What To Look for in a Rangefinder for Bow Hunting?
A good rangefinder can make a big difference in your bow hunting trip. However, with hundreds of rangefinder models on the market, you may find it difficult to choose the best model. When shopping for a rangefinder for bow hunting, keep the following considerations in mind.
What To Look for in Rangefinder for Bow Hunting?
Display Screen
From the time to the battery life to the mode you’re using, some rangefinders display a variety of icons.
When it comes to display, the color of the display figures is something to keep an eye out for. Many rangefinders show numbers and figures in black, which is great during the day and in bright light, but not so great when hunting in the early morning, early evening, or low light.
Those figures might be visible, but it depends on how dark it gets. If you’re planning on ranging in low-light conditions, a rangefinder with red figures might be worth considering (or a color other than black).
Angle Compensation
Angle compensation can save you a lot of time trying to do calculations in your head if you’re taking shots from an elevated position—either from a hill downwards at game or from a tree stand downwards at game.
Basic rangefinders will tell you how far you are from your target, which may be all you need if you’re shooting from flat ground and at the same level as your target. However, if you’ll be shooting at game from a high vantage point, a rangefinder that displays your horizontal distance from your target can be useful.
It’s known as the ARC (Angle Range Compensation) feature on Bushnell models and the ID (Include/Decline) feature on Nikon models. The AI in Halo is called Angle Intelligence. They’re essentially the same thing, and they’re both talking about technology that calculates the horizontal distance between you and your target in order to assist you in properly aiming.
Accuracy
Most basic rangefinders are accurate to +/- 1 yard—or “plus-or-minus” one yard, meaning the rangefinder will be accurate within a single yard, so if it says your game is 100 yards away from you, it could be anywhere between 99 yards and 101 yards away from you. Higher-end rangefinders are a little more precise, and some can tell you to within a few feet. 1 yard how far your game is from you (and those would be +/-.1 yard)—obviously, much more precise.
Maximum Range
The actual distance that a rangefinder can measure is one of the main features that distinguishes it from high-end rangefinders. Basic rangefinders can measure distances of up to 500 yards, while more advanced models can measure distances of over a mile. When you think about it, that’s quite remarkable.
So, what is your ideal distance range? What is the maximum range of your rangefinder? Knowing what kind of bow hunting / rifle hunting you’ll do and where you’ll do it will aid you in this endeavor.
Magnification
For accurate shot placement, you must be able to zoom in on your targets. Bow hunting, on the other hand, usually has targets that aren’t too far away. When you use too much magnification, you risk becoming disoriented as you try to focus on your target. A rangefinder with a magnification power of 5x or 6x will be enough.
Size and weight
Most rangefinders are small and portable, making them easy to carry even during long hunting sessions. The size of high-end rangefinders is smaller than that of basic models, which are slightly larger.
Most rangefinders are under a pound in weight, with the majority of them weighing less than 0.75 pounds. They’re the ideal bow hunting companion because of their lightweight design.
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So, What To Look for in a Rangefinder for Bow Hunting ? Final Thoughts
We hope you found our article useful in your search for rangefinders ! We hope the information we provided will be helpful and informative. Happy hunting!