Tree stand distance formula question

[kirkl]

I can't find the thread but someone had a formula for figuring out the distance from an animal. Here's my numbers, someone crunch them for me. Thanks

Tree stand height- 15-20 ft
Distance of target to base of tree- 13-15 yards

[Jonathan_S]

There's no arc of an arrow flight when shooting at less than 20 yards.  It just shoots a little higher shooting downward at that distance.

 Aim for the bottom of the heart and say goodnight Gracie   

[kirkl]

 

[JLS]

The distance from the base of the tree to the target is the one you care about, so aim for 13-15 yards.  Remember that gravity only affects an object over the course of the distance it travels horizontally.  So, if you are shooting uphill or downhill the horizontal distance to your target will be less than the linear distance.  That is why your arrows/bullets seem to impact high.

[Jonathan_S]

 I have been practicing shooting at 15 yards in a 20 ft treestand so this isn't scientific but it's what I've got with a well tuned bow.

[MR5x5]

It's all about the horizontal distance to the target, i.e. the length of flight that gravity is pulling down on the projectile.

On flat ground, if you know the height (call it "B") and the straight line distance to the Target (call it "C"), then the Horizontal Distance "A" to the target is the square root of A squared plus B squared.

Unless you are shooting real long, or real steep (like 30 deg or more) just nock off a couple yards and call it good.

Same thing for shooting either uphill or downhill.  Nock off a couple yards...

[Smossy]

It's all about the horizontal distance to the target, i.e. the length of flight that gravity is pulling down on the projectile.

On flat ground, if you know the height (call it "B") and the straight line distance to the Target (call it "C"), then the Horizontal Distance "A" to the target is the square root of A squared plus B squared.

Unless you are shooting real long, or real steep (like 30 deg or more) just nock off a couple yards and call it good.

Same thing for shooting either uphill or downhill.  Nock off a couple yards...

If shooting uphill, wouldnt you think gravity would come into play even more than shooting on even terrain? Id think it would be horizontal +
I understand how shooting downhill your already in a - gravity trajectory so I see how that works. Just not shooting up

[Jonathan_S]

 
I think he just mis-typed that Smossy.  It has the opposite effect of shooting downhill.  It's really not that much though.  It's only a couple inches at 40 yards for me on a sloping hill

[MR5x5]

No it is not a typo.  The horizontal distance is shorter both uphill and downhill.  Nock yardage off for both.

Here is a mind bender for you....  Where do you aim (high or low) at a target directly below you vs a target directly above you?

Ans:  At the exact center as there is no horizontal component to either shot 

[luckyman]

The way I understand it an arrow flying level will have the most drop as it flies
An arrow flying straight up or straight down has the least.
As an arrow flies straight up it slows the quickest but doesn't change coarse till it peters out and turns downward.
So shave a few yards off on up or down shots or aim a touch low.

[Smossy]

Interesting.

[MIKEXRAY]

I think each person should shoot their bows from elevation and see what happens.  I've shot my bow from the top of my garage ( 20 ft high standing up there ) on my archery range and my point of impact difference is less then two inches different  all the way out to 40 yards.  My bows impact is close enough that 20 ft high does not change aim point enough to be using a formula online and compensating for sure.

[BULLBLASTER]

I agree to practice. That said I have noticed that more times than not with people shooting from treestands fhe difference is a matter of form and anchor than shot angle. In a treestajd you need to be sure you are bending at the hips and keeping consistent anchor.
I have missed an elk before due to shot angle... was much farther and steeper than any treestand shot. I then corrected due to what an angle compensating rangefknder said. I shot again and double lunged that elk. There was an 8 yard difference.
I now know from experience how much and when to cut yardage.

[Special T]

Silver Arrow Bowmen is a GREAT course to test you thoughts out. We have SEVERAL steep up and down shots. It is the True horizontal distance not the line of site... Shooting straight up or down has no arrow "drop" because it is not traveling any distance. SAB is open to ANYONE for $2 of all day shooting. 

[huntnnw]

Tree stands on steep hill sides create lots of thought as where to aim depending where the animal approaches from

[Special T]

Where some people get messed up, like me,  has more to do with the angle of the wound channel in a deer than where you strike the target.

[yajsab]

No need to have headache over this.  I shoot up to 40 yards without any calculations.

[D-Rock425]

People really ovethink this stuff.  Most of the time the yardage difference is so minimal most of us won't know the different.  When it really starts to come into effect is really step up or down at longer ranges.  Id say 40 plus yards.  Up or down is the same you always subtrac yards NEVER add yards up or down.  If you have time to play with a range finder that does the math for you most of the time it is only like a yard or 2 you take off.  Most bows these days if you're a yard or two off animal is still going to die.

[D-Rock425]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ypk6nWGVE4E&feature=youtube_gdata_player. This may help some people.

[Smossy]

People really ovethink this stuff.  Most of the time the yardage difference is so minimal most of us won't know the different.  When it really starts to come into effect is really step up or down at longer ranges.  Id say 40 plus yards.  Up or down is the same you always subtrac yards NEVER add yards up or down.  If you have time to play with a range finder that does the math for you most of the time it is only like a yard or 2 you take off.  Most bows these days if you're a yard or two off animal is still going to die.

So what your saying, is aim slightly lower when it comes to elevated shots?

[Bob33]

People really ovethink this stuff.  Most of the time the yardage difference is so minimal most of us won't know the different.  When it really starts to come into effect is really step up or down at longer ranges.  Id say 40 plus yards.  Up or down is the same you always subtrac yards NEVER add yards up or down.  If you have time to play with a range finder that does the math for you most of the time it is only like a yard or 2 you take off.  Most bows these days if you're a yard or two off animal is still going to die.

So what your saying, is aim slightly lower when it comes to elevated shots?

That's not what he said. He said "don't overthink this stuff" and the "yardage difference is so minimal most of us won't know the difference". In other words, aim as if you were on level ground. Unless the distance is extreme and the angle very steep, trying to compute the horizontal distance versus straight line distance is wasted time and effort.  When people start talking about "aiming lower" or "your shots will be higher" it's much too easy to get confused. In his original example of a 15 foot high stand, the difference would be approximately one foot at 40 yards: aim as if the animal were at 39 2/3 yards, not 40 yards.

[Smossy]

People really ovethink this stuff.  Most of the time the yardage difference is so minimal most of us won't know the different.  When it really starts to come into effect is really step up or down at longer ranges.  Id say 40 plus yards.  Up or down is the same you always subtrac yards NEVER add yards up or down.  If you have time to play with a range finder that does the math for you most of the time it is only like a yard or 2 you take off.  Most bows these days if you're a yard or two off animal is still going to die.

So what your saying, is aim slightly lower when it comes to elevated shots?

That's not what he said. He said "don't overthink this stuff" and the "yardage difference is so minimal most of us won't know the difference". In other words, aim as if you were on level ground. Unless the distance is extreme and the angle very steep, trying to compute the horizontal distance versus straight line distance is wasted time and effort.  When people start talking about "aiming lower" or "your shots will be higher" it's much too easy to get confused. In his original example of a 15 foot high stand, the difference would be approximately one foot at 40 yards: aim as if the animal were at 39 2/3 yards, not 40 yards.

So nothing, lol I did some shooting from my girls 2nd story window one day, about 20 feet. down to the coyote target. Almost seemed like my arrows were faster because they were ripping almost completely through my 3d target.