# Uphill & Downhill Shot Angle Calculator

> Find the true distance to aim for on uphill, downhill, and treestand shots. Enter line-of-sight distance and angle, or stand height and ground range.

Canonical page: https://archeryprotools.com/calculators/shot-angle-calculator (the interactive calculator runs on that page)

Steep shots trick rangefinders and archers alike. Gravity only acts over the horizontal distance, so a 30-yard shot at a steep angle may need your 25-yard pin. Find the true distance to aim for from a slope or from a treestand.

## 🎯 Uphill & Downhill Shot Angle Calculator

Enter your values below. Results update as you type.

What a non-angle-compensating rangefinder shows

Uphill or downhill, the correction is the same

Shoot For

**How this is calculated:**

Horizontal distance = Line-of-sight distance × cos(angle)

Treestand: angle = arctan(height ÷ (ground distance × 3)), line of sight = √((height ÷ 3)² + distance²)

This is the rifleman's rule. It works well for bows at normal hunting distances.

## 📊 Angle Correction Chart

Horizontal distance to shoot for at common angles.

| Line of Sight | 10° | 20° | 30° | 40° | 50° |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 20 yd | 19.7 | 18.8 | 17.3 | 15.3 | 12.9 |
| 30 yd | 29.5 | 28.2 | 26.0 | 23.0 | 19.3 |
| 40 yd | 39.4 | 37.6 | 34.6 | 30.6 | 25.7 |
| 50 yd | 49.2 | 47.0 | 43.3 | 38.3 | 32.1 |

Below about 10°, the correction is under half a yard at 30 yards and closer, and can usually be ignored.

## 🌲 Treestand Shots

From a 20 ft stand, a deer 15 yards from the base of the tree is 16.4 yards away by line of sight at an angle of about 24°. You should aim for 15 yards, not 16.4. Close to the tree the angle gets steep fast, and the shot also changes where the arrow passes through the vitals.

- Aim for the exit, not just the entry. On steep downward shots, picture where the arrow will come out and keep it in the off-side vitals.
- Bend at the waist, not the arms. Keep the same anchor and bow-arm angle you use on level shots so your form stays consistent.
- Practice from height before the season. Shooting from an elevated platform shows you how your own form and pins respond.

## ❓ Frequently Asked Questions

**Do you aim high or low when shooting downhill?**

Aim for the horizontal distance, which is shorter than the line-of-sight distance. Using the line-of-sight pin makes the arrow hit high, both uphill and downhill.

**Why does the same rule apply uphill and downhill?**

Gravity pulls straight down, so it only acts over the horizontal distance. The direction of the slope does not change that.

**Do I need an angle-compensating rangefinder?**

It is very helpful for treestand and mountain hunting. If yours does not compensate, use this calculator or the chart above to correct the reading.

**How much does a 20-foot treestand change the distance?**

At 20 yards ground distance, very little: about 1 yard of line-of-sight difference. Inside 10 yards the angle becomes steep and the difference grows.

## 🧮 Related Calculators

Calculator results are planning estimates. Always confirm your setup with chronograph readings and real shooting.