Arrow flight at different altitudes

[rclouse79]

I was able to shoot further distance tonight and refine my sight tape. I think one number higher would be just about perfect for the 4000 ft I was shooting at. I was just listening to a podcast this morning where they were shooting a long range 3D course at high altitude. They made the comment that most people who were missing were missing high.
Most of my elk hunting is around 8000 ft. I was wondering if anyone practiced long range at higher altitude and found that it justified switching tapes. Thanks.

 

[WMag338]

I've always been told the difference in elevation at the short distances of archery shots is negligible. I live at 750' elevation and my shots under 60 yards have always been spot on at 8,000'.

 

[fishsticks]

I think the answer depends. At hunting ranges it may not matter. I can tell you that I recently had good sight marks at 60* and 500’, then went to shoot an archery tournament at 90* and 1000’. I had to take a yard off (on other words I was shooting high) That was on a target set up, so things like arrow weight, target size etc make a difference and at 60 yards or less that 6-8” high may or may not have mattered. At the longer tournament distances it does. At 100 yards it definitely does!

 

[bowhiker88]

I shoot at sea level - beach is 5 blocks away - and before a hunt up in the sierras at around 7500 I was shooting at 50 and there wasn’t any difference. I think there needs to be x amount of time the arrow is traveling with forward momentum so likely you’ll need shoot pretty far but what that number is I don’t know

 

[5MilesBack]

I don't use sight tapes, but if/when I do find a difference (and I have) between my house at 6300 feet and hunting altitudes above 10k feet.......I just adjust the gang adjustment for my center pin (50) to be dead on at altitude. The rest stay close enough with that, that it doesn't matter.

 

[Beendare]

Use the Randy Ulmer trick….back the poundage off on your bow a tad….

 

[rclouse79]

Use the Randy Ulmer trick….back the poundage off on your bow a tad….

They also mentioned that in the podcast I listened to. I would be worried that might change tune.

 

[RuggedYogi]

I live at 7,500 and spent a month at sea level this past May. I was shooting from 20-60 yards. I did not notice a substantial difference in POI. I’m using the same tape.

 

[87TT]

I have a way better chance of me messing up the shot than the altitude. usually getting an accurate range at distance.

 

[Billy Goat]

I suspect it's a yes and no answer.

If you shoot a really streamlined arrow, with small fletching with not much helical, probably won't matter.

If you have an arrow that has large vanes, heavy helical, it won't slow down as fast at 10k feet as it does at 500 feet. At what distance you can pickup on the difference?


I can't remember ever noticing any difference, but I tend to be on the lower profile, lighter helical side of things. I'd normally shoot out around 65 or 75 yards to check my stuff, so maybe past that I'd notice, but kinda doubt it. A long shot 3d range people are probably having more issues with up or down shots and their form changes rather than air density.

 

[CAhunter]

I live and practice at near sea level. I had to go up one sight tape for a recent local archery shoot at 8500’ to be on at the extended ranges

 

[Blackdog317]

No change for me (out to 60 yds). Home is 40' above sea level. Hunted/camped around 10,500 the last 3 years.

 

[tdcour]

I've often thought this, but haven't been able to replicate shooting high. I live at 1500' of elevation with moderate humidity. I'll shoot at the trailhead at 11k out to 70 and don't notice any change in flight. Maybe a yard difference, if anything. I figure if I can't get my arrows to fly high when going from 1500', 95 degrees, and moderate humidity to 11,000', 60 degrees, and minimal humidity then it probably isn't an issue for my skill level.

 

[Blockcaver]

Humid air is actually less dense than dry air. Hot air is less dense than cold air...probably why there was not much difference between "tdcour"'s shots at 1500' (warm and humid) and 11,000' elevation (cooler and dry).

 

[rclouse79]

Humid air is actually less dense than dry air. Hot air is less dense than cold air...probably why there was not much difference between "tdcour"'s shots at 1500' (warm and humid) and 11,000' elevation (cooler and dry).

I agree with hot air being less dense. I would have guessed humid air was more dense.

 

[Warmsy]

Humid air is actually less dense than dry air. Hot air is less dense than cold air...probably why there was not much difference between "tdcour"'s shots at 1500' (warm and humid) and 11,000' elevation (cooler and dry).

You don't have to give a science lesson if you don't want, but how is humid air lesss dense than dry air?

 

[rclouse79]

You don't have to give a science lesson if you don't want, but how is humid air lesss dense than dry air?

I consulted my google machine and the first thing that popped up said more humid air is less dense. Seems counterintuitive.

 

[tdcour]

I assumed moisture content would make air more dense, but google told me different as well. Maybe the altitude is negated by the hot humid air I shoot in.

Maybe a low desert environment to the high country would show differences.

 

[Blockcaver]

The water molecules in damp air don't add to the nitrogren (about 78% N2) and oxygen (about 21% O2) molecules that compose dry air, rather they replace them in a given volume of air. Gaseous H2O is lighter than the nitrogen/oxygen mix it replaces. Has to do with Avogadro's number of molecules....but hey I'm a Mining Engineer/Manager, not a scientist.

From an underground mine ventilation perspective, humid air certainly is lighter than dry air and takes less HP (KWs) to move it through the mine....substantial when dealing when dealing with fans totalling thousands of connected HP.

 

[CB4]

I find that broadheads when hunting have enough drag to make up for the difference. As others have said it may be a yard or two difference. I also tend to shoot/hold a little low so if I am actually a little faster it works well for me.