Range Finders

[wolc123]

I was wondering what members opinions and recommendations are regarding range finders.  I will be deer hunting this season with an assortment of weapons with various effective ranges. These are, along with the longest range that I have killed a deer with each:, a crossbow with red-dot sight (59 yards), a smoothbore shotgun with open sights (100 yards), a smoothbore shotgun with 1-1/2X scope (120 yards), a rifled shotgun with 3X scope (163 yards), an in-line ML with 2-7X scope (175 yards), and a rifle with 3-9X scope (325 yards).  

 

With the exceptions of the rifle and rifled shotgun, all of those ranges are slightly beyond what I would consider the effective range of the weapon used.  The crossbow only pushed the bolt 8" into the deer (fortunately thru the heart).  The open-sight shotgun buck was only hit because I could see where the first two shots struck in the mud and had him "bracketed" for the third.  The first scoped smoothbore slug I fired hit low on the buck,  breaking a front leg.  The only reason I was able to catch him and kill him from point-blank range was because someone else had shot off a rear hoof a week or two prior (I was faster than a 2-legged deer back then).   The ML must have caught only one lung and I was not able to find the buck until a week later with the help of the crows and after the coyotes ate most of him (no I did not eat the rest).  

 

The limits I have established (sometimes the hard way) are going to be: 50 yards for the crossbow, 75 yards for the smoothbore with open sights, 100 with the scope, 150 yards for the ML, 175 for the rifled slug gun, and 350 with the rifle.   Today I went over to BPS in Canada to check out rangefinders that would work in all these situations.  I ended up ordering the "Halo" 1000 which was on sale for $179 Canadian, or $149 US.   

 

I plan on using it from most spots where I choose to sit by sighting various objects where a deer may appear.  When I checked one out in the store it was very repeatable on objects from 10 yards to 100 yards (big store) away.  It also agreed with some of the more expensive models they had, and was highly recommended by the sales staff.  If nothing else it will be more convenient than messing around with a tape measure out on the range when I am practicing.    

[growalot]

I bought a Cabelas which I think bushnell made...I have had it for many years now and ......No I won't jinx myself....

[G-Man]

I have a leupold had ir many years has to change battery this year, friend bought halo this year, seems like a very nice unit the little I played with it.

[Estobles]

I have a range finder that I bought for golfing but now I find it to be a great asset for deer hunting. For bow hunting it is a valuable tool to mark out exact yardage, it doesn't take much to be off a lot with a slightly misplaced arrow. I highly recommend making a rangefinder part of your basic hunting equipment.

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[Lawdwaz]

Leica CRF 800 (or is it 900?)

 

I've had mine for 6-7 years now?    Changed the battery once or twice..................

[Marion]

I had an awesome cabelas one up until 2011 when I lost it somewhere in the Selway Wilderness in Idaho. Needless to say I was crushed now I use a brasser 800 and its been pretty good for bow hunting.

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[wolc123]

The one I bought has "angle sense" It must work out the trigonometry for you. That should be great for hunting up on ridge tops and shooting down into the valley which was how I got my Adirondack buck last fall. I cant wait to try it out in less that 2-weeks when I can get up there with the ML.

I usually don't play a lot of golf, but it sure seems like it would work a lot better for that than the cheap little one I had that determined the range by the height of the flag. The camo finish may not go over so well at the country club however.

[turkeyfeathers]

I used to play a lot of competitive golf and have a Bushnell 1500 I've used for golf and now hunting for 10 years or so. It's a little bigger than all range finders today. It works great to check certain trees , stumps and such for yardages in anticipation of where the deer / turkey may show up. After playing golf for so long I've always had a pretty good at distance. Looks like a stock #9 iron , yup that's 150 yards. Sand wedge , yup that's 100 yards lol. Only shotgun and ML hunter here though with not much shooting possibilities in the woods I hunt beyond 150 yards. So it's mainly put the crosshairs on my mark and squeeze the trigger anyhow with not worrying about "aim high" etc I obviously could see these things very helpful for bow hunters

[gfdeputy2]

I have a Nikon Prostaff 7 & a Nikon Aculan

[Five Seasons]

cheap bushnell for me. I generally bring it once or twice to new stands or the first time I hunt them. Then I pick out the tree or spot and put the mental note in the brain. If you're using a climber or stalking or hunting a lot of new property I'd invest in a good one, but generally it's a basic tool I haven't felt the need to buy "the best one" of.

[moog5050]

Have a redfield.  Works fine and battery lasted three seasons.  Well worth the money.

[Jaeger]

I started on LI with one of the old bohening (sp?) mechanical bowhunting rangefinders, good to abt. 90Yds.

 

Now have a Leica 1200, like stated above, changed the battery twice in 5-7 years.  Great optic but heavy.  Tend not to bring it along because of the weight.

 

Have too much $$ tied up in it to change but if did I would definitely make the weight a first priority, they all seem to be plenty accurate these days.

[Culvercreek hunt club]

Does that range finder have the true horizontal distance feature?

 

when my current one craps out I will be getting one with it.

Edited October 7, 2015 by Culvercreek hunt club

[gfdeputy2]

My Prostaff 7 does but my Aculan does not

[phade]

I have found a rangefinder to be an invaluable tool for me. I've used it several times to range a deer and shoot it, not to mention the ranging of trails and trees, etc. when getting to the stand.

 

I have a Bushnell Chuck Adams model and it works great for my needs. Leica and OptiLogic seem to be great options too from all the reviews on them.