Feet?

[konrad]

Questions for the gurus:

When shooting from un-even ground, how do the “pros” place their legs and feet?
Do you lock the downhill knee?
Does a more open stance work better when shooting uphill, etc.?

Yes, it is a serious question and I ask for serious, thoughtful answers.

Thanks for your time,
Konrad

[robodad]

Going to need more information, what type of weapon Rifle, Pistol, Bow etc... and how steep is it ??

[konrad]

Archery primarily, the handgun and rifle are not so much of a problem.

The funny thing is, even as little as 15 degrees downhill gives me trouble. It is not so much the shooting angle as the footing angle. From a flat, level platform, bend at the waist. It's not the same as a footing issue.

[adam.WI]

Going to need more information, what type of weapon Rifle, Pistol, Bow etc... and how steep is it ??

this is the archery thread so I'm guessing bow.
I try to keep things as relaxed as possible

[Hornseeker]

Yeah...what Boyd said... I cant even recall how my feet are on uneven hill shots, but I do know one thing...I get "comfortable".. then...if its NOT possible to get comfortable...I just do the best I can...

[boneaddict]

Its all instict to me, or muscle memory.   Thats why I shoot from as many variable distances and positions as possible.  I am lucky that I have a yard that has a lot of variance in it.   Stump shooting in the offseason helps.  Leave the rangefinder at home and work on guessing distances.  Pretty soon you won't need that thing.   When you screw up at practice the worst thing that happens is you lose your arrow.   Practice is just that.  Its just like shooting a basketball.  Pretty soon your mind and body are one and you don't even think about it.

[Todd_ID]

I learned to cope with downhill shots by practicing without my bow.  I work on a boat, so there's 2 weeks a month that I can't shoot.  It's kind of like blank bale practice, but without the bow.  The hard thing is to stay focused in your sequence because there are no negative consequences for bad form when you don't have a shot to execute; the good thing about that is you can forget about the shot and see what works for you. 

My personal stance on steep downhill shots is much more open than on level ground.  With a closed stance your bending at the waist is done to the side.  As you open your stance up further you begin to be able to use your abs and back muscles: both larger muscle groups to better control body position; plus these muscles are used daily and more in shape.  The degree of steepness determines the amount of rotation towards fully open.  A straight down shot from a treestand is almost fully open and bending with chest centered over both legs.  A soft angle, say 10-15 degrees, will put me opening my stance about 10-20 degrees of rotation from a normal level shot stance.

The footing available at the shot location will determine my foot and leg situation.  Generally I try to use my legs a little bit to help with the bending by pushing up with the uphill leg and bending the downhill leg.  That keeps your body in the same orientation as a level shot, but you just gained 5-10 degrees of downhill that you don't have to account for with waist bending.  The legs are stronger to support a contorted shot than the waist, so you end up being able to shoot the lesser angles the same as if they were flat all by using your legs only.  A treestand shot is the same as standing on your kitchen floor, so I lock my back leg and bend the front to get started on the way down.  At some point, roughly 15 degrees, I have to rotate to the open stance above and then the legs are kept relaxed with neither locked.

If it feels hard to get steady in your practice without a bow, then when you have a bow you'll be a mess trying to execute a good clean shot.  Try opening that stance and changing the muscle groups needed to hold your position: it may just work!

[konrad]

Thanks guys,

Todd, I think you are onto something. Many times it is they way it is explained that makes it “click” for me. I have been analyzing what I have been doing and have come to the conclusion it is my mental approach that needs adjustment first.

If I can get comfortable shooting from a tree stand (I practice downhill off of my deck…it’s a level footing…and into a creek bed target…-20 degrees according to my Bushnell), bending at the waist, with knees slightly bent, the way I should be looking at this is as if I were still in the stand but the stand is not level.

Equalize the pressure on both legs and knees and then bent appropriately at the waist.

The description of a nearly open stance when aiming radically up or down hill is nearly equal to that of what is done on a straight down shot from the stand…open stance, wide foot placement and bent at the waist with additional angle adjustment from the leg closest to the target.

Now I am going to get off of the deck and spend a little more time on the hill!
Anyone out there with some spare leg muscles?


PS  This shooting at angles points out even more sharply how important not overdrawing the bow can be. If you are set up with too long a draw on level ground, the slightest change in shot angle will dramatically affect anchor position.

[coachcw]

consistant anchor and pivot at the waist

[follow maggie]

The best way for me to find balance to shoot is to put my feet where they're comfortable and close my eyes.  Your body will find balance pretty quickly when i'ts being fooled by your eyes.  Once you have your balance, however it might be, just concentrate on good form from the waist up.

[Wa hunter]

consistant anchor and pivot at the waist

[jackelope]

The hard thing for me not to do on hills and uneven surfaces is to not torque my bow.

Stand on a hill and hold your bow up without looking at your sight level...now look at your sight level. Thats where I have a problem.