Range estimating?
Contributors to this thread:Massachusetts
From: Belchertown Bowman
14-Jul-17
So I was curious what some of you use for estimating range in the field?
Do you use a rangefinder? Guess? I saw something about a thumb method.? Do you pace it out from the stand and use pathagoriums calculation? My hunting partner joked we post 10, 20 and 30 yard signs in the woods LOL Give me some advice here folks,.. curious what the majority do for this.
From: Buckshot89
14-Jul-17
Sit in your stand range in all directions with a rangefinder and mark them with something or remember what you ranged and at what distance. I have a cheaper simmons range finder with the "arc technology" or THD (true horizontal distance) built in to compensate for angles and for all my hang on stands I range and mark distances to trees, rocks, or brush at about deer level. I use pink, orange, blue, and yellow flagging tape for specific yardage in all my shooting lanes. I keep all colors consistent to each other for quick referencing pink (10yds), blue (20yds), yellow (30yds), orange (40yards) which I rarely use because most of my shots are 30 yards or less in my locations. When its go time I don't have to range the deer or guess my references are right there and it makes it easy. Gives me extra time to plan my shot opportunity and where to aim. Not to mention I've had deer literally appear at 20 yards and I had no idea where they came from.
From: Addicted
14-Jul-17
I use a rangefinder and spot out some 25 yard trees from all angles. Anything in this range is one pin for me. Next 5 yards out from there is my next pin. Typically not shooting more than 30 yards where I hunt. If you hunt the same stand for a while, you pretty much know once the deer is within 25 yards. I would imagine most modern compound bows now a day are shooting a single pin within 25 yards. Wish I thought of this before dropping money on a 5-pin sight, lol. Seriously thinking about switching to a single pin and making it easier on the eyes.
From: Proline
14-Jul-17
Same as above. Had the same problem with five pin sight and failing eyesight. Went to single pin and love it.
From: Will
14-Jul-17
The first few times I sit a stand (including the day I hang it for fixies), I stand and range a bunch of specific trees - after guessing yardages. It's two fold, first, I get immediate feedback on how accurate my guesses are, and it helps calibrate my eye, but second, quickly I get solid marks to go by when hunting: "Ok, he comes inside that tree he's 43yds, that hole is 23yds etc"
I dont know that it really matters, but when I do this, I range the trees at stand level so angle compensation is not a factor.
My range finder is a basic bushnell model, like 130 bucks or so...
From: Fatkid1979
17-Jul-17
I carry my Bushnell Primos rangefinder with ARC technology everywhere. Helps with practice and keeps me mobile. If you are in a stand, range some spots so you know the distances and don't need it when that deer shows up. If stalk hunting, range every so often to know in the event the deer show up. Also nice to have for bird watching. Seems to be my majority usage. Lol. Mine costs about $160. I got it off Amazon.
From: BruceP
18-Jul-17
Pretty much do it the same as Will. Range specific trees, at stand level, and commit to memory. No fumbling with the range finder when a deer comes in, plus it helps develop your range estimating skills for those times you get surprised while walking in to your stand.