Do you use a rangefinder?

So- full disclosure, I haven't hunted yet.

My two goals for the Fall are;

1. See a deer, doe or buck, that dosen't see me
2. If given the opprotunity,take a clean ethical shot (without freaking out too much lol

That being said, I'd like not to use a rangefinder (more purest?) I like to think I have a decent eye and I practice rangeing often. Still my worst nightmare is wounding an animal.

I guess my question is, do you use a rangefinder why/why not.

Thanks Jim

 

Yes I use a rangefinder. I'd rather know for sure the distance as opposed to relying on my eye when the moment of truth arrives. I have the Nikon Archer's Choice.

 

i Do not use a range finder, But its mostly because i don't have the money to buy one. If i had the funds i would be useing one.

 

No and doubt I ever will unless I am consistently shooting at animals past 35 yards or so.

 

I have one, and love it, but I dang sure wouldnt quit hunting if I didnt have it if that makes any sense. I wouldnt call it a neccessity but definately a good tool to use.

 

I have one, use it and love it. I've probably shot more 3D competitions than SOME of you and I still use it. I consider myself a very competent yardage estimator but still use one. When the moment of truth happens, the last thing I want to do is guess.

 

I never used one when I shot a compound. I figured It would take too much out of the hunt for me.

To each his/her own though.

 

I use one.. and always will.. and I'm pretty good at knowing my distances around me.. but I move around soooo much.. my scenery changes all the time... and I only shoot out to 30 yards.. no more.

I always loved guys who speak against it.. like its a purity thing.. then go out and hang a trail-cam. Ha!

 

I don't see a rangefinder as diminishing anything more than the odds of wounding a deer.

It isn't a gadget that helps me get on deer better, or hold back at full draw longer, or locate the big bucks...it simply removes ANY doubt in my mind about how far of a shot I am taking. It only helps to remove a slight chance that I misjudged the shot distance and wounded the animal.

I don't use it DURING the hunt either. If I climb up for the first time, I range a bakers dozen trees and establish a range in all directions, a zone of when it is in shooting range and when it isn't. I then put it away for good. When a deer comes in, I watch its position in correlation to the KNOWN distance of trees around it, and make a shot accordingly. Still some guessing, but the margin for error is 1-2 yards rather than 5-10 yards.

 

Yep, I'd feel lost without it.

 

I'm positive you will see deer this fall that don't see you. Good luck!

 

What's wrong with more purity then someone else Mike? Some of us enjoy that more.

 

no judgment here. I'll probably get one just to be sure. I was just curious.

 

yes I do to range different trees and obstacles.

 

yes i do, its just better insurance that i have my yardages in check. I never range an animal but just pre range objects in an invisable circle around me before a hunt.

 

I use a rangefinder because I am horrible at judging distance. How I use mine is that I range trees around me and then I know distances all around me so I won't have to pull my range finders out when a deer walks in.

 

Hi Schultzy,I thought I might hear from Trad guys Did you shoot "instinctivly" With your compound or have a sight? Also, did your comfort level for ranging change when you made the switch? thanks Jim

 

For some reason a few people take It personal when I say I don't use one for one reason or another, big freaking deal If I didn't use the things, doesn't mean someone else can't use one.

To answer your question Jim when I shot compound I used sights. I practiced without sights too just In case they would come loose on me while hunting. Every so often they would come loose and that was one of the many reasons I said the heck with compounds.

My comfort level changed big time when I decided to hunt with a recurve. Talk about being nervous my 1st few years, that I sure was!! Still to this day (14 years hunting with a recurve) my comfort level still Isn't what It was with a compound In my hand and I'm sure It never will be. That's the exciting part though, hell of a thrill!!

 

I use one to practice from different distances and to range spots from my stand.

 

i dont use one mostly because being a student and having a part-time job doesnt really scream money, if i did have the money for one tho id definatly would get one.

when i get money saved you can bet it will be on the top of my list.