Steep angle shots

HIcountryman

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So I missed buck with mz at 30 yards! I was about 25 to 30 feet above him on rock looking down - at him looking straight at me as I peeked over. No shot as his body was in between antlers.. I was conscious of aiming low... but bottom of chest hold might have hit him in face. Chest hold may have put bullet in top of back but thinking that might have missed vitals - going back into guts at that angle. So he turned kinda trotting away and I aimed at spot between shoulder blades, totally forgetting to aim low. Shot and no indication of hit. He stopped in trees and I saw him flick his tail before disappearing into trees. No blood or hair at shot location or where he stood as he flicked tail.

So the question is how low do you have to shoot... with mz is the front sight so high that bullet impact is really low at 30 yards... is this irregardless of angle. ??? Mz shoots dead on at 50 yards on flat plane. A steeply angled shot at 30 yards is a lesser flat plane distance than 30 yards.... I'm confused in retrospect!!! Thinking some archers with more experience here can get my head straight
 
The difference at 30 yards on a MZ is negligible. I'm afraid in all likelihood you pushed or pulled a bit and shot left or right... Happens to everyone my friend. Just go find him again.!
 
Should have held dead on.

Probably flinched between excited and rushed as well.

But, live learn and don’t repeat next time you see him.
 
I would say that at 30 yards the shot angle wasn't the big factor. At longer distances and steeper angles point of impact will definitely be high even with an angle compensating range finder though.
 
Don't worry about all the opinions. Best thing you can do is take a target back to the same spot, set it all up, and put it on the paper.

Hope you get him next time.
 
We hunt a little corner where the shot is a near vertical downward shot at about 100 yards using a rifle. On nearly vertical downward angles greater than about 70 yards there seems to be a significantly higher impact point than what traditional calculations would suggest. My theory is once you reach the near vertical point, the gravitational force is essentially pulling in the same direction as the flight of the bullet, and the effects of gravity causing drop on the bullet are essentially eliminated. Because of this, the trajectory of the bullet never really drops. It just keeps climbing. A lot of people will argue this point- at least until they actually try the shot.
 
As stated above, if your sights are compensating for bullet drop at any range, the downward (or upward) shots will always go high either way with less gravitational pull.
That said 30 yards is almost point blank so the few inches difference from where you aimed and where you hit are probably not so significant.
I have learned from similar experience to always take angle into account, even at 100 yards. I also carry an angle compensating range finder for shots that allow time to get a true range, given the angle.
There is no shame in a miss as long as you learn from it. I've missed my share but I'm a better hunter because of it.
There is always the excuse that the buck needed another year to grow! :)
 
Like said, you missed, part of the game, FYI the math says the horizontal distance, at 30' high, 90' (30 yds) diagonal, is 84' 10-1/4", or 28.28 yds, not much change ...
Mike
 
It was definitely a rushed shot! He was one I saw in 2019 as a young but already big one. I was going after him when I ran into velvet buck I got that year. Thinking he is at least 6.5 yes this year. Wide and massive. Got to watch him 2 hrs through spotter - never thought to take a pic!

Won't get tag next year. Hope he is still alive in 2 years.. but that may be a stretch. Only mature buck I saw out there. Lots of fawns so maybe I ll hold off 4 years!

I will practice at steep angle before next time
 

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