How important is a range finder?

[GSPHUNTER]

The one time I used mine was when I knew the Elk was outside my comfort zone, which is 300 yards. I ranged the elk at 460 yards, and used the graduation on my BDC scope, and with a good rest I dropped the elk where she stood.

 

[Crowmangler]

If you're gonna spend all the time, money & effort to go out west hunting you wanna control all the things you can control. You owe it to the animal to do everything you can to make a good shot for a quick humane kill.
When you get to a set up spot range several objects for reference & memorize them while you're waiting. Sometimes you may not have time to range an animal

 

[ElkNut1]

Get the rangefinder! Be versatile in your encounters! Ya it's great if you take a bear inside 50 yards, no brainer! But outside of that & most likely much more distance involved a rangefinder would come into play! Bottom line, BE PREPARED!

ElkNut

 

[pamola]

Most of the terrain I hunt here in Maine shots are less than 100 yards. Heavy Spruce, blowdowns around swamps etc. My brother in law prefers the timber cuts and uses a rangefinder. I used it twice last season and couldn't believe it's accuracy. Very helpful in open areas where shots are longer than 200 yards.

 

[Alinrut]

A couple years ago I was in Montana, jumped out of the truck and got to hiking... got into a spot and started glassing, I found a nice whitetail bedded down on the far hillside, I dropped down into the valley and up over a hill... I found him still bedded and wanted to verify the range... no range finder, I had left it in the truck... I had a choice, I could guestimate range and hope Im on with my shot... or I can get closer and know that Im within 300 yard sweet spot... so I tried to get closer and got busted.... if I had a rangefinder, I would have anchored in out to 500yrds.... I never go anywhere without it

 

[dboone3]

I do find it interesting that rifle season "out west" means long shots. Yet some how those bowhunters get it done in the same area's every year....

I specifically mentioned that I'm in Western Washington because a lot of the time long shots are harder to find on this side of the cascades.

 

[dboone3]

Get the rangefinder! Be versatile in your encounters! Ya it's great if you take a bear inside 50 yards, no brainer! But outside of that & most likely much more distance involved a rangefinder would come into play! Bottom line, BE PREPARED!

ElkNut

I bought one! If an item less than $200 is the difference between me harvesting and me not, I'd be very upset that I invested all my time without investing my money too.

 

[gabenzeke]

The vast majority of hunting, even with rifles, has been done without rangefinders. Practice a lot at known distances and practice guesstimating the range. You'll be fine.

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[Unckebob]

Personally, I'd get one to have the peace and mind of it. If you don't wanna spend the money on a new range finder you can buy a used one for pretty cheap. I know there are a lot of roksliders selling some at great prices

This.

 

[weekender7]

Judging distance is hard enough on flat ground but trying to judge cross canyon or uneven terrain is another world. How necessary the range finder is depends on two main factors. Your ability to judge distance in the heat of the moment, and your discipline to only take shots within your abilities. Until you have those answers, best to add a rangefinder.

 

[Justin Crossley]

I specifically mentioned that I'm in Western Washington because a lot of the time long shots are harder to find on this side of the cascades.

That's not true at all. Most the places you'll see animals in Western WA will be clear cuts and they can be huge.

To the guys giving the advice against a rangefinder. I don't get it. Why in the world would you rather guess yardage when you can be certain? The OP isn't talking about sitting in a tree stand in thick cover where shots are 50 yards. He's talking about bear hunting in Western WA where shots could be 20 yards or 500 yards.

I've been around a lot of shooters and hunters in a lot of states and very, very few can estimate yardage well enough to skip a rangefinder. That is true of most bowhunters too. I can't count the times archery hunters have missed high or low due to not ranging or even the animal moving after being ranged. I wouldn't even consider taking my bow out and not bringing a rangefinder.

 

[RSather528]

Using a rangefinder to confirm distances or practicing judging various distance makes it very useful. I use it to get distances off landmarks while hunting. When the animal hits that landmark I know the distance and can take the shot sooner than trying to range and possibly spook the animal.

 

[TheGDog]

For Bow-Hunting... definitely get one. No question about it.

For Rifle? Meh.. if 200yds was your max, you probably could get buy without one on medium game animals. The slow .30-30 drops like 8" at 200yds. And basically everything else is like only half that, or better. So not too critical for 200yds.

 

[MuleDeerMike]

That's not true at all. Most the places you'll see animals in Western WA will be clear cuts and they can be huge.

To the guys giving the advice against a rangefinder. I don't get it. Why in the world would you rather guess yardage when you can be certain? The OP isn't talking about sitting in a tree stand in thick cover where shots are 50 yards. He's talking about bear hunting in Western WA where shots could be 20 yards or 500 yards.

I've been around a lot of shooters and hunters in a lot of states and very, very few can estimate yardage well enough to skip a rangefinder. That is true of most bowhunters too. I can't count the times archery hunters have missed high or low due to not ranging or even the animal moving after being ranged. I wouldn't even consider taking my bow out and not bringing a rangefinder.

This is exactly right. If you're hunting bears in Western WA then you're most likely hunting clear cuts. A rangefinder will be essential, especially for a rookie.

 

[BigNate]

Range finders have not been around for very long compared to how long rifles have been used to shoot game at greater distances.
If you don't have the coin for a good one, wait to buy until you do. You can get by using your reticle to pretty accurately guesstimate the range. This method will be close enough to ensure success out to ranges that will exceed most peoples talents.
If you zero for MPBR, and learn how to determine your max range, you will fill the freezer many times over keeping things simple.

 

[Crowmangler]

Few years ago I found a group of elk that were pretty far away across a field, down hill & across a small valley. There were 3 shooter bulls just inside the trees. Reached for my rangefinder & like a dumbass I forgot to bring it with me. I set up on them but was unsure on the distance & couldn't make myself comfortable taking the shot. Then it hit me to grab my phone & use OnX to drop a point where they were standing .. showed being 550+ yards. - a lot farther than I thought. Decided to back out & go around through cover & got close enough to make a good shot. I always have it with me now but you can use other tools like OnX in a pinch. And don't forget to carry an extra battery with you

 

[Drenalin]

I was slow to adopt a rangefinder, but now I would strongly prefer not to be without one.

 

[LostArra]

We hunt elk in rocks and sage brush. With a rifle, my buddy has a much much farther comfort zone than I do.
On more than one occasion (rifle) we used a range finder to find a down animal in a sea of sage.


When I only hunted with traditional archery gear the RF wasn't really necessary.

 

[Boarmaster]

I have mine with me on every hunt. A good quality used one is the way to go. I have become a better ranger by using my rangefinder. For something to do when hunting I guess the range of something then range it. I was surprised at how crappy I was as guessing when looking across a drain or a slope. I’m a eastern deer hunter so I could get by without one but Im a better hunter with it. I painfully paid for Leica back in 2004/5. Still using it today. Never had to pay for another one and never had it fail to range in pretty tough conditions. If I was going to shoot at over 200 I would do a lot of practicing.

 

[gabenzeke]

That's not true at all. Most the places you'll see animals in Western WA will be clear cuts and they can be huge.

To the guys giving the advice against a rangefinder. I don't get it. Why in the world would you rather guess yardage when you can be certain? The OP isn't talking about sitting in a tree stand in thick cover where shots are 50 yards. He's talking about bear hunting in Western WA where shots could be 20 yards or 500 yards.

I've been around a lot of shooters and hunters in a lot of states and very, very few can estimate yardage well enough to skip a rangefinder. That is true of most bowhunters too. I can't count the times archery hunters have missed high or low due to not ranging or even the animal moving after being ranged. I wouldn't even consider taking my bow out and not bringing a rangefinder.

I said it isn't necessary because of the way the question was asked. He asked if it can't be done without a rangefinder (paraphrasing). Twenty years or so ago virtually nobody carried a rangefinder. I wouldn't necessarily advise against a rangefinder, but for 200 and in give or take, you can be plenty deadly without one.

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