I HAVE FORGOTTEN THIS

[Dr5x]

I USED TO KNOW THIS BUT A 91 YEAR OLD MEMORY IS NOT TRUSTWORTH ALTHOUGH COLORFUL.

YOU HAVE YOUR RIFLE ZEROED IN IN TH 50 TO 75 YARD RANGE OVER FLAT GROUND,

BUT WHILE HUNTING IN THE HILLS OF KANSAS YO SPOT A HANDSOME BUCK BROARSIDE ABOUT 50 OR 60 FIFTY HARDS AWAY but downhill at almost a 45 degree angle. What is your problem? Do you aim high are do you aim low to compensate for that sharp angle?

I'm off to Dialysis and will look forward to your Answers when I come home

Dutch Schoultz

 

[Melnic]

Aim Low, whether up hill or down hill.
50-60 yards won't make a huge difference if you are using a stout hunting load from my experience with my .54 GPR and PRB. Not much drop should be occurring. My biggest issues are in my stand when shooting those pointed feathery sticks and I sighted on level ground.

 

[renegadehunter]

As an archery shooter that has had to judge yardage for several years before rangefinders were so affordable, let alone the incline calculating ones, I've dealt with the answer to this many times. When estimating the yardage to something downhill, you have to try to draw an imaginary line straight up from the animal's back and then try to judge straight out to that point. It is much easier to do when there are some trees around and much harder when there isn't. It has to be fairly steep, such as your suggested 45 degrees, before it matters much at shorter distances like 50 yards or less.
The distance straight out is always shorter than the distance down to the animal, resulting in a lower hold.
Now-a-days I just press a button on my rangefinder and it'll show me the degree of angle and say something like "55 yards, hold for 50 yards".

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

Regardless of the arm or projectile or velocity thereof, always aim for the true HORIZONTAL DISTANCE to the target.

 

[Captjoel]

I missed a nice buck this fall shooting down hill at about 50 yards. I plan to set up a target at the same spot when the weather breaks come Spring. It is on my property so no big inconvenience.

I thought I had everything dialed in but that miss at such a close range has really been bugging me! I look forward to your sage advise on this subject Dutch, and will be anxiously waiting your reply!

 

[hanshi]

I always shoot at deer while imagining I'm shooting at a soccer ball in the deer's chest. This way I always know where the ball will hit regardless of the position the deer is in when encountered. Don't shoot at the outside of a deer; shoot at the inside of the deer.

 

[Dr5x]

IF YOU'LL NOTE THE HEADING OF THIS THREAD, I HAD FORGOTTEN WHETHER YOU AIMED HIGH OR LOW SO MY SAGE ADVICE HAD THE VALUE OF A COIN FLIP.

When you are zeroed in on horizontal target you are compensating for the gravitational drop so now when you are shooting down you will be over compensating because of the drop plus the fact that you are also shooting in the same direction as that gravitational drop.
So you would aim higher. Right?
Apparently not.
I have relatives in the Seals and accordingly have followed their thoughts and practices with some interest
Questions like this make me itch. I got all confused by some of their night practices

which rattle my desire for continuing LOGIC.
Firing uphill I believe also involves aiming lower.
I was not hoping to instruct. i really want to know so I can figure things out.
I'll be 91 on Saturday and deer are as safe from my attentions as young maidens, butexercice of the mind is what keeps me going.
Dutch Schoultz

I missed a nice buck this fall shooting down hill at about 50 yards. I plan to set up a target at the same spot when the weather breaks come Spring. It is on my property so no big inconvenience.

I thought I had everything dialed in but that miss at such a close range has really been bugging me! I look forward to your sage advise on this subject Dutch, and will be anxiously waiting your reply!