Rangefinder

[rem788]

How many of you guys actually use a rangefinder when bowhunting? I have been looking at a few and they are pretty pricey. I am talking about the ARC capable ones. I just started bowhunting last season and killed 5 deer from different positions in different areas of texas and never needed one. Do you need it more when you start shooting at longer distances?

[gonehuntin68]

When I hunted out West I did a lot of spot and stalk I used one all the time. The last two years I've mainly hunted out of stands and have not used one.

[SmTx]

I use one when setting up new stands in order to know the distance from landmarks. Don't use them so much while actually hunting, I already know my limiting range.

[WCB]

I use mine to get known distances but seldom use it on deer. Unless I'm bored then I range birds, squirrels and such...

[keep]

Here is what I posted a few months back. Hopefully it helps.

I use a Leupold RXII. Here's why, I have some hunts that very well could require some steep angled shots so I opted for a rangefinder with the trajectory compensation built in. If I were hunting around here only or out of a tree, I wouldn't pay the extra money for the technology because the difference/ if any of 30 yds and 20ft up isn't enough to worry about.
Next, I like the Archers Choice but I don't like the range limitation. While it goes to 100 yds I prefer one that goes a few hundred or more for stalking purposes. If I'm stalking an animal I can range it and if it's 150yds and I can range a tree/ rock/bush at 110yds I know that if I can make it to that spot I have a 40yd shot, so the 100yd finders wouldn't work for that. jmho
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[scubasteven25]

I use my rangefinder only when I initially set up in a new place. I pick some landmarks in all directions and different distances and this serves as a guide when an animal does appear. If other than this, it just sits in my bag.

[JSAPP]

I use mine alot. Especially when spot'n stalking. I have the bushnel with arc. You only really need it when up very high.

[Green Arrow]

I use one often when i am hunting.
I have a nikon team realtree rangefinder and really like it.
Its small and light weight and has good range.

[JerryC]

I use mine when I go to Colorado for elk and antelope. Not so much around here on deer, never shoot farther than 20 yards in the woods.

[Bill]

I use my rangefinder only when I initially set up in a new place. I pick some landmarks in all directions and different distances and this serves as a guide when an animal does appear. If other than this, it just sits in my bag.

x2. I have a $200 Nikon which is small, and works well.

I made a pouch out of a small Klein electrician's meter case from Home Depot and sprayed it camo, and keep it in there.

The few times I tried to take it out and range the animal prior to shooting, I never got a shot off. Elk cow, deer and pigs.

[Davik]

The average bowhunter does not need the high dollar technology that you are talking about...that ARC stuff is great for mountain terrain or cliff shots that require alot of math to figure out...most of the ads for those show the hunter and the animal and tell you the real distance is about 9 yards less than the horizontal distance...if you use the proper math formula (didn't think math class was that important did you?) you'll find that the hunter is about 90 yards up in the tree...for most shots, a hunter 20-25 feet up a tree will have to compensate only about 1 yard out to 35 yards for a normal shot...advertising hype...I used a Ranging TLR 75 for the longest time, ranged everything around my stands and remembered them...put the thing away and didn't miss a deer or hog...you can get by for alot less money with rangefinders. Good luck