Does anyone on this site use rangefinders when hunting with traditional equipment? Most of my shots are inside 20 yards and I have never felt the need, but recently I've considered getting one for yardage estimates when setting up ground blinds. If you do, what do you recommend? Just curious.
I have a rangefinder that I bought for golfing and back when I hunted with a compound bow. I just picked one up from my local Walmart. It's a Simmons that was in the $60-70 range (I got it 4 years ago, so I don't remember the cost). It's still going strong. I do use it for trad bowhunting, but only in the way you described (setting up a blind in a new spot ant picking out landmarks to range). If you don't mind spending less than $100 on a tool like this (and if you have other uses for it, like golf or sighting in firearms), then I'd say go for it!
Nope, I would love to have one with my varmint rifle but at bow ranges just never could see the need.
:campfire:
Yes, especially from the ground. I use a used Nikon.
I've used them since my compound days. Before that one where you had to line up the images.
Now it's mostly a set up thing. Is this tree close enough to that trail to hang a stand in? Useful in spot and stalk situations as well.
However it isn'tike picking the right sight pin. It's either in my confidence zone, or it isnt.
Vortex Ranger 1800 I think I paid under $300
Totally unnecessary but it confirms my guesstimating which for traditional distances can be paced off. I end up handing it off to my sons so they can play with it during hunting season and learn what distances actually are in the field. Good gadget very accurate
Additionally, if you see that object out there and you're thinking 'that looks like 900 yards' the Vortex will confirm it
Rusty
I have a Nikon Archers Choice rangefinder from my wheel bow days. I limit my shots to under 25yds and mainly use it only when I first set up a stand to find my max distance for reference.
A long, long time ago I had a non electronic rangefinder but never used it much. I also used colored stakes to mark specific distances. As time passed and my shooting solidified, I came to estimate range simply as short, medium, or long. Now that's the only criteria I consider.
A laser range finder might be good to take along when roving, in order to check distances of longer-than-normal shots that were just made, not about to be made. This can help the gray matter bow sight twixt yer ears get better dialed in for the occasional long shot.
Taking a laser range finder up in a tree stand or ground blind can pin point distances for possible shots on critters.
All that said, I only use a range finder for setting up practice targets and measuring surf rod casting distances.
Pretty much my thoughts exactly. I do a lot of ground hunting on public land. Find a good spot and set up brush blind in whatever cover I can find. Hunt mostly with a guille suit and waldrop pac seat. Just thinking that a range finder might help with scent control when setting up location. Instead of stepping off distance use the range finder and keep your scent away from immediate area. Just another arrow in the quiver. :archer2:
I have thought about getting one as well for basically the same reason. I will be doing more sitting than "still hunting " anymore. I have used a couple when setting up know distance 3D shoot stakes. Let's say I wasn't happy as from two different makers we were getting 2 different distances. I realize there probably is a fudge factor, plus or minus, but even at close range that could mean a high or low hit on a live critter.
I use one for antelope hunting, sometimes its hard for me to judge the distance in the open sage country I always seem to think things are closer than they are .
Had one way back in my compound days...then didn't have one for long time, but picked one up a couple years ago for two reasons:
1.) Read Robs post above on practicing long shots and distance guestimation. It is also fun just to guess.
2.) And this is the main reason, I go out West each fall elk hunting and something happens to my brain out there and "25 yards" is really 40 before long. Keeping my midwest brain straight out there has been a major help.
Yes. I have a rangefinder that I bought about 15 years ago to do pipeline ROW house counts. I use it on every antelope and mule deer hunt I've been on out west and every time I hunt mobile. Its big and old but For the yardages I'm using it for I have not had any issues.
I have a Leica. I've had for years. It mostly used for setting up target distances but this one has good enough glass to use it has a vision aid. I rarely do that as I usually have binoculars with me, but they would work.
Measure out 10 yards or 20 if you prefer, see how many of your steps it takes to pace it off. Unless you're on a mountainside it's pretty easy to figure short range distances.
Question asked was does anyone use one. You've heard from those who do. I don't. I'm generally technology averse in hunting, but really see no need for one. I don't have difficulty judging range to 20-30 yards, and if I'm in doubt, it's a simple matter to pace it off, particularly if setting ground blinds, or even walking a distance from a tree stand.
I suppose they might work better for those who use a mechanical/fixed aiming system, where knowing the exact range can assist in where to hold the arrow point, but i shoot more instinctive/split vision. Can be useful as a training aid in shooting longer distances, as Rob suggests, but knowing the precise distance to the critter under hunting conditions is of no value to me.
I never use my rangefinder when I'm actually hunting. Whenever I set up a blind, I use the rangefinder to measure off multiple rocks,trees, etc near my stand. That way when a critter comes in, I already know the yardage to wherever he is standing.
Bisch
Thank you Bisch. That is exactly how I'm going to be using mine. Just purchased an Arrow ID 3000 by Nikon. No longer made but has been a top seller for several years. Does everything I need to have done. Look forward to trying it out soon. Thank you all for your responses and insights.
I use one. I have a Leupold archers' model. When I get to a stand I range rocks, bushes, trees , etc. around my stand to refresh my memory of the distances to easily identifiable "land-marks". I then put it away and rely on those land marks.
This is especially handy when hunting out west as the distances appear different out there than back here in the east and I am setting up on the fly to take advantage of a spot where we hope to call a bull in to.
JMC