Tree stand practice questions

[Ghost Hunter]

Putting up a few stands hoping to get some shot opportunities.  Planning on some practice sessions in a few days.  Stands will vary in height 18 - 25', with 30 - 50 yard range.  I'm assuming the height doesn't affect pin placement?

[Archry]

Shooting at steeper angles will affect your form and acuracy so practice

[buckfvr]

If you can, imagine the angle of the shaft as it passes through (hopefully) the animal and whether or not hitting both lungs will happen.  I can tell you for certain, if whitetail are your quarry, 30-50 yards will be VERY unforgiving, no matter how good you are on the flat range or 3-d course.

From a tree stand each  shot will have to  be rapidly processed for shot placement as opportunity varies greatly even from the same stand.

[h20hunter]

Rule number one......wear your harness!!!!!

I'd suggest an angle compensating finder and focus on the angle of travel through the animal compared to broadside shots.

Cheers

[Ghost Hunter]

Harness is a given.     Just ordered 3 more safety lines.  Other than one climber, rest are permanent stands so I should have good yardage references.  40 will be my limit.  Practice time coming

[Jpmiller]

Range it all from the ground first and then get into the tree and shoot. Eliminate all that pesky math.

Also if you can wrangle someone to help retrieve arrows for you it'll save alot of climbing in and out of the tree. You can shoot way way more that way.

[Ghost Hunter]

I'm good for only about a dozen shots before my elbow and shoulder starts giving out.  Climbing is easy.

[Archry]

Take the safety harness seriously. My best friend fell out two years ago got nocked out. He's lucky he's not dead or disabled. He now wears a harnesss

[solomtnhunter]

Like you said and already know a harness and safety line is a MUST.  But to share a story i had a neighbor 3yrs ago fall off his 1story rambler roof while cleaning gutters.  Most ladder stands are 15-18ft and he fell from about 12ft.  He ended up in a coma for 8months and the day before his wife was about to pull the plug on him.... He woke up and a week later was out of the hospital like nothing happened.  I jokingly tell him all the time good thing she didn't feel like coming in that friday to do it, instead of monday    OSHA stats show falls from 6-15ft feet have a 25% fatality rate.  Not exactly my kinda odds.  I make my own safety lines from approved rock climbing carabiners & rope.

[Ghost Hunter]

I was an EMT years ago.  Seen a few bad falls back in the day.  Takes a hard landing to break a shoulder blade.  Not looking to match it.

[blackpowderhunter]

3rd axis being adjusted properly will make a difference.

[OutHouse]

If you can, imagine the angle of the shaft as it passes through (hopefully) the animal and whether or not hitting both lungs will happen.  I can tell you for certain, if whitetail are your quarry, 30-50 yards will be VERY unforgiving, no matter how good you are on the flat range or 3-d course.

From a tree stand each  shot will have to  be rapidly processed for shot placement as opportunity varies greatly even from the same stand.

This. I had to learn about the angles this last season but it was actually out of ground blind (as opposed to my climber) where one window of the blind had a steep down hill shot. Had to stand and just barely had the window size to get an arrow downhill and into a whitetail doe. I shot high believing that the angle would at least nip the first lung and then decimate the other which is what happened basically.

And yes please where the harness. A few people per year die because of not wearing one.

[Machias]

BEND at the waist.  100% harness wear, every time no matter what.  It will actually make you more accurate, helps you establish and maintain a solid shooting profile.

[vandeman17]

I learned this trick from another member but I won't name names... A benefit of a harness is when set at the right height, you can comfortably lean forward and catch a power nap without worrying about falling out of the tree. Don't ask me how I know it works or how many deer I might have missed but on those long sits, 5 minute recharge sessions are vital! 

[buckfvr]

I recall twice opening my eyes ending a power nap to see shooter bucks about 30 yards out staring at me as I must have been (softly) snoring.   

[Machias]

 

MUCH better than waking up on the way down!!

[KFhunter]

I have a really steep bank I shoot down off of into a round bale, might be a good idea to "hang" a stand on a tree at the top of the steep bank and shoot out of it..but the stand will be at ground level almost

[Ghost Hunter]

I appreciate all the input. 

My motivation to build tree stands came after purchasing an expensive climber, and discovering how little room to sit, stand, move in any fashion or comfort.  Since I'm putting them on my property, my construction perimeters are what is feasible for me to do.  I started off with 6' diameter wire spools attached to tree and supported from ground.  I've discovered a recliner lawn chair takes too much room, so I'm building seats to attach to tree.  This gives me much more flexibility in moving around on the stand.
I'll confess the harness wasn't used during the construction phase.    Would have been too many lines to keep control over.  I will be using the harness anytime I use the stands.

Anybody interested in building their own, I can give some good input on the process and minimal equipment needed.