Why You Need a Range Finder

Gauging distance is an art that few really master. Things like backdrop, terrain, and sunlight will all affect depth perception and judging the range of a target becomes a best guess situation. This applies to all firearms, the only difference is that you are generally working with longer distances with a rifle; the principle is the same.

For all but the most experienced bow hunters a shooting range of 20 to 30 yards is optimal. At 300 feet per second a well aimed arrow can experience a drop of about six inches over 30 yards; this will diminish slightly if you are shooting at a higher velocity. If you are a proficient shooter the net result for the animal at this range will be the same…it will be dead. But what happens if your estimate is off by 10 yards. The additional drop between 30 and 40 yards can be over a foot. This is not the time for guesswork. You risk missing the target, or even worse, wounding the animal.

If you hunt the same place all the time you will be familiar enough with the terrain and landmarks that, with a bit of practice, determining distance is not as big an issue. But let’s say that big buck wanders into the clearing just as the morning mist is lifting. You’re pretty sure it’s a 30 yard shot, but maybe not.

Once again technology comes to the rescue and you no longer need to guess. Modern range finders are compact, light, accurate and fast. There are a wide range of models available to address even the most demanding hunting conditions and environments.

A laser range finder uses advanced laser technology to calculate the distance to your target with an accuracy of +- 1 yard. Look through the eyepiece like you would a scope and when you acquire your target simply press the button and the exact distance to your target will be displayed. Some models will even allow you to compensate for rain or snow and even help you gauge elevation – something that is a real advantage when shooting from a tree stand.

Another trick is to sit in your stand or ground blind and range some objects within your shooting circle and tie a bit of orange tape to a tree or mark a rock. I do this at 10, 20, 30, and 40 metre distances in a T pattern with my stand or blind in the middle. That way you don’t need to worry about ranging your target when you really want to concentrate on making the shot.

The range finder won’t improve your shooting ability, but it will certainly remove the guesswork. After all a clean, quick, humane kill should be the goal of all hunters. A good quality range finder should be one of those “must get” items for your hunting toolbox.

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