ORIGINAL: BigJ12

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.

ORIGINAL: atlasman

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.

ORIGINAL: buckeyebuckhntr

Like Rybo, I have never wounded a deer or missed one thus far in my hunting endavors. I haven't taken as many deer though (around 15) but until a couple years ago we were only allowed one deer tag per year.

I do not understand how this information (Rybos or mine)pertains to why one should or should not carry a rangefinder though? Please explain.

I am pretty good at ranging distance (thanks to years of 3D shooting) butI still always take my rangefinder with me each trip out.

As Atlas and Bigj said I can't see a good reason to not take one with me.

Here is a ? If you range a deer that is 43 yds out. Then youshoot the buck. Is it P & Y legal?

Just wondering if you know buckeye.

Some guys just don't want to use one, they have their system and it works for them.

ORIGINAL: Germ

Here is a ? If you range a deer that is 43 yds out. Then youshoot the buck. Is it P & Y legal?

ORIGINAL: brucelanthier

If it weren't would you pass on it? Would anyone? I wouldn't, it is still a good buck whether it is in some book or not. I guess if you are shooting deer to get in some book then the question is important but if you are hunting deer to please yourself then it wouldn't matter.

What if you estimated that same deer at 35 yards and he was at the 43 yards and your arrow went under him, would you use a rangefinder next time out?

ORIGINAL: Germ

I agree and I would pass but not because of a book. I am just wondering if the buck wouldbe P & Y "legal"

The term "Fair Chase" shall not include the taking of animals under the following conditions:

[ol][*]Helpless in a trap, deep snow or water, or on ice.[*]From any power vehicle or power boat.[*]By "jacklighting" or shining at night.[*]By the use of any tranquilizers or poisons.[*]While inside escape-proof fenced enclosures.[*]By the use of any power vehicles or power boats for herding or driving animals, including use of aircraft to land alongside or to communicate with or direct a hunter on the ground.[*]By the use of electronic devices for attracting, locating, or pursuing game or guiding the hunter to such game, or by the use of a bow or arrow to which any electronic device is attached.[*]Any other condition considered by the Board of Directors as unacceptable. [/ol]