As a modern-day hunter, you should consider investing in a rangefinder. The technology surrounding laser rangefinders has increased immensely with there being numerous options available today. Laser rangefinders have become more accurate, easy to use, and more rugged than before. Even better, they have become small enough to carry around without being cumbersome.
What You Need To Know About Rangefinders
As the name suggests, rangefinders are used to determine the ranges between the hunter and the prey. They work by firing a laser beam at your target. There is an internal clock that measures the time it takes for the beam to hit the target before bouncing back. As such, the rangefinder can estimate the range up to +/-1yard.
Various devices have different effective ranges. Keep in mind that the surface of the target can also increase the effective range of the rangefinder. More reflective objectives have different ranges. You can use laser rangefinders for different tasks, especially hunting.
The Benefits Of A Rangefinder When Hunting
1. No More Guesswork
As mentioned, a rangefinder’s main job is to find the exact distance between you and the target. Once you push the button, the laser beam bounces from the target to you as the clock measures the actual distance. You might be wondering why having accurate distance as you hunt is important.
First, you don’t want to miss your target. Even better, as a hunter, you need to make a clean shot to avoid tracking the wounded animal. Also, you don’t need to inflict any suffering or unnecessary pain to the animal. Therefore, using a rangefinder removes the option of guesswork entirely.
2. Getting Closer To The Target
Imagine when you didn’t have a rangefinder, and you got close enough to the target until the snap of a twig gave you away. Sadly, you watched as the herd ran off and you didn’t have your prized hunt. Remember how long it took before you got another chance. Well, you don’t have to go through this daunting experience again if you have a rangefinder.
Whether you are using a bow hunting rangefinder or rifle hunting rangefinders with ranges of 800 to 1300 yards, respectively, you can’t miss your chance again. If you are a serious hunter, you can’t go hunting without your rangefinder ever again. You can find the best rangefinder that can get as close as one mile without ever spooking your prey.
3. Preparing For The Hunt
Now that you know a few hot hunting spots, you might want to prepare for the hunt accordingly. If you want to save time, you can scout the exact area where the prey will be located. You can mark the area with specific landmarks or a decoy. If you are using a blind, you can estimate the distance by checking the distance from the blind to the decoy.
On the other hand, if you are going hunting on foot, you can mark a good spot where you can determine the distance beforehand. As such, you can avoid a lot of frustration and stress since you will have a better idea of where to aim. A rangefinder allows you to improve your accuracy and overall chances of success in the hunt.
4. Improve Your Estimation Skills
Yes, it’s ideal to have the right amount of time to range the target but it doesn’t happen like that all the time. Sometimes, a deer might unexpectedly sneak up on you without enough time to pull out the rangefinder. If you practice beforehand or have been using the rangefinder frequently, you can estimate the accurate distance instinctively. It will come in handy when the prey comes unexpectedly.
5. No Worries About Steep Terrain
Regardless of the type of terrain, a rangefinder always comes in handy when you go hunting. Whether it’s an incline or a decline, the target will look further away than the actual aiming distance. You will certainly have a difficult math problem when you try to calculate the accurate angle to shoot and the right correction values to avoid drag and gravity issues.
Using a rangefinder will always give you the exact horizontal distance to your target. As such, you can avoid aiming too high or too low. You can avoid losing an arrow or missing your target. You should adjust the sights/scopes to match the reading on your rangefinder to hit the target. If you are bow hunting, you will also get the best angle to shoot your target.
6. Hit The Right Target
With the best rangefinders, you should be able to ascertain whether or not you will hit the target or something else entirely. Yes, you might have aimed accurately at the target but it’s easy enough to hit the rock or tree snag in the way. Most rangefinders determine the distance of the furthest target so it’s easy enough to miss the objects in the way.
As a bowhunter, you need to be on the lookout for features that display the shot clearance. These features will highlight the area from the center point of the true distance horizontally to the highest point where the arrow will fly. The area should be able to expose any limbs or other obstructions that might make you miss your shot.
7. Portable
As Samuel L Ambrosino of Range Finder Yard says “as an avid hunter, you don’t want to pack another heavy equipment. Just like mobile phones, range finders have become technologically advanced and smaller in size.” Some are actually so small to match the exact size of a cell phone. As such, there is no reason to miss out on carrying a rangefinder on the next hunting trip. It comes with a vertical design allowing you to use it conveniently. It’s easy enough to pull out and use it with one-hand.
On the other hand, you can carry it around your neck on a lanyard. You can also store it in a case attached to your belt or the front pocket of your coat. Rangefinders are also affordable so you can’t miss out on the benefits of hunting with one on the next hunting trip.
