Which pin would do you use?

[MUSKY18]

I was thinking bout this last night as I was shooting bow in my back yard.  Let me preface this by saying that I have my pins sighted in at 20,30,40,50 and 60 yards.  I was shooting my target at 37 yards (as I like to practice at difference distances, because Mr Booner isn't always going to come in right at 30 yards) and I was just holding a tad high with my 30 yard pin.  Then I took a few shots holding low with my 40 yard pin.  Question.....which do most of you do for those odd yardage shots?  Hold higher with the lower yardage pin, or hold lower with the higher yardage pin.  Both ways worked great for me, but I was more comfortable in holding my 30 yard pin higher. 

[DonBo]

Okay, well this seems a little too simple, but, if it's 31-34, l'll hold the 30 pin high. If it's 36-39, I'll hold the 40 pin low.  

35? I'll split them.

[Powerstroke]

Well, it seems simple except that you need to know the exact yardage of that deer. If you're using a rangefinder than that is no big deal. Unless you've got a tree or stationary object that happens to tell you the known distance, then you're guesstimating. 

 

I say that my experience is that 1) most hunters over-estimate how far the deer is and 2) most deer will drop at the shot a certain amount. SO, I say use the 30yd pin. Unless you're a heart shot hunter, any shot in the lower 1/3 of the animal will still give a vitals hit. The 40yd pin will shoot higher than you like and allows less margin for error. 

 

ONe more reason I prefer using a single pin sight. If you like shooting precise distances it works for that and there will be no pin confusion or splitting pins, especially on a 5-pin sight. I thought 3 pins was tough to manage. 

[eyeguy 54]

do a few 3D shoots with your pins and no rangefinder for practice on estimating yardage.  I just have 20,30,40 now days on my bow. I try and guess the yardage of the deer and gap shoot the pins if needed to mid lung.  a little high or a little low and all is usually still good. 

[sunniewally]

use one pin and a life size deer target  and set your pin at 2o yrds and practicing shooting different distances till you know where to hold at various distances. you will learn what the image looks like once you learn to do it. more like instinctive shooting but use pin for reference. should be able to cover the various range with holding the pin low or high on the deer body.