Sorry I missed that.

My target arrows are shooting 301.5fps. I've never chrono'd my hunting arrows.....but you can add 30gr. or so to the target arrows and probably get closer to an accurate guess than I can.

I'd just suffice it to say they're moving pretty good.

I use one, I originally got it for practicing and setting up my targets in my yard.

I don't actually use it when I bow hunt, like say to range an animal before I shoot it. I range a perimeter around my tree stand or blind and take note of where certain landmarks are and how far away they are. That way I don't have to guess at anything. If a deer walks inside that circle I am 100% confident I can kill it.

And I do shoot slow set up. Like over 400 grns in the low 200's.

I also use it when I muzzle loader and slug gun hunt. The difference between 100 and 130 yards is BIG deal depending on what weapon you are shooting and the loads you are using. And I will be honest I can tell the difference between the two bye my eyes.

I even used it once while turkey hunting. I used it the same way I would when deer hunting. I checked the area around me before any birds came in so I knew were my max yardage would be.

Paul

Then who was? Don't be naive Chief. My boy Atlas knows how to say just enough to tweak things into a state of disagreement, and it seems to work every time!I'm at the point where I actually find it rather amusing, most of the time. He does come well equipted Imust say.

Why do I use a rangefinder?

Because I can only see positive results from usingone. I like to be as accurate as possible (especially when it comes to hunting) and I use mine every timeI hunt, even if I use the same stand.

As it relates to movement I have never ranged an animal from a stand.I use my range finder in the same fashion that most others do,that is by ranging different objects in a circle around my stand.It is a huge confidence booster,and one less thing to clutter your mind when you know within plus or minus a couple yards what the distance is.

Okay, I'm home now, and I can reply.
Early,
I do my best not to be naive, but hey, no-one is perfect.
If Atlas had used the words "I don't see any reason not to" instead of "there's no reason not to", it would have sounded less absolute, but then again, that's not his nature, is it? All I can say is this: If I don't want a fight, I don't engage the opposing force. I just wanna have fun![8D]

Jeff,

There is nothing wrong with Atlas's original statement either. I made bold the key word in his original statement. Who areyou (or anyone for that matter)to tellAtlaswhat he feels is a good reason?

For the record, I see no good reason why not to use one either.

Movement? If you wait to use your rangefinder until the deer is inside of 50yds you have more problems to worry about than a rangefinder because you have completely missed the "minimal movement" boat.

Not needed for short ranges? I find it hard to believe there are that many hunters out there who only have 20yd or less hunting spots. I have a couple but most have lanes out to 30-40yds. So to use the minority as a valid reason not to use a rangefinder is.........not valid.

Something else to carry into the woods?? I don't even know where to start with this one. If a few oz rangefinder is going to put you over the top than I suggest getting rid of something less important. I don't know of too much that is more important than securing a correct range of an animal you are about to kill.

So just as you think those are valid reasons I think they're not. But who am I to tell you what is a valid reason and what is not......see where I'm going with this.

Those aren't good reasons IMO.........I range everything the minute I get in my stand so movement is no concern. If you are gonna wait until the animal walks by to try and range him you may as well leave it home. I think it's needed for all ranges........yea it's great when they walk past at 10 yards but that's not always the case. I would never want to go into the woods knowing I have to guess at anything farther then a slam dunk. Take the range finder and you never have to guess........ever. Rangefinders are about the size of a thick wallet and are not heavy, bulky, or cumbersome in any way..........they fit in almost any bowhunting jacket pocket and I put mine in my Summit side bag with my calls and pull up rope.

This one speaks for me as well. I like knowing for sure, for a piece of mind.

You will probably drop 10-15 fps...........so given your earlier account of guessing a deer at 24 yards (low extreme) and he was actually 33 you are talking about a miss of over 2" with this years bow and assuming the switchback was slower it was probably about a 4" miss. Those are unacceptable margins of error for me to guess at.........especially when shooting at a live animal that if I screw up could suffer for a long time.

Just think of how happy you would be if you were shooting in the yard and missing by 2" at best and by 4"+ at worst............I would be smashing my gear with a hammer and starting over.