...while on the stand? What do you do with it to keep handy and still minimize your movement? I know I will get answers that say to range the area ahead of time, which I already do but does anyone have any suggestions on keeping it handy in the rare case you need to pull it out with deer in the immediate vicinity?
In my right pocket of my Harness, Use to have it on a lanyard but ended up being in my way while shooting.
If i am wearing my HSS vest on the outside of my clothes I keep it in one of the large front pockets. If I have a coat on over it I just keep it in a pocket or sitting in an open pocket of my backpack thats within arms reach
Clipped to my harness, or to the seams of a pocket on my jacket (or my belt). Lately, I'm just putting in my pocket and ranging ahead of time. Even with the tether, I don't like the extra movement when deer are in range.
That is what I have done in the past but I always seem to have trouble getting it out or putting it back in before the shot. Was looking for something better.
Around my neck. Then sometimes I have it sitting in a pocket that's designed for a rangefinder. (Sitka gear)
I wear a bino harness so I put the rangefinder lanyard around my neck and then tuck the rangefinder under the elastic part of the harness so the rangefinder sits just to the right of my binos. I can use either at any time with little movement. I actually do my grunt tube the same way but to the other side.
On a stretchy cord lanyard around my neck. Always there when you need it and retracts out of the way during the shot
I heated a nail and made a small hole in my chest harness and then put a small ring from a key ring on it. Then I use a retractable lanyard and clip it on to the ring. Keeps it high and on my shoulder out of the way of my bowstring. I get nervous with too many things around the center of my neck.
I used to have the Archers Choice rangefinder from Nikon. Their case and strap worked great. I upgraded to a Leupold RX-1000 and had to re-think how I was going to stash it. I drop everything from a tree, so I decided to get a S4 Gear Evo retractable system. I wear it on my belt on the right side. I can access it quickly and put it back quickly without a lot of motion and it's out of the bow strings path that way.
This is my first year taking one out. I have it around my neck - but it is then tucked into the front left pocket of my jacket (I have pockets on the top part of my jacket). It is easy enough to remove quietly but it is also out of my way if I need to move.
Normally in a front chest pocket in my jacket. If the jacket I wear does not have a chest pocket then just in a regular jacket pocket.
I wear mine around my neck. I actually have an older one which makes noise if you bang it with the bow (not rubberized). So I took one of my kids ruined camo sweaters, cut a piece off the sleeve and wrapped it around the range finder to make it quieter just incase I banged it with the bow by accident. Just a DIY thing. Cheaper than buying a new one. If its not broke why replace it.
My jacket has a vertical pocket on my chest that I usually put it in. My favorite stand has a good branch right in front of me that I'll put it on when I sit there.
Large right pocket of my HSS harness. It's on a lanyard around my neck, but tucked away in the pocket when I'm not using.