Evening to the forum.
I finally broke down and got a laser ranger finder. It' s range capabilities are described in terms of " reflective and non reflective objects," for example 800 yards against reflective targets and 1200 yards against non reflective objects (may actually be just the opposite - don' t have the instructions in front of me).
Anyway anyone that knows what the difference is, would appreciate hearing from you. Thanks.

Reflective object are glass, metal, ice, think about anything that reflects sun light. Non-reflective will be the game animal you are ranging, the tree up at the trail head etc. Sometimes you can get a good reflective signal off certain rocks.

Anyway when buying a rangefinder ALWAYS look at the non-reflective distance that is the one you will use for hunting purposes, unless you can get the critter to wear a reflector.

You do have them backwards, the non-reflective range is always shorter than the reflective range...but who cares, I just figured I' d clear up the confusion. Anyway, when you' re hunting, you probably won' t see a mirror or the like sitting out there right beside your deer, but if there is a lot of grass between you and it messing you up, and you can get a reading from the dewy trunk of a nearby tree, have at it. Whenever I feel the need to carry a rangefinder, which is rarely, I usually take a range-focusing manual one too, in case of a situation where debris is messing up the laser-finder, it' s a little extra weight, but only 1-2#, you can easily buy boots that would add that much to your current pair any day, so I don' t worry much about it.

I ' ll have to agree with the rest of the replies here. The reflective range of your finder is pretty much worthless when using it in a hunting application. I' ve been been able to get mine to read out to 1100 yds while dotting a light colored rock on a sunny hillside across a canyon.
Your other option is to try to talk the elk into wearing those reflective vests like the guys working on the highways wear!!

Thanks for the info guys. The elk that I' ve taken have all been fairly close either in black timber or just on the edge of it in a park.
I decided to get a range finder after switching from my venerable .06 to a .300 RUM. This past season the classic situation for use of the reach that the RUM has occurred. A large bull traversed across in front of me high up on the opposite drainage. His movement was slow enough and the distance long enough to have ranged him with a range finder. Unfortunately the cover was such that a clear shot never materialized.
Regards