Proper hunting sight for a recurve

Robb Simer · December 25, 2009, 03:18:00 PM

What would be a good [i.e. proper] hunting sight for a Bear Black Bear Recurve bow? Had the bow for years but never got a chance to use it for hunting. Now retired, I want to go small game hunting as well as deer hunting. Any suggestions on a good sight?

Cable Guy · December 25, 2009, 03:36:00 PM

Hi Rob,
Thats a nice bow to shoot, really smooth, but are you sure you want to go that direction?

I, just like most here are bound by the covenant of traditional gear.....and so I gotta take the car keys away from you now so you dont go out and get a sight for that bow.....lol

Tell you what, spend some time shooting that bow at random distances.....bet you wont need a sight after a week or two.
Plus, small game hunting will require a quick trigger, a sight will just be payload after a while.

No sight better than your own eyeball.

cacciatore · December 25, 2009, 04:27:00 PM

Yes Robb,please don't use it.There is much more fun with a bare bow and at the end more efficent too at hunting distances.IMO

Bruce Martin · December 25, 2009, 05:19:00 PM

Develop a consistent draw length and back tension through use of a double anchor, tune arrows to your bow and you will be amazed at how accurate the brain sight becomes. It's really not that hard, simplest thing in the world. AND, really fun.

Old York · December 25, 2009, 06:24:00 PM

Don't know about 'proper', but I use an old Cobra sight on my recurve. 3 pins with some kind of light amplifying fibre optic type filament in each sight pin. Even has a plastic sight guard; all told I think I paid $15 for it.

I do like the sight, I'm extremely vertically-challenged and pretty much a dimwit, so the sight lets me nail small furry critters at 20 yards

usually on the first shot.

LP Kelley · December 25, 2009, 07:18:00 PM

In 1969 my Jack Howard Gamemaster recurve came with a Merrill bowsight with 3 pins that I was to sight in at 20, 40 and 50 yard

Back then we practiced 40 and 50 yard shots.

As for small game many, many cotton tails and snowshoe rabbits expired with an arrow through them with our sighted recurves.

I don't remember when the word 'traditional' started being used to discribe our equipment, but 'traditional gear' does not mean that you can't use a bow sight. Many of us used sights on our recurves in the 50's 60's and 70's. and I don't know who wrote the 'new' rules.

I was 'traditional' before the confounded pulley apparatus's came on the market.

The title of Elmer Keiths book sums it up.

"HELL I WAS THERE"

Robb there is a Merrill Bow Sight on that Big auction place.

Bill Skinner · December 25, 2009, 09:44:00 PM

I have a Grizzly that came with a base attached. I am still looking for a sight pin that fits. I probably won't mount a sight on any of my other bows because I don't want to drill holes in them. Most compound sights can be mounted on a trad bow if you are willing to drill a few holes. They are large and bulky. Try to find a sight that was made for a trad bow. Bill

vtmtnman · December 26, 2009, 07:13:00 AM

Might I suggest the SRF?

http://search.3riversarchery.com/search?w=srf

Never used one but it looks good anyways.Maybe there's a few folks that have experience with one that will chime in here.

BobCo 1965 · December 26, 2009, 08:52:00 AM

I'd suggest sight rings (1/4 or 3/8"). These can be used on any sight that will take the standard 8/32 thread.

Cable Guy · December 26, 2009, 09:49:00 AM

I think I have a 3 pin somewhere....
I'll see if I can dig it up, you can have it if you'd like.

nightowl1 · December 26, 2009, 11:52:00 AM

I used a piece of the velcro dot... the cloth part not the hooks. That stuff sticks real good to my bows especially during the cold.

I then put two holes in the dot and threaded a short piece of baling wire through it clipped to length.

It holds rock steady and haven't had it move yet. The adhesive holds the pin in place and the cloth to the bow so nothing moves without some effort but can be adjusted.

I did that for this year.

nightowl1 · December 26, 2009, 11:55:00 AM

Ignore the stuff about not using a sight. Use what you want why you want.

Every system has its ups and downs. Starting off with a sight might help you steer clear of some form issues in the beginning and really understand the path of the arrow. You can always cant the bow out of the way to not use the sight for close or moving shots when the time comes.

jerseyboy · December 29, 2009, 06:29:00 PM

Everyone comes fully equipped to hunt with a bow from birth.The best sight and release are built in to everyone.It took me 30+ years chasing the proverbial euphoria and you know where i ended up ? Right back where i started in 1972 with a stick and a string in my hand. Don't underestimate your abilities just give them room to grow. Forget what the newest and fastest stuff is on the market and shoot for the best reason of all FUN!

jerseyboy · December 29, 2009, 06:30:00 PM

Everyone comes fully equipped to hunt with a bow from birth.The best sight and release are built in to everyone.It took me 20+ years chasing the proverbial euphoria and you know where i ended up ? Right back where i started in 1972 with a stick and a string in my hand. Don't underestimate your abilities just give them room to grow. Forget what the newest and fastest stuff is on the market and shoot for the best reason of all FUN!

bshunter · December 29, 2009, 10:16:00 PM

used a sight at first and think of it from time to time, but found that good overall form seems to be the answer for good accuracy...then again I might put one on tomorrow. Do A search, I built a sight that is pretty neat and I think I got the idea from here, it employs a piece of plastic from a vertical blind.

don kauss · January 05, 2010, 02:44:00 PM

I agree with no sight, friend. I too have gone full circle, and found that lots of practice is the best sight... whatever floats your kayak, but gadgets always leave me a little empty.

wtpops · January 05, 2010, 03:13:00 PM

I dont think there would be a "proper" sight. Just find one that you like and can mount in a easy manner. I personly would stay away from the ones that have like 6 to 8 pins and go with 2 or 3 pin sight and there is also the SRF sight that was developed by eather DAS or Dalla if im not mistaken.

JOEBO · January 05, 2010, 09:19:00 PM

Here are a couple of inexpensive ones to try out
http://www.ewbateman.com/Miscellaneous.htm

jerseyboy · December 29, 2010, 07:20:00 PM

My son wanted to try traditional bows but couldent quite grasp not having a site so to get him started and used to the recurve i taped a toothpick to the front of the riser. I let him shoot, adjusted it in and out and up and down until he was on target at 15 yds. After a few weeks of that i took him out and let him shoot a few groups then while he was at full draw(from the side mind you) i took the tape off and told him to keep pointing the bow in the same place as he had done for the past few weeks and to his amazement he was shooting instinctive. His mind knew the site picture at that range and he no longer needed the sight. just something you may want to try. If you realize it or not you are conditioning your brain to recognize the "PICTURE" and that is what instinctive is. Now all you need to do is train your brain at 4-5 different distances and its game on.

December 29, 2010, 08:50:00 PM

Those old Cobra Double-slots were THE sight to use when they came out. I see them over on the auction place all the time. They're very functional and should serve your needs well.