One of the most important things you can do during the off-season is to get your bow sighted-in perfectly with a pin scheme that compliments the way you hunt. Now is the time to make any major changes.

SIGHT-IN DISTANCES

The number of pins you use is strictly a personal matter, as is the yardages for which you set them. Many whitetail hunters favor only one pin set at 20 yards. I think this is a mistake unless all your shots are going to be less than 25 yards. A single pin introduces too much guesswork with longer shots. One pin set for 25 yards will work well for all shots up to 30 yards. It will give you the greatest margin for error when aiming at the center of kill zone. For shots that are less than 15 yards, you must remember to aim low. Practice will quickly reveal the limitations of this pin scheme.

If you are likely to shoot past 30 yards, you need at least two pins – possibly three. Set two pins for 25 and 35 yards or three pins for 20, 30 and 40 yards. I set my pins at 20 yard increments so I have fewer pins to count and a less obstructed sight window. However, some people don’t like setting pins more than 10 yards apart because they say too much guesswork is required when gapping for between-pin distances.

A moveable pin sight with a three-pin sight head (instead of a single pin) is another good option. Leave the slide set at the shortest range setting while waiting or stalking. If the animal is at some in-between range for which you have no pin, and if you have plenty of time, you can move the sight to the exact range and aim dead on.

HOW TO SET THE PINS

Many bowhunters make the mistake of sighting-in their bows too quickly. In my experience, it takes several days of regular shooting before you know your pins are properly set. Variations in shooting form can occur and they must be averaged over time or you will chase your mistakes back and forth across the target. Look for the center of each group and after several groups you’ll see a trend developing. Move your pins accordingly: up if you are hitting high, left if you are hitting left, etc.

You usually only get one shot at an animal and you get no warm up shots. So theoretically you should be sighting in your bow for your first shot only. If your impact point tends to change as you warm up, keep your sight set for that first arrow.

Anytime you change your sight picture you need many weeks of practice to make the new look and method instinctive. Make these important changes now so you are ready to go by hunting season.