Who shoots no rangefinder?

[Billy Goat]

I was going to pose this as a poll, but couldn't decide how exactly to word everything. I'm curious how many only shoot in a hunting situation after they get a yardage back from a rangefinder. I'd assume if an elk is running in bugling to spear throwing distance, nobody is going to range it. But if it's at say 38 yards, or that's what you think it is, are you ranging or shooting? A mule deer at 30?


As someone who grew up bow hunting with no rangefinder I'm certain my views are different, I think it also depicts things in our choices. Inside of 50 yards on an elk I'm not ranging, now maybe a situation where I'm certain I can get away with knowing the exact range, I'll do it, especially if it's a thread the needle shot. However in a situation where the animal is keyed up, I'm not spending time or motion to use a rangefinder.



How many really practice judging yards? I can't hardly get anyone to shoot 3d without a rangefinder. I get it's a tool that's available, but just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

 

[Bl704]

I do both, situationally dependent.

If I'm sitting for a period of time (e.g. Stand), or have ample time, I may range landmarks so I have know distances.

I do practice judging and shooting unknown distances, because things happen fast sometimes...on training hikes I'll pick a target (mailbox, tree, rock, etc) mentally estimate distance and pace it off.

 

[Laramie]

I grew up hunting without one. I still do stump shoots without one and regularly practice estimating yardage. That said, I will use one in just about every instance simply to remove a variable. The exceptions are rifle shots inside of 200 and archery shots inside of 30.

 

[Northpark]

I’m pretty much with Laramie there. Grew up bow hunting without one. Still practice yardages in case I need to guess. Will use one anytime there is time to use one but if it’s a chip shot I’ll skip.

 

[Rob5589]

I do now but I didn't the first several years. I did have one of those goofy ones that converged the two images but never used it on animals. If you think a laser rangefinder takes too much time, try one of those lol

 

[Billy Goat]

I do practice judging and shooting unknown distances, because things happen fast sometimes...on training hikes I'll pick a target (mailbox, tree, rock, etc) mentally estimate distance and pace it off.

I carry a rangefinder a lot just to practice, I'll pull it out of the truck when I'm taking a break. When hiking I'll have my binoculars and rangefinder, again practicing judging my yards.

 

[LostArra]

Understanding your arrow trajectory helps a lot.

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[5MilesBack]

I always carry my RF for hunting. The only 3D I've shot is unknown distance and I practice ranging a lot while hunting. But in the end, when I run in on a bull or he runs in on me......it's normally "go time" so no time to range. And that may be anywhere from 15-60 yards.

I will say that the mountains have a way of humbling my estimation skills though. There are times when I'm practicing where I'm 15 yards off on a 50 yard distance. I shot one bull where I estimated 60 yards and he was actually at 59, and another I estimated 55 and he was 54. But there have been a few where I estimated 50 and they were 60+. And some trees that would have sworn were 40+ and were only 27. Had to walk that one off three of four times to convince me. I had one shot downhill that I would have put money on at 40 yards even with the angle comp, and watched that arrow sail right over his back.

 

[cuttiebrownbow]

I range everything outside of spear range.

 

[Beendare]

und.….esfor the caller.

.

 

[Wrench]

Luckily im deadly to 40 and my area rarely has more than 25 yard openings. I don't even carry a rf.

 

[Blockcaver]

Pre-rangefinder I missed a dandy bull moose in Alaska...shooting at his feet. Must have missed the vitals by 3-1/2'!!!! Killed him later that day at 1 yard straight up into him. Good he was callable. First go round I was alone and he was likely 70 yards an d I think I guessed 45....out in the wide open tundra.

I shot a lot of elk without a rangefinder though. Bottom line I prefer to range but close-up (<25 or 30 yds) will shoot without ranging . From tree stands and ground blinds everything is all pre-ranged to various landmarks.

 

[gelton]

This one is tricky...especially when you bring sliding sights into the equation.

I had a 3 pin slider, ranged a bull outside of 50 which was my bottom pin. Dialed and he kept coming closer.

Guestimated, and guessed wrong and missed a wall hanger.

I now have a 5 pin sight and will range anything outside of 40 if I am able but don't have to dial until it's past 60 which is a shot I don't plan on taking unless everything is perfect.

 

[rclouse79]

Back before range finders were common all I would do all day is guess the distance to a stump and pace it off. I stopped doing that after getting a range finder. I realized how little confidence I now have in my ranging ability after my battery died in the backcountry last year. If I am set up calling for elk I usually range where I expect them to be and set my single pin for that. You have quite a bit of wiggle room at ranges under 35 yards.

 

[Billy Goat]

This one is tricky...especially when you bring sliding sights into the equation.

I had a 3 pin slider, ranged a bull outside of 50 which was my bottom pin. Dialed and he kept coming closer.

Guestimated, and guessed wrong and missed a wall hanger.

I now have a 5 pin sight and will range anything outside of 40 if I am able but don't have to dial until it's past 60 which is a shot I don't plan on taking unless everything is perfect.

I know a guy who didn't get a shot on a bull cause he was trying to dial in for 47. He is a great shot, but too hung up on bring exact.


I tell everyone you need to be able to shoot to a minimum of 50 yards for elk without touching anything.


But ultimately you found the real problem with a slider and hunting, they move, even after you sight did.

 

[540-Virginian]

I practice guessing ranges all the time, but in woods im always off. Our eyes and minds can fool us too often. So i will not guess ranges ever unless its between two trees i ranged and within 30 yards. Ive only shot two deer with a bow though… still a noob for what its worth

 

[Drenalin]

I've hunted with a rangefinder for about the last 5 years. Before that, I prescouted areas and paced it off from where I planned to set up to a tree, rock, etc. I sighted my bow in based on paces too. So if I shot at a deer, he wasn't 15 yards, he was 18 paces (top pin). A long shot for me would have been 25 yards.

Anyway, at that time I would have said I was pretty good at eyeballing distance, at least in wooded areas for whitetail. One evening I got a chance to hunt a field edge, and had a good buck come out about half an hour before dark. I guessed how many paces away he was, took a perfect shot, and watched my arrow bury itself in the high grass under his belly. He stood still and gave me another chance, and thinking there's no way I'm off on the range, I proceeded to send another one to the same spot.

I bought a rangefinder after that, and use it constantly scouting and hunting. I can still estimate distance pretty well in tight spaces, but past about 25 I want the rangefinder. I went back and checked the spot where I missed that buck - I underestimated the range by 15 yards! The RF is a crutch I'll live with.

 

[Maverick1]

K.I.S.S.

I practice estimating one distance, 30 yards.

Inside of 30 yards = no rangefinder.
Beyond 30 yards = rangefinder every single time.

 

[TheTone]

I carry one all the time while hunting and a fair amount of time while scouting. When scouting I basically will use it to double check my guesses while I’m walking around. I’ve rarely had time to use one elk hunting as I hunt a lot of thick stuff where shots tend to be fairly quick and close. More open spot and stalk stuff I have used one a fair amount but not for every shot

 

[Jethro]

If I think I may have to use any pin other than the top one, I range it.