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Steve,
I’m going to assume that since you “have just taken up archery” that you have never shot with sights, on any type of bow?
Sights do help some shoot a bow better but be advised they most certainly are not a “cure all”.
In fact, the use of sights for HUNTING, FOR ME…..was a disaster. It mandates that you MUST hold your bow perfectly vertical to always have the sights in the exact location in reference to your arrow, each and every time.
A bow canted even an 1/4 inch either way of where the bow was when the sights were adjusted results in horrible shot placement, regardless if your form is perfect every other way.
The second consideration needed when using sights is that you MUST know the yardage you are shooting and be able to choose the correct sight (or between which two sight pins) you must use to “put er there”.
FOR ME, these two factors alone allowed (if not CREATED) two more possibilites for human error (aka, me to mess up!!)and simply did not lend themselves well to hunting.
Concentration, is probably (at least IMHO) one of the most important factors of an accurate shot, if not THE most important. Again, for ME, the necessity to check bow alignment at full draw, AFTER estimating a shot distance (that I never was consistantly doing well) was just not fitting well in hunting situations.
Yet another down side for sights in the field, again FOR ME, was the LACK of ability to notice a branch etc that was between the arrow and my target. I was unable to concentrate on holding the sight pin through the shot AND see the path the arrow would fly.
The end result for me was shooting my butt off two summers working on my abilities and missing more deer in those two seasons than I had missed in the previous 20 shooting barebow. One of which I missed twice. Once at 14 yards hitting a branch and again at about 25 due to the bow being canted and the arrow flying way left. (In other words I shot “too fast” for my set up). Thankfully I did NOT hit the deer at all but could have easily gut shot one of the biggest bucks I’ve ever seen in the field.
After that episode and some others I knew I would NOT have missed barebow, I realized the “extra range” I had on the target range using sights where I had more time, was less excited, and could stand in the same position through each shot, was totally totally useless out hunting. In fact, as I described above, I shot far worse…….at ALL distances.
When shooting targets on a range where the yardage is marked and a perfect stance is allowed both in amount of room and time….sights are very common for the REALLY serious target shooters.
There have been some GREAT bowhunters in our history using sights that successfully hunted with them and took animals I can only dream of. Sights have been in our sport for decades and decades. Some use them some do not and only you can make that decision.
The main purpose of my reply is for you to realize that sights, by themselves, are not a “FIX” but more a change in the shot process THAT DOES ADD additional factors that you must consider. Hopefully I have explained a few of them to help you in your decision.
Some make it work beautifully, but for me using sights hunting was the worst two seasons of my life.
I do commend you on your decision to start LIGHT on your first bow. Getting a solid anchor engrained in your form without thought is a huge leap towards becoming a great shooter. Also, your refusal to hunt till you feel more confident speaks well of you and I truly expect to see some “success photos” here on the hunting threads from you with a HUGE smile on your face!
I am not a “great shot” but some locally think I am. IMHO, being a good “hunter” consists of just knowing and staying within your limitations shooting at a living, breathing target.
Practice diligently but without beating yourself to death doing so, and concentrate, concentrate on that spot you wish to hit BEFORE you draw the bow, WHILE you draw the bow, DURING anchor and THROUGH release and follow through till the arrow connects. If you do not already do this now, give it a few days of shooting, NEVER EVER taking your eyes off “the spot” your arrow WILL CONNECT (think positive).
FOR ME, I find that concentrating on a spot, drawing, anchoring, holding……….and LETTING UP, LOTS AND LOTS of times each week has made me a MUCH better barebow shot simply because (IMHO) I’m practicing CONTROL of the shot as well as my concentration and anchor.
Beware continuing to “practice” bad habits. Should you find yourself dropping your bow arm, losing concentration during the shot, not hitting full draw….STOP. Tomorrow is another day! When this evil bug bites…..I revert back to my “concentrating on a spot, drawing, anchoring, holding……….and LETTING UP”
It will come my friend. Have faith. As all the mechanics of any sport, positive repetition will win the day.
God Bless, Keep em Sharp and hunt safely.
Steve