Looking for opinions
#7297541
07/01/21 07:12 PM
07/01/21 07:12 PM
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,182 Eau Claire Wi
Trap Setter
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,182
Eau Claire Wi
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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.
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Re: Looking for opinions
[Re: Trap Setter]
#7297544
07/01/21 07:17 PM
07/01/21 07:17 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 21,716 Sandhills Nebraska
Gary Benson
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 21,716
Sandhills Nebraska
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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.
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Re: Looking for opinions
[Re: Trap Setter]
#7297549
07/01/21 07:27 PM
07/01/21 07:27 PM
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,182 Eau Claire Wi
Trap Setter
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,182
Eau Claire Wi
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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.
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Re: Looking for opinions
[Re: Gary Benson]
#7297550
07/01/21 07:27 PM
07/01/21 07:27 PM
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Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 8,954 Indiana
Providence Farm
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 8,954
Indiana
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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.
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Re: Looking for opinions
[Re: Trap Setter]
#7297568
07/01/21 07:42 PM
07/01/21 07:42 PM
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,182 Eau Claire Wi
Trap Setter
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,182
Eau Claire Wi
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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.
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Re: Looking for opinions
[Re: Trap Setter]
#7297599
07/01/21 08:31 PM
07/01/21 08:31 PM
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,182 Eau Claire Wi
Trap Setter
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,182
Eau Claire Wi
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Bearded, how small a target will it mark?
Life sure is tough when you don't learn from the mistakes of others.
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Re: Looking for opinions
[Re: Trap Setter]
#7297609
07/01/21 08:39 PM
07/01/21 08:39 PM
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 4,963 rogers city mi.
jeff karsten
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 4,963
rogers city mi.
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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
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Re: Looking for opinions
[Re: Trap Setter]
#7297781
07/02/21 07:31 AM
07/02/21 07:31 AM
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 3,869 meadowview, Virginia
EdP
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 3,869
meadowview, Virginia
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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.
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Re: Looking for opinions
[Re: Trap Setter]
#7297813
07/02/21 08:16 AM
07/02/21 08:16 AM
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,337 The Hill Country of Texas
Leftlane
"HOSS"
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"HOSS"
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,337
The Hill Country of Texas
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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
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Re: Looking for opinions
[Re: Trap Setter]
#7297833
07/02/21 08:43 AM
07/02/21 08:43 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,564 La Crosse, WI
Macthediver
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,564
La Crosse, WI
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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"
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