Most whitetail shots are close, so do you need a slider at all? Not necessarily. A fixed-pin sight is fast and simple. A slider gives you one clean aiming point at any yardage, but you have to set it. Here's how each works and how to pick.
Last year I shot a fixed-pin sight. Switching to the UltraView UV Slider has been a massive game changer for me. I like the horizontal pins on it, but that's personal preference. The rest of this page is researched, with sources at the end.
How each type works
- Fixed pins. Each pin is set and locked to one distance, often 20, 30 and 40 yards on a 3-pin sight, per Petersen's Hunting. For a deer in between, you aim between pins, called gapping.
- Single-pin slider. One pin moves up and down. You turn a dial to the yardage on a sight tape, then aim. Some have a second aiming point on the same post.
- Multi-pin slider. Several pins on a sight that also slides. You can shoot the pins like a fixed sight up close and dial for long shots.
Pros and cons
| Fixed pins | Single-pin slider | |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Fast, nothing to adjust | Must dial before the shot |
| Sight picture | More cluttered | Clean, one pin |
| Precision between distances | Gap between pins | Dial to the yard |
| Sight-in | Simple | Takes longer: setting a tape |
| Long range | Most max out around 60 yards, per Petersen's | Built for it |
Sources: Outdoor Life (Alex Robinson, 2024) and Petersen's Hunting (Jace Bauserman, 2023).
What the writers say for deer
- Outdoor Life's Alex Robinson prefers a multi-pin sight for treestand whitetails, since a buck can move after you draw and you still have a pin to aim with or reference. He found a single pin easier to shoot accurately past 50 yards and a little easier to see in low light. His summary: for the close quarters of the deer woods, the old-school three-pin fixed sight "works just as well as ever."
- His colleague Scott Einsmann sets up a single pin so he doesn't dial for 0 to 40 yards. His main pin is set for 20 and the second fiber hits at 35, and he holds high or low between those.
- Petersen's Jace Bauserman calls a dial-to-the-yard sight the most accurate system. He describes losing a buck because it kept moving while he dialed his single pin, which is why he prefers a three-pin slider.
Specs side by side
Maker specs, checked October 10, 2026. Prices approximate.
| Sight | Type | Weight | Pins | Approx. price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Gold Rush | Fixed pin | 5.6 oz | 3, 4 or 5 (.019") | from $119.95 (maker) |
| UV Slider 2 | Slider, swappable pin cartridges | 9.2 to 9.3 oz by mount (1 vertical pin, no light) | cartridge options | $499.99 |
ULTRAVIEW lists Bridge-Lock, Picatinny and direct mounts for the Slider 2, and a "Home Stop" that returns the sight to your home yardage without looking at the tape.
What you give up going cheap
A fixed-pin sight costs far less here, and it's easier to sight in. You give up dial-to-the-yard precision and a clean sight picture, and per Petersen's, many fixed sights lack third-axis adjustment, which matters for steep up or down shots.
What more money buys
A good slider gives you a single clean aiming point and a way to shoot long range in practice. Petersen's notes that sight tapes can be tricky and may take several days of shooting to set. A pro shop can help.
Picking for a saddle
Robinson's reason for fixed pins, not wanting to fumble with a dial when a buck comes in, applies in a saddle too. If you go slider, practice the dial, or set it up like Einsmann so you don't have to dial inside 40 yards. For shot positions, see saddle shot angles.
Other good options
- Multi-pin sliders. Robinson and Bauserman both point to them as the middle ground, with pins up close and a dial for long shots.
- Have a shop set it up. Petersen's notes a pro-shop technician can help with setup.
Questions hunters ask
Is a slider worth it if I never shoot past 40? Robinson says a fixed sight works just as well for close whitetail hunting. A slider still gives a cleaner sight picture.
Can I avoid dialing with a single pin? Yes, if it has a second aiming point. Einsmann sets his to cover 0 to 40 yards without dialing.
Do I have to re-check with broadheads? Robinson says to verify all yardages with your hunting arrow and broadhead.
Sources
- Outdoor Life, "Single Pin vs Multi Pin Bow Sights for Deer Hunting," Alex Robinson, Sep 17, 2024: https://www.outdoorlife.com/hunting/single-pin-vs-multi-pin-bow-sight/
- Petersen's Hunting, "Fixed-Pin vs. Slider," Jace Bauserman, Jul 26, 2023: https://www.petersenshunting.com/editorial/fixed-versus-slider-archery-sight/478467
- ULTRAVIEW, UV Slider 2: https://ultraviewarchery.com/products/uv-slider-2
- Black Gold, Rush: https://blackgoldaccessories.com/bowsights/rush/