How well do peep sights work in heavy brushy woods? I live in MN and we have heavy poplar type forests here. Just curious how hard it is to pick up a target with the peep sight. I have used them out at the range and really liked them. I have always shot open sight while hunting but have seen posts about them on their accuracy. I was just hoping to find some input on them before I make any changes.

Thanks,
Mike[/align]

I really think you would be better off with 1x by 4 or something its much easier for me to put crosshairs on my traget then line up peep sights...but that just me, I have shot deer in thick cover with my 3x9-40 and had no probs even with a 3 power..

Thanks TCuser,
I would just stick with the open sites over the scope idea. That is just a personal preference of mine though. The woods where we hunt is very thick and I have tried picking up targets with a Scope and it was just not for me. Although off of a stand, it would be okay. I also like to move around during the day and trying to pick one up on the move would be tough where we are. I was mostly wondering about the peep style. Some of the posts that I have read in the archives mention how well some users thought they worked but they did not really mention type of cover.

Thanks again

Hey I am from MN as well! I can relate with the thick cover stuff. A peep sight can be very accurate, as you know at the range, but not as easy to pick things up as standard open sights. A scope is obviously more accurate, but is not better picking up targest, quickly, over a peep sight. If you practice acquiring targets with the peep, you can pick them up relatively fast, at least as fast as a scope.
If you are hunting real thick stuff and need very quick shots, I would suggest going back to the traditional open sights and just practice more, as they can still be very accurate, to 100 yards inspite of what you might have read. A 1.5x4.5 power scope would be a good power for a scope, if you go that route. Good luck!

I live in wisconsin but i sometimes hunt the thick mountain tops of Pa. I have a NEF heritage with a lymans peep on it and a rem model 7600 in .270 with a williams peep in it.I love them. I think they are the best thing to use in thick cover. You have a great field of view and with a little practice you can aquire your target very easily. Also they work great if you like to still hunt and track deer like I do. Running shots are no problem with them. The only downside to them is they sit a little higher than open sights and they can get caught on the brush a little easier.

If you prefer irons then check out a " Ghost Ring " that is what works the best in thickets or a 1 X4 X32 scope.

Just get a different aperture for your sight. I like the peep sight better-just like you. In low light situations just screw off your target aperture, and screw on a larger hunting aperture. It will also let more light through.

Also it will not change your POI-you are still centered. I like it alot more than the regular open sight in low light. Tom.

Thanks again everyone for the ideas,
The only style of deer hunting in the woods that I have ever done was with open sights. I do not mind continuing using them if the peeps are not a good choice for a sight. We were using my Son in laws AR-15 this past weekend and it uses the peep style sight. I noticed that they were quite easy to pick up the target very quickly on the range. I figured that if the military were putting them on their guns that it might be worth looking into for my use. Red Lion & WImuzzleman thanks for the replies, you are very familiar with the exact type of cover that I am describing, thanks again. The only time that I have personally used the peep was on my .22 for squirrel and rabbit hunting, it was a very accurate style sight.

Thanks again for the information!

Mike

I will check out this ghost ring style sight and see what it looks like. Head0001, I now remember a Williams peep on my .22 having a few different style aperatures that could be changed out. Thanks for mentioning this. I guess that does answer my question right there. I could use the peep style while stand hunting and switch over in seconds for stalking. Thank you! What style peep are you using and are you happy with it?

Williams target style, and Lyman 66's. Tom.

I have the Williams peep and ordered a "twilight" peep directly fromWilliams (about $10) It has a brass ring on the back of the peep that helps you pick it up in low light. they also have different sized appetures and I get the biggest they have.