Altitude adjustmets

Mark

Member
Jun 30, 2013
114
0
So Cal
I was wondering if anyone experiences changes in arrow impact points at altitude? I live at sea level and on a recent trip to altitude (about 6,000ft) my impact point was a few inches high.

Thanks!

Mark
 

Mark

Member
Jun 30, 2013
114
0
So Cal
I do and did too but I (at least seemed) to have a change in impact. Could have been all in my head....lol.....which would account for a lot of things!

I noticed the difference when I dropped back to 40-60 primarily.
 

Hilltop

Veteran member
Feb 25, 2014
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Eastern Nebraska
Mark,

Any chance you were shooting on an incline? Any incline can have an effect. I have never noticed much difference when I hunt even at 10,000 feet as long as I'm on flat ground.
 

25contender

Veteran member
Mar 20, 2013
1,638
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It does make a difference my bow shoots 2.5 inches high across the board going from sea level to 10000 ft . We have tested a few bows and all of them shoot higher with big elevation changes.
 

Mark

Member
Jun 30, 2013
114
0
So Cal
Hilltop.....I was on flat ground when I was sighting in. I was dead on @ 60yds when I left home (100ft) and was high by about 2" when I got to altitude. Might be bow specific or operator error.

All the more reason to sight in when you land!
 

2rocky

Active Member
Sep 10, 2012
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Excitement makes me "heel" my bow harder...result high arrows.

You should shoot your bow anyway. Won't spook anything, or annoy anyone.
 

Hilltop

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Feb 25, 2014
3,847
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Eastern Nebraska
It does make a difference my bow shoots 2.5 inches high across the board going from sea level to 10000 ft . We have tested a few bows and all of them shoot higher with big elevation changes.
Thanks. I spent a little time thinking about this since my original response. Most of my trips up the mountain were while I was living in Laramie- 7500 feet in elevation. Changing 2500 feet made no noticeable difference. I have never sighted in at seas level and then shot at very high elevation.
 

25contender

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Mar 20, 2013
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Sometimes It's not that big a deal if you are already at a decent altitude but when you are starting at close to sea level and high humidity it definatly makes a difference.Over the years I have tried different bows at different speeds and arrow weights. Seems like the lighter arrows are the most affected by altitude.
 
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Mark

Member
Jun 30, 2013
114
0
So Cal
25 contender, that would be it. I'm at 100ft on the coast, relative 70% humidity. The variance was at 5000'.

It really messes with a guys head when your stacking arrows the day before you leave only to be off when you get to camp. I ended up shooting enough that I was convinced it was altitude and made the adjustment. I'm headed back to 5-6000' in a week for elk so we'll see if it's still on.

Thanks for the input guys, greatly appreciated!
 

Bonecollector

Veteran member
Mar 9, 2014
5,862
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Ohio
I agree 100% with this logic based on my findings.

Sometimes It's not that big a deal if you are already at a decent altitude but when you are starting at close to sea level and high humidity it definatly makes a difference.Over the years I have tried different bows at different speeds and arrow weights. Seems like the lighter arrows are the most affected by altitude.