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Looking for opinions #7297541
07/01/21 07:12 PM
07/01/21 07:12 PM
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,164
Eau Claire Wi
Trap Setter Offline OP
trapper
Trap Setter  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,164
Eau Claire Wi
I am considering getting a range finder for hunting. Looking for economical options as id like one for myself and one for The Boy. I am not interested in long range shooting. They will be used for squirrels with a 22, bow hunting, and deer with a rifle under 200 yards. I see a few under a hundred apiece but as I've never even looked through one I wouldn't know what was better. Not sure they can be used for squirrel sized game or if leaves would give false readings or even if someone can see a small animal like that in a tree against a dark background of leaves or a bright background or sky. I won't pay more than 300 for both if it gets higher than that I'll just keep hunting the way I've been doing it for 30+ years lol


Life sure is tough when you don't learn from the mistakes of others.
Re: Looking for opinions [Re: Trap Setter] #7297544
07/01/21 07:17 PM
07/01/21 07:17 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 21,537
Sandhills Nebraska
G
Gary Benson Offline
trapper
Gary Benson  Offline
trapper
G

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 21,537
Sandhills Nebraska
At 200 yards I personally wouldn't spend the $ on a rangefinder..
I have never owned one.

Last edited by Gary Benson; 07/01/21 07:17 PM.

Life ain't supposed to be easy.
Re: Looking for opinions [Re: Trap Setter] #7297549
07/01/21 07:27 PM
07/01/21 07:27 PM
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,164
Eau Claire Wi
Trap Setter Offline OP
trapper
Trap Setter  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,164
Eau Claire Wi
I know the 200 yards is really max distance and yeah for a deer rifle it's sighted in to be on at 200 so no real need. More for shooting 22 to its maximum range on squirrels. I put a couple scopes on our 22s with mil dots but haven't plinked much with em yet. The range finder is more that I want one so I might get one but its not important enough to go broke getting a couple


Life sure is tough when you don't learn from the mistakes of others.
Re: Looking for opinions [Re: Gary Benson] #7297550
07/01/21 07:27 PM
07/01/21 07:27 PM
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 8,864
Indiana
P
Providence Farm Online content
trapper
Providence Farm  Online Content
trapper
P

Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 8,864
Indiana
Originally Posted by Gary Benson
At 200 yards I personally wouldn't spend the $ on a rangefinder..
I have never owned one.


He also said for bow hunting. And for his kid
I agree if just gun hunting for me but others don't have my experience.

Sig kilo 2000 is what I bought because it's accurate picked up much better than my Leopold rx 1000 I used to use.
I think it was in the low $225 ish range. Best I have found for the price.

Re: Looking for opinions [Re: Trap Setter] #7297558
07/01/21 07:36 PM
07/01/21 07:36 PM
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 673
higginsville, mo
H
headache73 Offline
trapper
headache73  Offline
trapper
H

Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 673
higginsville, mo
I found one on Amazon. Don't remember the brand. Bout 100 bucks. I know that isn't any help, lol but what I figured out is get one with lighted display. Mine works great, but if it's low light you can't read the numbers on the screen

Re: Looking for opinions [Re: Trap Setter] #7297568
07/01/21 07:42 PM
07/01/21 07:42 PM
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,164
Eau Claire Wi
Trap Setter Offline OP
trapper
Trap Setter  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,164
Eau Claire Wi
Good to know. Like I said I know nothing about them and I'm looking for any and all opinions.


Life sure is tough when you don't learn from the mistakes of others.
Re: Looking for opinions [Re: Trap Setter] #7297586
07/01/21 08:15 PM
07/01/21 08:15 PM
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 109
Montana
Y
Yellowstone Offline
trapper
Yellowstone  Offline
trapper
Y

Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 109
Montana
In my experience with range finders you need to get one that claims almost double the distance you want it to read. I had a 600 yd range finder that had trouble with deer at 250 to 300 sometimes depending on light and other factors.

Re: Looking for opinions [Re: Trap Setter] #7297592
07/01/21 08:22 PM
07/01/21 08:22 PM
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 622
Swords Creek, VA
A
ABeardedTrapper Offline
trapper
ABeardedTrapper  Offline
trapper
A

Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 622
Swords Creek, VA
Trap Setter, I have a Nikon that I have used for years with no problem. Think I paid around a 100 bucks for it. Eric

Re: Looking for opinions [Re: Trap Setter] #7297599
07/01/21 08:31 PM
07/01/21 08:31 PM
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,164
Eau Claire Wi
Trap Setter Offline OP
trapper
Trap Setter  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,164
Eau Claire Wi
Bearded, how small a target will it mark?


Life sure is tough when you don't learn from the mistakes of others.
Re: Looking for opinions [Re: Trap Setter] #7297604
07/01/21 08:36 PM
07/01/21 08:36 PM
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 622
Swords Creek, VA
A
ABeardedTrapper Offline
trapper
ABeardedTrapper  Offline
trapper
A

Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 622
Swords Creek, VA
Have used it on groundhogs, and have ranged squirrel while sitting in the deer stand. It is waterproof and I believe it is shock proof. I have dropped it out of the tree stand a couple of times and it still works. Eric

Re: Looking for opinions [Re: Trap Setter] #7297607
07/01/21 08:37 PM
07/01/21 08:37 PM
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,164
Eau Claire Wi
Trap Setter Offline OP
trapper
Trap Setter  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,164
Eau Claire Wi
Good info! thank you


Life sure is tough when you don't learn from the mistakes of others.
Re: Looking for opinions [Re: Trap Setter] #7297609
07/01/21 08:39 PM
07/01/21 08:39 PM
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 4,951
rogers city mi.
J
jeff karsten Offline
trapper
jeff karsten  Offline
trapper
J

Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 4,951
rogers city mi.
I use mine for a lot of things measuring acreage, target setup pretty accurate compared to my old wheel/counter great for turkey hunts mines a bushnell supposedly good to 600 yds had it for years no issues for me it was a 100 bucks well spent


olden tyred
Re: Looking for opinions [Re: Trap Setter] #7297781
07/02/21 07:31 AM
07/02/21 07:31 AM
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 3,852
meadowview, Virginia
E
EdP Offline
trapper
EdP  Offline
trapper
E

Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 3,852
meadowview, Virginia
I agree with Gary that there is no need for one inside of 200 yd for hunting. However, you asked some other questions too. Regarding leaves: Yes, many will read the closest thing bouncing the signal back which is often not the target object in brushy country. Some have a "last target" feature to prevent this type of reading error and provide a reading to the farthest target sending a signal back. You won't be able to get a range to a squirrel in a tree directly, but you should be able to read the distance to the tree trunk. Also, the distance rating is for highly reflective objects like road signs, your truck, and large flat rocks. Reliable readings of softer targets like animals or trees is typically about 1/2 the advertised distance.

Re: Looking for opinions [Re: Trap Setter] #7297798
07/02/21 08:04 AM
07/02/21 08:04 AM
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 363
PA
C
cmj Offline
trapper
cmj  Offline
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C

Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 363
PA
Get one for farther than you need. They dont normally work as far out as they say. It will be good for the boy to use. To sit at a rifle range as a kid and shoot a target with nothing around to judge distance and then hunt in the woods and see a big buck 300 yards away and not know how far it is. Plus it will give you something to do with the kid while you sit bored in the woods. You can guess yardage and then use the rangefinder. Last year a bunch of us were shooting 300 yards and we all used different range finders to set the distance. Cheap and expensive ones were all very close.

Re: Looking for opinions [Re: Trap Setter] #7297801
07/02/21 08:05 AM
07/02/21 08:05 AM
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,164
Eau Claire Wi
Trap Setter Offline OP
trapper
Trap Setter  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,164
Eau Claire Wi
Thanks EdP


Life sure is tough when you don't learn from the mistakes of others.
Re: Looking for opinions [Re: Trap Setter] #7297810
07/02/21 08:12 AM
07/02/21 08:12 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,548
Rodney,Ohio
SNIPERBBB Offline
trapper
SNIPERBBB  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,548
Rodney,Ohio
I use the rangefinder I use for golf. Precisionpros. Only issue it has is it has a wider beam so sometimes it picks up behind the target. Fog kills it though because it breaks thee beam.

Re: Looking for opinions [Re: Trap Setter] #7297813
07/02/21 08:16 AM
07/02/21 08:16 AM
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,238
The Hill Country of Texas
Leftlane Offline
"HOSS"
Leftlane  Offline
"HOSS"

Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,238
The Hill Country of Texas
I got a Vortex from Academy and I love it. From a gun purchase I had a $100 off coupon.


I only shoot rabbits and squirrels from plinking distances but I do use the range finder if I set up on hogs or predator calling. I range tree trunks near the trail entrances or other places I expect a critter to show up. Like CMJ says you can make a little game out of it and train your eye at the same time


“What’s good for me may not be good for the weak minded.”
Captain Gus McCrae- Texas Rangers


Re: Looking for opinions [Re: Trap Setter] #7297833
07/02/21 08:43 AM
07/02/21 08:43 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,516
La Crosse, WI
Macthediver Offline
trapper
Macthediver  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,516
La Crosse, WI
Here is a little different game for you to play with range finder to teach the boy a trick.. Prior to all the GPS stuff. I used to use my range finder or one the boss had. I have small Nikon boss had bigger 1000 yard Bushnell..
I used it to triangulate corners of search grids or start point of transect line.. Can even dial in trap location out in a field by picking 3-4 points to range.. Sure is not as quick as walking to a spot with GPS.. Once your in general location you can get close enough to kick traps out of the snow though. For what I was doing I had a map to work off with distances noted. Anyway some thing to play with more to learn the unit and range to eyes.
My little Nikon wasn't expensive and I've had it for years think it's 200 yards. I've used it squirrel hunting more to just range distance of different trees. Then after shoot squirrel maybe range the limb.. As a kid I of course had none of the fancy gizmos.. I learned a lot of my ranging by eye and comparing to things to foot ball field. I carry my range finder deer hunting too. Will look at something say to my self how far is that. Then range it just to see how close I'am..
Where I deer hunt is wooded so 100 yards is long shot. I have head shot squirrels out at 60-70 yards with my 17HMR. I only know that by ranging the limb after the shot.. I really just play with my range finder.

Mac

Last edited by Macthediver; 07/02/21 08:45 AM.

"Never Forget Which Way Is Up"

Re: Looking for opinions [Re: Trap Setter] #7297869
07/02/21 09:40 AM
07/02/21 09:40 AM
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 388
wisconsin, manitowoc
mutt Offline
trapper
mutt  Offline
trapper

Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 388
wisconsin, manitowoc
I bought a cheap one 2 years ago for bow hunting. It was under 100$. I wish I woulda saved that to put towards a better 1. It works good for setting the practice target and ranging the bigger trees around when in a stand, but it is hard to get a good reading past 30yards. Trees need to be fairly good sized past 20 yds to get a good reading.(like as 12"+ diameter) It's a little better than guessing the yardage when I have the time to scan with it and get a good reading. I have yet to use it on a live target as I wouldn't waste the time with the unit I have as I would likely miss an opportunity.

Re: Looking for opinions [Re: Trap Setter] #7297874
07/02/21 09:49 AM
07/02/21 09:49 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 62,661
Minnesota
330-Trapper Offline

trapper
330-Trapper  Offline

trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 62,661
Minnesota
I got a range finder for my Wife so she could find the range and cook me a meal.

Hahaha! Jk


NRA and NTA Life Member
www.BackroadsRevised@etsy.com




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