How to Choose the Best Rangefinder for Hunting

Determining how your laser rangefinder will be used is the first step in ensuring that you choose the most useful model for your application. There are rangefinders that can be used for hunting, golf, or surveying. This article will deal mainly with golf and hunting rangefinders.

When a rangefinder reads the first object in its line of view and ignores further objects, the rangefinder is said to be in a first priority mode. If it ignores the first object and sees past it to a more distant object the unit is said to be in a second priority mode.

Priority Differences

The First Priority Rangefinder is extremely useful on the course. There is generally nothing between you and the flag, assuming the flag is not hidden. All golfing rangefinders are in the first priority mode. If you want to range on the flag that is maybe 100 yards away, it will read 100, and not, say, 130, which may be the trees in back of the flag.

Second priority rangefinders can be more useful for hunting. A second priority rangefinder used as in the previous paragraph would certainly read the trees at 130 yards and ignore the flag 30 yards closer. In hunting situations you are often in a blind or screened somewhat by limbs or leaves. The hunting rangefinder or second priority rangefinder would ignore any object within its line of sight, such as branches, and instead read the closest object, which could be a deer.

Can you use a golf rangefinder (first priority) for hunting? Absolutely. You can use a rangefinder (second preference) to play golf. Certainly. But the product most closely designed for your intended purpose would be more user-friendly and not require multiple readings or switching modes to ensure the correct distance. Some laser rangefinders offer options to temporarily switch from second priority mode with a "pinpoint" or "bullseye" button (effectively switching from second to first priority) or switching priorities semi permanently.

Distance

Rangefinders can be sold under names that indicate the maximum distance that the unit is capable of reading. This is the biggest misconception consumers have about these units. A unit may be labeled as a 1500 yard rangefinder, and it may be, but only under ideal atmospheric conditions on highly reflective large surfaces!

For instance, without a lot of glare and air pollution and heat waves on a cool day under a cloudy sky, you may be able to range a smooth white metal pole barn at 1500 yards. If you add sun, rain, snow, heat mirage, or reduce the target's size, or darken or increase the color or texture, then NO! You may see hundreds of yards less. In perfect conditions you may see your pole barn at 1500 yards, a dark rocky hill at an oblique angle at 1100 yards, a huge truck at 900 yards, a tree at 700 yards, and a deer at 450 and a flag on the green at even less. Most times a deer may be read at around one third of the maximum stated range, and almost always well under half the distance. Make sure to check the specifications of your manufacturer.

Reticles and Aiming points

A Reticule is the crosshair or aiming point/circle that you see in your rangefinder. Some reticles have black lines you can superimpose on the object you wish to range. These reticles can be difficult to see against dark backgrounds or low light conditions, such as shadows. Some Recommended Reading reticles, or aiming points, appear illuminated due to LED lights. The brightness of these LEDs is invariably adjustable. There are two problems with LED reticles: in bright light they can be drowned by the ambient lighting so they are difficult to see. In the evening when your eyes adjust to nighttime, the reticles (or circles) are bright enough that they ruin your night vision, even at the lowest settings. You are not able to see past the bright reticle. The aforementioned issues with reticles also pertain to other information within your viewing screen such as yardage numbers and modes.

A black reticle with information and a button for lighting is my choice. The backlighting is much less intense than in an LED, and gives you the capability to view your information in all light conditions.