Rangefinders

[Howling Dog]

Just after some feedback from the mass is a rangefinder worthwhile or an expensive toy?
I am thinking of getting a rangefinder, to sharpen up my range estimation & range objects when sitting in an ambush situation. Not sure it will actually get much use, while actually hunting.
How many own & actually use a rangefinder when hunting? Or does it sit in the backpack?

[Scott]

Mate as far as I am concerned they are just another item to clutter up the backpack. I bought one about 5 year's ago thinking that this was the way to go, after all, a million American bowhunter's can't be wrong! But! by the time I got it out to take the distance the animal had moved on or the best possible shot was lost. Nothing like judging the distance out of the old brain box, adds to the great feeling of success when it all comes together. When that perfect shot placement brings the animal down, knowing that you have picked the distance instinctivley whether you use pins or not is where it all counts. Yes you will miss judge but hey, thats Bowhunting. If we all out there just to kill we wouldn't do it..... just my thoughts and each to there own. If you want to try a range finder I will ship ya my old one free. She ain't much chop its gone a bit fuzzy from just doin nothing but you can still see thru it and read the distance. Its good out to about 70 yards,cheers. Scott

[rinaldo]

I use a Nikkon 440 and its worth its weight in gold. The optics are great, it doubles as my bino and fits nicely in one hand. Accurate to within .5 m up to 100m and 1m up to 400m, I mainly use it for 3D distance estimation practice.

[Mozza]

i got a little bushnell one and i use it all the time, it just sits in my shirt pocket and is really easy to just pull out and range objects, i usually try to work out the distances first anyway, but the rangefinder is great for distances over 30 meters.
The only thing is that sometimes you cant always get it out in time or without being busted, that is why i usually try to judge the distance first to keep up my skills. :)

[Warlocke]

I use mine to plan my stalk.

When I first see game feeding, I range to the game, then range sites within my kill zone.

Only time I use it after this is if the game move.

When travelling to, or from, my hunting areas, I guess distances and confirm my guesses with the rangefinder.

Getting better at ranging by eye all the time.

My rangefinder sits in its pouch on my belt for easy grasp.

Only problem I have is the noise it makes hitting the release aid as I go to grab it.

[Howling Dog]

Thanks for the feedback