orion Posted October 13, 2015 Share Posted October 13, 2015 Anyone have a rangefinder they like in lowlight conditions? I usually get to my spot 30 minutes before shooting time. So far its been pretty dark under the canopy, any way my rangefinder isn't working all that well at that time (if at all). It also has a black readout which makes it worse. Also anyone recommend one that might work in a light rain? My current one is a Nikon monarch gold laser 1200. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawdwaz Posted October 13, 2015 Share Posted October 13, 2015 (edited) My Leica works in the dark. And rain.....and snow if it isn't a blizzard. Edited October 13, 2015 by Lawdwaz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawnhu Posted October 13, 2015 Share Posted October 13, 2015 My Leica works in the dark. And rain.....and snow if it isn't a blizzard. Mine failed in the fog couple days ago. Only read 6-7 yards before fog lifted. X-Calibur Lighting Systems http://facebook.com/XCaliburLightingSystems Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BizCT Posted October 13, 2015 Share Posted October 13, 2015 Anyone have a rangefinder they like in lowlight conditions? I usually get to my spot 30 minutes before shooting time. So far its been pretty dark under the canopy, any way my rangefinder isn't working all that well at that time (if at all). It also has a black readout which makes it worse. Also anyone recommend one that might work in a light rain? My current one is a Nikon monarch gold laser 1200. Try to make mental notes of certain trees and their yardages this way you might not even need to use the rangefinder if a deer is standing right next to, or in front/back of a tree you already know the distance of. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chas0218 Posted October 13, 2015 Share Posted October 13, 2015 (edited) Mine failed in the fog couple days ago. Only read 6-7 yards before fog lifted. X-Calibur Lighting Systems http://facebook.com/XCaliburLightingSystems Same, Mine is a Nikon pro staff 7 nice rangefinder but all rangefinders need line of sight to work. If there is heavy fog, rain, anything that will obstruct the lasers view it will keep the rangefinder from reading the distance. My rangefinder has a red "backlight" it washes out the picture but you can read the distance barely. If you can't read the numbers on the rangefinder I would doubt you can effectively shoot anything over 20 yards and still see the object through your peep and/or sight window. Edited October 13, 2015 by chas0218 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orion Posted October 14, 2015 Author Share Posted October 14, 2015 Leica, Its a little more then I wanted to spend but I guess I might have to. Anybody have the Vortex? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gfdeputy2 Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 Same, Mine is a Nikon pro staff 7 nice rangefinder but all rangefinders need line of sight to work. If there is heavy fog, rain, anything that will obstruct the lasers view it will keep the rangefinder from reading the distance. My rangefinder has a red "backlight" it washes out the picture but you can read the distance barely. If you can't read the numbers on the rangefinder I would doubt you can effectively shoot anything over 20 yards and still see the object through your peep and/or sight window. I have the Prostaff 7 & works well in rain & fog as long as neither is heavy & I liked the idea of the back light but does not work as well as I hoped I never use it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbHunterNY Posted October 15, 2015 Share Posted October 15, 2015 I've got a Nikon Riflehunter 1000 since it first came out. it has the red backlight. drowns out the field of view a little but it still works just fine in low light. it's automatic so I don't choose to use it or not. I've used it in rain, fog, and everything else with no issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachpeaz Posted October 15, 2015 Share Posted October 15, 2015 Try to make mental notes of certain trees and their yardages this way you might not even need to use the rangefinder if a deer is standing right next to, or in front/back of a tree you already know the distance of. Too me, this is the most important thing you can do. In all my years of hunting, I would say that less than 1% of the time I have ever been able to have the luxory of rangefinding the deer just prior to shooting. I ALWAYS use my rangefinder to locate benchmarks around my stand and then field judge based on those. My buck last year was 38 yards. He walked just behind a tree I marked at 35 yards. I had ZERO time due to him sneaking in and being a second from dissapearing again. So important. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orion Posted October 15, 2015 Author Share Posted October 15, 2015 Too me, this is the most important thing you can do. In all my years of hunting, I would say that less than 1% of the time I have ever been able to have the luxory of rangefinding the deer just prior to shooting. I ALWAYS use my rangefinder to locate benchmarks around my stand and then field judge based on those. My buck last year was 38 yards. He walked just behind a tree I marked at 35 yards. I had ZERO time due to him sneaking in and being a second from dissapearing again. So important. I would think this is just common sense. It's the reason I was looking for one that worked in lowlight. I always range trees etc when I get to one of my spots to refresh the memory. Don't think I've ever actually ranged a deer that I shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachpeaz Posted October 15, 2015 Share Posted October 15, 2015 I would think this is just common sense. It's the reason I was looking for one that worked in lowlight. I always range trees etc when I get to one of my spots to refresh the memory. Don't think I've ever actually ranged a deer that I shot. Nothing is common sense in this state. You would be surprised at how many people don't range find anything and claim to be able to know the exact yardage a deer is at. Others watch too many damn TV shows and think they have all the time in the world while a 170" is standing broadside at 25 yards apparently oblibious to the world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WNYBuckHunter Posted October 16, 2015 Share Posted October 16, 2015 Leica, Its a little more then I wanted to spend but I guess I might have to. Anybody have the Vortex? Ive been hoping my Bushnell will die for the last couple of years so I have a reason to buy the Vortex. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orion Posted October 16, 2015 Author Share Posted October 16, 2015 I like the lifetime warranty on the vortex. The downside of having to push the button 3 times instead of 2 doesn't bother me much as I range most things as soon as I get to a spot. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jmny Posted October 19, 2015 Share Posted October 19, 2015 Interesting why someone would want a Rangefinder that works in the dark. I each their own. Must be raccoon hunters using a bow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WNYBuckHunter Posted October 19, 2015 Share Posted October 19, 2015 Interesting why someone would want a Rangefinder that works in the dark. I each their own. Must be raccoon hunters using a bow. Its nice to be able to range trees and other objects before the animal you want to shoot shows up. Im guessing they get to their stand in the dark and would want to make use of the time by ranging things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orion Posted October 19, 2015 Author Share Posted October 19, 2015 Interesting why someone would want a Rangefinder that works in the dark. I each their own. Must be raccoon hunters using a bow. Did you even read the post? I explained why. I guess some are just idiots Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NFA-ADK Posted October 19, 2015 Share Posted October 19, 2015 Like was stated above just range a few trees or land marks for reference this way if it becomes foggy or rainy or the battery goes dead you will still have a good idea of the ranges within 2-3 yards. Sometimes at that range you will not have time to get the rangefinder out AND shoot so it's better to know beforehand. If you go to the same spot it should become 2nd nature to know what your distances are. I had everything ranged out to 40 yards and with the wind I had that day I was not shooting past that distance. The 3 doe at 130 yards made me think of this site, lol. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jmny Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 (edited) Yes I read the post. Back when I could hunt out of treestands, I would hang them about 20-25 yards off an active deer trail or the intersection of two trails from a food source to a bedding site. After picking out an appropriate tree and securing the stand, I would then make sure I had a couple of unobstructed shooting lanes. Next would be to mark out the approximate shooting distances of 5 and 10 yards before the trail.( 10-15, or 15-20) I always found it advisable to accomplish all variables concerning hanging my treestand at one time, weeks before the season, so that I would keep scent to a minimum and be all ready for the coming season. But you have decided to personalize your posting by referring to me as a Idiot. That I might be, but I'm not a gullible Idiot. As stated previously " to each their own" Edited October 20, 2015 by Jmny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orion Posted October 20, 2015 Author Share Posted October 20, 2015 I'm sorry Jony but I hunt different stands throughout the year. When I get to one of them and it's in the morning I like to double check all my distances to various trees in my shooting lanes so that I'm ready whenever a deer comes. Is this such a bad thing? But you need to chime in with your remarks, and that comment makes you an idiot to put it nicely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Core Posted October 22, 2015 Share Posted October 22, 2015 I use the Vectronix Vector 23. I figure why settle on a cheap range finder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buckmaster7600 Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 I have the leupold rx1000 I think its called and I love it have had it for about 5 years and it's been flawless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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