No Peeps
A Peep Free Sight
by Mike Cox of Ferndale, Washington
48.54904, -123.14679GPS coordinates of Hunt
It was just about deer thirty on San Juan Island. You know, when the animals are starting to move around and the days light is just starting to fade. I was on the edge of an abandoned apple orchard, owned by a friend. I could hear an animal coming through the woods. I slowly brought up my bow, pulled it to my anchor point at full draw, and I waited. A big bodied Pacific Balcktail buck stepped out of the cover and started to turn a nice broadside toward me at about thirty five yards out. After quickly counting antler points, I look through the string peep sight . . . and I see NOTHING!
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There was not enough light to allow me to see through the peep sight. It would have been , literally, a shot in the dark. So I let the deer walk away. After a whole afternoon of working my way through the woods, I let it walk away, because my equipment failed me. My eyes, through my glasses, could not see through my string peep sight.
.MOVE CURSOR OVER PHOTOS TO SEE CAPTIONS
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I can’t replace my eyes, though it is tempting. I’m stuck, at this point, with my glasses (bifocals). What about my string peep sight? This is how my search began for another option. I found it about five years ago.
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What I found was the Hindsight. It is unique among archery sights. Just as the traditional pins are mounted in front of the bow’s riser, so the Hindsight is mounted behind the riser. It features a non-magnifying reticle that I use as I would a scope on a rifle. Line up the appropriate pin, the tiny aperture in the center of the reticle, and the target, and ready to trigger the release.
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The unit I chose the Hindsight II, as it has a rear bracket that allows you to change the elevation of the reticle. The reticle on their products are made of luminescent material, making it more visible in low light situations.
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With a normal peep sight light is restricted as you look through it. This makes your eye dilate and makes it tougher to focus on the target. Though the aperture in the reticle of the Hindsight is small the reticle lets in plenty of light, and your eye is not pressed up against, like a string peep.
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This sight has a very interesting side effect. The sight helps me be a better, more consistent archer, and bowhunter. How so? It prevent me from torquing My bow. I’m forced to hold the bow without twisting it in my hand. Because the pins are in front of the riser and the sight is behind the riser, this make my hand (holding the riser a pivot point. If twist it all it shows in the sighting. The farther apart the pins and sight are, the more sensitive it is.
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While most of my hunting friends still shoot string peeps, I’m still very happy with my Hindsight. I shoot much more consistently in all huntable light situations. I never have to be concerned anymore if it’s close to deer thirty. If I can see my target, I can hit it. Of course that could mean I may have to track, skin, and field dress an animal after dark. Sometimes it is best to just let them walk away. But not because my equipment fails me!