help seeing target in low light

I'm new to bow hunting, used a compound for three seasons. I practice every few months at brockley archery hamilton and do very well on stationary targets with indoor lighting. In the field the deer only come in the first or last light and I can never see clear enough for an ethical shot. I sit in the stand with my brother who uses a scoped crossbow and he has to take almost all the shots. Is there a compound bow sight that uses an iluminated reticle that's practical and doesn't take away from your image of the target. My 3pin sight has fibre optic light gathering tubes but is completely useless in low light. Looking for input from the experienced archer. I'm hoping to use my bow for spring bear but based on my experience of when they show up, I will have to use my scoped rifle to see clear enough for a shot. My Internet searches only come up with green light attachments but I want to stay legal. Thanks in advance.

Not being a smart Ar$e here but have you had your vision tested.? peep sights can be tough in low light especially if your vision is slipping a bit. I used a peep on my crossbow for years but found it getting difficult a couple years ago so I got my eyes checked and sure enough I needed glasses. I now use a scope on the xbow and I wear glasses and man what a difference it makes.

not sure if your sight has this option but you can add a small light that lights up the pins

I find that anything that lights up just makes it harder to see to your unlit target in the distance. When I started bow hunting, I suffered the same low-light heart ache that you're talking about. As far as I'm concerned, you have two options: leave the stand earlier when you know the light is too low to ethically shoot or move your stand - the deer are coming from somewhere before last light; go there.

What size peep are you using? The size of your peep will make the huge difference. Try a size of 2 larger and i'm sure you'll be impressed with the difference. (1/4" or 5/16" )

You can ditch the peep sight altogether. Before my shoulder problems started and I still used a compound, I had the same issues at low light. I tried larger peeps....same issue. I learned to shoot without the peep sight. Made all the difference. The I Q bow sight is also a game changer. http://iqbowsights.com/

I don't know about anyone else but other than foggy conditions at legal shooting times there is always plenty of light maybe check your watch when you're having problems aiming.

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Originally Posted by lazyman

I don't know about anyone else but other than foggy conditions at legal shooting times there is always plenty of light maybe check your watch when you're having problems aiming.

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LOL....especially in Oct !!

By late Nov/Dec I've switched to my crossbow, so it's not so much an issue with a good scope.

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Originally Posted by lazyman

I don't know about anyone else but other than foggy conditions at legal shooting times there is always plenty of light maybe check your watch when you're having problems aiming.

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In the bush under cloudy conditions, with leaves. Comments like this is why I seldom post anymore.

I agree with both points. I can confirm that where I deer hunt, no matter what month, it can be very difficult to see anything the last ten minutes of LEGAL hunting hours.

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Originally Posted by Final Flight

In the bush under cloudy conditions, with leaves. Comments like this is why I seldom post anymore.

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Echoing what was posted earlier, if you want your pins lit up, you can get a light that will mount and light them for you, the ones i've had use a couple watch batteries. And look into a larger sight...
start there and test would be my advice.

My best stand is in a hardwood bush and until the leaves are off the first and last light can be tough for sure. Under these circumstances I dont look at my watch and decide if its legal shooting time, in the early morn if I can't see I dont shoot if in the afternoon if I cant see I leave no matter what my watch says.
Once the leaves are down I am good from first legal light to last.
I still know that having my vision corrected made a big difference under all the above circumstances.

http://www.axcelsights.com/accustat.html

I practice a lot and not just in prime conditions
rain
snow
wind
early morning
late evening
hot
cold
doesn't really matter to me, I actually get enjoyment out of challenging conditions
I find the only way to get used to low light conditions is to have a larger peep and to practice in low light conditions

Dan

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Originally Posted by myot

I find the only way to get used to low light conditions is to have a larger peep and to practice in low light conditions

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The hard part is knowing when to 'pass' and put down the bow/gun. You have to accept your limitations and back off the shot when you know it's not the best conditions, even when you still have the defined 'legal' shot.

When you choose to hunt deep in the bush (like I do) then you know your sacrificing about 10 minutes of legal time because it gets to dark in the bush to make the shot.

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Originally Posted by MikePal

The hard part is knowing when to 'pass' and put down the bow/gun. You have to accept your limitations and back off the shot when you know it's not the best conditions, even when you still have the defined 'legal' shot.

When you choose to hunt deep in the bush (like I do) then you know your sacrificing about 10 minutes of legal time because it gets to dark in the bush to make the shot.

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And without an optimal setup (peep size, pin brightness), you could be sacrificing about 20 minutes of legal time. Or maybe your setup could be tweaked for an extra 5?

It's not the shot..it's the aftermath...if I pushed it till legal back in the bush, it would be too dark to see anything and I like to be able to see where the deer runs etc.

Truth be told I'm often climbing down 15 -20 minutes before legal. If it gets to dark (clouds etc) that I can't discern a doe from a buck at 100 yrds out with my naked eye, I will call it a day.

Thanks for the advice and input. My current peep is 1/4" and likely too small. I will replace it with a larger one that doesn't use the bungee tube to align.
I will also explore pin led lighting or a new integrated iluminated sight. I now think my main issue is my fully enclosed shack style tree stand. I am on a wedge of private land with only forward facing shooting available so i have enclosed three sides of the stand and have an overhanging roof, this limits light inside.

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Originally Posted by 6packangler

I now think my main issue is my fully enclosed shack style tree stand. I am on a wedge of private land with only forward facing shooting available so i have enclosed three sides of the stand and have an overhanging roof, this limits light inside.

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That'll do it

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Originally Posted by lazyman

I don't know about anyone else but other than foggy conditions at legal shooting times there is always plenty of light maybe check your watch when you're having problems aiming.

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Oh come on! I've seen it so dark by the time legal shoot time is over your watch dial is lighting up. On an overcast, rainy day in November doesn't usually allow for an ethical shot at the end of legal shoot time unless you're on a field edge shooting a deer silhouetted. No a very ethical shot IMO.

get the biggest peep you can and lights for sights,

I changed over to a large peep and a single pin adjustable sight with the smallest pin I could find. Clear unrestricted sight picture, I tried a light but I found it drowned out the target even more. So I am happy with my setup now