Bow hunting is a hobby for many people and a professional skill for the rest, and whenever a beginner gets a new bow, his main concern is how to sight in. Because achieving accuracy is the main key in this activity regardless of the expertise level.
That’s why here we have stated a complete guide for you so that you can achieve your target accurately and perfectly.
How to Sight in a Bow?
Bow hunting is sometimes challenging, but you will surely enjoy it if you are passionate about it. A little hesitation initially, but when you hit your target accurately, all the hard work pays off.
So, before digging into how you can sight in a bow practically, it would be best to keep in mind that you must stay focused all the time on your target before taking any shot.
Initial Checkups (Step 1):
Before you begin, you must check that the bow you are sighting is properly tuned. Then you need to check the placement of your pin(the top one).
Because if your pin is too far right (or vice versa), the chances of missing the target are always higher. With that, we initially recommend that your sight pin is in line with your arrow.
You don’t need to worry about how you would adjust the pin because some bow sights come along with adjustment keys, typically known as Allen keys. Others come with keyless adjustments.
Setting Up the Pins (Step 2):
Nowadays, modern bow sights are equipped with more pins, allowing you to take shots between 20 to 50+ yards of distance with pin increments of 10-yards.
- Initially, you can adjust the pin to the left or the right, but we recommend aligning it vertically in the middle of the housing.
- You can also try bubble level or graduate windage scale in your Sight as it will help you keep your bow straight and adjustable for variable conditions in the field.
Where the rounded part of the bow sight containing sight pins is known as sight housing, and before we start setting up the sighting process, we need to add space between the pins lying inside the housing. So we can move these pins easily without collision.
Good to know: modern bows are of high speeds, and their initial adjustment is 20 yards and above. The top pins are recommended to adjust between 30 to 50 yards as bringing the below pins to the target will help you to aim a bow by following the arrow’s flight path.
Related article: How to Shoot a Bow | Complete Step By Step Guide
Aiming from The Sight (Step 3):
Now that you have done the initial checkups of pins and Sight and adjusted the length of the pin, you need to aim from the Sight. And for this, the peep sight is one of the valuable parts that will help you to shoot in.
A “peep sight” is just a small ring woven inside your bowstring, allowing your leading eye to see straight through the string in your Sight. It will also help you to know that the bow is straight and in line with the target.
So, aiming your Sight with the help of peep sight is a must.
Set your Target (Step 4):
Of course, your next step would be to place a target in front of you. Remember, the size of your target should not be too small; instead, it should be larger as you are practicing, so there is a chance that your arrow may be missing the target.
So, even if you miss your target, your arrow will hit any other part of your target area.
Mark the Arrows (Step 5):
If you set a target and are now aiming for it but still not achieving a perfect goal, what would be the reason for it?
Well, there might be a chance of a bad arrow, so it’s good practice to mark your arrows. That’s why you will confirm if a specific arrow is off the target every time after every round. Then, it’s not you but the bad arrow’s fault.
Take your First Shot (Step 6):
You have learned much about sight adjustment and adjusted your Sight to get ready to take your first shot.
- Aim for 10 yards – We recommend taking your first shot at a distance of 10 yards and if you are missing the target by more than 6 inches, move the entire sight housing until you hit the target closely.
- Aim for 20 yards – After that, you will move towards the 20-yards and keep throwing the arrows at your target after adjusting sight housing. If It’s hitting accurately, then it’s a good time for you to move to the next step of taking shots more than 20-yards.
So, after hitting the target from 10-yards, aim your target from 20-yards. Make sure to take a couple of shots before changing your pin or sight housing, but if you are missing the target repeatedly, you can definitely make changes. Moreover, if you are hitting the middle of your target, then no need to make changes.
Bonus Recommendations to Sight in a Bow:
Firstly – The top pin is the only one that needs to be adjusted by moving the whole sight housing. Once we are done with the top pin, we can adjust other pins by moving them separately. Moreover, it’s best practice to use a rangefinder to set your pins for accuracy.
Now aim through the top pin. If you are hitting above your target, move your Sight or pin-up (and vice versa).
Secondly, few recommend taking a shot between 5-10 yards as a beginner. At the same time, others recommend taking shots from 20-yards. But as a beginner, taking shots from 5-10 yards is a good idea to build momentum. Try shooting with at least 3-5 arrows in every round before making any changes to your Sight.
Thirdly – While hitting your target, do remember that if you are hitting the left of your target, then move your Sight to the left (and vice versa). Suppose you take a shot, and it hits the right of your target. Then you need to adjust your Sight to the right, as your target is on the left. If you adjust your Sight to the right, you can easily hit your target on the left.
Fourthly – After hitting your target accurately from 20-yards, it’s the right time to aim from 30-yards. Now adjust your next pin at 30-yards. Start aiming at your target. If you are hitting your target accurately, then no need to make any changes. If you are missing your target, adjust your pin by following the above steps. Now beyond this and start aiming at 40 and 50 yards.
Fifth – It is important to mention that resting before aiming at 40-50 yards is highly recommended. Take at least a rest for one day and then come back to the field the next day. On the next day, try to take a round of 3 arrows from 20 and 30 yards of distance before going to 40-yards. It will help you confirm whether you are still in or out of form.
In a Nutshell:
If you stick with us till now, we are pretty sure that you have the value you were looking for. Sighting in a bow doesn’t require any specific skill, and in a nutshell, all you have to do is;
- Adjust the top pin of your bow
- Next, adjust the other pins that are below the sights top pin – usually sighted for 20 or more yards only
- Align the top pin vertically in the middle of the housing.
- Mark your arrows to identify a bad one
- Missing a target by more than 6 inches – recommended to side your housing
- The top pin needs to get adjusted if you are missing the target by less than 6 inches
Do write in the comment section, have you tried sighting in your bow, and how was your experience? I would love to hear from you.