Leupold Vendetta bow mounted lazer rangefinder feedback???

[Ron Meloni]

Anyone out there try one yet? I'm thinking of ordering one before Christmas, but wanted to know what you guys thought of them.

Thanks in advance,

Ron

[bowhuntntxn]

http://discussions.texasbowhunter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=173928

[atexx2]

although they are currently illegal to use when hunting game animals, i think they are a good thing if a person has a tough time at judging distances. Someday the great minds at TPWD may see that the lazer is for calibrating the 20 yd pin and make them legal.

[rrebel83]

Yep they are Illegal to hunt with in Texas as of right now. But very cool design and smart thinking. Hopefully they will resolve this soon. Pigman uses one on his ranch for hogs but the only place you see him using one for deer is in Mexico.

[bowhuntntxn]

IMO if you can use that range finder for hunting game animals, might as well lift all laser restrictions. If it projects a light forward at all, it is illegal for game animals. Doesn't matter if it is just for lining up the 20 yard pin, because there is nothing to disable the laser function, it can be projected on animals.

TPWD does not need to make this legal for hunting game animals IMO.

[TimSues]

Doesn't matter if it is just for lining up the 20 yard pin, because there is nothing to disable the laser function, it can be projected on animals.

I am trying to understand the argument, you dont have a problem with a range finder being hand held, projecting light forward? Or do you just not like range finders at all?

It seems like the original restriction was for anything electronic used for archery on game animals attached to your bow, making elluminated knocks illegal as well.

I bleieve if you allow range finders in archery season it shouldnt matter if it is attached or not to the bow.

But I like to hear other opinions, it makes for healthy discussion.

[TimSues]

[QUOTE]It's a bow mounted range finder, and that's it. The description does say that you can align your pins and the range finder so that your sight pins and the range finder will "aim" at the same target. I don't think it eliminates your sight.

I just read through the legal means and methods page on the TPWD website.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publicat...al/hunt/means/

I couldn't find anything that would make the rangefinder illegal. It's not a sighting device equiped with a lazer, which would be the closest disqualification. If this thing were illegal, I'd think that all range finders would fall under the same category.[QUOTE]

[atexx2]

[quote=TimSues;3174181]

It's a bow mounted range finder, and that's it. The description does say that you can align your pins and the range finder so that your sight pins and the range finder will "aim" at the same target. I don't think it eliminates your sight.

I just read through the legal means and methods page on the TPWD website.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publicat...al/hunt/means/

I couldn't find anything that would make the rangefinder illegal. It's not a sighting device equiped with a lazer, which would be the closest disqualification. If this thing were illegal, I'd think that all range finders would fall under the same category.

Watch all the video's on the vendetta's website, when you are setting up the rangefinder for the first time you have to use the lazer, and this is what makes the thing illegal, you do not actully use the lazer when hunting only for setting it up.

[bowhuntntxn]

atexx2 explains it fairly well. when setting it up, you have to use a laser that projects a light forward. IF a person chooses not to turn it on again then so be it. BUT there is no way to prevent it from being used as an aiming device, projecting a laser forward on the animal. I am not against using range finders, but why not range objects while you are waiting for an animal to show up?

TPWD is doing the right thing by remaining consistent, and not allowing these to be used on game animals.

And BTW I saw several of these Vendetta devices in the bargain cave at Cabelas recently.

[TimSues]

I understand the consitensy is important, as well is common sense.

I guess I have a higher overall opinion of the hunters we have here in Texas and the intent of the law. The first think that should be considered is the intent of the rule or the law. The obvious intent is to not use laser sights on archery equipment. If the law is poorly written or we are taking things to extreme by not understanding the intent, we get what we have here a confused public and difference in opinion within its own regulatory body.

I think this could be cloeared up easily by the TPWD by anouncing the intent of the rule, or even by Leuppold in state that have similiar restriction by removing the laser calibration device and use a method as I desribe below.


Perhaps a simple solution for Leupold is to make a V in the top of the Vendetta like the rear protion of an iron sight on a rifle. You could then shoot an arrow at 20yrds and line the v at the top of the Vendetta up with the arrow still in the target at 20yrds, your range finder is now located. It might take a couple tries but at these ranges 20-60 maybe 80 yrds it doesnt need to be micro adjusted as along as it hits a game size animal at the desired distance it will work.

We use this very rudimentry method to point survey instruments in the general diraection.


Not an expert just trying to implement common ssense solutions.

But "I did stay in a Holiday in Ezpress Last Night"

[BrandonA]

I am going to bet that this will be legal in Texas soon.

[Ron Meloni]

Me too, so I ordered one.

[TedStriker]

You guys can use it all you want on pigs and exotics out of deer season, or you can risk giving all your equipment up to the state if you want to use it during deer season.

[BrandonA]

I am going to order one after deer season. If it isn't legal by next year I will just take it off. I bet it will also be a good training tool on guessing yardage during the off season.

[JBH1979]

I think its a great idea to have one. I think the amount of wounded animals would decrease if we all had an accurate range. I have trouble ranging animals out on the lease. I'm so used to practicing in my back yard that when I get into a new environment I think everything is further than it really is.