How to sight in your firearm or bow

Start at a safe range, not in the field

Sighting in means checking and adjusting sights so the point of aim and point of impact agree at a chosen distance. It is preparation for a hunt—not something to discover while aiming at a deer. Read the equipment manual and use an established shooting range or an authorized practice area with a suitable target and a backstop that will stop the projectile.

Keep every firearm pointed in a safe direction, treat it as loaded, identify the target and everything in front of and beyond it, and keep your finger outside the trigger guard until ready to fire. Follow range commands, use appropriate eye and hearing protection, and do not handle equipment while people are downrange. A mechanical safety does not replace safe handling. Get hands-on instruction if any part of the process is unfamiliar.

Source: Hunter Ed: The Four Primary Rules of Firearm Safety; TWRA: In-person Hunter Education

Firearm: confirm a zero with your hunting ammunition

Use the correct ammunition specified for your firearm and the hunting load you actually intend to use. At a known, range-approved distance, use a stable rest and a consistent shooting position. Fire a small group at a paper target to see where shots land together before deciding whether the sights need adjustment. Follow the manual’s adjustment direction and increments; do not guess how another scope or sight works.

Begin at an appropriate short distance so impacts can be checked safely, then confirm at your intended zero distance. Hunter Ed gives 100 yards as a common deer-rifle example, not a universal setting. A rifle, hunting handgun, slug gun, and muzzleloader can require different procedures. Shotguns firing shot need pattern checks with the intended shell and choke rather than assuming a rifle-style zero. Follow manufacturer instructions and ask a qualified instructor or gunsmith for equipment-specific help.

Follow the range’s cease-fire and unloading procedures before going to the target or making adjustments. Stop for a malfunction, loose mount, damaged equipment, or an unexplained change in impacts. A target group does not authorize a shot at that distance under every field condition.

Source: Hunter Ed: Sighting-In a Rifle; Hunter Ed: The Four Primary Rules of Firearm Safety; TWRA: In-person Hunter Education

Bow: establish consistent groups before moving the sight

Use arrows matched to your bow and a target rated for the points being used. Inspect equipment according to its manual, and never dry-fire a bow or crossbow. Begin at a short, known distance with a clear shooting lane and adequate backstop. Keep your stance, anchor point, release, and follow-through consistent; scattered impacts can be a form or equipment problem rather than a sight problem.

For a conventional adjustable front bow sight, Bowhunter Ed teaches moving the sight toward the arrow group: a group low and right calls for a front-sight adjustment low and right. Make small changes, then repeat the group check. This is not a universal rule for crossbow optics, firearm sights, or every archery sight system. Use the manufacturer’s instructions; a traditional bow without sights needs a different aiming method and qualified instruction.

After grouping consistently at the starting distance, verify each distance you intend to use. Do not extend your hunting range just because an additional pin is available. An archery pro shop or qualified instructor can help with persistent grouping or tuning problems; this website does not establish that Country Boy Trades provides those services.

Source: Bowhunter Ed: Sighting-In; NBEF Bowhunter Ed: Advanced Archery Practice for the Hunt; TWRA: In-person Hunter Education

Practice with your actual hunting setup

Practice in the clothing and positions you expect to use while hunting. A bench rest can help verify equipment, but it does not prove that you can make the same shot while kneeling, sitting, or shooting from a different angle. Use a safe, supervised setup for elevated practice; tree-stand safety requires proper training and manufacturer-approved fall protection.

For archery, practice with points suited to the intended hunting setup and confirm hunting broadhead impacts using an appropriate broadhead-rated target and the equipment maker’s instructions. Do not assume every broadhead and field point will hit identically. Resolve equipment problems before hunting, and establish a conservative personal range based on repeatable practice—not the maximum distance your equipment can reach.

Source: NBEF Bowhunter Ed: Advanced Archery Practice for the Hunt; TWRA: In-person Hunter Education

Recheck before the hunt and after a problem

Hunter Ed recommends sighting in before each hunt with the ammunition to be used. Transport, a fall, a hard bump, a sight change, or a different load or arrow setup can justify another range check. Do not rely on a zero from last season or on a boresight alone as proof of the final point of impact.

In the field, pass on a shot if the distance, animal angle, backstop, visibility, or your ability to hold steady is uncertain. Equipment confidence is only one part of an ethical shot; confirm current Tennessee regulations and legal hunting access separately.

Source: Hunter Ed: Sighting-In a Rifle; NBEF Bowhunter Ed: Advanced Archery Practice for the Hunt; Hunter Ed: The Four Primary Rules of Firearm Safety; TWRA: Deer Seasons and Regulations