How many pins on your bow

[tlspyder13]

Thanks to one of BFT's sister sites I now have a new bow. I haven't bow hunted since 91 and am learning very quick it's a whole new world. My old bow had 4 pins and was sited in for 20,30,40 and 50 yards. Thinking of maybe 25,40 and 50 with only the three.

How many pins do people use and how far do you shoot?
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[BEARCLAW]

I started out with three 20, 30 & 40.. Then added a 50 yard pin and realized how little I use it. I guess it's all a matter of personal preference. Are your pins the horizontal or vertical type?
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[tlspyder13]

They are horizontal.
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[BEARCLAW]

Ya me too. Some guys swear by those vertical sights.
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[MRCRESTLINER]

I use 4 pins set at 20,30,40, & 50 yards out of the 12 elk I have taken I have only shot one over 40 yards, so I guess I keep it (50 yd.) on and sighted in just in case I should ever have to use it. Most of my elk have been 25 to 35 yards. Hope it helps. I'm really looking forward to my WY. hunt this fall especially since I have the whole month of Sept. to hunt them.
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[lunkerhunter2]

They start at 5 yds and go in increments of 5 up to 105 yards.[:p]
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[Elkoholic]

I have always had either 3 or 5 pins sights on my bow. Its all preference but the more pins you get the more clutter you have. Todays bows are plenty accurate to 100+ yards, but what you have to remember is that there are a ton of things between you and 100 yards you cannot see or feeel (wind changes) that will effect arrow performance. Also remember your KE declines the further the arrow flies. Like MR Crestliner said, most kills are mede less that 40 yards. Of course there are always exceptions, but in my mind reasonable kill shots end around 50 yards. I have yet to kill anything over 30 yards.
That said this year I have taken my 5 pin sight off and I am trying a single pin moveable sight. I'll let you know how tht works out. There are positives and negatives to both but I like the cimplicity of 1 pin.
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[SBW]

3 pins. The simpler the better for me.
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[tlspyder13]

To funny there Brody. Thing is the last guy I hunted with was shooting a 105# bow with a overdraw. His 20-50yard pins were one as it shot flat until 50 yards. He then had pins out to 110 yards.
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[tlspyder13]

Thanks. Your right that there is a lot that can go wrong between you and a deer 50 yards away. I know from experience. I guess I just hate to give up the fourth pin as the only deer I ever hit was at 50 yards. O well.

I would like to hear how the one pin finally works out for you though. They seem nice but I have a ton of questions and nobody who actually shoots one on their bow.
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[lunkerhunter2]

I don't even own a bow anymore. I lost a giant buck a few years ago and have never looked back.[frown]
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[Elkoholic]

I think the decision of how many pins you want should flow with how you hunt. If your going to be moving and on the ground a fixed pin sight is probably better. If you have time like sitting in a stand or spot and stalk then the one pin will be better. With 1 pin you need a little time to range and adjust. Fixed pins you can adjust on the fly, and be ready for the surprise shot. I have been bow hunting for about 15 years and I thought back on how many times the moveable pin would have made me not get a shot and the answer was only about 2 or 3 times. However there were more times that a single pin adjusted to the exact yardage would have been the difference in making the hit rather than missing. There are plenty of pros and cons either way. For the target shooter the single pin is way better. Guess we'll see how the single works out this year[]
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[BearLakeFishGuy]

I have 4: The are 15, 25, 35 and 45 yards. Anything less than 15, I just use the 15 yard pin. Shooting even a top of the line compound more than 50 yards is just unethical in my opinion. However, I had one friend that used to have a 60 yard pin and he shot with it every day. I was convinced he was as accurate with a 60 yard shot as most people would be with a 40 yarder. Even with my current pin set up the farthest I ever shot a deer or elk has been 27 yards. Most have been under 20.
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[tmas]

There are plenty of guys out there who will tell you it's useless to have over a 40 yard pin! I have never needed to shoot a deer or elk over 43 yards, however, I have pins on my bow to 65 yards. 5 pins, 20,35,45,55,65. I think that once you're comfortable shooting a range it's good to throw another pin on. I have practiced out to 85 yards, and once you've shot long ranges a lot, you'll be amazed how much of a better shooter you become. Have fun with your new bow, that's what archery is all about!
Make sure that wherever you live you go try a 3D shoot atleast once! If you're like most guys, once is all you'll need to become addicted. It is awesome practice for hunting and tons of fun.
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[HookJaw_Brimhall]

+1 TMAS
I agree 100% with that. I started out with a 3 pin sight on a PSE Nova, it worked great for me to learn on. Now I have upgraded to the fastest bow on the planet (PSE X-Force Dream Season). I have got a six pin sight on this bad boy and I plan on doing many 3D shoots in the future. It never hurts to practice out to a longer range.
If you make a bad shot and your animal runs 20 yards out, it helps to be able to make a second shot.

Good luck with your bow hunting adventures, it's the biggest challenge in the hunting world but worth every second.
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[MRCRESTLINER]

Make sure you shoot our 3D shoot this year at the HAFB archery range, I'll let you know when we get a set date.
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[HookJaw_Brimhall]

Will do.
I need to get out and get used to this beast for a while before I go make a fool of myself at the 3Ds. [] Once I get her tamed, the Wasatch front bucks better run like hell! [cool]
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[MRCRESTLINER]

I know you sure scare the heck out of me.[shocked]
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[tmas]

[quote HookJaw_Brimhall]+1 TMAS

If you make a bad shot and your animal runs 20 yards out, it helps to be able to make a second shot.
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That's a great point!
I hit an elk once about 3-4 inches too far back... I had to sit and watch it stand there for over an hour at 70 yards. I couldn't get any close to put it out of it's misery until it bedded down into some thick brush. If i had practiced that far I could have easily put another arrow into it, and even if it wasn't a perfectly placed shot the second arrow probably would've killed very fast.
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[IceFanatic3]

I had 6 pins on mine but cut it down to 4 (15,25,35,45) never shot at anything under 42yards.
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