June 7, 1913 
FOREST AND STREAM 
725 
The Point of Aim 
I N shooting the long bow in target practice, the* 
archer aims, or sights, as really as does the 
rifleman, but his method is different. For 
instance, at most ranges he does not sight the 
spot he intends to hit. 
The right hand is always drawn to the same 
place, whatever the shooting distance may be, 
so in order to cover a longer distance, the left, 
or bow hand, must be raised. In a word, the 
archer changes his front sight instead of his 
rear sight, as a man using a rifle would do, in 
shooting different distances. 
The spot aimed at is called the “point of 
aim.” 
To illustrate, let us consider that a man of 
average strength and skill is shooting a York 
round, which is made up of the 100, 80 and 60 
yard ranges. We take it for granted that every 
step in making a shot is correctly done, for if 
it is not, the fact that his “point” is right will 
not enable him to hit the gold. 
Let us suppose that our archer is shooting 
at the 80-yard range, for at that distance the 
gold and the point of aim are more likely to 
coincide than at any other distance. Now, as 
he is ready to loose, let him see the gold im¬ 
mediately above the point of his arrow. 
By EDWARD B. WESTON 
If all conditions are favorable, and the shot 
perfectly executed, a gold should be scored. 
At too yards the point of aim will not co¬ 
incide with the gold, but will be a distance 
above it. 
Fie finds a spot on a tree, or on a building, 
or if not a spot, he can quite accurately estimate 
the proper distance above the target to sight at. 
Let him look directly at the “point,” and in¬ 
directly at the gold. He will have no trouble in 
seeing both, if he keeps both eyes open. 
At the shorter range of 60 yards the point 
of aim will not coincide with the gold, but will 
be a distance below, or in front of it. 
The “point” will now be some distinct spot 
on the ground, or an estimated distance in front 
of the target. 
Let your direct vision be on the “point,” and 
your indirect vision on the gold. 
At the short ranges where the point of aim 
is in front of the target, some good archers 
look directly at the gold, and indirectly at the 
point of aim. 
If you adopt this method, be careful that 
you do not look so intently at the gold that you 
neglect the "point” altogether. 
This is the hunter’s method, looking only 
at the object to be hit, and will not do for target 
shooting. 
Let us now refer to our diagram (next 
page). 
The archer is supposed to be shooting at 
60 yards. 
A is the point of aim. The line produced 
from the archer's eye over the point of the 
arrow to A represents his direct vision. The 
line C represents his indirect vision, and the 
line D the flight of the arrow. 
The dark line represents a straight line from 
the archer to a spot directly below the gold, on 
which, on a calm day, the point of aim must be 
located. 
If the archer adopts the second method of 
aiming, the line C represents his direct vision, 
and the line to A his secondary vision. 
If there is no distinct “point” to be seen, 
the dotted line B represents a distance estimated 
by indirect vision, to where the “point” should be. 
In the practice of archery there are a few 
fundamental principles which must be followed, 
while to the ordinary rules for shooting there 
are exceptions, which the archer may follow as 
better suited to his individuality than are the 
rules themselves. 
Fig. 2. 
Fig. 1. 
Fig. 3. 
Fig. t. 
