Q & A: Should I Aim Low From My Treestand?

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Video where to aim on a deer from treestand

Reader Question:

I have a question that maybe you can help me with. My tree stand is 22-feet high and I have been told to aim low when shooting at a deer. My husband says to aim normal, maybe raise the pin an inch higher then center body mass.

This weekend I ranged a deer at 27 yards, so I aimed lower like my brother-in-law said and shot just under the buck.

My question is: If I would’ve listened to my husband, would I be putting my hands on that buck? Please help me know if I’m to aim high or low when shooting from a tree stand.”

Editor Christian Berg’s Answer:

First, the question of whether to aim higher or lower on steep uphill and downhill shots is a classic. Many people think the answer must be different, but in fact what you want to do is aim LOWER for BOTH.

Hopefully we can give you a clear answer without delving into a boring geometry lesson, but basically, it involves accounting for the angle of the shot rather than the linear distance between the shooter and the target.

One of the simplest solutions is to buy an angle-compensating laser rangefinder. This way you have a failsafe unit that will tell you exactly what range to “aim for” rather than simply how far away the animal is.

Failure to aim lower on steeply angled shots is a major reason many archers shoot over the top of deer from treestands. In this particular case, a 27 yard shot doesn’t make for a very steep angle.

My guess is the “aim for” distance was probably close to 24-yards. Depending on your arrow speed, at that range, you probably would have been good simply placing the gap between your 20- and 30-yard pins in the middle of the deer’s chest.

See also  .308 Winchester for Hog Or Wild Boar Hunting? Best Ammo (Round, Load, Cartridge) for a Successful Hog Or Wild Boar Hunt Hunting Calibers 04 Apr, 2020 Posted By: Foundry Outdoors Is the .308 Winchester a viable caliber/load/round/cartridge for hog or wild boar hunting? The accurate answer is “it depends”. However, the goal of this article is simply to address the question of whether the .308 Winchester is within the ideal range of suitable calibers to harvest hog or wild boar. As with anything, the devil is in the details. To answer the question completely, we would need to evaluate the downrange distance to the hog or wild boar, the bullet type, the grain weight of the bullet, the physical condition of the firearm, the size of the hog or wild boar in question, the shot placement, the local wind conditions, the expected accuracy of the shooter, the ethics of the ideal maximum number of shots – the list goes on. [Click Here to Shop .308 Winchester Ammo]What we can do is provide a framework to understand what average conditions might look like, and whether those are reasonably viable for a shot from the average shooter to harvest a hog or wild boar in the fewest number of shots possible, i.e., ethically. Let’s dive right in. In the question of “Is the .308 Winchester within the ideal range of suitable calibers for hog or wild boar hunting?” our answer is: Yes, the .308 Winchester is A GOOD CHOICE for hog or wild boar hunting, under average conditions, from a mid-range distance, with a medium grain expanding bullet, and with correct shot placement.Let’s look at those assumptions a bit closer in the following table. Assumption Value Caliber .308 Winchester Animal Species Hog Or Wild Boar Muzzle Energy 2620 foot-pounds Animal Weight 195 lbs Shot Distance 150 yardsWhat is the average muzzle energy for a .308 Winchester? In this case, we have assumed the average muzzle energy for a .308 Winchester round is approximately 2620 foot-pounds. What is the average weight of an adult male hog or wild boar? Here we have leaned conservative by taking the average weight of a male individual of the species, since females generally weigh less and require less stopping power. In this case, the average weight of an adult male hog or wild boar is approximately 195 lbs. [Click Here to Shop .308 Winchester Ammo]What is the distance this species is typically hunted from? Distance, of course, plays an important role in the viability of a given caliber in hog or wild boar hunting. The kinetic energy of the projectile drops dramatically the further downrange it travels primarily due to energy lost in the form of heat generated by friction against the air itself. This phenonemon is known as drag or air resistance. Thus, a caliber that is effective from 50 yards may not have enough stopping power from 200 yards. With that said, we have assumed the average hunting distance for hog or wild boar to be approximately 150 yards. What about the other assumptions? We have three other primary assumptions being made here. First, the average bullet weight is encapsulated in the average muzzle energy for the .308 Winchester. The second important assumption is ‘slightly-suboptimal’ to ‘optimal’ shot placement. That is to say, we assume the hog or wild boar being harvested is shot directly or nearly directly in the vitals (heart and/or lungs). The third assumption is that a projectile with appropriate terminal ballistics is being used, which for hunting usually means an expanding bullet.Various calibersA common thread you may encounter in online forums is anecdote after anecdote of large animals being brought down by small caliber bullets, or small animals surviving large caliber bullets. Of course those stories exist, and they are not disputed here. A 22LR cartridge can fell a bull elephant under the right conditions, and a newborn squirrel can survive a 50 BMG round under other specific conditions. Again, the goal of this article is simply to address the question of whether .308 Winchester is within the ideal range of suitable calibers to harvest hog or wild boar - and to this question, the response again is yes, the .308 Winchester is A GOOD CHOICE for hog or wild boar hunting. [Click Here to Shop .308 Winchester Ammo]This article does not serve as the final say, but simply as a starting point for beginner hunters, as well as a venue for further discussion. Please feel free to agree, disagree, and share stories from your own experience in the comments section below. Disclaimer: the information above is purely for illustrative purposes and should not be taken as permission to use a particular caliber, a statement of the legality or safety of using certain calibers, or legal advice in any way. You must read and understand your own local laws before hunting hog or wild boar to know whether your caliber of choice is a legal option.Foundry Outdoors is your trusted home for buying archery, camping, fishing, hunting, shooting sports, and outdoor gear online.We offer cheap ammo and bulk ammo deals on the most popular ammo calibers. We have a variety of deals on Rifle Ammo, Handgun Ammo, Shotgun Ammo & Rimfire Ammo, as well as ammo for target practice, plinking, hunting, or shooting competitions. Our website lists special deals on 9mm Ammo, 10mm Ammo, 45-70 Ammo, 6.5 Creedmoor ammo, 300 Blackout Ammo, 10mm Ammo, 5.56 Ammo, Underwood Ammo, Buffalo Bore Ammo and more special deals on bulk ammo.We offer a 100% Authenticity Guarantee on all products sold on our website. Please email us if you have questions about any of our product listings. 1 Comments Bobby Schauber - Jun 02, 2022Have y’all quit making deer season x p because we can’t find any for a .308 , and if you are still making it , why do you make it for a 6.5 creedmore and not for a 6.5 Grendal ? Leave a commentComments have to be approved before showing up Your Name * Your Email * Your Comment * Post Comment

Second, another VERY COMMON problem for treestand shots is that the archer simply lowers the bow arm to get the pin on the deer rather than maintain proper alignment and bending at the waist to lower the bow.

At the end of the day, practice and knowing your bow is the best way to make a shot when it counts.

Simply lowering the bow arm changes the relationship between your peep sight and your bow and will cause you to miss HIGH. I understand you shot under the deer, and there could be more than one contributing factor to your miss.

However, I can tell you with certainty that you will always aim LOWER on uphill and downhill shots, and that it is critically important to maintain proper form with your upper body despite the angle.

In the end, I can offer one piece of advice that I think is worthwhile: get into a treestand and PRACTICE making shots from an elevated position. Set a few targets at 10, 20 and 30 yards and keep practicing until you feel comfortable and figure out what your keys are for making good shots from your tree and what went wrong when you make the bad shots.

Your confidence will be a lot higher next time you go hunting, and you won’t have to argue with your husband about whose fault it was for missing your deer! Good luck and hopefully you get a second chance.

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Ethan Smith is a seasoned marine veteran, professional blogger, witty and edgy writer, and an avid hunter. He spent a great deal of his childhood years around the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest in Arizona. Watching active hunters practise their craft initiated him into the world of hunting and rubrics of outdoor life. He also honed his writing skills by sharing his outdoor experiences with fellow schoolmates through their high school’s magazine. Further along the way, the US Marine Corps got wind of his excellent combination of skills and sought to put them into good use by employing him as a combat correspondent. He now shares his income from this prestigious job with his wife and one kid. Read more >>