From a saddle, almost no shot is impossible, but some angles are far more comfortable than others. The trick is setting your platform for the shots you expect, then practicing the awkward ones before the season.

I shoot a Mathews Lift X 33 at 70 pounds from an XOP complete kit, usually at about 20 to 25 feet. The shot placement advice below comes from hunter education and wildlife agency sources, linked at the end.

Set the platform for the shots you'll get

Before you settle in, think about where deer will walk and which way you'll have to turn. I'm very conscious of how my platform is oriented relative to the shots I can physically make. Set it wrong and the easy shot becomes a contortion.

A leveling platform helps on crooked trees. XOP lists its Edge with 35 degrees of leveling adjustment, and Tethrd's Predator V has a leveling knob. See Platforms compared.

Which angles feel easy and which take practice

My experience so far:

  • Directly behind you: surprisingly comfortable.
  • Off-shoulder side shots: possible, but they take practice.

Practice each one from your actual setup. Something that feels easy in the yard can feel very different 20 feet up.

Where to aim from above

The NJ Division of Fish & Wildlife's hunter education manual names broadside and quartering away as the two best shots with a bow. It says to aim at the opposite front shoulder on a quartering away deer so the arrow hits both lungs.

Height changes the target. The Wisconsin bowhunter safety course explains that the higher you climb, the smaller the vital area gets, because the shoulder and spine shield more of it. Virginia DWR adds that elevated and quartering shots raise the odds of a single lung hit, and suggests erring toward the lower part of the chest from a stand.

Angle What sources say
Broadside One of the two best bow shots (NJ manual)
Quartering away Also one of the best. Aim at the opposite front shoulder (NJ manual). Bowhunter calls it arguably the best for bowhunters because it's forgiving, but notes the arrow may not exit
Quartering toward A tough shot. Often best to wait for a better angle (Mossy Oak)
Straight down Never. The backbone covers much of the vitals. Wait until the deer is at least 10 yards out (NJ manual)

From above, think about the exit as much as the entry. Mossy Oak puts it simply: with an elevated shot, the exit point is as important as the entry point.

Form at full draw

The Wisconsin course says to bend at the waist and keep your bow arm up when shooting down, rather than dropping the arm. It notes that misses from above often come from a changed point of aim. Practice that form from your saddle before the season.

How to practice before the season

  • Practice from height. Virginia DWR calls it critical to practice from elevated positions and on quartering shots.
  • Practice the climb too. My early mistakes were not practicing the climb, forgetting something, and making too much noise. Practice can make all of the difference.
  • Use a target you can shoot from every side. I practice on a Block 6x6 six sided target.
  • Watch your feet. On long sits I have to be conscious of foot placement on the platform, or my arches hurt.
  • Get your bow fitted. My bow was fitted to me by a pro. Get fitted at a reputable bow shop.

After the shot

If you think it was a single lung hit, Virginia DWR suggests waiting longer before you start tracking. The NJ manual recommends picking a spot on the deer every time rather than aiming at the whole animal.

Other good options

  • XOP Edge. A budget cast platform with 35 degrees of leveling per XOP, useful on leaning trees.
  • Tethrd Predator V. 300 pound rating and a leveling knob per Tethrd, with an XL size for bigger boots.
  • Hunter education courses. Many state agencies, like the Wisconsin course above, publish shot placement lessons online.

FAQ

Can you shoot 360 degrees from a saddle? Most angles work, but some are far more comfortable. Set your platform for the likely shots.

Should I aim lower from a tree? Virginia DWR suggests erring toward the lower part of the chest from a stand, and picturing where the arrow will exit.

How close is too close? The NJ manual says never shoot straight down. Wait until the deer is at least 10 yards out.

Sources