One could make a strong argument that a bowhunter’s eyesight is his most important physical attribute. My own experience from last winter is proof. When my buddy Greg Krough started spotting mulies in country I had just glassed I realized something was seriously wrong. I had always been good at separating antlers from sage brush and being outdone so handily needed an explanation.

When I got home I immediately scheduled an appointment with my optometrist. Even though my eyesight was acceptable for most activities (they checked out slightly worse than 20/20) there were signs that it was starting to degrade. As important as my eyes are to my hunting and competitive shooting, I decided to do something about it before things got out of hand. If the doctor could get me to my best corrected vision (which had always been 20/10 with glasses) laser eye surgery seemed to offer the best answer.

Let’s just say it didn’t turn out that way. After surgery my eyes were noticeably worse. My uncorrected eyesight went from 20/20 to 20/40 or even 20/50. With 20/40 vision a person can see the same degree of detail at 20 feet that someone with normal eyesight can see at 40 feet. On my next hunt I had trouble even seeing game and my shooting began to deteriorate.

Most people lose the keenness of their eyesight slowly and don’t notice the changes. I got to learn overnight the differences between 20/20 and 20/40 when it comes to hunting and shooting.

AFFECT OF EYESIGHT ON SHOOTING ABILITY

Prior to the laser surgery I had signed up for the Vegas indoor tournament. It was fully six weeks after the surgery date and I had no worries about my ability to prepare in that amount of time. But with the low quality of my new (and supposedly improved) vision I couldn’t hold groups. If I’d shot the tournament I would have gotten my rear end kicked. Instead, I went to the shoot and watched the action from behind the line. My group size was at least 50% larger after the surgery than before.

For example, at 30 yards with poorer 20/40 vision my groups were about the same size as those I’d shot at 40 to 50 yards with my best 20/10 corrected vision. That’s a big difference whether hunting or competing. Just being able to clearly see the spot improves accuracy more than most bowhunters realize.

I know a lot of guys that hunt and compete with less than 20/20 vision. If you are unsure about your eyesight, or if it’s been a few years since your last exam, go see an optometrist and get checked out. Needless to say, I’m scheduled to go back under the beam in the very near future. I won’t be happy until I can once again glass my friend Greg into the dirt.

PEEP SIGHT DIAMETER AFFECTS VISION

The size of your peep sight also affects the way you see the target and thus your ability to hit a small aiming point. Bigger is not always better. Small peeps (1/8 inch or less) produce greater depth of field (more of what you see is in focus). This makes it possible for archers to see both the target and the pin more clearly. Also, a small peep makes it easier to precisely center your pin while aiming. Under optimum target shooting conditions, the small peep is definitely the way to go. However, for the bowhunter there is another side to the argument. A large peep improves visibility under low light conditions and makes it easier to pick the right sight pin at a glance.

I’ve been accused of being fastidious to the point of eccentricity when competing in a big tournament. I want every possible advantage. To get both precision and visibility I use an adjustable peep called the Super Peep. Using a small tool I can change the inserts that thread into the housing making it a two-minute job to change the size of the orifice. I use the smallest diameter insert the conditions will permit for the greatest degree of precision on every single shot.

For hunting this approach is cumbersome at best. Instead, I use fixed orifice peeps made by Fletcher. I take a Tru-Peep and drill it out until the orifice is roughly ¼ inch in diameter. I find that under hunting conditions the improved low light visibility and the slightly wider field of view these large peeps afford offset the negatives. Your eye has a natural centering tendency and will do a good enough job of instinctively positioning the pin the peep for normal bowhunting situations. If the shot is at the limit of your comfortable range you may have to take an extra second to make sure that the pin is properly centered.

Don’t take your eyesight for granted. In bowhunting, you are only as good as your eyes. You can’t hit what you can’t see.