If you plan on hunting animals, it is essential to learn how to sight effectively. This will not only help you become precise, but it will also boost your chances of shot placement to put animals down faster. If you have plans to obtain a license to put an animal down, you owe the animal a quick and humane death.
Depending on your experience and skill, it can take between 30 minutes to one hour to sight a bow. Shooting a bow precisely is an excellent skill to have.
It takes practice and patience to develop proficiency in using a bow, and it also allows you to enjoy the most pleasing aspects of nature.
The tips shared in this article will provide a step-by-step guide on how to sight in a compound bow.
How To Sight in A Compound Bow
The first thing you will need to do is obtain the tools and equipment.
If your bow is already in tune, here is a list of what you will need:
- Arrows
- A target or shooting block
- A wrench set
- Mechanical Release (optional)
A mechanical release will help you have more control and consistency when releasing the bowstring.
Check Your Equipment
Before you start shooting, it is crucial to check your equipment thoroughly for loose parts. To check for loose parts, here are some tips to guide you:
- Wiggle your sights gently
- wiggle your rests gently
- Examine the alignment between your sights, the bowstring, and the arrow
If you notice any loose parts while checking your equipment, tighten the screws with your wrench set.
The next thing you want to do is thoroughly check your arrows to ensure they are in good shape. What should you look out for?
- Ensure that the practice point is appropriately balanced in the front of the arrow
- Thoroughly check the fletchings for cuts
Note that even the most minor disorders will affect the flight of the arrow. While shooting short ranges, you may not notice the difference in flight, but at longer distances, the flaws will have a more significant impact as long as the arrow is in the air.
Your Stance
Consistency is critical when it comes to sighting a bow, and one of the essential aspects to maintain consistency is your stance.
- Maintain a comfortable position and ensure your feet are perpendicular to your body
- Be consistent with how you hold the bow. Ensure that you engage your wrist at all times
- Always maintain the exact distance between the drawn string and your face
When you practice consistently, these steps will become a breeze, and in one motion, you will ensure all three.
As a starter, however, it is best to take them one after the other.
Sighting In (20 yards)
Before you begin, ensure that your environment is safe. It is imperative to be conscious of your target and also be aware of what is beyond.
Pins are used in marking specific yard distances. A 3 pin set is 20 yards, 30 yards, and 40 yards. After completing the second and third steps, you can begin shooting arrows at your target.
- Focus on the 20-yard pin alone
- When it is safe to do so, shoot at the target
Adjust Your Sights
In the beginning, it may take several tries to adjust your sight. It is vital to ensure that the groups of your arrow on the target are close.
Once you locate the routes where the arrows are consistent, you can adjust your sights.
It is also important to note that the sight movement has an opposite effect on your target.
- When you move the sights down, your bow lifts higher, and so does your shot
- When you raise the sight, the angle drops, making you shoot lower
- When you move the sight to the left, the arrows go right
- When you move the sight to the right, the arrows go left
If you need to, you can make slight adjustments till you are comfortable with the direction of your arrows.
Bottom Line
To become accurate at sighting a compound bow, you need to practice often. The more consistent you become the smaller your groups.
You may begin to shoot your arrows on the same spot after building your consistency, and this is why you need to aim at different spots to extend your target’s life span.
Finally, once you discover what works best for you, ensure consistency in all your shots.
