View Poll Results: A poll
Voters: 63. You may not vote on this poll
which is most important?
08-01-2007, 03:42 AM
#16
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location:
Posts: 11,472
RE: which is most important?
Most of my shots are inside 20 yards. Don't need no stinkin rangefinder for that [:-]. Plus you can mark yardages, shoot practice arrows, etc... ahead of time to determine yardage. Can't beat a summit viper 
08-01-2007, 06:14 AM
#17
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Where the ducks don't come no more
Posts: 4,420
RE: which is most important?
I used to only use climbers, now I rarely use one at all. Problem with climbers is that you have to have a perfect tree to use them, seldom is that perfect tree within range of where you need to be, and then, a perfect tree has little/no cover or concealment, which is important to me.
If you have other forms of stands already, then I would certainly get the rangefinder. If you can ONLY hunt with a climber, such as on public land or on a place that will not allow you leave a stand, then there is your answer from my point of view.
I think rangefinders are a nice luxury, but I only use mine in the preseason or on the rifle range. Once I know how far everything is from my stand, I don't bother to break it out anymore... just one more thing to manage you know.
If you have other forms of stands already, then I would certainly get the rangefinder. If you can ONLY hunt with a climber, such as on public land or on a place that will not allow you leave a stand, then there is your answer from my point of view.
I think rangefinders are a nice luxury, but I only use mine in the preseason or on the rifle range. Once I know how far everything is from my stand, I don't bother to break it out anymore... just one more thing to manage you know.
08-01-2007, 06:29 AM
#18
Dominant Buck
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location:
Posts: 21,043
RE: which is most important?
Here's a tip.
Go to your local hardware store (big box) and buy some of those little flags that utilities locators use to locate phone/water/telephone lines. Buy about 6 in each color (3 different colors). Place them at 15, 20 and 25 yds around your perimeter.....and you'll know your yardages (assuming you use the same trees to climb).
You'll be giving away your stand location.....but you will know the yardages.
I carry my rangefinder about 1/3 of the season.....and then I figure I'm guessing close enough. I range trees around my stand a lot....just for practice, early, but I rarely carry the thing after about a month.
A good climber opens up opportunities you might not ever get.....and gets you off the ground.
Good luck this year. Be safe.
Go to your local hardware store (big box) and buy some of those little flags that utilities locators use to locate phone/water/telephone lines. Buy about 6 in each color (3 different colors). Place them at 15, 20 and 25 yds around your perimeter.....and you'll know your yardages (assuming you use the same trees to climb).
You'll be giving away your stand location.....but you will know the yardages.
I carry my rangefinder about 1/3 of the season.....and then I figure I'm guessing close enough. I range trees around my stand a lot....just for practice, early, but I rarely carry the thing after about a month.
A good climber opens up opportunities you might not ever get.....and gets you off the ground.
Good luck this year. Be safe.
08-01-2007, 06:35 AM
#19
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Mich
Posts: 1,090
RE: which is most important?
ORIGINAL: IL-Cornfed
Without a doubt, a LRF has been one of THE single most important items I've carried since I bought my first one in '96. It goes with me on EVERY bowhunt I make!
Without a doubt, a LRF has been one of THE single most important items I've carried since I bought my first one in '96. It goes with me on EVERY bowhunt I make!
08-01-2007, 06:42 AM
#20
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: May 2006
Location: MA
Posts: 1,653
RE: which is most important?
My Nikon 440 just got drizzeled on and is junk. My first thought was what the heck am I gonna do. I have become so used to using it I have become overly reliant. Sort of like using a GPS to much. You forget to look at your surrounding cause it's so easy to get back to truck without paying attention.
The rangefinders are pretty neat toys though. Just shoot a few trees from your stand and put it away for the day.
The rangefinders are pretty neat toys though. Just shoot a few trees from your stand and put it away for the day.