Range finder- Friend or Foe?

[Primitive]

After I bought my first range finder I thought I would never leave home without it.  I have rarely ever used it other than playing with it at camp or messing a round.  It seems I am never in a situation that allows for much time or extra movement.  So the question is how many of you use it always or almost never?

 

[Jimbow65]

I Bowhunted for over 20 years without a rangefinder, I bought one just over a year ago, and find it a very useful tool. I am not fanatical about use, But, if I am at stand or in a setup, I will range objects before any game shows up for some references. I rarely range an animal, I want to be following the animal with my bow, not a rangefinder.

 

[moonie]

I agree ai always range the surrounding area and make mental notes on thier range then save the rangefindeer and wait for the action.

 

[Backpack Hunter]

I generally use one when stalking up on an animal. Rarely use it right before the shot though.

 

[planebow]

I use mine a lot, mainly as I am hunting I quess at distances and the use the range finder to verify. I was really shocked at quessing across a draw, was a lot closer than it looks.

 

[Elk2]

I range the surrounding area and then put it away. Never have had time to range the animal when a shot is presented.

 

[Theelkhunter]

Dont use one...as I get older and my depth perception starts going, I may look into getting one.

 

[RockyMountainHi]

I agree ai always range the surrounding area and make mental notes on thier range then save the rangefindeer and wait for the action.

This is how I use it as well, though I think i should have used it on at least one animal that I was in too big a hurry to draw (and miss) one at 50 yards.  Hindsight tells me I should have ranged him.....

 

[Fullabull]

We do a lot of setups so they come in very handy in ranging the area we are setup in. You can also use it for a monocular in close quarters. The new ones that figure the angle and aiming distance are nice also.

 

[MT_mulies]

I love my rangefinder and don't leave without it. I use it when I'm stalking animals and when we set up and start calling. I haven't used it yet in the last 2 min before a shot cause I already know my distances because I was rangefinding before the animal got there. Also when I'm spotting in the morning or during lunch or water breaks I like to guess ranges and see how close I can get.

 

[GoatT]

I use mine all the time.  It is good to get into the habit of ranging 3-4 things once you get to a set-up point just so you have an idea of distances.  Be sure to range in a whole 120*-140* ...you never know which angle your target will come in from.

 

[Bullhunter]

Friend for sure.  Comes in handy especially when you get in somesteep country.  Also helps to pre range distances while the elk is on his way in.

 

[Double Lung]

Friend I like to find forty yards in a few spots under that comes easy if you know where forty is.

 

[PREZ]

Never leave home with out it. I got a range on my bull this year just before he crossed my shooting lane. One of the most useful totals you can have.