When hunting with a bow, having a clear aim is of great importance. Anything which can provide you with or support you in having a steady, clear point of focus can be very much helpful to you in hunting.
Bow sights exactly perform this function. Bow sights/ scopes are basically extra accessories that you can mount on a bow in order to get a better aim, just like the scopes and sights used in rifles and guns.
They are often helpful in accomplishing a clean kill or landing a head-shot. Smaller and cleaner targets would be difficult without such aid.
However, merely owning a bow sight won’t be enough in itself. You should know as to how you can properly and efficiently use those sights.
In this article, we discuss and explain this very thing- how to use compound bow sights.
Keep scrolling to know more!
Step-by-step guide on how to use compound bow sights
Let’s now look at the ideal way of using a bow sight.
Check the sight:
Before you start the hunt or game out, it would be a good idea to check and ensure that the sight is installed properly. An incorrectly installed sight would be the opposite of helpful!
Adjust your posture:
The next thing to care for in order to make efficient use of sights and targeting well is your posture. Maintain a straight and steady form and a consistent anchor point.
Sighting:
This would differ based on the type of bow sight that you are using. There are basically two main types of bow sights, which are single pin sights and multi-pin sights.
As their names suggest, single-pin bow sights have just one aiming pin that you can easily adjust and change with the help of a dial.
Multi-pin bow sights have 3-5 aiming pins (varies from brand to brand) that are fixed to aim at different distances.
So, if your sight has 4 pins, one would be aimed for 10 yards, one on 20 yards one on 50 and so on. These cannot be easily adjusted amid hunt.
So if you have fixed sights (another name for multi-pin sights), you should check and carefully fix the pins before you’re out on the field.
Now, the sighting is pretty much a hit and trial process. But here are the best tips we can offer:
Using Single pin sight: First, decide on the yardage you’d like to set up for. An average practice goes for 20-25 yards. Once set up, shoot the target 3 times, aiming at the center.
Those 3 arrows should be of the same type. Now, in case the arrows grouped together close on the target, remove them and shoot another arrow.
Simply set the sight in the direction that the arrow too. As if, if your shot went right, adjust the pin to right. Aim at the center through the sight, and adjust the sight towards where the missed arrow is.
Take a few more shots then, tweaking to ensure that your sight is set right. If your arrows don’t group together, there is something wrong either with your shooting or the arrows.
Using multi-pin sights: Mark every 10 yards with a range finder, until 40 or 50. Starting with the first 10-yard mark, shoot with 3 arrows standing at every 10-yard mark and making adjustments to the sight box accordingly.
Throughout the process, make sure your anchor points are consistent. It may take several shots before all the sight pins are set correctly.
Tips for installing and using bow sights
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- Practice and get comfortable with the sight before you go out on actual hunts or games.
- When installing a sight on your bow, be sure to make it tight. At the same time, you also need to pay attention that you aren’t exerting too much pressure. Else, you may damage the bow in the process.
- Try different adjustments with the sight to see which suits you the best. Try all the settings you have at your disposal and practice with those who know better.
- You can split the process of sighting (especially of multi-pin sights) over several days, as it is an exhausting process.
- You may even try and use the peep sight, if you are comfortable, for a better aim.
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