Pennsylvania Game News - June 2012 - 59

bright red, and I have no difficulty ranging distance regardless of the light conditions. When choosing a rangefinder, each hunter will have different needs. Some rangefinders have simple controls while others with more features are a little more complicated to operate. Some hunters will want to use their rangefinder only for bowhunting while most will use it for both bow and gun hunting, so it’s important to choose one with sufficient ranging capacity. Most rangefinders are lightweight but some are lighter than others, and this may be a concern for those hunters where weight is a serious consideration. Opti Logic’s new micro series laser rangefinder models, the Micro I and Micro II, are extremely light and compact, measuring only 3.25 x2.5 x1.4 inches, and they weigh less than 4 ounces. With a unit this small it’s easy to slip into or out of a shirt pocket while on watch in a treestand. Weather resistance and optics are other factors to consider, and a dealer should be able to explain these features to you if you ask. A unit of particular interest to archers is the new Leupold Vendetta rangefinder that mounts on the bow’s riser. As an animal approaches, all that’s needed to range it is a quick squeeze of the pressure pad on the bow grip. The Vendetta then provides the hunter with an instant and precise digital readout of the exact distance (from 10-70 yards) between him and the target. Because a good rangefinder can cost several hundred dollars, I would first ask a friend or someone I know who has one their opinion of the one they have. Personally, I would want one that is compact, lightweight and easy to use. When a game animal is approaching my stand I don’t want to be fumbling with the unit and pressing buttons. Because I also hunt deer

with a rifle, I would want a unit with clear optics, higher magnification and a ranging distance up to 400 yards. Because I hunt in thick cover and in all kinds of weather, I use a unit that compensates for precipitation and has a distant target priority feature that helps me range an object or animal in thick brush. Before buying a rangefinder, the best thing a hunter can do is evaluate how and under what conditions it will be used and then purchase one with the features that are most important. For my money, power, size and weight are the most important considerations. When purchasing a rangefinder you get what you pay for. High accuracy means a rangefinder needs high quality optics, lasers and digital processors which will, in turn, increase the price range. The good news, however, is the price of high quality rangefinders has come down to an affordable level for most shooters. Accurately estimating range has always been a problem for bowhunters because arrows travel in such an arching path. Slightly misjudging the distance at 20 yards is usually not a problem, but misjudging the distance at longer ranges is often problematic. Accuracy problems become more severe the longer the distance is to the target, and it’s an exceptional shooter who can accurately judge distances beyond 30 yards. I love my rangefinder and find it to be one of the handiest tools I take in the woods. I no longer have to guess the distance to a target because I can easily slip the unit out of my shirt pocket, push a button and instantly know the distance to an object or animal. Since acquiring mine, I have never shot over or under a deer because I misjudged the distance. What more could I ask? 

JUNE 2012

Pennsylvania Game News - June 2012

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