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General Discussion => General Forum => Topic started by: Turkeytider on July 12, 2018, 02:36:27 PM

Title: Range Finders ?
Post by: Turkeytider on July 12, 2018, 02:36:27 PM
Does anyone use them? Are they worth the money? Obviously, I know that you wouldn`t be ranging turkeys, but landmarks to use for reference. Thanks in advance everybody.
Title: Re: Range Finders ?
Post by: bruce.smith0817 on July 12, 2018, 03:00:39 PM
Yes use them for vdeer an turkeys very handy an not that big now if you bow you need one I range trees an then I know when to take the I never try to range amiail or bird

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Title: Re: Range Finders ?
Post by: davisd9 on July 12, 2018, 03:31:13 PM
I carry one, use it mostly when I set up on a field I expect a turkey to fly down to.  Also handy in open woods.  I am pretty decent at ranging by sight but never bad to make sure.  It weighs virtually nothing to carry.
Title: Re: Range Finders ?
Post by: Jbird22 on July 12, 2018, 03:40:31 PM
For bowhunting deer, I wouldn't hunt without one. For turkeys, I would take one if I hunted fields or other open spaces with any regularity. It's a very valuable piece of equipment IMO.
Title: Re: Range Finders ?
Post by: Kylongspur88 on July 12, 2018, 05:24:45 PM
I've used a cheapo Simmons range finder for the past 10 years. It works great for ranging landmarks when you set up.
Title: Re: Range Finders ?
Post by: TauntoHawk on July 12, 2018, 07:34:11 PM
On every hunt for everything just like binos. I've used nikon, vortex and sig sauger and the sig was by far the best

It was the fastest, most accurate, smallest to fit in any pocket, extremely clear view

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Title: Re: Range Finders ?
Post by: Brian Fahs on July 12, 2018, 07:40:13 PM
My leica crf 900 is always on my chest harness right beside my swarovski binoculars.

If I'm in the woods I'm packing my optics. Great hunting tool.
Title: Re: Range Finders ?
Post by: chadly on July 12, 2018, 08:02:09 PM
Quote from: Jbird22 on July 12, 2018, 03:40:31 PM
For bowhunting deer, I wouldn't hunt without one. For turkeys, I would take one if I hunted fields or other open spaces with any regularity. It's a very valuable piece of equipment IMO.
Deer bow always.  Turkeys never.  Bow point of aim and hit change so much the range finder is a must.  Turkeys with a gun I hit them where I aim.  No long shots for me so it would just be another something I dont need to carry. 
Title: Re: Range Finders ?
Post by: Happy on July 12, 2018, 08:26:23 PM
I often carry one bowhunting but it's just to verify the ranges that i estimate as soon as I get in the tree. I hunt woods 99 percent of the time and I can count on one hand the amount of deer I have shot over 30 yards. I can see them being more of a necessity hunting fields. For turkeys I don't carry one. It's easy enough to get a pretty close estimate to 40 yards.  I use a leupold and like it well enough just don't feel I have to have it.
Title: Re: Range Finders ?
Post by: Greg Massey on July 12, 2018, 08:28:59 PM
I tried one for the first time this spring and after a couple of times , i really didn't see the need to carry it.... Deer yes... turkey no... my suggestion is get you a good pair of waterproof binoculars .....
Title: Re: Range Finders ?
Post by: Rapscallion Vermilion on July 12, 2018, 09:14:49 PM
I like to carry one. Mine is a Nikon Prostaff 550.  As said above, it doesn't weigh anything, and the 6x monocular has proven to be very useful in lieu of carrying binoculars.  I'll range several trees when I set up.  I think I'm pretty decent at judging ranges, but like to test myself, and still every year find myself in situations when I'm fooled, especially when the cover is more open or uphill or downhill slopes are present.
Title: Re: Range Finders ?
Post by: davisd9 on July 12, 2018, 09:34:24 PM
Had a friend that lost a bird where we both would have swore he was in range. When we walked it we were both amazed at how far it was. We even took turns in the shooting and standing spot and could not believe it stepped off as far as it did, sometimes your eyes can be fooled.


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Title: Re: Range Finders ?
Post by: WiLL B on July 12, 2018, 11:10:38 PM
My Leica 900 stays in my hunting shirt pocket all season. I'm good at guessing because I shoot some measurements pretty often.
Title: Re: Range Finders ?
Post by: land cruiser on July 12, 2018, 11:50:58 PM
I honestly thought this was a thread resurrected from 1993.
Title: Re: Range Finders ?
Post by: Turkeytider on July 13, 2018, 09:24:09 AM
Thanks everybody. Looks like a pretty mixed bag of users and not. There`s seemingly no end to the toys and ways to spend money, is there  ;)?!
Title: Re: Range Finders ?
Post by: deerhunt1988 on July 13, 2018, 01:07:19 PM
I have a small Bushnell I keep in my vest. I use it way more often as a monocular than I do the actual range finding feature.
Title: Re: Range Finders ?
Post by: Yoder409 on July 13, 2018, 09:12:38 PM
I carry a little Bushnell all the time.  It has bailed me out several times on yardages that fooled my eyeballed estimation, both farther and closer.
Title: Re: Range Finders ?
Post by: NCL on July 14, 2018, 08:14:46 AM
I have a Ziess that I bought used for a really good price. I never thought about taking a range finder with me turkey hunting but this thread got me thinking and next year it will go with me.
Title: Re: Range Finders ?
Post by: Turkeytider on July 14, 2018, 09:17:31 AM
Glad to be of service !