New Pumped up Beginner

[BowHunter3050]

I am new to this site i jsut signed up tonight. I just got in to bow hunting this year im 14. It is the best sport, it is awsome and just a really fun hobby, it makes my adrenalin go crazy when a deer comes on bye. But i do have a question already i was wondering if to hi up in a stand could actually hurt you more than help. I am 16 feet up and I no it gets my sent up in the air higher and they cant see you as good, but can it affect your shooting because some people said it might affect my accuracy. So what is your opinion on this im not sure if i should leave it or lower 16 feet doesnt even semm that high to me.

 

[IAbowhunter18]

First off welcom. For you first year you are plenty high, once you get more comfortable up in the tree you could go higher. I really dont think it will hurt your accuracy, all of my stand are a 15 feet, and i doesn't do a thing to my accuracy. Make sure you wear your safety harness, it is way better then being a statistic. Be safe and good luck this season hope you get a biggun.

 

[sureshot]

First off, the higher you go in a tree the steeper the angle you have at your kill zone. The higher you get the chances of a one lung hit increase tremendously. I usually try to set my stand about 12-15 feet up in a tree that has plenty of cover. What I usually do is put a tree stand up in my yard and shoot out of it at my deer target. By doing this I become comfortable in taking shots out of treestand and from higher elevations. If you are confident in your shooting ability when you are that high up then go for it, but just remember that the higher you go up the tree, the harder the shot will be in my opinion. Anyways, good luck hunting and weclome to the best whitetail information site on the net!

 

[ironwood]

Welcome to the site and this great sport.

Two post two opitions. Trust your abilities and practice. Some guys here insist on being 20 feet or higher.

 

[lefler168]

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I really dont think it will hurt your accuracy,

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Im sorry, i know you meant well..but saying that it won't hurt your accuracy is false...any pro archer will tell you that elevation and shot angle takes a toll on your accuracy. Think about it, a steep angle will sometimes change your anchor point, the angle between your bow arm and body, sometimes your sight alignment, etc....anyway my point is, shot angle and elevation makes it substantially harder to execute a well formed shot. Not only that but the vital zone also becomes much more narrow with the higher up you get. I've learned my lesson on not having stands too high. I'll take a twelve foot stand in a good covered tree over a 25 foot stand any day....Im not criticizing you, just correcting.

 

[Jdubs]

Welcome, it's great to see you have an interest in bow hunting. I started when I was 18, so you're off and running. I agree with the previous posts. I place my platforms at 15 feet in trees with cover. By cover we mean trees with at least two or three trunks. Now finding a tree to cooperate in your setups is a different story. But, I find 15 feet is plenty high and still provides a nice angle for that double lunger. Good Luck.

 

[Critter]

Welcome to the site!!! Glad to see another youngster involved with the sport! I'll have to be the "stick in the mud" and disagree with the two previous posts. To me, there is a huge difference between 12' and 20' in reguards to scent control and line of sight from a deers eyes. I agree that steep shot angles can be difficult, but if you practice them during the off season from a stand or platform they'll become as deadly as any other shot. I think one thing that should be noted is the fact that you shouldn't set up in a tree that is close to trail or access point. Make your set-up in a tree that is 10 yards from where you expect the deer to travel and your shot angle won't come into the equation. I realize you can't always predict the exact travel routes of a deer, but you can minimize the percentage of one coming directly under your tree. I think the biggest thing is to really practice hard in the off season. If you plan to hunt extensively from a tree during the season, your bow and broadheads should be set up and sighted in from the elevation you plan to hunt from, not the ground. JMO
CRITR