Who would hunt without sights?????

[Nakohe]

Shooting instinctivly requires no sights and you do not have to aim. You shoot where you look.

[DeerSpotter]

It is amazing what divides people, it's also amazing how much of one thing, or the lack of things raise people above others.

And when it is all said and done is there really a difference !

It's threads like this that goes on for pages and pages because of differences in feelings and yet I know most of you would give the shirt off your back for the guy next to you, and the cool thing is, you would never ask why he needed it.  So let's not get carried away because we have an item on our bow, or if we don't have that item on our bow.

I don't think that sights make us a better shot, I also don't think instinctive shooting makes us a better shot, both methods if we face it, make us just too lucky to admit it.

As one man said I worked so hard, sometimes I get lucky.

Pastor Carl

[brettlandon]

Man is this a great thread!    I've enjoyed everyone's answer (even the one's I don't agree with) and really appreciate the general decorum over such an emotional issue.  I salute you, members of tradgang, for your opinions, your feelings, your compassion and, most of all, your good-natured teasing.            
Way to go!

-Brett

[laddy]

One thing that I have not seen in this debate.  The two years back in the early 70s that I used a compound with sights, I could shoot better groups than I could with my BW target bow.  However, when I went hunting with compunder, I found I had way too much to do, when it came time or opportunity to shoot.  I went back via a Bear takedown and then back to Schulz longbows.  I have talked to people that shoot with every gizmo they can.  They are all superior to me, but when they talk of how they missed the dominant buck it's always something that caused it.  When pressed, if you can get them to be honest, something which is hard to do these days, you will find that they simply emotionally blewup.  Even for those who sit in tree stands shooting down at game, there is things that happen that are hard to control, if things get to complicated to many things can fry your ability to function with analytical control.

[Over&Under]

Originally posted by mmgrode:
I like the simplicity and ruggedness of a barebow.  Less dependence on technology and more on skills attained through hard work and persistent practice. It sure is cool to see that arrow fly right where you intend it to.  I have nothing against other guys using sights, they're just not for me.

I was going to post my thoughts, but mmgrode took my answer...  

[Orion]

I find it interesting that the analogy of shooting a bow is like throwing a ball, be it baseball, softball, football or whatever, always seems to work its way into these discussions.  But that thought usually isn't taken to its realistic conclusion.

As some have already hinted, throwing a ball looks so easy.  And, in fact, just about everybody can throw a ball.  But damn few can throw it where they want it to go with any precision, regardless of how much they practice.

I'm not advocating one way or the other.  As I said earlier, I don't use sights.  Haven't for more than 30 years, but I did dabble with them back in the 60s.  For those who can't throw a ball where they want it to go, maybe sights aren't such a bad thing.

[brent d.]

I have never used them either except on a compound bow. I think that it would be neat to try an aperture sight like the DAS if I didnt cant the bow so much. One day I may have to try the matchstick trick.  

[BradLantz]

"So what has happened to make nearly everyone today feel that they shouldn't be using them?"

back to the basics of archery shooting I imagine, and that is instinctive shooting, look and shoot

natives didn't use pins on their sights ..

[Rico]

For those who can't throw a ball where they want it to go, maybe sights aren't such a bad thing.
 You must be one of the gifted that you discribe.

     I take a little different approach what I lack in precision I subtract in yardage.

[Ghost Dog]

I enjoying trusting my self, which is why I don't use sights. No sights, no nock set, and no shelf on most of my bows. And yes, I shoot very well.

I like knowing that where my arrow goes is all my doing.

[NorthShoreLB]

As always Bob, ...well put  

[Mrs Stickman]

Even the best hunters miss shots, as do the best target shooters.  As a matter of personal preference, I don't shoot with sights.  I don't want to.  As I practice I continue to improve.  Someday I may condsider trying sights, I just don't foresee that day coming any time soon.

[Brian Krebs]

if you go to the main page; you will see Bob Lees beautiful bows- with no sights! Look under that group of bows and there is Bob with a bow with sights on it.... it was a phase. No more - no less.
   

[BradLantz]

let me throw another kink into this - its my opinion that unless you're cross dominant, then you don't truly instinctive shoot - that is you use point of aim, maybe sighting down the shaft - something.

I am cross dominant. I shot right handed compounds for years, using a peep and pins of course. I still can, its a whole different thing than instinctive focus and shoot.

Being cross dominant, I don't see any way a guy can shoot with pins without a peep. Same dominance I guess its much easier ?

I can see using a peep and pins for accuracy, of course if you're going to go for accuracy, use a laser range finder and release and really maximize your accuracy.

[Jeff Strubberg]

Brad,

Why does the label matter?  The question posed in this thread is why not use sights?

[waknstak IL]

No sights. for me personally there's something special about shooting instinctively to me. When the arm comes up and the string goes back and wham it arcs perfectly where your envisioning it going is just a great feeling. It Doesn't happen every time, but when it does it's cool! Everyone should shoot the way that they enjoy shooting. It's all good.

[Guru]

Me.....have been hunting that way for 23yrs now

[Widowbender]

I'm hunting without sights...trying to see if I can be as good at missing 'em without sights as i was at missing 'em with sights   .

David

[Two Arrows]

Let's all stop for a second, put our personal feelings and egos aside, and think about what the title of this thread is.

Ok, so your a guy that shoots with a sight. Your feeling good that this topic has come up. Confidence is flowing. By page 1 and 2 your feeling good, by the time you read through pages 3 and 4, your thinking that there is no way in the world you would ever post to this thread, and by page 6, well, your not an idiot, so many posts against shooting with a sight, why would an individual bring scrutiny upon themselves by admitting it? Like they are wrong or something.

Sorry folks, I don't agree with all the pro's on here. Some people can and will benefit from using a sight, contrary to what some others believe.

The question was "who would hunt without sights?" not "Why am I superior because I don't use sights."

[Widowbender]

It was a two part question. A. Who would hunt without sights? B. So what has happened to make nearly everyone today feel that they shouldn't be using them? I think the average person with minimum reasoning skills would be able to figure out, by reading this thread, that most folks here don't care who uses a sight and who doesn't. For me I just wanted to learn to hunt with a recurve or longbow, without sights. I've already done the whole sights, wheels, overdraws, stabilizers, mechanical broadheads, kitchen sink deal. I can honestly say I have never sat in the woods and looked at that whole getup and get that feeling i get when I'm looking at just a stick,string and arra. I just want to get back to basics, back where I started. For me that is shooting a stickbow, instinctively. That's where I'm at. I'm not calling myself traditional, non-traditional or whatever. I don't need a label to have fun in the woods (My wife has plenty of labels for me, anyway). If someone wants to or needs to use a sight on their bow, then go for it!! If someone wants wheels and the whole kitchen sink deal...man, have I got a deal for you!!

David