Tree stand Hunting - aiming & shot placement

Beto · November 13, 2015, 01:56:00 AM

Hi, I usually hunt using a ground blind or sometimes from the ground with my gillie suit. But a few trad shooting friends and I are going to a Carminis Whitetail deer hunt and the outfitter has a bunch of tree stands set up.

I have never hunted from high trees, so any recommendations On this type of hunting and specially on shot placement or aiming to prevent string jumping are welcomed.

Thanks!

Arctic Hunter · November 13, 2015, 02:14:00 AM

Bend at the waist and aim for the exit hole.

I've found not shooting at deer on "high alert" greatly reduces the chances of them jumping the string. Unless you are not like me and can actually remember to aim a little low when its crunch time.

Find an elevated spot to shoot from before you go, keeping in mind how big your platform on the stand will be (keep your feet closer together).

You'll be fine.

Sean B · November 13, 2015, 05:43:00 AM

Bend at the waist not the shoulders!! Good luck

TIM B · November 13, 2015, 05:52:00 AM

Practicing from the height you'll have to shoot from won't hurt ya none

Cyclic-Rivers · November 13, 2015, 06:49:00 AM

Great advice has been given. Good Luck.

If you dont have a stand to Practice from, try standing on a garage or roof and shooting.

bend at the waist, pick a spot.

get a safety harness as well. Most tree stands come with one these days, maybe someone around you has one to use if you dont want to buy one.

hitman · November 13, 2015, 09:42:00 AM

Bend at the waist but keep in mind to elevate your back elbow so it is in a straight line with your bow hand.

Beto · November 13, 2015, 10:49:00 AM

great advice form all. thanks so much.

Now, any other recoemndations or images on where to aim looking from the top sould be great.

November 13, 2015, 11:21:00 AM

When bending over and canting the bow it is often required to have the feet in a ready balance position. With some tree stands and also depending the position and the size of the platform, this may take a little preplanning. You don't want to step off of the stand when shooting.

old_goat2 · November 13, 2015, 01:05:00 PM

I learned a little trick on another social media and it really helped my elevated shooting. On real steep shots, cant your bow as far as you can, still have to bend at the waist so your not dropping your arm and changing your draw length. Really helped me a lot. Decoys are priceless during the rut in my opinion too, don't move till the deer can see the decoy, once they see it and are still advancing, you can get away with all kinds of movement in the stand!

Arctic Hunter · November 13, 2015, 01:31:00 PM

oh...and throw a couple bow hangers/hooks in your pack or pocket in case you want to hang something in the tree, and make sure they have a pull up rope of some type before you go out there without one.

Bobaru · November 13, 2015, 02:10:00 PM

Great advise given.

Call ahead and have a chat about treestand heights and expected shot distances. Then try to replicated those conditions at home.

When people on here tell you where and how to shoot, that is okay, but doesn't help much until you can grasp those ideas intuitively by practice at home.

Beto · November 13, 2015, 03:54:00 PM

its all great info for me! thanks so much.

I am practicing some from high altitudes, but not sure how good I will be with the adrenaline machine going!

Yewbender · November 13, 2015, 06:43:00 PM

Adrenaline gets the best of us at times, pick a spot and concentrate and hopefully it will help you stay calm. Hopefully it helps and if not by all means do the shakey dance but make sure you have you harness on incase your shaking so hard you fall off your stand. The above advise given from others is why this is a great place to be!!!

Tajue17 · November 13, 2015, 07:07:00 PM

pick a spot at the very lowest point,, I like the bottom of the heart area or quartering I go for the back of the elbow bone the arrow always come sin higher but ina good spot for me I have no idea why .. but nobody ever misses low (I don't think) everyone always misses high so DONT BE THAT GUY! ha ha only kidding but bend at waist and shoot low,,, goodluck!

Beto · November 17, 2015, 04:15:00 PM

thankyou all for the great advice. I am actually practicing now using it. great info to know before going to the hunt!

stagetek · November 17, 2015, 05:15:00 PM

Bending at the waist is the best advise I've read. My added advise would be to make sure you use a safety harness.

November 17, 2015, 06:31:00 PM

swamper · November 18, 2015, 05:05:00 PM

If hunting stands with rails,a longer bow can be an issue with clearance.Adjustable safety harness may let you lean out farther if your comfortable with it.Also you will want to check branch clearance and such once in the tree.

joe ashton · November 18, 2015, 05:26:00 PM

Place your safety harness's tither above you, so that if you loss your balance it will KEEP YOU ON THE STAND.