Since the first projectile was launched via stick and string, man has been trying to figure out how to become more lethal with archery equipment. One of the greatest advancements in accuracy over the last century was the introduction of fiber optic sight pins. After this technology hit the market, bowsight innovators spent years improving how these fibers were displayed, adjusted, and protected, but most of them were focused on marginal improvements on the same basic model.
Thankfully, a handful of innovators have moved beyond the marginal improvements and overhauled the sight market with products that have truly changed the way we aim. The common theme among these innovative solutions is that they are solving the problem of yardage. No matter how fast our bows become, gravity is working against us with a perpetual force that causes arrows to fly high and low of the mark with the slightest margin of error. If you’ve ever watched your arrow sail harmlessly past the trophy of your dreams, you owe it to yourself to take a hard look at the sights in this article.
Since many western states prohibit electronic equipment from being attached to the bow during archery-only hunts, I’ve included the most interesting sights that solve yardage issues electronically and non-electronically so you can pick one that is legal in the locations you hunt.
AXCEL ACCU-TOUCH
MSRP: $299+ (depending on the model)
It’s no secret that more tags get filled when the hunter stays calm. One key to staying calm is minimizing distraction. Like all of the solutions mentioned in this article, the Accu-Touch from Axcel takes extra steps out of the shot sequence by adding proprietary adjustable references to the rail of this series of sights. These references allow the archer to feel the yardage instead of requiring visual confirmation on a sight tape. If your intended target calls an audible at the last minute and doesn’t follow the script, you can keep your eyes on the next available shooting window while feeling your way to the proper sight setting due to these adjustable settings that firmly but quietly click when you hit them. Whether you are shooting a single pin or multiple pins, these game-changing settings allow you to quickly adjust your sight in the heat of the moment without taking your eyes off the prize.
Website: https://truball.com/collections/single-pin-hunting-sights
IQ DEFINE
MSRP: $379
Unlike the other electronic rangefinding bowsights, the Define does not require you to refinance your home in order to purchase it. This is primarily because, for all intents and purposes, this is simply a multi-pin sight that has an ergonomically integrated rangefinder attached to it. Don’t let that fool you, though. This setup is truly lethal given the fact that you have eliminated the need to range before you draw your bow. For distances up to 99 yards, simply draw your bow, aim at your intended target, and press the rangefinding button. A digital display that sits just inside of your sight picture gives you the yardage to your target with uphill or downhill distance factored in. From there, pick the pin for that yardage and keep it together long enough to send a perfect arrow. This sight provides a great bridge between traditional multi-pin sight design and the newest generation of yardage solutions.
Website: www.feradyne.com/define-range-finding-sight/
GARMIN XERO
MSRP: $799 or $999 (depending on the model)
If money is no object, technology is your friend, and you’re hunting states that are friendly to electronics, the Garmin Xero may be the greatest thing since sliced bread. This tech-packed device ranges the target, makes adjustment for angled shots, and digitally displays an LED aiming dot on a glass lens in the perfect spot. All you need to do is draw your bow, aim, press the rangefinding button, and put the dot on the spot you want to hit. The archer has the option of displaying a single pin or multiple pins and can go one step further with manual pin selection mode.
This sight is legal in the majority of states to hunt archery-only seasons with, but you need to do your research to confirm that it is legal in the location you intend to hunt. Many western states have the strictest regulations when it comes to electronic equipment being attached to your bow. Providing that the sight is legal, this is the most innovative solution that has ever hit the sight market. It is truly a difference maker for archers of all skill levels.
Website: https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/pn/010-01781-00
OPTION ARCHERY SIGHT
MSRP: $395 or $425 (depending on the model)
There is a legitimate and perpetual discussion surrounding whether multiple fixed pins, a single moveable pin, multiple moveable pins, or another solution is the best answer for hunters in the field. Option Archery decided the best way to solve this discussion was to combine as many solutions as possible into one high tech sight. This innovative sight allows the hunter to rely on up to seven fixed pins in a housing that is magnetically connected to a second housing that features a single moveable pin that can be set for exact yardages. If you have enough time, you can range the target, adjust the yardage, and aim with a single pin. If the bull elk of your dreams is charging in fast, you can rest assured that one of your multiple pins will be ready for the job when he offers the shot. With the flick of your wrist, you can open or close the fixed pins to open your sight picture or hedge your bets. This sight truly aims to provide the best of both worlds.
Website: https://optionarchery.com/collections/sights
SPOT HOGG DOUBLE PIN
MSRP: $275+ (depending on the model)
In a perfect world, archers would have a single pin that was set at the precise yardage, which is why the best target archers in the world use a single pin. However, the targets we like to chase are unpredictable and rarely stick to the script. That is why I’ve personally been afraid to commit to a single moveable pin for my hunting bows. If I were going to commit to that, there is no question that I’d choose the Double Pin from Spot Hogg. It provides a second fiber optic aiming reference that is embedded in the stem of the main pin. By nesting a second aiming point in the stem of the pin, you still get 100% of the advantages that a single pin provides, but you get a precise backup yardage too. The second fiber optic correlates to a second pointer on the yardage dial, giving you two precise yardages with aiming points.
This innovative pin option fits several of Spot Hogg’s most popular moveable sight models. If you’re a single pin person or if you want to give one a shot to eliminate pin confusion in the heat of the moment, take a hard look at this solution. As an added bonus, Spot Hogg boasts excellent craftsmanship and customer service.
Website: http://spot-hogg.com/sights/
BURRIS ORACLE
MSRP: $829
Technology tends to arrive in waves, so it was not surprising that another true rangefinding bowsight was hot on the heels of the Garmin Xero. Thankfully, the Oracle from Burris differs enough to appeal to two different audiences. On the Oracle, the aiming dot is displayed in a thin, machined aluminum vertical wire, thus eliminating the potential risk of fogging or moisture collection on a glass lens. With 100% aluminum construction, the Oracle looks and feels very much like a traditional bowsight, and it even provides a 20-yard fixed pin as a failsafe in the event that your battery dies or conditions are too foggy to get a range. For hunters who are still wary of technology, this sight provides a few more warm fuzzy factors that could inspire even the most skeptical archer to step into the 21st century.
To operate, simply draw, aim at your intended target, and press the rangefinding button and the sight will project a perfectly illuminated aiming point in the vertical wire. It even does the math for you on uphill and downhill shots so all you have to do is keep your nerves together long enough to send it. Keep in mind that this sight is not legal in every state, so check your regulations before your hunt.
Website: www.burrisoptics.com/bowsights/oracle/oracle-rangefinding-bow-sight
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