When a hunter is purchasing their hunting gear, the go-to equipment is usually a scope, binoculars, and a spotting scope. Over the recent years, a laser range finder has also made its way to the list of essentials for hunters according to this deer hunting resource. This is particularly important for hunters who cover a larger range. Being that these gadgets have made their way to the market just a few years short of a decade ago, many hunters are yet to master the skills of using them. To get maximum advantage from a rangefinder, it is essential to know how to use it.
Tips on using a rangefinder
Pay keen attention to the rifle scope– this can be done even before you reach the hunting grounds. All you have to do is check that the range finder is sighted correctly. To ensure that the scope is correct, on arrival at the hunting ground, range a target at a distance and shoot at it then check if the rifle hits where the scope says it should. However, some factors like using different bullet grounds or the presence of a transit cloud may throw off your target minorly.
Avoid last-minute ranging– once at the hunting ground, scan the area and determine your lanes of shooting. Once you have done that, take note of the distance by using landmarks. Having these distances will save you time once you take note of your prey, hence avoid letting it get away. It would work even better if you make marks on the trees that you will consider to be your landmarks. This will help you create a mental map of your hunting grounds. It is advisable that you do this for every location you select as your hunting area.
If you have to range your target at the last minute, take time to determine the direction it is heading towards and make a plan of where you will be able to hit it from. This way, you can be able to aim the range finder on the position and prepare a steady shot before the target reaches the spot. Aiming directly at the rangefinder’s reticle, directly at the target, would be a mistake. The reason is that by the time the rangefinder determines its range of the shot, the target will most definitely have moved to another distance; hence you will miss the shot.
Take advantage of the holdover calculator- manually determining the distance of a target is easier than determining its angle. This is where holdover calculators found in high-end rangefinders come in handy. The calculator not only determines the range the arrow or bullet would have to travel to reach the target but also finds out the elevation necessary to counteract the force of gravity. For this to work, you will need to program the velocity for all your shots. The velocities programed will thereafter fluctuate depending on the changes in the bow limbs. This helps avoid any form of distance misjudgment.