If you believe you are going to stick archery for some time, then it is worth investing in quality accessories. A good sight would be a minimum commitment. There are essentially 3 different types of sights; fixed pins, moveable pins, and pendulum.
With fixed Pins, you typically have anywhere from 1 to 5 sight pins. You set a single sight pin for something like 25 yards and with today’s fast bows you should be able to shoot out to 40 yards by holding a little high or low. Some hunters like this because they don’t get confused over which pin to use. Others use several pins, setting them for distances up to 40 yards. This way you can hold a pin pretty much low or high at any distance. You don’t need to judge distance exactly this way. You can guess it is over 30 yards, but less than 40 yards. Hold the 30-yard pin high in the vital target area and you should have a killing shot. The new in line vertical sight pins don’t work well as a range finder. You can do a little experimenting and learn how to judge distance using your sight pin gap. Another advantage that few people know about is using your fixed pins to make sure you clear brush or limbs. Put your 30-yard pin on the target and see where your 20-yard pin is. If it is on the limb you will hit it. If it is above or below the limb you will clear it. The only disadvantage of fixed pins is you many times have to hold a little over or under the target rather than right on it.
Moveable Pins have one pin on a sight and it moves up and down. There are marks that indicate the distance. You judge the distance to the target and then move the pin to that distance. The advantage is you always hold on the target. These are popular for target shooting and with people that have real fast bows so fixed pins would all be touching. There are a few disadvantages for hunting. Deer don’t always stay at the same place. You have to move the pin as the animal moves or hold high or low, just like with a fixed sight. There are many cases where a person forgets what distance the pin is set on and then misses. You also have to be able to judge the distance accurately and quickly. Moveable pins are an example of target equipment being used in bow hunting.
Pendulum Sights are designed for treestands. The sight pin swings so when you aim downhill the pin swings to make up for the downhill angle. You generally have to get these sighted for a particular height and yardage and then they will be on at any yardage from that height. They work well when used properly. The reason though that most people shoot high downhill is a change of form rather than the effects of gravity. Today’s fast bows only shoot a few inches high when shooting from 20 feet up and out to 20 or 30 yards. Most people drop their bow arm when shooting down, especially at a steep angle. They should bend at the waist. Dropping the bow arm shortens your draw. The peep sight moves up when the string moves forward. It is that peep sight movement that makes you shoot high over a deer. A pendulum sight does not compensate for this. Pendulums also tend to be noisy because you have a moving part that moves a lot with the recoil of the bow. The pin also has to be locked in place when shooting on the level.
Another often over looked advantage is using the sight pins as a range finder. The average Whitetail deer’s body height at your sight pins will be about 5/8” at 20 yards. That means if you have sight pins that are 5/8” apart and the deer’s body fits between the pins it is 20 yards away. It would be 5\16” at 40 yards. This only works with pin sights that are horizontal.
Peep sights are an important part of aiming system. They force you to use a consistent anchor point for greater consistency under a wide range of tough shooting conditions. If you choose a peep sight, get one of the full-view models that permit visibility no matter how the string rotates when you draw back. A very basic three-pin sight is good enough for most shooting situations, but choose one that offers superior pin visibility. Fiber optic sight pins are very bright and make aiming in a limited light environment easier.
Today's bows are so easy to shoot that with a little help, you can become a passable archer in as little as one week. It's important that you seek out help when learning to shoot a bow. Learning the proper use of accessories can smooth out the transition and help you shoot more accurately.
