A compound bow without a good bow sight is either a stress test for being accurate or a really expensive paperweight. For that reason, the bow sight is one of the most important accessories you will purchase for your bow. Think of it like a map to connect the dots from your arrow rest to EXACTLY what you want to put your arrow through. With that, the sight needs to also be durable and worthy of any adventure you see fit. The Boonie 5-pin, and the latest from Spot Hogg, is one such sight that is up for anything you want to throw at it.
Spot Hogg Boonie Bow Sight Overview
The Spot Hogg Boonie Bow Sight is the trimmed-down version of previous models of Spot Hogg Sights. If other Spot Hogg Sights were linebackers, these Boonie sights are more like tenacious running backs. So, it’s still tough as nails, but without the extra weight and bulk.
What Configurations and What’s in the Box?
While I opted for the 5-pin hard mount, Spot Hogg also offers a single-pin, horizontal 3-pin, vertical 3-pin, Picatinny mount, and dovetail mount. This is a slider sight made to handle the toughest of conditions. Within the sturdy build, you’ll find micro adjustable 2nd and 3rd axis and you’ll have the option to choose between .010″ and .019″ pin sizes. Like all Spot Hogg Sights the Boonie comes with several different aperture sizes for the scope as well as pre-printed out sight tapes with 3 additional calibration tapes.
A Few Standout Features of the Spot Hogg Boonie
No Tools Needed
One of the most practical features of the Boonie is the fact that it requires no tools to adjust windage and elevation. This is a huge convenience as you won’t need to go digging for an archery tool every time you need to make an adjustment. It’s an efficient design and much appreciated. Elevation can be adjusted via the super smooth dial and the windage is adjusted via a micro-adjust knob on the side of the sight.
I do want to point out that you still need tools if you want to adjust the pins, which we’ll talk about later. And if you need to gang adjust the housing left/right/up/down you also need a tool.
Quick Disconnect
Another great upside for the Boonie is the quick disconnect. Hunters can pop off both the sight tape wheel and the housing and swap them out for another housing and wheel. The reason this is a great feature, and a practical one, is it allows you to have multiple sight setups for different arrow profiles. You could even have a single pin set up along with another multiple pin set up. Use the single-pin for 3D shoots and the multi-pin for hunting.
More Lightweight
Spot Hogg sights are built like tanks and the weight of them is proof of it. These are generally pretty heavy bow sights. However, the Boonie wipes that right off the table. Compared to the famously known Spot Hogg Fast Eddie the Boonie is 10% more lightweight. While that doesn’t sound like a big number, I promise you, you can feel the difference on your bow.
What I Like
I’ve been a fan of Spot Hogg Sights for years now. For a backpack hunter, durability and reliability are huge, and I don’t think you can find a better option for that than Spot Hogg. There are others on par, but nothing else beats their build if you ask me.
Something else I really appreciate about the new Boonie is the vertical dial compared to what I’ve used in the past. I like the new locking system and I don’t ever feel like I can “overtighten” it if that makes sense. With other sights, including previous Spot Hogg models, I’ve either ended up cranking a dial way too tight, or not enough, resulting in the sight sliding down on the shot. The design of the Boonie here is exceptional.
Above here we talked a bit about the Tool-less adjustment. This is a huge win in my book. It makes things so much more convenient when you don’t have to go reaching for a wrench to make a simple windage adjustment.
Speaking of adjustments, I’ve gotta say, this Boonie is very smooth and precise on that front. The micro windage is so much more smooth than previous Spot Hogg models, the dial is butter, and the pins? Well, this is an area where I have experienced some frustration in the past, but after really learning how to use the 3-screw pin adjustment, it is incredibly precise.
What I Don’t Like
One small inconvenience about the Boonie is the placement of the 3rd-axis adjustment screws in relation to the scope housing. If you’ve got your scope housing placed in the “perfect” spot gaining access to one of the screws for the 3rd axis adjustment can prove difficult. You’ll have to reposition the height of the scope, adjust the 3rd axis, and then reinstall the scope where you need it for your sight in.
Another small downside I’ve found with the Boonie is one of the upsides I mentioned. While I have grown to like the pin adjustment system, it’s not my favorite by a long shot. The big reason there is I don’t like the fact that it’s confusing to new hunters.
How to Adjust Pins
Let me try and explain briefly. Each pin has three screws. Two, which are right on top of one another, are for up/down and one, which is behind those, is for left/right. The elevation screws are set on a triangle type of platform. You essentially need to teeter-totter each pin with the two screws to move it up and down.
To move a pin down, you’d slightly loosen the bottom screw and slightly tighten the top screw. By loosening the bottom screw a tad, you’re allowing the top screw room to push the pin down. You’d do the opposite to move the pin up. And once the pin is where you want it, make sure to teeter-totter tighten both screws until snug. From there the 3rd screw is for the left/right of the pin. By adjusting the elevation of the pin, it will throw it off center, because it’s swinging from a fixed position. Use the wire in the center of the scope to make sure you’re getting the pin back on track as you turn that screw.
Closing Thoughts
As new gear is developed, I think the only way for companies to be looking is up. They need to elevate their game from where they were and try to solve problems with a new product. Spot Hogg nailed it with this Boonie from where I’m sitting. It’s everything I love about a Spot Hogg sight and more without all of the bulk of the old versions. So, if you’ve been poking around for a new bow sight for the season, I highly suggest you take a look at the Spot Hogg Boonie 5-pin. I’m sure glad I did and I don’t see me taking this off of my bow any time soon.
A compound bow without a good bow sight is either a stress test for being accurate or a really expensive paperweight. For that reason, the bow sight is one of the most important accessories you will purchase for your bow. Think of it like a map to connect the dots from your arrow rest to […]
By Ross at Switchback Outdoors
Spring bear hunting presents some of the most unpredictable weather conditions you’ll face in the backcountry. One moment it’s raining and chilly, the next it’s sunny—but still freezing in the shade. That’s why a solid layering system is crucial for both comfort and safety in the field.
By Ross at Switchback Outdoors Spring bear hunting presents some of the most unpredictable weather conditions you’ll face in the backcountry. One moment it’s raining and chilly, the next it’s sunny—but still freezing in the shade. That’s why a solid layering system is crucial for both comfort and safety in the field.
By Josh Kirchner
If you’re gonna be a backpack hunter, you’re gonna need a home away from home. A place where you can retreat from inclement weather and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead. This means some sort of tent/shelter is in order. The good thing is, there are tons of options out there. The confusing thing is, there are tons of options out there!
By Josh Kirchner If you’re gonna be a backpack hunter, you’re gonna need a home away from home. A place where you can retreat from inclement weather and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead. This means some sort of tent/shelter is in order. The good thing is, there are tons of options […]
by Ty Hinds
When you think about whitetail hunting, the first images that come to mind might be chilly mornings and frosty breaths, but that wasn't the case on my recent trip to Texas. This early-season whitetail hunt was anything but cold—it was a scorcher, with temperatures climbing to 92 degrees in the afternoon, not to mention the humidity that seemed to cling to everything.
by Ty Hinds When you think about whitetail hunting, the first images that come to mind might be chilly mornings and frosty breaths, but that wasn’t the case on my recent trip to Texas. This early-season whitetail hunt was anything but cold—it was a scorcher, with temperatures climbing to 92 degrees in the afternoon, not […]
by Ty Hinds
The first two days of this Utah elk hunt were exactly what every elk hunter dreams of—hot, action-packed, and filled with bugling bulls. The echoes of rutting elk rang through the drainages, making it tough to decide which canyon to glass first. It felt like we had our pick of the herd, setting up for what seemed to be a slam-dunk hunt.
by Ty Hinds The first two days of this Utah elk hunt were exactly what every elk hunter dreams of—hot, action-packed, and filled with bugling bulls. The echoes of rutting elk rang through the drainages, making it tough to decide which canyon to glass first. It felt like we had our pick of the herd, […]
by Ty Hinds
Game bags are one of the most underrated yet essential pieces of hunting gear. With so many options on the market today, choosing the right game bag can make a significant difference in how well you take care of your hard-earned meat. Over the past six years, I’ve tested nearly every game bag imaginable across the western U.S., Canada, Mexico, and even Russia. On my most recent caribou hunt, my group put the BlackOvis Game Bags to the ultimate test—and they exceeded expectations.
by Ty Hinds Game bags are one of the most underrated yet essential pieces of hunting gear. With so many options on the market today, choosing the right game bag can make a significant difference in how well you take care of your hard-earned meat. Over the past six years, I’ve tested nearly every game […]
by Ty Hinds
Solids or Camo in the Marsh? Choosing the Right Base Layer for Waterfowl Hunting
When it comes to waterfowl hunting, the debate between solid colors and camo never ends. While camo is my go-to in the marsh, a lightweight, breathable base layer is just as crucial for staying comfortable and dry. During the early waterfowl season in October, when temperatures range between 35-50°F, I rely on the Venture Pullover Hoodie as my base layer of choice. It provides the perfect balance of warmth, breathability, and moisture-wicking performance for active hunters.
by Ty Hinds Solids or Camo in the Marsh? Choosing the Right Base Layer for Waterfowl Hunting When it comes to waterfowl hunting, the debate between solid colors and camo never ends. While camo is my go-to in the marsh, a lightweight, breathable base layer is just as crucial for staying comfortable and dry. During […]
by Ty Hinds
When your hunt takes you to one of the most unforgiving environments on Earth, your gear needs to rise to the challenge. The Kamchatka Peninsula in far eastern Russia offers some of the most incredible hunting opportunities but also some of the harshest, coldest, and most unpredictable weather imaginable. On my recent hunt for Chukotka moose, Russian brown bear, and barren-ground caribou, the BlackOvis Recon Down Jacket became my ultimate lifeline.
by Ty Hinds When your hunt takes you to one of the most unforgiving environments on Earth, your gear needs to rise to the challenge. The Kamchatka Peninsula in far eastern Russia offers some of the most incredible hunting opportunities but also some of the harshest, coldest, and most unpredictable weather imaginable. On my recent […]
By Josh Kirchner
I can remember it like it was yesterday. Saturday mornings as a kid weren’t spent watching cartoons like most kids. My Saturday mornings were spent with my Dad watching hunting television. Most of them involved whitetail deer hunting from a treestand with a bow. Since those precious mornings with my Father, I have wanted to do a hunt like this. Finally, this year I did my first one and got to test the whitetail system from Sitka Gear while doing so.
By Josh Kirchner I can remember it like it was yesterday. Saturday mornings as a kid weren’t spent watching cartoons like most kids. My Saturday mornings were spent with my Dad watching hunting television. Most of them involved whitetail deer hunting from a treestand with a bow. Since those precious mornings with my Father, I […]
When hunters think of Mexico, they often imagine massive 200-inch mule deer around every corner. The reality? It’s far from easy. Hunting in Mexico is an adventure that tests your patience, skill, and endurance.
(more…)When hunters think of Mexico, they often imagine massive 200-inch mule deer around every corner. The reality? It’s far from easy. Hunting in Mexico is an adventure that tests your patience, skill, and endurance.
By Ty Hinds
By Ty Hinds
By Ross Melville
By Ross Melville
By Gear Guide Colby Jorgensen
By Gear Guide Colby Jorgensen
by BlackOvis Gear Guide Ty Hinds
When it comes to outdoor gear, there are few pieces that truly stand out as year-round essentials. Over the years, I've grown to love the piece since it has made it into the BlackOvis line. Whether I'm chasing bears in the high country, glassing mule deer, or casting a line in a river, the Realm shirt has proven itself time and time again.
(more…)by BlackOvis Gear Guide Ty Hinds When it comes to outdoor gear, there are few pieces that truly stand out as year-round essentials. Over the years, I’ve grown to love the piece since it has made it into the BlackOvis line. Whether I’m chasing bears in the high country, glassing mule deer, or casting a […]
By Ben Blakeley
By Ben Blakeley
My Name is Bryce, I have been a gear guide with BlackOvis for a few years now. My knowledge in big-game gear has grown exponentially with my time here! I have been given the opportunity to not only use the gear we sell, but train, learn, and talk to customers daily about everything we carry. I grew up in the waterfowl world, and have been hunting any bird you can think of for over 15 years. I started my big-game hunting about 6 years ago, but I have quickly learned to love it! Below is more about myself, and my own gear-list that I personally have learned to trust. I will focus on big game essentials, however you can reach out to me about my vast experience with waterfowl gear at the contact info at the bottom!
My Name is Bryce, I have been a gear guide with BlackOvis for a few years now. My knowledge in big-game gear has grown exponentially with my time here! I have been given the opportunity to not only use the gear we sell, but train, learn, and talk to customers daily about everything we carry. […]