Are rangefinders an essential tool for hunting?

Question

I don't have one neither does my grandfather, but he's been succesfull for years now. So how come every were I read or hear about a hunt it involves a rangefinder? Like nobody knows what to do without them. How would getting one make me a more savvy hunter during deer season(advantages)?

Answer 1

Buy no means are they essential, but they can be handy. When in a dense woods, the trees can play tricks on you. So I make my stand and pick out landmarks with the rangefinder as a reference for distance. Also helps you learn to judge distance in tricky conditions.

As with a rifle I can judge well enough with my eyes to a certain point, but after making a shot will use the rangefinder just as a tool for accurate long distance shots.

I may know that it's around 300-350 yds away but the range finder will tell me there is a dead coyote at 341 yds. ;)

Answer 2

It really depends...

I hunt deer in the woods of Central Wisconsin. From a treestand, I'm lucky if I could make out a deer at 100 yards away.

With a 30-06 or a 300 Win Mag, a shot aimed an inch or two above the center of the vitals will probably kill deer sized game out to 300 yards.

However, if I had a bow and arrow, a muzzleloader, or a 30-30 Win, range becomes much more important. With a bow, the difference between 52 yards and 56 yards is a hit or a miss. With a muzzleloader, anything beyond 200 yards is a vey risky proposition, even with today's modern bullets and powde charges. With a 30-30 and flat nosed bullets, I don't think I'd dream of a 300 yard shot.

So would I call them necessary? Probably not, but depending on the situation and the equipment, they can make a difference.

That being said, I've been hunting for 17 years now in Wisconsin and Alaska. I've never owned a range finder. The shots that I have missed have all been my fault or equipment malfunction, never because I didn't have a rangefinder.

Answer 3

range finders are great if your shooting a bow or crossbow and distance is critical or your hunting in montana and looking at 300 plus shots but if you seasoned hunter and hunt pretty much same area each year then you already know pretty much how far that deer is from you and truth is in woods 100 yds is the normal shot and even closer most times. an animal thats too far away shouldnt be tryed you should sneak down wind for closer shot anyway . knowing the drop and how your gun shoots is best rangefinder ive found .

Answer 4

They are by no means essential. The only advantage that I could see in having one is if you are hunting in an unfamiliar stand and have not had the time to range (by stepping it off) different spots around the stand. I guess it would help some if you were bow hunting and this scenario was true. You would not have to guess what pin to use. But, rifle hunting? I don't think it would help unless you take alot of shots over 100 yards.

Answer 5

I spend a whole lot more time practicing at the range than hunting, so I feel I'm pretty good at telling 100 yards from 200 yards from 300 yards.

I won't take a shot longer than that. My own rules, but if I need a high powered scope just to see it, I ain't shooting it. I do have a 2x scoped scout rifle for brush use, but I use unmagnified peep sights for the deer rifle. Guess I'm old fashioned. Or cheap. Or both.

Answer 6

For short distance eastern woods hunting? Not much.... Out west where long range shots (200yds+) happen, yes. The range finder is a tool. Some use mil-dots, others can use their thumb to judge distance( extend arm, by counting the steps a man takes to pass your thumb you can judge distance to about 200yd, trick from the Ultimate sniper video). Most people can just picture a football field and figure how far things are. So basic answer as the range increases, it becomes more critical due to bullet drop.

Answer 7

No. Especially if you learn to measure distances. Here in Indiana a 100 yard shot is pretty long and you don't need a range finder for that. I've been out west twice on Pairie Dog hunts and none of us used a range finder and we had a ball busting the vermin (and the local ranchers were happy too).

Answer 8

I have one and I have yet to actually use it on an actual hunt. They are great for when you are setting up your spot and ranging to landmarks. This is so you can remember if a deer is near the far edge of the field you are watching you know its 153 yards

Answer 9

The biggest plus to a range finder is that you have more weight to carry, which would in turn make you more hard core. They are a nice luxery but by no means a necessity. generations of hunters have kept food on the table without one.

Answer 10

If you're a bowhunter I think you need one (especially if you're hunting from a treestand or uneven ground). I bought a cheap Bushnell about 3 years ago for $200 and me and my dad have used the crap out of it. So I think more than anything it depends on if you're a bowhunter or not.