Ranging Game in the Field Can be Tough

[Q_Sertorius]

Meh, it's more of a logic and trust sort of thing. Once a person starts to understand trajectory and blend that with how far they can see, it makes the process simple.

Like @nm.otter said, plainly knowing shots are from X-Z, then adding in if you shoot X at Z what happens and vice versa can take the RF out of the equation when the animal poops up.

For me, it’s more that I am used to constantly trying non-technological range estimation. I am used to using the standalone rangefinder just to confirm estimates. I also never owned decent binoculars before, so I usually relied on the Mark 1 eyeball for spotting deer and used my scope to confirm whether I wanted to shoot the deer. This is the first deer season where I have carried the Leicas. They are a game changer, but I am still getting used to them.

 

[TaperPin]

I started always guessing the yardage the moment before ranging it and the two have to roughly match up or I’ll spend more time getting a better reading. This also keeps the naked eye calibrated.

I naturally don’t have a lot of depth perception, so animals will sometimes be on a slight rise or there is a slight rise in front of the animal that doesn’t seem obvious and I’ve made some really bad measurements. Lol

 

[nm.otter]

I started always guessing the yardage the moment before ranging it and the two have to roughly match up or I’ll spend more time getting a better reading. This also keeps the naked eye calibrated.

Yes -- just like using a wind meter to train. It can be a fun game, actually.

 

[JGRaider]

Believe it or not it is in spec , almost every LRF isn’t centered and needs to be figured out where the sweet spot is

Well, I"ve had at 8-9 of them and it was the only one like that. I check every one, first thing. My Fury AB is perfectly aligned.

 

[HuntHarder]

Ranging animals is very easy. Always use scan mode and hold the button down. Move all around the animal and it is really easy and quick to determine if you are hitting something before or after the intended target.

 

[Sled]

You saw a hit that was high and knew you had a wounded elk and just watched her feed off?
You didn’t just rack another one in hold low and get her killed?
What in the actual heck

I wasn't too clear but I did not see the hit until after she was feeding a bit. I thought it was a clean miss at the time. I didn't want to send another one until I figured out what happened. Wasn't shooting to wound and I did not know where my bullet went as it was a moderately steep downhill angle.

 

[Choupique]

range the top of a telephone pole

My dmbass has been doing it with a barn wall and turning the rangefinder sideways and upside down and doing complicated brain trig to figure out where it was.

Quite ashamed of myself for not thinking of this method.

 

[Chris in TN]

Believe it or not it is in spec , almost every LRF isn’t centered and needs to be figured out where the sweet spot is

Same.

An open garage door is handy for that. Stand at a distance and you can check both up/down and left/right.

Also, the calibration can be knocked off. A lot. I have one rangefinder that’s unusable because of a fall. You have to aim it several degrees low to get good readings. Useless until I try to randomly knock it back into alignment.

 

[nm.otter]

There's got to be a way to get in there and realign the laser.

I've never taken one apart -- don't know if the laser lives inside or outside of the nitrogen seal.