Windage?

[GF.]

I was out shooting last night for a bit, right before dark...

The wind was tootin' along pretty good there, especially where it funneled through between the houses, so I was actually shooting into a pretty stiff breeze with a few cross-current in there for good measure...

I noticed two things.. maybe three...

First, I noticed that my fletchings were kicking out pretty hard to the left when that first big cross-current hit them. I don't usually notice that, so I'm pretty sure it was a windage issue.

Second, I realized that it seemed like my 28-yard shots were taking about 35 yards' worth of hang-time to make it into the target. Even with a pretty damn fast bow, a third of a second is a third of a second (90 feet @ 270 feeps is .333 seconds even in a vacuum - there just no heffin' way around it).

And so it was no real surprise that I was hitting low with every pin...But I was a bit surprised by how much 'low' I was hitting....:eek:

So I'm kinda curious...

Does anybody think that I may have a tuning issue that would cause nasty complications when shooting broadheads, or is that sort of tail-wagging just to be expected when dealing with a stiff breeze? (I have to say that the lateral error in my groups didn't seem to be in any way unusual, so it's almost as if the points stayed on target as normal....)

And have you ever felt the need to compensate for wind speed or direction while hunting, or are hunting shots usually too close for that to be an issue?


Any thoughts?

[Twanger]

My biggest issue shooting in a cross-wind has been that it blows my bow-arm off target while aiming. :eek: The affect of this on my group size and location appears to be greater than how much the wind actually blows the arrow off target.

Shooting in the woods at real game I very seldom have big issues with wind. Sometimes, but not often. The nature of the woods where I typically bow hunt, thick, tends to subdue the wind. The shots are also usually close, inside 20 yards, where I'm not as worried about compensating for wind.

[ncboman]

Hunting in the midwest means hunting in the wind at times and I hate it.

Like Twanger the wind blowing my bow/bow arm is the main hink. I doan think these lightweight bows help any either. Even close shots can become difficult in some conditions.

ncboman

[dave-t.]

Being here next to KS, the wind can blow sustained 40mph, and have serious gusts. Shooting anything isn't fun in those conditions. Still at 20yds or so, the main issue is the wind on the bow and bow arm. Like has been said, hunting thicker lower areas can get you out of most of the wind.

The tuning issue may be something to look into. Bow strings stretch, and the more you shoot on a new string the more likely it is to happen. I'm not saying this is the case, but I've had problemswith string stretch after replacing strings in the past.

Do some walk back shooting on a calm day, and see if things are back to where they should be. You may need to raise the rest a hair if the shots are still hitting low.

B-head shooting/tuning is also a good way to test your set up.

[GF.]

I think I'll address all of the tuning stuff at once - get the limbsavers on board and maybe a little stab while I'm at it. Then do the 'final' sight-in work.

I have to agree with you guys about having the bow arm blow around a bit... My bow's not particularly light, though, and by applying a little extra pressure against the back wall, that seems to stabilize that arm a bit better....

[ncboman]

pulling against that back wall should be practiced. I'm not good at it.

A danger in shooting a deer in hi wind is mindset change because the sight pin resembles a windshield wiper.

It's very easy to go from 'shoot that spot' to 'somewhere in there', esp with close deer. With a compound, 'shoot that spot' gets my highest recommendation regardless of conditions.

It's gonna hit somewhere, might as well be in the perfect spot. Not tryin for it is rolling dice. I sometimes ask the Lord to let it (the wind) fall out for just a minute. :D

ncboman

[GF.]

I'm not so picky about choosing a 'spot'...

I just find a good-lookin' hair right in the middle of the x-ring and aim at the tip of it ;)