To rangefind or not to rangefind...

[h5c5o5]

Hey everybody

Ive taken up bowhunting and will be going out into the woods down near Helens with some friends this upcoming season to look for some elk. As I am just starting out I havent perfected estimating ranges (Im usually within 5 yards of actual distance).
The style of hunting will be spot and stalk / still hunting through the woods.

Should I use a rangefinder or will there not be enough time to both range find and take the shot.
And just because I know it will be suggested, I am hitting the 3D course near my apartment as often as I can. 

[b0bbyg]

I would always have the rangefinder as an option. The Elk I killed 2 years back did not give me time to range but I was ~20 yards so I just shot in the window provided.
Last year I passed on a quartering away shot as the light was fading thinking I was not in range, my son had my rangefinder.  The next day I was in the same area and checked the distance and it was only 33 yards.  Missed out on a nice big bull. 

[JohnVH]

some people are good enough to guess yardage, Im not that good to get it every time, if you have a range finder bring it! If your sitting or in a stand, range landmarks so you know what distance things are then you wont need to if the shot comes up

[BowBender87]

A rangefinder is an awesome training tool.  I dont hunt with one anymore because I dont shoot farther then 40-50 yards when hunting and am pretty confident at judging between 0-60. I would probably take it out this year and just play with it guessing ranges on stumps and what not.  It doesnt take too long and your pretty consistant guessing ranges from 0-60. I used to hunt with mine attached to a string on my belt loop, but ive never acually had time to set up, range the animal and shoot.  Things seem to happen fast when calling in elk.  So anymore I just leave it at camp. Practice shooting and judging distances with your rangfinder alot before going out and you will be good to go.

[Special T]

Figure out what yardage you can relably get out to... If your within 5 yards or so  t 30 with most newer bows that pretty good. I always bring the range finder but only have a we opportunities to use it.

Here is a great practice tip on range estimation. Take a piece of parachute cord about 50-60yards long. Every 20 yards tie a yellow ribbon, every 10 yards tie a red ribbon after 20 yards then every 5 yards tie a blue ribbon.  Clip this to a belt loop and start walking. turn around every once in a while and see what it looks like on different kinds of terrain. You can practice this ANYWHERE and it works great in Fields to wooded parks. Have fun! 

[Button Nubbs]

Take it! Each encounter will have a different circumstance. I don't EVER use a rf in the offseason. Once you put a couple arrows in the dirt you will start getting better at judging. I always have it with me while hunting though.

[pianoman9701]

Use one, especially being new to bowhunting.

[jaymark6655]

My thought---better to carry it and not need it than to not have it and need it.

I was bear hunting once, saw a bear and estimated the range to be 50 yards.  Since it was close the decision was made to take a quick shot from the standing position.  Turned out the bear was 100 yards away and we should have picked a better shooting position because bear was completly missed and ran off.  (spent hours looking for blood and tracking just in case)

[mikelonsford]

Hey Henry!
Hope you're all ready for the season...you're going to have a LOT of fun!  You probably remember I carry a range finder all the time, and I use it when setting up for doing some calling so you know the range to various terrain features, that way as the animal passes them you know what range he is at, if you haven't yet used the rangefinder and the animal is coming up on you, it might be too much movement and you may not have the opportunity to use it.  So the best bet is always be prepared to visually gauge the distance without the rangefinder, but it is solid info to have if you have it and can use it.

My dad taught me this.........If you are visually ranging, it helps to pick something half the distance to your target and guess that distance as for me it is much more accurate than trying to guess the full distance.  That is what I do in the woods and then check it with the rangefinder and am usually pretty close.

You probably won't have a shot over 40 yards in west WA anyway.  Hope the other info helped earlier this year.  Let me know how you do this year or if you have any more questions.

Good luck hunting!

Mike

[iRem]

I never leave home with out it! I always play with it prior to getting my stock on just to make sure I have the range that I need!! Good luck the season.

[sirmissalot]

I always carry mine, I'm not great at guessing yardage. That said, if I had been better there are a couple of animals I probably would have on the wall, instead of taking the time to rangefind and having them spook. For the last couple years I have no carried a rangefinder while shooting 3D (I only shoot for fun) and thats helped a lot but still not confident enough to rely on my "guessing". When shooting a bow it can not only make the difference between a hit and a miss, but you can easily wound an animal as well, which unfortunately is a feeling I know.

[rebal69972]

take it with you weather you use it or not. its better to have it and not need it then not to have it and need it. I shot at a little 3x3 bt last year judged him at 50 yard I had my rf and didn't use it' the deer was at 60 yards the only good thing it was a very clean miss

[lokidog]

some people are good enough to guess yardage, Im not that good to get it every time, if you have a range finder bring it! If your sitting or in a stand, range landmarks so you know what distance things are then you wont need to if the shot comes up

 

I have rangefinding binos (Bushnell) that I have along all the time.  I love not having to carry two items.  Unfortunately, they quit working during turkey season and I have procrastinated and forgotten to get them in to be fixed in order to get them back before my moose hunt.  I will be carrying my wife's rangefinder though.

[hike2hunt]

Take it, it can be used to for more then ranging an animal. I use it to range the distances sitting in my tree stand, the distant i need to close on a spot and stalk, many uses, and it don't weigh nothing.

[blacktailcody]

To rangefinder.

[windygorge]

have it with you when you hunt, but not when you are practicing.  become the best range guesser you can be, then use it for back up when hunting.  judging yardage under canopy with sun and shadows is difficult to near impossible.  narrow openings is very hard to.  and last year i was hunting in the wide open for muleys and under guessed my yardage by 20.  my rangefinder got me my deer.  would have came home without my deer had i not used it.

[Bean Counter]

First few shots I had on  big game animals I had time to range.

I fell into the trap thinking I was good at guessing range.. on my range. Where I shoot its flat and I get used to how big my target should look, as well as how much flat ground is inbetween it and I. However, throw in some small hills, replace dirt with taller grass, and change the distance of the trees in the backdrop, and it gets more difficult than you think.

Take the extra second to use your rangefinder if its obviously > 15 yards. If the deer/elk spooks in that amount of time, it likely would have spooked on your draw anyway.

[firedog]

I always have mine when hunting, Given a chance I will try and range a few trees or something where I figure a bull is coming in for reference. Bull I killed two seasons ago I didn't range but he was only 12 yards away so that was an easy yardage. I practice with out relying on it, will pull it out to check myself though.

[Wild Bill]

I'd say carry it.
I've had a ton more success since I bought one.
I live by the rule if you don't have time to range it, dont shoot it. I call a lot though, and generally can range out some land marks prior to the moment.
 
WB

[GEARHEAD]

no excuse not to have one.

[Deep Forks]

They're to inexpensive not to carry one.    

[njc89]

I have done exactly what Firedog says above.  When I set up, I range several reference points (trees, rocks, etc) to have a better idea if an elk were to come in.  Most times I have called a bull in, I didn't have time to fiddle with the range finder.

[Igottanewknee]

The last two deer I shot bow hunting were at exactly 45 yards using the range finder. I would have guessed either of them 50 to 60 yards and would have been reluctant to shoot and would have shot over them if I had decided to shoot. Get one.. use it..

[Kowsrule30]

I hunt with ML and rifle..... I always have mine handy..... I'm pretty good a judging distance.... It's usually the lay of the land that is more deceiving than anything.... This may be comparing apples to oranges to some.... But for me and my ML there is a huge difference between a 130 yard shot and a 150.... Plus it's nice to know if you were right on yardage estimates after you put a good shot down and didn't have a chance to range...

[fly4fish]

I will not shoot without rangefinding the animal first if I suspect it is over 30 yards.  If I have time, I will range no matter how far I think it is.  Big difference between 35 and 40 yards when archery shooting.