DO YOU USE A PEEP SIGHT?

How many of you reading this article use a peep sight? There is probably a high percentage of you who do and some who don’t use them.  There are many reasons bowhunters don’t use peep sights.  Some don’t have good enough vision.  Others can’t see what they are aiming at in low light conditions.  Bowhunters know that often the best shot opportunities on big bucks come just before dark or first thing in the morning.  These are the toughest times to see through a peep sight.   Out of frustration, many bowhunters give up on peep sights after they miss a buck at dark, never to use one again. 
    Not long ago, I fell into that category.  A friend of mine who is a professional target archer told me the best archers in the world rely on peep sights to help them obtain accuracy.  He advised me to use one as well.  There is no question that peep sights improve our accuracy so I began to soften to the idea of using a peep sight. Now  I use a peep sight because at long distances, it helps me drive nails.  Accuracy is extremely important, especially when bowhunting.  Opportunities at large bucks and bulls don’t come around very often and when they do I don’t want to screw up the shot by missing my mark.  Some might say a peep sight doesn’t make much of a difference but it can.  Sometimes what separates a quick kill from a gut shot is a fraction of an inch. 
       I prefer using a 1/4 peep because it’s large enough that even in low light conditions I can see what I am aiming at.  The new Red Eye Peep from EP Hunting lets in more light in low light conditions thanks to its design.  The Red Eye uses a convex entrance pupil that is larger than traditional peeps, based on the proven design of how binoculars or scope bell gathers more light.  This additional light is transferred through the exit pupil and directly into the shooters’ eye, resulting in better aiming in low shooting light situations.
    National-known archer Randy Ulmer has another option for shooting in low light conditions.  He suggests in a video posted online that in low light conditions bowhunters can aim through the gap in their string directly above the peep sight instead of looking directly through it.  This large gap lets in lots of light and makes aiming simple.  Aiming in the gap in your string above the peep changes your anchor point so Ulmer suggests bowhunters use this method in practice a lot before trying it in the field.  You must get a feel for which pin you will have to use if you drastically change your anchor point like you will if you aim through the gap above your peep instead of through your peep.
    Peep sights were designed for a good reason: to help hunters gain accuracy.  Rifle hunters use them, many bowhunters use them and all professional archers use them.  Most bowhunters are looking for a way to improve their accuracy.  Using a peep sight is one of the best ways to shrink your groups.