What can I expect shooting from a treestand?

[Red Boar]

Another newbie question here. I have been practicing regularly in hopes to get good enough to hunt with my recurve this season.  I realize I need to practice also from elevation, since I be hunting from a treestand. I've done it for 20 years with a compound, but what can I expect from my recurve?  How much different will it be and what tips can you provide?      Thanks!!

[ChuckC]

Tim.  IF you have experience using a treestand with compounds, I think you will find that the physics doesn't change.  You will still tend to hit higher, you will still have to bend at the waist so you don't change draw length or         grip on the bow.  Most stick bows are longer than compounds so clearance is a bigger issue.  Not a problem, but something to be aware of.

From above, you still have to go thru a bunch of body and the chances of hitting bone, including heavier bone are compounded (pun intended), so learn anatomy and take only good shots.

Practice up and tell us how you did when everything works for you.
ChuckC

[Red Boar]

Thanks, Chuck.  I am guessing you are correct in getting used to overall length of the bow.  Mine is only 56 inches, but a long way from a 32 inch compound.  I plan on using 210 gr. Silver Flames from Beman MFX arrows...should provide some good punch.    

[Larry247]

I like to hunt about 20ft off the ground, so i have to aim low on the deer using a trad bow.

15ft is a little better shot angle but i get picked out by the deer more often, around here anyways.

[BigRonHuntAlot]

Tim, If you have a place to set up a stand and a target close to home it will pay for itself come hunting season. I set up a ladder stand on my backyard range and shoot out of it regulary as hunting season approaches. Good Luck to you.

[Terry Green]

As well as what others have said......

You may find that you need to cant the bow more from a tree stand to be more consistent and not shoot high.

[Stone Knife]

Good point Terry, in the John Schultz DVD Hitting like Howard, he explains how a friend kept shooting over the top of a bear. His advise to this person was " you have to lay it down" after this advise his friend was able to finally take the bear out of a tree stand. Another thing to consider is not letting the deer get to close if you have a high stand location, this type of scenario will cause a one lung hit, when a deer is one lunged it can go a long way, I learned this the hard way.

[rybohunter]

Yea today was my first night up a tree. World of difference at first, but after a half dozen shots I was doing almost as good as on hte ground. A few more sessions & I should be good.

[BigRonHuntAlot]

LOL I shoot better in a treestand than on the ground!!!

[baretraks]

I hunted with compounds for years, most of which was spent 30 feet in the air just out of nose range.

When I put the "bow" back in bowhunting and switched to the stickbow, it was like going from high school to professional over night.

No longer was I able to shoot between my legs, shooting from a sitting position became a lot more difficult. It seemed like the left side and bottom of the stand stayed in the way.

I still love tree stand hunting, but have done a lot of ground hunting since switching to traditional. Getting off the shot just seems a lot easier.

[Whip]

I really try to take all my treestand shots from a standing position.  I alternate between sitting and standing, but normally am able to catch deer soon enough that I have time to stand up if needed.   I do practice shooting while sitting, and will take that shot if I have to, but really prefer to be standing up.

[Red Boar]

Thanks for all the great advice!  This term: " you have to lay it down", means the same as cant the bow?  Thanks again.    

[Wary Buck]

Stick bows need a little more wagon room up in a brushy tree stand, but one figures that out in short order.

When I miss, I tend to do so low, but I think that's because I'm peeking and dropping my bow arm to watch my kill, I mean miss.  The advice about leaning forward is important, and to do that, you need to feel secure up in the tree.  Be safe.

I like lower heights, 8-14' mostly, for better shot angle.  And I like to be standing up, as mentioned before; I feel it allows me to shoot a wider angle.

[Brian Krebs]

You HAVE to practice from your stand; and that means trying to shoot from standing positions and sitting- and see if your bow can be drawn and shot without hitting the stand. Like Baretraks said- positions that a compound shooter can shoot from cannot be done with a longbow.

I have sat sideways on the seat to shoot sitting; and knelt down on one knee; and if your the kind that gets excited- well with all the ways you might twist yourself to try and make a shot....be safe and wear a safety system.

Let the surprises come ~before~ the deer or bear walks into range....

[James Wrenn]

I find shooting from a stand easier with stickbows than with compounds.Just like shooting from the ground for me but I have spent 30 years hunting from above.

[Stone Knife]

Lay it down is the same as canting,Good luck  

[Fletcher]

You can expect to see more deer from the tree.  It's good that you are practicing from a stand.  It is important that you maintain your form alignment by bending at the waist so you can keep your shoulders in line with the shot.  You really should wear a full body harness, too.  I like the Seat o the Pants, but the newer HSS look OK.  The early HSS had the straps going straight thru the crotch; NOT GOOD!  Don't even bother with a belt.