Do you sight in your bow in Meters or Yards, and Why?

[JBinDC]

Hey All,

I'm brand newbian to this whole Compound Bow thing... I bought a Bear Encounter a couple months ago, and have slowly been getting used to it. I was sighting it in based on the "mystery markers" at the Lake Needwood Archery Range - they're cement and in the ground, but the painted numbers are worn away.

I just got a Nikon Rangefinder, so next time out I hope to actually figure out what ranges I've set my 3 pin sight to! The range for the longest of the 3 stations at the Needwood range, has markers in the ground for both yards and meters. I've gone through some serious growing pains of figuring out how to not torque my bow, but I at least now have my sight set up for windage and shooting relatively straight - getting 9 out of 10 shots into a 10" group.

Anyway, when I got my rangefinder, I was reminded how the range had markers in both yards and meters. I'm just wondering, which do most (who hunt) use (yards or meters) for sighting in their bow? and why?

Also, what practical distances should you sight in and practice for, if you intend on ultimately hunting with your bow? I'm thinking Turkey, Deer, and maybe Hogs if I can find a place within 2 states of here that allow that...

Any info greatly appreciated! --JB

 

[wilcam47]

I sight in yards...cuz the range finder is in yards. for new bow/sight etc I start out at 10yds to get it in the general area. Then depending on the sight (mine is a single pin) you may have a process to do. Some you just adjust the pins. Some guys have up to 5 or 6 pins. I don't like all that mess. So my shots are gonna be relatively short 20, 30, 40yds. I only take shots out to 60yds for fun...and that's the top of my scale on my sight.

 

[Fishguy]

Yards for American deer. Meters if you hunt Canadian deer.

 

[chale127]

I use cubits

 

[SRD]

Yards for American deer. Meters if you hunt Canadian deer.

I just lost a Pepsi.

I use "paces",which I check with actual measurements (in yards) while practicing.Wilcam brought up a good point,I use 2 pins; 1 for 20 and 1 for 40 and hold over/under with the appropriate pin for other distances.But that's just me and I've been shooting for along time.

 

[mdunphyjr]

Same here, yards cause of my rangefinder plus it is the accepted method

 

[JBinDC]

Ahh - OK, so this new fandangled rangefinder is schmancy cus its got both Yards and Meters... Cool. Fishguy, I'll probably adopt your convention.

Guess I'll do 20 /40 / 60 with the 3 pins I got, and figure out if I should just get more pins (if you can even buy just the pins), or go with a 1 pin adjustable - like that option.

Thanks y'all

 

[lx1x]

I use chains and links for distances.

 

[possumman]

Please dont overthink this stuff - if you are using pin sights put one at 20yards and one at 30yards- most people shouldn't be shooting beyond that anyway although plenty will fling arrows at 50 or 60. If you can group arrows in a 9" paper plate thats all you need to kill deer from a tree stand - most of my bow kills have been less than 20 yards - some less than 20 feet.

 

[wilcam47]

Please dont overthink this stuff - if you are using pin sights put one at 20yards and one at 30yards- most people shouldn't be shooting beyond that anyway although plenty will fling arrows at 50 or 60. If you can group arrows in a 9" paper plate thats all you need to kill deer from a tree stand - most of my bow kills have been less than 20 yards - some less than 20 feet.

all my kills have been all under 30yds. Typically a bow is more capable than the human behind the bow...I prefer anything under 40yds

 

[Pale Ryder]

Another for yds, cuz my rangefinder is in yards too. Also I'm not Imperial.

 

[VNVGUNNER]

Yards for American deer. Meters if you hunt Canadian deer.

 

[JBinDC]

Thanks y'all - that's what I was looking for - practical real world use distances to set up my bow for!

 

[GUNSnROTORS]

Yards for hunting wild game. Meters for hunting commies.

 

[byf43]

Yards for American deer. Meters if you hunt Canadian deer.

Yards for hunting wild game. Meters for hunting commies.

I use the 'merican system of measure, 'cause I live in 'merica!!!!!!

 

[BRONZ]

Meters....what the hell is that

 

[tsmith1499]

Also be sure to sight it in the way you will be hunting. Don't sight in on flat ground and then hunt from a tree stand. You'll more than likely miss it.

And byf43 beat me to what my reply WOULD have originally been!!

 

[BlackBart]

Do you drive with MPH or KMH?

 

[trickg]

Ultimately, does it really matter if you use meters or yards to sight it in? If this is a bow that will be used for hunting, at the end of the day it's going to boil down to your ability to correctly estimate your distance in relation to how you sighted in, and then in your ability to adjust accordingly depending on where the deer is - it isn't like you are going to say, "hey Mr. Deer - wait a second until I move to my accurate sight in point that corresponds with my aiming pins so that I have a correct distance when I shoot you."

 

[SOMDSHOOT]

Do you sight in your bow in Meters or Yards, and Why?

HUH ?

I measure in boot steps to the corn pile. I think it's yards, but, how did you even come up with such a question ?