Another newbie question........Pin sight Q

[New Hampshire]

Sorry if Im buggin y'all with all these newbie questions, but what can I say you guys rock when I need answers.  This question is about sighting in a pin sight, or rather "boresighting."  Is there a trick that can be used to "boresight a pin sight that was installed aftermarket?  I replaced the pin sight that was on the bow origionally (which was just brass pins, I went fiber optic.)  I dont even think the pins on the origional sight were sighted in just because of how far aprt the pins were, I mean they really were far apart.  So I cant simply try and match the position of the new ones to the old ones.  I just put the fiber optic sight on in a random adjustment that seems even, but I doubt actually right.  I want to know if there is a way to get the arrows hitting in the "ballpark" to make things easier.  Is "boresighting" even possible?  Or do I just shoot and if the arow sails over the target do I just adjust the whole sight down then start moving pins?  Thanks folks.
Brian M.

[Thomas Krupinski]

Brian,

Just get as close as you can, maybe 10 yards to start with your 20 yard pin, and fire away at a large target.  Once you get your close pin set, move back a little bit and just hold over and see where it hits.  That will give you an idea where to set you next pin.

Myself I like to use three pins set for 20, 40 and 60, and practice gapping the pins for the ranges in between.

By the way make sure you have a large backstop so you can keep your arrows and your relationships with your neighbors.

[longwinters]

There are no such thing as a "presighted in" sight for bows.  Like T.K said, get close and put your top pin on the target.  It is often a very good idea to have someone stand behind you to look and see if your arrow looks like it is going to hit the target.  You not only have to worry about vertical but horizontal.  If you do not have a big backstop it might be worth it to go to an archery proshop and pay 5 dollars to use their range to sight in.  Out where you are, 99% of your shots at deer will be under 20 yds.  T.K shoots out to 60 cuz them Coues deer have wide open spaces to wander.  But in the big woods like you probably will be in, your shooting distances will be comparatively short.  You could go with say . . . a 10, 20, and 30 yd pin setup.  Or just go with 1 pin set at 20yds.  Then you will never get so excited that you use the wrong pin when Mr. Big comes in.  All you would then have to do is hold a few inches low for 15yds and a couple inches high for 25-30 yds.  Depending on how fast your bow is 15-25 yds could easily be a one pin deal with no height adjustment at all.

long

[New Hampshire]

Again, thanks guys.  First off Im not too worried about a suitable range.  My Fish and Game Club I belong to has an archery range.  Its more like a trail into the woods, but it is long enough to offer suitable protection from any errant arrows.  Only thing is I have to provide the target.  One of the guys at work says Wal Mart usually carries cheap ones that are actually pretty good at stopping arrows.
Next.  My buddy told me his father (the one I mentioned in my previous post here, the one who is as close to a "professional" that I know right now,) set his pins for what he was pretty sure was 15, 20 and 25 yards.  He said he could hold low for the closer shots but still hold a good range for the somewhat longer shots.  Me personaly?  I was probably gonna just go 10, 15 and 20 yards.  Since Im new to the sport I figure that I shouldnt be taking shots at very much past 20 yards anyways.  And like you said, longwinters, Ill doubt Ill see a whole lot past 20 yards anyways.  And if I do it would probably be at a distance more suited for a gun at that.  Im not preapring for this season to start anyways, so I have time to wring out all the little bugs before I hit the woods with the bow.
One last Q.  I was told that when hunting from a tree stand you should hold lower to compensate for the height.  True?  I think I heard that on a hunting show.  I know they make pendulum sights, but thats an extravagence Im not ready to shell money out for right now at this point.
Brian M.

[longwinters]

Well, it kind of depends on how high up you are.  My preference is to be 20' or a smidge more.  I would agree that you will need to aim a little lower on the animal than on ground level.  But the best way to find out how much is to get up in a treestand at the height you want, put out a target and shoot.  You will see what you need to do.  Also, make sure if you are shooting out of a treestand that you draw like you would if you were on the ground but then bend at the waist to shoot down.  A lot of guys just bend at the neck and lower their arms but this is bad form.  In short order you will automatically bend at the waist and then draw.  

long

[Thomas Krupinski]

I don't hunt from trees, however the country I hunt in is full of hills, canyons and washes that offer shots from elevations.  You are often looking even across at the tops of trees below you.  

Gravity has the same effect on arrow drop at both an angle and when level.  Hold your pins for the actual distance on the level from where your target is standing. (Now I hope I said correctly what I was thinking)

My shots are often longer due to the topography, however there are also some close targets presented at times.