Range Finder

[bbrc]

I see more and more clients with Range Finders or binoculars with built in range finding ability.
For long range shooting fine but for stalking I just don't get it what happened with learning to judge distance,that was a part of
learning the kraft
I can judge distance out to 300 yards or so,further that I will normally take a shot and a lot further than I am going to allow a client to take one , the majority of shots taken stalking are sub 200 yards,and the biggest proportion considerably less.
Its not difficult to learn to judge distance out to 200 yards just a little practice and you will find you do it automatically so why the need for for Range Finders is it a case of " must have all the gear whether I really need it or not" or are people just too lazy to put in a little practice in judging distance,or am I missing something.

What about someone who doesn’t just stalk deer?
They may shoot long range vermin and just want to use one set of binoculars for everything.
Surely you wouldn’t suggest it was sensible that they have two sets of bino’s just because they don’t need the rangefinder ones for normal stalking ranges

 

[bogtrotter]

What about someone who doesn’t just stalk deer?
They may shoot long range vermin and just want to use one set of binoculars for everything.
Surely you wouldn’t suggest it was sensible that they have two sets of bino’s just because they don’t need the rangefinder ones for normal stalking ranges

No problem with that, but that isnt the point I was making

 

[bbrc]

No problem with that, but that isnt the point I was making

So what exactly was the point you were making?

I really don’t get this ”Don’t need x,y and z for normal stalking distances” because I have witnessed, as I am sure others have, more than one deer that was unfortunately wounded at a “normal stalking distance” that has made off only to pause, mill around and look back at ranges that a dispatching shot would have been possible if the necessary skill, knowledge and tools had been available.
One of the tools that would have helped in the cases I have seen would have been a rangefinder.
In my opinion the more correct information you have the better, in any situation, especially ones concerning welfare of the animals we hunt

 

[zambezi]

I see more and more clients with Range Finders or binoculars with built in range finding ability...are people just too lazy to put in a little practice in judging distance,or am I missing something.

Some time back I realised that I do not want to carry excessive/multiple pieces of equipment when outdoors and on foot. Whatever I carry must serve all requirements. That includes binoculars: they must serve me when bird-watching, hiking or hunting. I hunt both domestically and abroad, at short range and further out. Therefore I bought binoculars with a built-in range finder. One stop solution.

Whilst I accept that guessing the distance of a sub 150m shot in relatively open country should be possible, there are exceptions. Other posters on this thread have already cited one case in point: situations where the terrain is near barren and there are no object references near the target.

My own recent experience hunting antelope in dense bush I found that guaging distance when you cannot see the whole animal can lead to errors in judgement. Regardless of whether I hunt in the UK or abroad, I will always look through my binoculars to verify target selection. Adding a range check takes about a second. So why not?

 

[Gm81]

Surely if we followed the “don’t need this and that route” we would all be ambushing deer from trees and throwing rocks about in loin cloths and trying to make fire.
If you have it you will use it. If I sit some where different I look and decide if I use mine to to check how far my shot could be.

 

[TomDeer]

we would all be ambushing deer from trees and throwing rocks about in loin cloths and trying to make fire

I do sometimes wonder whether I might as well try this approach - it could hardly reduce my hit rate

 

[John Gryphon]

Oy Boggy,I use my RF binos every day,whether I use the RF function is another matter,but I can if I need too.

 

[Gm81]

I do sometimes wonder whether I might as well try this approach - it could hardly reduce my hit rate

Problem is we now can’t legally carry a Rambo knife now either

 

[bogtrotter]

Oy Boggy,I use my RF binos every day,whether I use the RF function is another matter,but I can if I need too.

Aye John, if you need to but do you need to range find a roe buck at fifty yards or check on a target that you have been told the exact distance of because it has been set up at a measured distance.
Not sure but believe that things might be different down under but in the UK deer stalking is a sport the emphasis on stalking getting as close as you can , that being sub 200 yards if you are not that close get closer ,my point is you don't
need rangefinder for 200 yards even 300 is not that hard to judge its when it gets beyond that ,that it starts to become
difficult.
I have been a pro. Stalker most of my working life ( what you would probably call a guide but our job entails a lot more than just guiding) as I said already I find it really annoying when a client produces a rangefinder when you have already told them how far it is ( its my bloody job to know) with in a few yards any how( can only get accuracy to the inch on a good day lol )
I also think rangefinders are encouraging people to take longer shots I get clients now telling me I can take from here
maybe they can ,maybe they can't and we sure as hell not going to find out we are going to get to 200 yards or less or
or you won't be getting a shot ,thats DEERSTALKING Oh and clients I'm your fecking rangefinder.
To many these days think they are snipers.
My point you don't need a rangefinder for 200 yards or even a bit further with practice.

 

[Sika-Hunter]

But wouldn't a rangefinder stop people taking longer shots? or at least make an accurate decision on whether its within there capabilities.
M

 

[bogtrotter]

But wouldn't a rangefinder stop people taking longer shots? or at least make an accurate decision on whether its within there capabilities.
M

The trouble is a great many have an inflated idea of there ability.
Look at the DSC I shooting test thats the part most fail on.
From my own experience as explained earlier we had a full size metal stag set up at 150 yards that all clients had to shoot at before going on the hill ,it had a replaceable panel in the cull area painted a different colour so they could make
no mistake.
That stag had bullet strikes from the tip of its nose to its tail and a significant number missed the stag completely .
One hears and reads of the fantastic shots people have made and I have personally known some phenomenal shots.
but experience has proven that the general standard is not very good.

 

[Tony Morgan]

My point you don't need a rangefinder for 200 yards or even a bit further with practice.

True, and the best way to practise is to check your estimates regularly with a rangefinder. You're confident, probably rightly, in your own ability - but how often do you verify it? Surely you don't pace the distance?

 

[Crosshair243]

If you find it threatening to your authority out on a stalk then ban them. And see what the clients think of that?

At the end of the day, you’re in charge so it shouldn’t matter what their range finder says- they still don’t get to shoot until you say so.

Seems like the only way this could be an issue is if you keep getting it wrong

 

[bogtrotter]

Surely you don't pace the distance?
[/QUOTE]
Exactly that.

 

[Sika-Hunter]

Bogtrotter I think that comes down to not being ready for live quarry if the accuracy is that bad, surely it must be difficult for you to take clients out with such poor marksmanship?

 

[bogtrotter]

Bogtrotter I think that comes down to not being ready for live quarry if the accuracy is that bad, surely it must be difficult for you to take clients out with such poor marksmanship?

Unfortunatley there were some that had to be turned away, though they were given every chance.

 

[NullMac]

I just don't get it what happened with learning to judge distance,that was a part of learning the kraft

Ethical game killing. The "sporting" shot is an inhumane anachronism.

 

[ejg]

Shooting ability and range finding ability are two pairs of boots. I agree some are shocking shots, mostly those that you never see on a range because practice is only for snipers... real stalkers get closer therefore do not need good scopes or precise rifles or a rangefinder or practice....
edi

 

[zambezi]

My point you don't need a rangefinder for 200 yards or even a bit further with practice.

I am utterly familiar with the ballistics of my preferred deer cartridge. I have verified the mv by chrono and actual drop data out to 250m on the range. And at that distance can still hit a 10cm disk off quad sticks.

I choose to zero at 100m. For most woodland stalks it is a point-and-shoot affair. It shoots pretty flat out to 150m. But beyond 180m, the drop rate accelerates. At 250m it is 27cm. With practice you could apply holdover correction...or you could spin the turret 11 clicks and aim bang on! [time taken? negligible]

Also, guestimating holdover on a Red [where the vital zone is large] is probably a statistically safe option. But what about smaller quarry? That is risking a miss/maim shot. And on two occasions in the last year I had to take head and neck shots on smaller Roe. Both executed perfectly at 92m and 121m respectively. I would not have considered either shot had I not completed the ballistics checks above, and practiced to the point of certainty of competence.

You seem piqued that punters query your ranging skills. Turn that around: as a punter who may shoot stags in the highlands on one trip, woodland muntjac the next and savannah antelope later in the year, I need to develop a method that I can reproduce reliably using equipment I carry wherever I am. So regardless of PH input, I will verify what I am doing, using the equipment that will always be with me. The onus is on the shooter to know what will happen when he pulls the trigger.

Your preferred shooting method is doubtless based on setting the rifle to MPB. I imagine you have a fixed power scope too. 8x ? That is your choice. Other shooters roll differently. Do not take that as criticism/questioning your judgement.

 

[Jagare]

I'm 100% with Bogtrotter about range finders. Never owned a range finder and not going to get one. I've done enough stalking in my life to know the ranges I'm comfortable shooting at. I consider myself a competent shot and can judge if i will take the shot or not. As Bogtrotter wrote the game is called stalking. Not rural sniping. I get the feeling with many that come in to stalking its about all the gear and no idea rather than learning field craft.
Every time some one questions the latest new fangled ,must have piece of stalking equipment out comes the, we don't hunt with rocks, pointy sticks, blah , blah, blah. Pro stalker must have the patients of a saint to put up with some of the appalling shooting they see.