shot distance formula?
08-16-2006, 09:00 PM
#11
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Flushing Michigan
Posts: 2,355
RE: shot distance formula?
ORIGINAL: Arrowmaster
Ok heres the way I have been told by oldtimers years ago. I still use this today. For every 3ft I climb in a tree you add 1 yard to your shot. So if your 15ft in a tree you should add 5 yards to your shot. You never shoot low if you use that formula. Some may say Im nuts but give it a try. Works for me...
Ok heres the way I have been told by oldtimers years ago. I still use this today. For every 3ft I climb in a tree you add 1 yard to your shot. So if your 15ft in a tree you should add 5 yards to your shot. You never shoot low if you use that formula. Some may say Im nuts but give it a try. Works for me...
For example if you are18 feet up in the airand the deer is 75 feet (25 yds) away from the base of your tree, the actual distance is 25.7 yards instead of 25. That's nothing. That's why pendulum sights are a bunch of BS in my opnion.
08-16-2006, 09:05 PM
#12
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location:
Posts: 13,082
RE: shot distance formula?
The number 1 reason people miss high from a treestand is dropping their bow arm. They don't bend at the waist, like Rob mentioned. They drop their bow arm to lower the bow to put the pin on target. Stay level, and bend at the waist. You'll be right in every time.
08-16-2006, 09:10 PM
#14
Super Moderator
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Indiana
Posts: 7,182
RE: shot distance formula?
I dont believe Im droppingorpeeking once I release. Could be I guess. I know when Im on the ground everything seems fine. I do practice from a stand as well. 
thats for sayingwhat a fewoldtimers told me hehehehehe
thats for sayingwhat a fewoldtimers told me hehehehehe
08-16-2006, 09:20 PM
#15
Fork Horn
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Central Minnesota
Posts: 307
RE: shot distance formula?
bowtech-1, the pythagorean theory does work, its just a pain to remember and calculate while your staring at a nice buck. If you set your stand at 25' high and if you know the distance to the animal from the base of the tree is 20 yds then you would aim as if the animal is 15 yds away. Likeeveryone said, just practice. Although, it does matter in rifle or muzzleloading when taking steep uphill or downhill shots at long distances.
08-16-2006, 09:24 PM
#16
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Oct 1998
Location: Hughesville, PA USA
Posts: 18,322
RE: shot distance formula?
ORIGINAL: Dbldroptine
bowtech-1, the pythagorean theory does work, its just a pain to remember and calculate while your staring at a nice buck. If you set your stand at 25' high and if you know the distance to the animal from the base of the tree is 20 yds then you would aim as if the animal is 15 yds away. Likeeveryone said, just practice. Although, it does matter in rifle or muzzleloading when taking steep uphill or downhill shots at long distances.
bowtech-1, the pythagorean theory does work, its just a pain to remember and calculate while your staring at a nice buck. If you set your stand at 25' high and if you know the distance to the animal from the base of the tree is 20 yds then you would aim as if the animal is 15 yds away. Likeeveryone said, just practice. Although, it does matter in rifle or muzzleloading when taking steep uphill or downhill shots at long distances.
Yes if you shoot for 15 you will hit the deer lower than if you shoot it for 20 but I aim for a hair....in a 3D tourney, you would be low ten, missing the 12 if not an 8...don't add or subtract any distance...shoot for the horizontal distance.
08-16-2006, 09:39 PM
#17
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Dover, PA USA
Posts: 5,497
RE: shot distance formula?
Rob is absolutely correct........with proper form shoot the horizontal distance to the target everytime.
I shoot about a million shots in 3D competition with hard uphills and downhills all the time. ALWAYS calculate the horizontal distance.
When you are in a treestand and using a laser rangefinder don't click the base of the tree you want to distance.........laser the trunk at eye level.
In reality unless you are extremely high and combined with a downhill shot from an elevated position the difference in yardage is minimal, a yard or 2 at most. Form is much more important than distance relative to angles for most hunting shots.
Also don't blank out when you are aiming. Think top of the heart on exit regardless of shot angle or steepness. This gives you the widest margin for error, will account slightly for those "Mysterious High shots"
and will give you some built in cushion if the deer drops at the shot.
I shoot about a million shots in 3D competition with hard uphills and downhills all the time. ALWAYS calculate the horizontal distance.
When you are in a treestand and using a laser rangefinder don't click the base of the tree you want to distance.........laser the trunk at eye level.
In reality unless you are extremely high and combined with a downhill shot from an elevated position the difference in yardage is minimal, a yard or 2 at most. Form is much more important than distance relative to angles for most hunting shots.
Also don't blank out when you are aiming. Think top of the heart on exit regardless of shot angle or steepness. This gives you the widest margin for error, will account slightly for those "Mysterious High shots"
and will give you some built in cushion if the deer drops at the shot.
08-16-2006, 09:45 PM
#18
Fork Horn
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Central Minnesota
Posts: 307
RE: shot distance formula?
Rob you are right, you probably would be better off just shooting at the deer as if itwere 20 yds away and using proper form no doubt you would kill that deer. I was just saying the theory does work if applied. I used a calculator to figure the distance.
http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Launchpad/3740/calculator.html
http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Launchpad/3740/calculator.html
08-17-2006, 04:58 AM
#19
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Fairbanks, AK
Posts: 3,132
RE: shot distance formula?
ORIGINAL: Rob/PA Bowyer
What? Absolutely NOT....if the deer is 20 yards away, you shoot the deer for 20 yards using proper form....
Yes if you shoot for 15 you will hit the deer lower than if you shoot it for 20 but I aim for a hair....in a 3D tourney, you would be low ten, missing the 12 if not an 8...don't add or subtract any distance...shoot for the horizontal distance.
ORIGINAL: Dbldroptine
bowtech-1, the pythagorean theory does work, its just a pain to remember and calculate while your staring at a nice buck. If you set your stand at 25' high and if you know the distance to the animal from the base of the tree is 20 yds then you would aim as if the animal is 15 yds away. Likeeveryone said, just practice. Although, it does matter in rifle or muzzleloading when taking steep uphill or downhill shots at long distances.
bowtech-1, the pythagorean theory does work, its just a pain to remember and calculate while your staring at a nice buck. If you set your stand at 25' high and if you know the distance to the animal from the base of the tree is 20 yds then you would aim as if the animal is 15 yds away. Likeeveryone said, just practice. Although, it does matter in rifle or muzzleloading when taking steep uphill or downhill shots at long distances.
Yes if you shoot for 15 you will hit the deer lower than if you shoot it for 20 but I aim for a hair....in a 3D tourney, you would be low ten, missing the 12 if not an 8...don't add or subtract any distance...shoot for the horizontal distance.
