does the angle range compensation or arc feature in some bushnell range finders really make a difference or is a nomal range finder just as good? thanks
I have one and have only used it in KS and out of moderate height stands 10-20 feet. At those heights the reading is usually only a yard different. I have hunted in the mountains a lot in the past though and would think it would be way more beneficial in steep terrain. So unless you are sighted in to the nearest yard or in the mountains probably not imo.
Forgot to say that my experience is only in bowhunting and that it could of course apply way more to rifle ranges.
I have the Bushnell Chuck Adams edition and despite some of the negative reviews I really like it. I have had no problems with it and it works well in low light conditions. It has the arc angle mode and like kansas josh stated at tree stand heights it is almost always only a yard difference. I have one 20ft stand that over looks a ravine and it still only makes a 2 to 3 yard difference. The stand is set up right on top of the hill that leads down into the ravine. Hope this helps a little.
I bought the Nikon Rifle Hunter 550 last year. This one stand that I have is about 30 feet up a tree but the mountainside the tree is on is so steep that the trail I am watching is a lot lower than the base of the tree I'm in. I found this out while hunting this stand last year, I always take a practice shot out of any new stand I hang and with my old range finder the yardage was off by several yards. With my new ARC range finder the actual difference in yardage is 9 yards. Thats is a really big difference and would easily result in a miss. I think shooting a practice shot out of the actual tree stand you hunt is the best way to know how to shoot that shot but if for some reason that is not possible the ARC range finders are priceless. After having this conversation on another message board last year I was told that I should not hunt where it is so steep...I'm sure glad I did not take that advice because I killed a nice buck out of that very same tree this year. I'm not saying ARC is necessary for everyone but if you hunt in an area where you can come across steep terrain they are great.
It depends on what you're using it for. If you're just going to use it out of a treestand it doesn't make a difference. If you get out west in steep terrain and your shots are getting out over 30 yards then it makes a huge difference.
Read the rest of my statement: "...in steep terrain and your shots are getting out over 30 yards then it makes a huge difference. "
I was just trying to say they can make a big difference while treestand hunting. Like here in Southern WV After rereading my post it sounded like I was trying to be a smart---. Sorry about that KodiakArcher
they do help but it depends on h ow high you hunt out of the tree. i normaly hunt 30 feet off the ground so there is a steep arc to the deer and i used a old rangefinder last year and missed 2 deer from it. i put the together to see if it makes a differene and it did. the distance was about 30 feet and the old one said 30 feet but the new one said 24 feet so i think it does if you hunt high like i do
A 2 yard difference at 10 yards caused you to miss a deer? Or did you mean to type "yards" instead of "feet"? Even though the ARC ads would like us to believe differently, the math just doesn't pan out for treestand heights making a substantial difference in range from the tree. Even at nosebleed heights off the ground your measuring in feet while shot distances are measured in yards. At 30' (10 yards) up a standard rangefinder is only going to put you off of the true shot distance by 1.6 yards at 30 yards and 2.3 yards at 20. You'd have to double that to become significant with any modern bow shooting at deer sized game. rachunter's case with having a tree on top of a hill might be able to do that but typically you'd have to be in some seriously steep and open terrain for it to matter.
use math and save money R = range finder value A = actual distance from tree base Treestand Height: 20' (6.66 yards) R - - A 10 - 7.42 15 - 13.42 20 - 18.84 25 - 24.09 30 - 29.24 35 - 34.35 40 - 39.43 45 - 44.5 50 - 49.55 Treestand Height: 25' (8.3 yards) R - - A 10 - 5.58 15 - 12.49 20 - 18.2 25 - 23.58 30 - 28.83 35 - 34 40 - 39.13 45 - 44.23 50 - 49.31
That's good advice in flatter areas, but in areas like around me and in the mountains, be those in WV or Colorado or Alaska, it isn't exactly that easy.
"Use math and save money" Great idea! It's nice to see it laid out that way. I have always found my standard range finder to be close enough to the actual range while practicing that I never doubted it...until I saw all the advertising Good luck with your choice!
