Range estimation (with pretty pictures)

[Q_Sertorius]

I’ve been down at my farm the last few days, enjoying the beautiful late spring weather. I typically spend the summer wandering around the farm with a rifle practicing hunting skills. Spotting, range estimation, judging wind, stalking, shooting from field positions, etc. My targets are typically unwary ground hogs and anything I can see with my pants up that is about 8”. I would really like to shoot some of the coyotes too, but I never see them.

For range estimation, my rule is that I make the call before I verify with my range finder.

I have some training in range estimation techniques, but I have found that I consistently underestimate ranges over 100 yards.

For instance, I was off by a significant percentage in my estimation of how far away the cows (black) and calves (white) were in this picture. And the reason is because my estimation of how far away the fence line between me and them was… despite having literally just walked from the cows to where I took the picture. I will put the actual distances at the bottom of the post, so if you want to make your own estimate, you can. I know it is hard to judge from a picture.

Similarly, I underestimated the distance to this buck in velvet (it’s only June 13 and he already has a very nice-looking spread!). Not by enough to make a difference on a shot, but by enough that I was a bit embarrassed.

Hard to spot the deer in this picture (find the light brown ruts at the gate, then just above the top of the dead tree), but I was off by quite a bit here too.

In the first picture, my estimate to the cows was 320 yards. My estimate to the midpoint fence was 160 yards. Actual distances were 409 and 203.

For the buck, my estimate was just under 200 yards. Actual distance was 225.

For the deer in the hayfield, my guess was 200, but it was 250.

Any useful tips you have picked up over the years?


____________________
“Keep on keepin’ on…”

 

[Macintosh]

I find any time I travel to a new environment (ie from the woods to a farm, from my eastern mountains to the prairie, western mountains, etc, or any combination) I need to re-calibrate my range estimation. I guess I intuitively use nearby objects as estimators, a tree, a stump, a fence post, gate, the “normal” size that something looks at a given range, etc. Even if I’ve been there before quite a bit, the sudden move throws me for a day or three. Once Im a bit calibrated again, I can estimate fairly well at least out to point-blank range versus “I need to range this to get close” range, or “its a 20 minute hike” versus an hour. The only “tip” Ive found is that for myself, the more open the terrain is the more I tend to under-estimate distance, so I try to look objectively at nearby objects I can use as references…if I know its a big white pine and yet it doesnt look really big, I know its much farther away than the intuitive part of my brain is telling me. Recognizing that in the moment doesnt seem to help me get THAT yardage correct, but seems to help me calibrate my eyes faster.

 

[Rich M]

The only way to get better is to practice. I find that over 200-250 yards, I'm not that good at it. Do carry a range finder.

Some older rifle reticles had range finding features - known widths to allow for "measuring" and figuring out ranges.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Maybe I do just need to recalibrate and keep praying. I only get out here about once a month.


____________________
“Keep on keepin’ on…”