection, but I don't like the shot angles when I get more than 15 feet or so high.
start zip ties to attach some foliage to the platform as you trim. quick and easy.
matt
QuoteOriginally posted by Overspined:
start zip ties to attach some foliage to the platform as you trim. quick and easy.
matt
SMART
I am 6'3" and shoot a lb as well 66",I found that if I place my stand so the platform is parallel to the ambush point of my intended target,It gives me more room to come to full draw.And if I am 15-20yrds from the ambush site I can draw and shoot from the sitting position.I do practice this in my backyard.
I am 6-3 and I have found that I can comfortably shoot from a sitting position with more options- if I sit with my right side against the tree; kind of side saddle.
ALWAYS practice drawing your bow to see where you can and can't come to a complete draw ....