Range Finders

Why Angle Compensation Matters for Bowhunters

A rangefinder normally measures line-of-sight distance. When you shoot uphill or downhill, gravity only acts over the horizontal distance, so aiming for the line-of-sight number makes you shoot high. Angle-compensated ranging, which Vortex calls HCD (Horizontal Component Distance), corrects for this.

From a 20-foot treestand:

• A deer at 20 yards line of sight is about 19 yards horizontally.
• A deer at 10 yards line of sight is only about 7.5 yards horizontally.

The closer and steeper the shot, the bigger the difference. Most missed shots straight below a treestand go over the deer's back.

Other Features to Compare

• Target priority modes:
  
  First-target mode reads the closest object. Use it when trees or hills behind the deer could give a false reading.
  Last-target mode reads the farthest object. Use it when ranging through branches or brush in front of the deer.
  
  
• Scan mode updates the distance continuously as you sweep across terrain or follow a moving deer.
• Minimum range: check that your rangefinder reads accurately at very close distances. Shots from a treestand can be under 10 yards.
• Display and magnification: a clear display that's easy to read against dark timber at dawn matters more than extra maximum range.