How to Make an Accurate Bow Sight Tape

Gather your supplies and clear your shooting lane before you begin

A sight tape is simply a yardage sticker mounted to an adjustable sight dial (often called a slider sight). It shows where to turn your dial so your aiming pin points right at targets from twenty yards out past sixty or eighty yards. If you switch to heavier broadheads, adjust your draw weight, or move your peep sight, your arrow trajectory changes completely. When that happens, your old yardage numbers will cause you to miss targets or lose arrows.

Setting up a new yardage sticker takes less than an hour at a shooting range, but you need your gear ready first. Get a roll of narrow white painter tape, a sharp fine-point pencil, and a quality laser rangefinder. You will also need an Allen wrench set to loosen and lock your sight elevation bolts. Make sure your bow is tuned and your peep sight matches your natural anchor point. If you want to review aiming fundamentals before you begin, look at how to use a bow sight to confirm your shooting form.

Before shooting, check your target backstop and shooting lane. Stepping back to long distances increases the risk of an errant arrow clearing an undersized target block. Pick a calm day with minimal crosswind so sideways gusts do not hide vertical aiming errors. Never draw your bow if anyone is downrange, and inspect each arrow shaft for cracks before shooting.

Lock in your close-range mark at twenty yards

Your close-range zero provides the starting baseline for the rest of your sight tape. A mistake at twenty yards throws off every single mark on the dial, so take time to shoot tight groups before making any permanent lines.

1. Cut a small strip of plain white tape and stick it neatly onto the indicator surface of your adjustable sight dial. Smooth out any bubbles so the tape sits completely flat.
2. Range your target with a laser rangefinder to confirm you stand exactly twenty yards from the target face.
3. Center your front sight housing in your peep sight circle and shoot a group of three arrows at the center dot.
4. Loosen the elevation lock and use the dial to adjust the aiming pin. Move your sight pin toward the arrow impact: if arrows hit high, turn the dial to raise the pin; if they hit low, lower the pin.
5. Shoot another group to confirm arrows hit dead center at twenty yards. Once elevation is locked, use your pencil to draw a crisp horizontal tick mark directly opposite your sight indicator needle.
6. Write a small "20" beside your pencil line. Keep the pencil lead sharp so the line stays thin, preventing tiny elevation errors from multiplying at longer distances.

Walk back to your long distance to establish your second mark

Arrow flight is curved, dropping steeper the farther it travels. Shooting a second mark at long range reveals the true arc of your arrow so your yardage sticker stays on target at every distance in between.

Sixty yards is the ideal calibration distance for most compound setups because it creates a wide gap between your marks, making your final tape selection accurate. But if your arrows do not group tightly at sixty yards, use fifty yards instead. A tight group at fifty yards produces a much better tape than a scattered group at sixty.

1. Step back to thirty yards first rather than walking straight to your long mark. Turn your sight dial down slightly to compensate for drop and shoot one arrow to confirm you are safely on target.
2. Move back in ten-yard increments, shooting two arrows at forty and fifty yards. Adjust the dial down each time to prevent arrows from sailing over the target.
3. Stand at your chosen long distance (such as fifty or sixty yards) and verify the range with your rangefinder. Focus on a smooth trigger release.
4. Shoot a group of three or four arrows. If the group clusters below the bullseye, lower the sight pin. If it hits high, raise the pin until arrows strike dead center.
5. Rest for two minutes so your bow arm does not shake from fatigue, then shoot three more arrows to confirm the group stays centered.
6. Draw a second crisp pencil line directly across from the indicator needle and label it with your distance, such as "60".

Match your two marks to a pre-printed scale or print your own

With your twenty-yard mark and your long-distance mark penciled onto the blank tape, you have the exact drop rate of your setup. Now you must turn those two marks into a complete yardage sticker with lines for every yard in between.

Pre-printed scale sheets come standard with most slider sights and replacement kits. These sheets include dozens of numbered strips with varying line spacings. To use them:

• Hold the pre-printed scale sheet against the blank tape on your sight dial.
• Slide the strips along your pencil marks until you find the exact scale number where the 20-yard line matches your first mark and the 50- or 60-yard line matches your second mark.
• If your marks fall between two scale numbers, select the scale matching your long mark most closely.
• Peel the matching pre-printed strip and stick it to your sight dial plate, aligning the twenty-yard mark with your indicator needle.

The computer software method calculates arrow drop using ballistics formulas. You enter arrow speed, total arrow weight in grains, peep height, and sight radius (the distance from your peep sight to your front sight pin). The program then generates a printable sheet of custom yardage strips. If you shoot a setup like a bow sight for Mathews bows, software lets you customize tapes for specific arrow weights and cam let-offs.

However, computer tapes require flawless measurements. If your arrow speed reading is off by five feet per second, your printed tape will miss at long range. Pre-printed scale sheets require no chronograph or math; they rely on real arrow impact. For most shooters, matching marks to a pre-printed scale sheet is faster and more reliable.

Check these common form and setup errors if your arrows drift

If your yardage sticker hits dead center at thirty yards but strikes high or low at seventy yards, check these common issues:

• Anchor point movement: A tiny shift in how your hand contacts your jaw changes your eye alignment. If your anchor creeps up, your arrows strike low. If it creeps down, arrows fly high.
• Peep sight alignment: Failing to center the front sight housing inside your peep circle pushes arrows several inches off target at long range.
• Shifting sight radius: The sight radius is the distance from your peep sight to your sight pin. If you slide your sight bar in or out, the spacing between your yardage marks changes immediately. Keep the bar set at the same detent position.
• Arrow rest tuning: If an arrow leaves the bow crooked, the fletchings cause aerodynamic drag. This bleeds arrow speed quickly past forty yards, causing shots to strike lower than your tape predicts.
• Shooter fatigue: If you shot your sixty-yard mark when your bow arm was tired, dropped form may have created an inaccurate mark. Re-verify your marks on a fresh day.
• Third-axis leveling: If your sight third axis is tilted, shooting uphill or downhill throws arrows off vertically. When using a best bow sight for treestand hunting, leveling your sight axes ensures yardage marks remain dependable from tree perches.

Pick a ready-made tape kit to save time at the range

If you want to avoid drawing lines by hand or calculating ballistics on a computer, replacement sight tape kits offer an easy shortcut. These packs supply pre-printed yardage stickers made from thick, weatherproof vinyl that withstands rain, morning dew, and bright sun.

When selecting a replacement tape kit for your adjustable sight dial, verify whether your sight uses a flat indicator plate or an enclosed rotating drum that requires a curved wrap. Look for kits with clear high-contrast numbers, distinct color-coded markers, and single-yard graduation marks. A quality pack includes scales spanning from twenty yards out past one hundred yards, giving you ample adjustment room for practice and long-range shooting.

1

Voice and Vision: A Creative Approach to Narrative Film and

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  8.8
• Brand
  N/A

Key specs2

Media format

Narrative filmmaking textbook

Archery suitability

This item is a 3.4-pound film production book and cannot be used for calibrating or marking an archery bow sight.

Pros & cons32

Pros

• Standard reference book dimensions of 10.75 by 8.5 inches
• Includes detailed chapter coverage across a single published volume
• Provides full publishing identification with ISBN 0240807731

Cons

• Not an archery sight tape and cannot be mounted to a bow sight
• Hefty 3.4-pound weight makes it strictly a desktop reference

2

Skylety Bow Sight Tapes Replacement(Setup Tape Not Include) Low Poundage

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  Skylety

Key specs2

Tuning profile

Formatted with wider spacing between yardage marks, making it suitable for slower arrow speeds and lower draw weights.

Setup tape

Not included

Pros & cons32

Pros

• Graduations spaced specifically for slower arrow speeds and low-draw bows
• Eliminates the tedious process of drawing custom tick marks by hand
• Adhesive backing allows direct application to clean sight dial surfaces

Cons

• Setup calibration tape is not included to establish baseline marks
• Compatibility with specific dial circumferences must be confirmed

3

Skylety Bow Sight Tapes Replacement(Setup Tape Not Include) Golden

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• Brand
  Skylety

Key specs2

Visual finish

Golden high-contrast

Calibration requirement

Because setup tape is not included, you must determine your 20-yard and long-distance marks on blank tape before choosing a strip.

Pros & cons32

Pros

• Golden background provides high visual contrast against dark sight frames
• Pre-printed numbers keep yardage indicators legible in varying outdoor light
• Multiple replacement strips allow adjustments when changing arrow components

Cons

• Setup tape is not included for shooting initial calibration marks
• Must be manually verified against your arrow speed and sight radius

4

HHA KP Tape Kit - Replacement Sight Tapes for King

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• Brand
  HHA

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Sight compatibility

Directly matches HHA King Pin, Tetra, and Tetra Max models to align with their specific dial gear ratios.

Format

Pre-printed yardage strips

Pros & cons32

Pros

• Factory matched to HHA King Pin, Tetra, and Tetra Max elevation dials
• Accounts for specific gear ratios used on compatible HHA bow sights
• Cleanly printed yardage graduations ensure precise elevation setting

Cons

• Will not fit non-HHA sights or flat linear slider scales
• Requires shooting baseline distances to identify the matching tape number

5

Gun Sight Tape

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  Papa G's

Key specs2

Tape style

Blank custom tape

Application

Functions as a blank marking base where you shoot your zero distances and write your own yardage lines with a fine pen.

Pros & cons32

Pros

• Blank tape format provides a clean surface for custom distance pencil marks
• Allows shooters to record unique yardages not found on standard pre-printed strips
• Adhesive strip attaches easily to clean sight rings or slider bars

Cons

• Lacks pre-printed yardage numbers, requiring manual measurement
• Weather resistance and roll length are not specified in the listing

6

HHA Replacement Sight Tapes for NYTRX, NYTRX PRO, RYZ and

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  HHA

Key specs2

Sight line fit

• HHA NYTRX and NYTRX PRO
• HHA RYZ series
• Long-distance Tetra models

Target discipline

Long-distance archery

Pros & cons32

Pros

• Engineered for modern HHA sights including NYTRX, NYTRX PRO, and RYZ
• Includes extended yardage options for long-range target shooting
• Precision spacing matches the elevation travel of HHA sight wheels

Cons

• Restricted to compatible HHA sight dial models
• Setup protocol requires accurate zero marks at two known distances

7

Axcel Achieve XP Metal Sight Tape Scale #19 and #20

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  Axcel Archery Sights

Key specs2

Material construction

Weatherproof metal scale

Included scales

• Scale #19
• Scale #20

Pros & cons32

Pros

• Rigid metal construction eliminates peeling and stretching in wet weather
• Precision etched scale markings provide sharp, permanent yardage cues
• Direct factory fit for Axcel Achieve XP tournament sight bars

Cons

• Includes only scale numbers 19 and 20 rather than a full scale booklet
• Will not work if your arrow trajectory requires a different scale number

8

FQH 1PC Archery Yardage Tape, Replacement Sight Tape, 20-100 Yard

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  FQH

Key specs2

Yardage range

20 to 100 yards

Scale configuration

Provides fixed 20-yard to 100-yard printed graduations on a single replacement strip.

Pros & cons32

Pros

• Offers continuous distance markings from 20 yards out to 100 yards
• Single-strip replacement format allows quick installation
• Clear numerical yardage labels reduce target guesswork in the field

Cons

• Single strip pack leaves no alternate scales if you alter arrow weight
• Specific bow speed rating is unstated and must be verified before setup

9

Replacement Sight Tapes

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• Brand
  Trophy Ridge

Key specs1

Mounting interface

Sized to adhere cleanly along the elevation tracks and wheels of Trophy Ridge slider sights.

Pros & cons32

Pros

• Factory replacement tapes sized for Trophy Ridge adjustable bow sights
• Offers various pre-printed scales to match different arrow trajectories
• Bold graduation marks provide quick visibility during hunting situations

Cons

• Incompatible with curved wheel dials from other sight manufacturers
• Specific included scale count is not detailed in the product data

10

HHA Optimizer Lite Ultra Sight Tapes

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• Brand
  HHA

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Wheel alignment

Pre-printed specifically to match the curved dial diameter of HHA Optimizer Lite Ultra sights.

Pros & cons32

Pros

• Calibrated specifically for HHA Optimizer Lite Ultra sight wheels
• Pre-calculated increments simplify setting accurate long-range yardage
• High-contrast print ensures clear mark identification at full draw

Cons

• Designed strictly for Optimizer Lite Ultra dial geometry
• Must be selected using precise two-distance calibration shots

11

Aolamegs Extended Range Archery Sight Tape, Sight from 20 to

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  Aolamegs

Key specs2

Maximum marked distance

120 yards

Calibration method

Includes a calibration scale adjustment tool to help identify the correct trajectory strip across wide distance gaps.

Pros & cons32

Pros

• Extended range format marks distances from 20 yards up to 120 yards
• Includes calibration scale adjustment tool for selecting the right tape
• Multiple scale strips support a wide selection of bow velocities

Cons

• Long-range 120-yard marks require sufficient fletching clearance on the bow
• Sight dial width compatibility must be measured prior to installation

12

Spot Hogg Archery - Extended Range Replacement Sight Tape/Yardage Tapes

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  Spot Hogg

Key specs2

Indicator contrast

Red high-visibility

Sight system

Calibrated to match Spot Hogg sight radius geometry and elevation indicator pins for extended distances.

Pros & cons32

Pros

• Vibrant red tape finish creates sharp visual contrast against sight pointers
• Extended range graduations allow dialing for distant target practice
• Factory sized to match Spot Hogg adjustable sight wheels and indicators

Cons

• Designed specifically for Spot Hogg sight radius and pointer alignment
• Requires shooting accurate baseline marks to pick the correct scale

13

Spot Hogg Archery - Extended Range Replacement Sight Tape/Yardage Tapes

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  Spot Hogg

Key specs2

Background hue

Green high-visibility

Distance capability

Extended long range

Pros & cons32

Pros

• Bright green color provides high visibility against dark outdoor backdrops
• Extended distance graduations support long-range archery practice
• Genuine replacement pack fits Spot Hogg adjustable sight models

Cons

• Green hue can blend into bright foliage during certain outdoor hunting setups
• Fits Spot Hogg sight geometry and will not align with other brands

14

Spot Hogg Archery - Hogg Mobb Sight Tape/Yardage Tape

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• Brand
  Spot Hogg

Key specs1

Mechanism fit

Designed specifically for the wheel and pointer layout of Spot Hogg Hogg Mobb slider sights.

Pros & cons32

Pros

• Tailored specifically for Spot Hogg sights equipped with the Hogg Mobb dial
• Calibrated spacing ensures accurate elevation changes across target distances
• Crisp, professional printing avoids errors common with hand-marked lines

Cons

• Proprietary layout will not fit standard flat target sight bars
• Requires careful baseline zero verification to select the proper strip

15

Axcel Archery Sights Tape Set

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  Axcel Archery Sights

Key specs1

Scale variety

Provides a full set of graduated adhesive scales to match various arrow speeds on Axcel slider bars.

Pros & cons32

Pros

• Complete factory tape set engineered specifically for Axcel slider sights
• Includes varied scale increments to accommodate diverse arrow setups
• Fine graduation lines facilitate micro-adjustments at varied yardages

Cons

• Adhesive paper or vinyl construction is less rigid than metal scales
• Only compatible with Axcel sight bar elevation dimensions

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FAQs

What distance should I use for my long calibration mark?

Sixty yards is the best choice for most archers because it creates a wide physical separation between your marks, making scale matching easy. If your bow shoots low poundage or your groups scatter at sixty yards, use fifty yards instead. Always calibrate at a distance where you can hold a consistent group.

What happens to my sight tape if I change broadheads or arrow weight?

Changing arrow weight, point weight, or vane style directly alters arrow speed and drop. Even a small difference in arrow weight causes arrows to hit lower at long range. Whenever you switch arrow components, apply fresh blank tape and mark new calibration lines.

Can I make an accurate sight tape without shooting past thirty yards?

Calibrating only at twenty and thirty yards leaves too small a gap between marks to pick the correct scale accurately. A slight pencil width error can match several different tapes, leading to misses at fifty yards. If your home range is limited to thirty yards, visit an outdoor range to establish a true long-distance mark.

Why do my sight tape marks hit low in cold winter weather?

Cold air is denser than warm summer air, which creates greater aerodynamic drag against arrows in flight. Bow limbs and strings can also lose a small amount of speed in freezing temperatures. These factors cause long-range arrows to strike slightly lower in winter than during warm summer practice.