Welcome to TheOhioOutdoors
Wanting to join the rest of our members? Login or sign up today!
Login / Join

Where do you keep your rangefinder?

Cogz

Cogz
1,360
77
TX
Pocket?
Hand muff?
Retractable tether? If so, where?
Factory lanyard on a hanger?

I don’t use mine much in the midwest so used to ranging some reference points and putting it on a hanger or in a pocket. Considering a retractable tether this year due to some western hunting in different terrain. Still with tree stand hunting whitetail in mind.

interested in your logic. Not something I’ve thought too hard about.
 

bowhunter1023

Owner/Operator
Staff member
49,388
288
Appalachia
I created a custom tether using a small carabiner and paracord with a slipknot in it. I hook the carabiner to my safety harness or another strategic location, then adjust the tether to fit the most convenient pocket on the right side of my body. If I need to, I can drop it rather than put it back in my pocket.
 
Last edited:

giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
Built inside my scope...🤣

Until this year I've never really set up on shots far enough away to make a difference. I need to grab one now though. Probably live in my pack like others and leave it open. Mostly blind hunting though.
 

jagermeister

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
18,263
237
Ohio
Kinda depends. If I’m wearing my Sitka Fanatic vest, there’s a chest pocket made just for a rangefinder, and that’s where I keep it. If not, it’s in the top pocket of my pack, which is hanging on the tree within arms reach. I usually range all my anticipated shooting spots before I’m presented with an opportunity. I can count on one hand how many times I’ve actually ranged an animal before taking a shot, with gun or bow.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Cogz and Sgt Fury

Stressless

Active Member
2,427
85
Keene, OH
Homemade 550 cord tether to the right side of the badlands bino harness, opposite of the left hand holding the bow, I can locate raise, laze, and settle it back w min motion. It sits just at the top of the bino harness- not in the way at all. Had to cut a hole in thr harness to get the 550 thru, dubbed shoe gue around the hile and haven't had a rip or tear in 7 years.

Always available 'cause the damn bucks are so unpredictable.

Love to have a Leopold mounted one but illegal in OH and FL so beet I can do.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Cogz and TinyTucky

TinyTucky

Active Member
1,016
76
The Flatlands
Homemade 550 cord tether to the right side of the badlands bino harness, opposite of the left hand holding the bow, I can locate raise, laze, and settle it back w min motion. It sits just at the top of the bino harness- not in the way at all. Had to cut a hole in thr harness to get the 550 thru, dubbed shoe gue around the hile and haven't had a rip or tear in 7 years.

Always available 'cause the damn bucks are so unpredictable.

Love to have a Leopold mounted one but illegal in OH and FL so beet I can do.
If it’s the rangefinder I am thinking of, they’re legal in Ohio. As long as it doesn’t emit a visible beam of light you can use it. The Garmin Xero range finder sights and scopes are legal, the new TenPoint crossbows come with the scope on em already lol
 

Jackalope

Dignitary Member
Staff member
39,083
274
Considering a retractable tether this year due to some western hunting in different terrain.

It needs to be handy and you need to be able to drop it. Dummy cord all your shit to you. Bugle tube, rangfinder etc. When on a stalk or on the move never ever set anything down on the ground. I can't speak for other places but in Arizona, every 20 Square feet of ground looks the same. If you set something down and need to move thinking you'll come back to get it, then it's as good as gone. I spent an hour and a half looking for a bugle tube and only moved about 50 yards. The damn thing is as big as a whiffle ball bat! 😅.

I was looking at onX and caught movement up ahead and it was a bull moving left to right about 100 yards up. Out of habit I put my phone in my back pocket and slipped back over the crest then ran about 150 yards to my left, then button booked back up to try to get ahead of him. Yeah, that doesn't work btw. 😅. At some point, my phone bounced out of my back pocket. I spent 3 hours trying to retrace my steps and find it with darkness closing in fast 3 miles from the truck and everything looking the same. I thought I was gonna have to go to my laminated maps and manual compass to get out.

I used a marsupial bino harness that has a mesh pocket on the back. Perfect place to slide your phone. Like stressless I tethered my rangefinder to the right shoulder strap by the bino pouch. When done most times I put it back in the front pocket to secure it, but if need be I could just drop it without taking the time to put it away or my eyes off the animal. A retractable cord sounds like a good idea but you'll want a way to secure it from hitting you in the teeth when you need to run.
 

Cogz

Cogz
1,360
77
TX
Thanks all. Definitely validates some thoughts. A couple spots I can hunt this year are wide open and I am thinking ahead for elk next year. Perfect perspectives.
 

Stressless

Active Member
2,427
85
Keene, OH
If it’s the rangefinder I am thinking of, they’re legal in Ohio. As long as it doesn’t emit a visible beam of light you can use it. The Garmin Xero range finder sights and scopes are legal, the new TenPoint crossbows come with the scope on em already lol

Maybe they changed the one for bows, but they had/have a visable light, its not the range finder lazer, its the aim point for helping you sight it, no way to turn it off completely, or disable it, its built into it.

John E. Law doesn't give one good God damn if ten point mates them for your particular purchase purposes... it emits a visible light, thats against Ohio code, you'll most likely get a ticket when he checks it out.

Doesn't make sense to me, but there it is.

Screenshot_20211005-025324_Chrome.jpg
 
Last edited by a moderator:

TinyTucky

Active Member
1,016
76
The Flatlands
Maybe they changed the one for bows, but they had/have a visable light, its not the range finder lazer, its the aim point for helping you sight it, no way to turn it off completely, or disable it, its built into it.

John E. Law doesn't give one good God damn if ten point mates them for your particular purchase purposes... it emits a visible light, thats against Ohio code, you'll most likely get a ticket when he checks it out.

Doesn't make sense to me, but there it is.

View attachment 136774
I didn’t realize that it had a visible beam of light, but that would make sense, although stupid to make something that can only be used in a handful of states.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Stressless

Spencie

Senior Member
5,046
145
Constitution Ohio
In my Vest pocket attached to the binocular clips. I can put it back in the pocket or leave it hanging in a quick situation. Ah, who am I kidding, I don’t shoot so I won’t need it.
 
  • Haha
Reactions: "J"