Golf Range finders for Hunting?

[TheRambler]

Ok so I have an awards program through my work and I saw that they had two range finders on there that I have enought points to get and that got me to thinking. Can a golf range finder be used for hunting? Any reason they wouldnt work the same, as far as I understand them its the same technology with the exception golf ones seem to use a pinseeker technology or something for picking up a flag/pole.

The two models available are the Bushnell tour z6 and the Nikon Callaway Xhot.

I have seen lackluster information online via some quick google searches etc. Sporadic reports of people briefly mentioning in reviews that they would use it for hunting too but thats about it.

I don't golf either, so if it wouldnt work for hunting it would be essentially useless to me. And I do not believe items can be returned unless they are broken. I don't have a range finder yet, and would like to add one to my arsenal and if I can save a few hundred bucks by going this route that would be awesome since either of these would be "free"

Thanks alot for any and all input!

 

[CoHiCntry]

I'm not sure about the models you listed but I used a Leica pin master 700 for years and it functioned great! It was basically the same thing as the LRF at that time I bought it. I recently sold it, but the only reason was to go to a model I could use one handed a little easier (Leica CRF 1000-R). Had it not been for that, I would still be using it...

 

[TheRambler]

Thanks CoHiCntry, I think I may just pick up the Bushnell and see how it goes. Worse case i could probably sell it on ebay or something if it doesnt work out.

Anyone else have any experience using a golf rangefinder for hunting or the pin seeker technology in general? I think its supposed to pick up the closest object, just dont really know how sensistive that is. Is it only within the aim circle in the reticle? What I dont want to happen is for example have the aim reticle on a deer and a leaf or something in the far edge of the view window activate the pin seeker and give me a false range.

 

[bigeasygator]

I play golf and golf with a lot of people that have golfing rangefinders now. I actually use an old hunting range finder for golf. When I have played with the golfing range finders they seem to work exactly like the laser range finders we use for hunting. I wouldn't worry too much about the Pinseeker technology...probably more of a marketing gimmick than anything if I had to guess.

 

[tipsntails7]

As long as your not taking massive angled shots you should be fine.