Shooting On Inclines or Declines

[cohunter14]

This gets talked about every once in a while, but I think it is a misunderstood and overlooked topic both for archery and gun hunters alike. Severe inclines or declines can have a significant impact on the true distance of your shot. As an example, take a 40 yard shot on a slope that has a 40 degree incline or decline, and that shot turns into roughly a 30 yard shot. Here is an easy chart that can help to calculate the true distance of your shot based on the incline or decline of the slope:

ANGLE......MULTIPLIER
10 deg......0.985
15...........0.966
20...........0.94
25...........0.906
30...........0.866
35...........0.819
40...........0.766
45...........0.707
50...........0.643
55...........0.574
60...........0.5

Using this chart, you simply take your yardage and multiply it by the multiplier number for the given angle. So, in the example I gave above, you would take 40 yards and multiply it by 0.766 (for a 40 degree angle) and get 30.64 yards.

A couple of things to keep in mind: first, this works for both uphill AND downhill shots. That\'s right, uphill shots also act shorter than a flat shot. As a golfer, I really had a hard time understanding this, but if you do the research you will see that it\'s true. Second, how do you figure out how steep the slope is that you are on? I found this video a while back and it shows a very simple method just based on using your fist:

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ft_FYY3En2U&index=20&list=PL7D8F8A84F779F2A0[/youtube]

Finally, these numbers can be quite complicated without a calculator, but just try to simplify them in your mind. In the 40 yard and 40 degree angle example, the number is 0.766, but just take 75% of 40 and you are going to be close (30). The same goes with any of the numbers - try to keep it simple and get a reasonable estimate.

 

[elky McElkerson]

thank goodness for modern rangefinders that do the math.

close encounters with tasty creatures in bow-range. zero doubt my math skills will evaporate and fail me. there is no way, i\'m working trig/geometry math in my mind at full draw.

rifle range, maybe..

 

[elkmtngear]

Funny how shooting instinctive is different...If I haven\'t shot for a long time, I have to compensate low on a steep downhill shot, and high on a steep uphill shot.

After shooting for a week or so, my brain automatically compensates for the grade, so I just look at the spot I want to hit, and release. The brain is an amazing instrument!

 

[cohunter14]

thank goodness for modern rangefinders that do the math.

Just make sure it\'s not a golf range finder...as I mentioned, it will adjust an uphill shot to a longer distance than a shorter

But good point on that! Technology is definitely your friend.

 

[WW]

So Derek, I know you are a guru on this stuff. So would this work ? We measure horses by the hand. And a hand is usually considered to be roughly 4 inches. So that would make a 15 hand horse roughly 60 inches tall at the shoulder.

So considering 4 inches = 1 hand, why wouldn\'t it work to place marks on a walking stick every 4 inches and hold the stick out straight in front and count the marks down to the target area ? Each mark should represent 10*, shouldn\'t it? Just seems simpler than flipping your hand over several times and it seems the margin for error would be less. Whatta ya think???? :shock:

 

[cohunter14]

So Derek, I know you are a guru on this stuff. So would this work ? We measure horses by the hand. And a hand is usually considered to be roughly 4 inches. So that would make a 15 hand horse roughly 60 inches tall at the shoulder.

So considering 4 inches = 1 hand, why wouldn\'t it work to place marks on a walking stick every 4 inches and hold the stick out straight in front and count the marks down to the target area ? Each mark should represent 10*, shouldn\'t it? Just seems simpler than flipping your hand over several times and it seems the margin for error would be less. Whatta ya think???? :shock:

That\'s a good idea Bill! Maybe even a way to put the marks on your bow? Might be more difficult on a rifle, but even a stick like you are saying would work. Good thoughts!