How to Aim a Bow: With or Without Sight

At this point, if your form is good, you’re ready for the next two areas that need emphasis for accurate shooting: how to aim a bow perfectly. This is so important in hunting that you cannot hit a single target without much luck without it.

As we have talked earlier about the importance of the proper bowhunting armguard, arrow rest, sight, and other items, we all should be careful about the timing. For bowhunting in a perfect way, you need to aim properly and hit the target with the proper sighting.

How to Aim a Bow Perfectly

For proper shooting experience, locking the target is important. Here are some basic tips on aiming the target.

Two Basic Aiming Technique

There are two basic aiming techniques that archers use – instinctive aiming or bow sights. While both have merit in different situations, there is a constant that the archer must follow regardless of aiming method.

• When preparing to shoot, the archer must concentrate the aim in the center of the target.
• Keeping your attention riveted to the center of the mark is archery’s answer to keep your eye on the ball. To be an effective archer, you must block out all other objects:
• Shooting position and form are so important. Once you’re on the firing line, the basis should be secondary. Your concentration should be focused on one thing only. You must focus precisely in the center, not just near it or passing through it.
• The hold is another area that requires special attention. Not only must you be sure that a full draw is maintained, but you must pause before loosing the arrow.
• While more technical elements of the hold will be discussed, it is appropriate to consider the importance of getting a bow that does not overpower you. A proper hold is impossible if the archer is struggling to pull the string to the shooting anchor.

Aiming with a Bowsight

Bowsights may be as simple as a pin taped to the back of the bow or as complex as the most expensive mechanical sighting instrument available.

But it all boils down to a dot fixed on the target. The method of setting this dot and calibrating its movements determines, to a large extent, its cost and effectiveness.

Using a Bow Sight for Consistent Shooting: How to Do it Propel

While no one can determine if you will prefer shooting with a bowsight or if you will be effective without one, it should be noted that almost every target archer uses some form of bowsight with beginner compound bows. It’s a precision sport demanding concentration on form practice and control. Consistent scores require the use of sight.

Bow-Shooting from Fixed Distance Required Bowsight

Another reason most target archers use sight is that they are shooting from fixed distances. Since bow sights are set by distance, knowing the length between archer and target makes bowsights very effective. The use of a bowsight seems to be the easiest method for most beginners to achieve satisfactory shooting results.

Using Adjustable Pin for Precise Bow-hunting

Most commercial bowsights have an adjustable pin that can be set to predetermined distances. The sight pin is used to line up targets from the various shooting spots using proper carbon arrows or other hunting arrows.

For instance, one pin setting maybe for 10 yards, the second for 20 yards, and the third for 30 yards. When shooting from an uneven distance, the archer merely aims between settings. For example, during a 25-yard shot, the aiming point would be midway between the 20- and 30-yard pin settings.

Many bowhunters also rely on bow sights. Most hunting sights are sturdy and simple, with a series of pins preset by the hunter for various distances.

Since hunters will not be in situations where they know exact yardages for shots, the pins are used as reference points. Again, these pins are used to help the hunter aim.

Adjusting Aim

Once the approximate distance is determined, the archer adjusts his aim accordingly. Many hunters have also found that it helps put a small drop of different colored paint on each pin.

This color code makes it easier to locate the correct sight pin in a hunting situation, where speed and accuracy are critical factors.

Sighting in the Bow sight

Once you have made your selection, you will have to sight-in your hunting bow sight. A flight of two or three arrows is shot with the sight in a given position, carefully noting this group’s position concerning the target center.

Now the sight pin should be moved from the center to the arrow cluster. In other words, if the arrows are low, the sight should be moved down. If they are to the left, the sight must be moved left, and so on.

Once the sight position is determined, it should remain unchanged for that distance, providing no change in the form of weather conditions. Most sights provide calibration markings – or a place for them.

So the archer can mark off the various distances for future reference.

Know the Distance Before Releasing First Arrow

Of course, it’s necessary to know the distance you are shooting before releasing the first arrow so the sight can be set. Otherwise, you may waste several arrows to determine the proper sight setting. Once the bow is sighted in, there should be no appreciable change in the setting.

Even when changing arrows, one adjustment should serve for all settings. Extreme concentration should be used to keep the sight in the center of the target. It must be locked in there, not just passing the center. It takes a conscious effort to keep it settled throughout the shot.

Consistent Arrow Grouping

Once you have sighted in your bow and have mastered the basic shooting techniques, you should achieve consistent arrow groupings. If you find trouble grouping your arrows, it might indicate that they are out of alignment.