Field Guide / Archery Gear & Setup
Bow Sight
Also called: pin sight, sight
A mounted aiming device with pins or a single adjustable pin, set for the distances you shoot.
- Type
- Accessories
- Common types
- Fixed multi-pin sights, and single-pin adjustable sights
- Typical pins
- Three to five, often for 20, 30, 40, and more yards
- Setup
- Sighted in at the distances you shoot
- Used for
- Deer & big game, Turkey, Target practice
What it is good for
- Aiming a compound bow with repeatable accuracy.
- Hunters who shoot at known distances.
- Target and 3D practice.
Where it falls short
- Pins only work at distances you have practiced.
- Misjudging distance causes misses.
- Needs to be sighted in and checked.
Tips
- Sight in at your hunting distances and recheck before the season.
- Practice range estimation, and shoot only at distances you are sure of.
Works well with
- Release Aid: pairs with a sight for clean aiming.
- Compound Bow: the usual pairing.
Field notes
Fixed-pin sights show several pins at once, while single-pin sights use a dial you set for the distance. Some hunters like the simple look of a multi-pin sight.
Related guides
Numbers here are typical, not guarantees. Have a pro shop set up and tune your bow or crossbow, follow the maker's manual, and never dry-fire a bow. Legal equipment, draw weights, crossbow seasons, and broadhead rules differ by state and area; our state resources directory links to each state's official regulations. Not sure what to buy? Try our bow and crossbow wizard.