Range Before You Draw!

by
posted on October 16, 2014
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
mehall_ah2015_fs.jpg (53)

They say it’s okay to make mistakes as long as we learn from them. That’s good for me because it seems there is always a new bowhunting lesson to learn—sometimes the hard way. Here’s a basic mistake I’ve made that was easier to make than you might think.

The lesson: Range that game animal before you draw. Sure, we range various markers as soon as we get into our stand or ground blind, but what if that buck comes in from a spot we don’t expect? In the excitement it’s too easy to use the wrong pin on your multi-pin sight, or to not readjust your single-pin sight and make a bad shot. Take the time to range. In thick woods or brushy country, such as in southern Maryland where I grew up, you may only see 30 yards in any one direction. But if you’re hunting the Midwest, where I also like to go each season, your shot opportunities can be longer.

As you know, if you're in the mood to shop, there are plenty of quality, compact rangefinders out there. Companies such as Bushnell, Nikon and Leupold even offer models just for bowhunters. Head for Cabela's or Bass Pro Shops and check them out under one roof.

Forgetting to range before you draw can cost you a buck as you watch your arrow sail right over or under it. In today’s economy, it’s bad enough to lose the kind of buck with George Washington’s face on it. It’s far worse to lose out on a nice deer!

Latest

Upland (5)
Upland (5)

5 Keys To Make This Your Best Upland Season Ever

Tired of walking long distances and coming home empty-handed? Here are five keys to help boost your bag of birds this year.

C&H Precision and MERUS Adventure Launch Guided Hunt Giveaway

Free entry runs through Nov. 13, 2026, and one winner and a guest will be heading to the Texas Panhandle for a fully guided hunt at MERUS Adventure—a private hunting and off-road park near Claude, Texas, outside Amarillo. The trip includes a fully guided hunt, range time with top-tier optics and gear, on-site lodging for the length of the stay and off-road driving across the property.

Things I’ve Learned About Public-Land Elk

Every generation has a story starting with, “I remember the good old days.” Elk hunters have a similar dialogue and although elk numbers are at some of their highest in modern history, public-land hunting still represents a sea of challenges. With decades of elk hunting in my rearview and an ongoing education, a few lessons I’ve learned from elk hunting may aid you in your public-land elk pursuits.

Colorado Ballot Battle Heats Up

The required number of valid signatures to put a “Right to Hunt and Fish Amendment” on Colorado’s Nov. 3 ballot was reached on Sept. 4. If approved by voters—according to Ballotpedia’s summary—it would add the “…right to hunt, fish, and take fish and wildlife through traditional methods” to the state constitution.

#SundayGunday: CZ 600+ ST3 American

On this week's #SundayGunday, we are taking a look at the new-for-2026 design of the CZ 600+ ST3 American, the ST3 being the long- and magnum-action model. Built by the legendary Czech company for the American market, this is a rifle adapted perfectly to hunting on this continent.

How Can Hunters Travel Out of State With Suppressed Firearms?

Getting federal and state agencies out of the way of the citizens who wish to use suppressors to make their guns more polite to their ears and to their neighbors’ is an ongoing, complex and multifaceted effort. There is, however, progress being made thanks to the Trump administration.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.