Who would hunt without sights?????

[LV2HUNT]

A. Who would hunt without sights?
 
A person who is hunting within ranges that does not require them. This range is defined by the individual according to their abilities and preference.

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

I cannot speak for "everyone" but even when I was using a compound my shots were 25 yards or less. At the end of my compound days I was using a single pin. This progression was a natural evolution to becoming a more effective predator.

The largest deer I have killed was taken at less than 10 yards. The evening before I missed the largest deer I have ever seen in the wild from the exact same spot. The reason I missed the larger deer was that my sight pins had not been set for such a close distance.

Simply put, I do not require sights to be accurate or effective within my hunting "range". Sights require me to focus on an object other than my target.

There is obviously nothing wrong with sights, they are simply not as effective in my style of hunting.

[BradLantz]

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

it doesn't matter to me, and I don't mean to label, just food for thought when the threads inevitably go from "hunting" to "MY way of hunting"

how many times have people said they don't shoot using sights - they shoot instinctive - but the real truth is that they use point of aim or sight down the shaft etc - eithe consciously or subconsciously ?

isn't that using sights ? not unlike a peep and pins ?


that was my point - shoot whatever you want however you want to, it very likely will not affect my hunting one way or the other !  

[Rico]

Quote from the orginal post It seems so many here feel that going traditional requires barebow shooting.
 Going traditional does require barebow at any tradiditonal shoot I've been too.
  I don't know what the rules are for being a Traditional Bowhunter I didn't know there were any. Were I hunt it is  Archery Season for all bowhunters.

[Dave Bulla]

Brad, you said:   how many times have people said they don't shoot using sights - they shoot instinctive - but the real truth is that they use point of aim or sight down the shaft etc - either consciously or subconsciously ?

 isn't that using sights ? not unlike a peep and pins ?

I agree that just because someone shoots barebow doesn't mean they don't aim by some method.  That's why I specifically lumped all barebow methods together.  I don't care if you shoot point of aim, gap, split vision, "true" instinctive or whatever.  I think the gist of the post when asking who would hunt without sites refered to actual bolt on sight pin type sights.  In my post I tried to convey the sometimes difficult scenario of shooting at an actual deer when using sight pins and in the excitement, missing the shot.  I think sight pins work great on targets at known yardages and especially on bows with compound letoff where you can aim for a longer time in comfort.  Adding the use of a range finder REALLY extends their capabilities.  But I personally have experienced problems and I know quite a few others who had similar problems wether it is using the wrong pin, not using any of them, looking at all of them or whatever that can cause a miss when hunting.  

Of course, it also happens when shooting instinctive (i.e. take your pick of bare bow methods) and in the excitement you forget to pick a spot so it can be a wash either way.  That's where the practice comes and regardless of actual aiming method you do it to the point where it becomes "instinctive" and you can get it right even under stress or excitement.

I do however, truely believe that if a guy learns to shoot without sights and regularly practices out to about double the distance he would actually shoot at a deer he will in time and with plenty of practice come to have some advantage over a guy who shoots sights in a hunting situation.  No, he won't be able to take the longer shots like a person using a range finder and pins set out to 50 yards but in situations when things happen quickly, the light is dim, you get suprised by a deer coming from where you don't expect it or you have to lean out around the tree in some goofy position well, that's where shooting a trad bow without sights really shines.

Add to that the personal satisfaction of "doing it the hard way" or whatever you care to call it, well, it's just plain fun.

[Larry247]

I tried a set of sights on my sky hunter T/D in 93. That lasted about 10mins. I'm a much better shot with out the sights.

[Jeff Strubberg]

The question was about sights.  I'm not sure what we will accomplish by opening up the thereisnosuchthingasinstictiveshootingbecauseicantdoityouseethearrowandwontadmitit can of worms again...