Turkey hunting forum for turkey hunting tips

I know a lot of us use a rangefinder when we pattern our guns but do we use one when we're hunting. I have one that I always use bowhunting but forget to take when I'm turkey hunting. What do you do and how do you use it if you do use one?  :icon_thumright:

I carry one and use it if I have the time. If a bird is hung up and the yardage is questionable, I try to use one. In most instances, the exact yardage is not critical...Mike

I carry one if I'll be hunting a field turkey.  I suck at estimating yardage in the open, so I'll hit a rock, clump of grass ect. for a reference point while on a field.

I use one becouse I bowhunt.

any tool that can be used to put the odd's in your favor is a good thing.
i have never owned a range finder. but that will change in a week or two.
i think its a great idea to know where your max range is when you setup

I agree with Ronnie. When hunting field birds, I think they come in very handy for ranging landmarks.

Absolutely use one.  Every time I set up unless a bird is coming in fast or it is a situation where I know I can't even see beyond the range of the gun.  But any other time I range landmarks and visually memorize an arc at the limit of my guns capability.  That way I know when the bird steps inside of that arc.  I never try to range a visible bird though.

Quote from: Skeeterbait on March 21, 2011, 08:55:24 PM
Absolutely use one.  Every time I set up unless a bird is coming in fast or it is a situation where I know I can't even see beyond the range of the gun.  But any other time I range landmarks and visually memorize an arc at the limit of my guns capability.  That way I know when the bird steps inside of that arc.  I never try to range a visible bird though.

:agreed:

Usually only deer hunting.  If I'm using deke's, put 'em out around 20 yards as a mark and go from there.

I had an old Bushnell that I would carry when bowhunting (deer or turkey) but it was kind of bulky so I didn't carry it much otherwise.  Last year I replaced it with a new Nikon that is much smaller so now I carry it pretty much everywhere.  I like to range various landmarks around my setup, but if I'm bowhunting and get an opportunity to use it right before the shot I will (like on a standing strutter).

i use one for bow hunting but leave it a home for any gun hunting. i shoot alot of 3-d so i am confident in my yardage estaments.

Use it to range land marks

Like others have said they can be VERY handy when hunting fields!  I accidentally took a shot much farther than what I was thinking a couple of years ago.  I was hunting a field and there was a small depression between me and the bird, when I took the shot I thought he was 45-48 yards.  When I ran out to him it was 59 steps.  He went straight down, but I do not want to shoot that far turkey hunting.  I will carry my rangefinder with me this year to avoid such mistakes, I do not want to wound a bird!

I use it quite a bit bowhunting for deer and elk, but find myself carrying it and forgetting to use it while turkey hunting.  If I am set up and not interacting with a bird I'll use it.  If I'm already interacting with a bird and moving on him, I seldom feel like I have time to use it.

I never have used mine for turkey, but I put mine in my vest when i got back from this weekend's hunt. It couldn't hurt to carry

I own one but leave it at the house because its just something else to carry.  I hunt fields a lot and if Im using decoys, Ill step off the distance on my way back to where Im going to sit so that Ill have a pretty good idea of the yardage.

When I am doing a deliberate set-up I pace off my distances before I sit down.  When doing a hasty set-up I usually can't fumble with anything except my shotgun.

I always have it clipped to my vest something as simple as pushing a button a few times at a few trees or rocks could mean killing or missing because a bird is out of range seems seems like a no brain-er to me.

Has a place in my vest.  I think we should have every advantage possible.

With everything else in my vest, the range finder is in there too. Only time I have used it was in TX ranging a bird for my friend that was hung up. It did come in handy that day

I don't use one, but on field hunting I pace out 50 yards, and mark the perimeter at that distance with sticks. I feel within that distance I'm good to go, if I have to.