Hey guys I don't believe Ive ever actually posted on this forum but I have a question. I just bought a bow and I'm anxious to learn how to be a decent marksman with it. I've watched some videos, but still having trouble with my sights. May need adjustment. Is there any beginner reading material you guys would recommend that teach how to sight it in and other beginner troubles? I learn a lot from youtube and from here but it'd be helpful if it was in one place. Thanks

Years ago, when I first started, I learned from the owner of the shop where I purchased my bow. Sorry, but I have no idea what book to read. All I have used is the web since then.

I bought the bow through a mutual friend. Not any archery shops that I'm aware of in the Wichita Falls area. Boss is an avid bow hunter and has helped some. Just was checking if there is some material out there. I'll hit youtube again. Thanks

What kind of bow are you shooting?

bowtech blackknight. Its a few years old, but seemed worth the 300 with the accessories included. Having trouble with the sights. I thought I was shooting at roughly 40 yards and it was 8-10 inches low using the third pin. It has 5 pins and I was using the bottom pin to hit near the middle. Seems pretty close to be using the bottom pin

I would start all over with re-sighting your pins. Sight in your top pin at 20 then next pin at 30 then so on. 40, 50, 60. Should be two screws for each pin, a top screw and a bottom screw. If you loosen the top screw and tighten the bottom screw it will move the pin UP. If you tighten the top screw and loosen the bottom screw it will move the pin down.

You also may need to check and adjust your draw length as it may be different than the person you bought it from.

As far as one stop place for all info bow hunting, only thing I would recommend is making a trip to a reputable bow store and spending several hours with them. That's what I did and it helped tremendously.

Hopefully your bow fits well, if not a trip to a bow shop can get it there. A properly fitted bow will be much easier to shoot accurately.

On the sights, assuming you have a peep and front sight. When drawn look through the peep and put the ring of the front sight inside the peep ring. The eye sill center one ring inside the other real easily. This forms basically a tube you are looking through much like s scope tube then the pins are just points for different yardages like a BdC in a scope. Many will use the top pin for 20 yards then set the others at 10 yards apart going further out. On a bow moving the sights is the opposite of most guns since you are moving the front sight. Rule of thumb follow the arrow. When shooting you are hitting low left move the sight down and to the left to correct it. Make these adjustments to the sight housing After getting the top pin on at say 20 yards then the others should be easy to set with just the little allen screw that holds them in the sight. Drift them up or down depending on where you are hitting. after setting the top pin if the others are not in alignment left and right the bow will need a little tweaking in rest or bow.

A few things about the grip, if you play golf a good golf stance it also a good archery stance from feet position and relation to the target. Turn your head d and look at the target, that is how your head should be positioned. I like to hold my arm in a position like you are pointing you finger at the target, seems to work well with lots of new shooters.

Heart of shooting a bow is a good solid anchor point. If using a wrist release I like my index finger knuckle pressed to my ear lobe, thumb behind head on neck with the string touching where my lips meet and my nose. All repeatable points which aids in consistency which leads to consistent shooting.

Breath control breath but hold it briefly at teh time of the shot as a breathing body is a moving body.

squeeze the trigger of the release when ready just like you would on a gun.

Follow through, hold that bow out until the arrow hits the target, you can look later

If you develop a solid "grip", anchor, consistent sight picture and release with follow through.

With practice it will become second nature.

Wish I had you on a range for a few minutes it is a lot easier to show and guide you through it than describe in words.

I am trying to remember one guy on Youtube that goes through bow setup tuning an shooting and does a good job of it. Found his while checking out some videos there on French tuning.

I agree with most of what has been said. I would find a good bow shop near you. Have them check your draw length. I would also purchase new bow strings (60x makes awesome strings) have them installed, have the bow timed, d-loop installed , peep tied in and get your center shot set. I would only do all of this if the draw length was the proper fit.

You tube bow setup and anchor points.

Develope your own anchor points- for example tip of nose, corner of mouth, and index knuckle buried behind cheek bone

YouTube French tune/walk back tuning and have fun.

I picked up my first bow ever 4 weeks ago, this guys youtube channel has tons of useful info . everything for shooting tips, how to videos, to arrow placement on game.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aB_otWTcCfk

find a good pro shop . I talked with on close to me and after realizing none of their bows were within my budget they suggested I go with a used or to cabelas to buy one . So this is what I did and then went back to their shop to buy all my accessories and guidance.
Even though I bought a brand new bow , it still needed tuning day 1 and after one week due to the limbs and string getting broke in. (timing was off half a string turn and the arrow rest was off center) .

I could shoot 1 inch groups at 10 and 20 yards but at 30 yards my arrow placement was all over the place (this is when we found out my arrow rest was off center)

Thanks for the suggestions guys. The "sean's Outdoor Adventures" videos were great! A good substitute for lacking a bow shop here

Ryan,

Don't know how good it is, but this is in your town - k2firearmsandarchery.com

I'd head over there with your bow and ask for some help.

Thanks for the reply. That's actually in my real hometown (Iowa Park)a few miles away and i think they manufacture accessories. Its set up like a small factory so not sure about walking in

Edit: Scratch all that. This is a different place. Thanks for the tip!