I have a fantastic deer tag for South Dakota this fall. It’s an “any deer” license, which means I can shoot a whitetail or mule deer, buck or doe. I’ve made arrangements to hunt a large ranch where I hope to catch a big muley chasing does and make a lethal shot. I ordered two packs of Grim Reaper Whitetail Specials for my Barnett crossbow, which has been set up with a Burris OracleX sight. Since mule deer shots tend to be long, I have every confidence that I can make a 43-yard shot by using the rangefinding scope.
Checking My List
I’ve written many articles about prepping for adventure bowhunts, and I believe this one is particularly relevant, especially for those using modern rangefinding scopes. Here are six suggestions, whether you use a stand scope or one of the new ranging models.
1. Take your own target- Drive it or fly it, but you’ll need a quality target to tweak sight-ins and ensure broadhead flight. Whether you remove your scope and transport it in hand luggage or leave it attached during the flight, you will need to check that your zero hasn’t changed. I experimented with three ranging scopes, and during the process, I destroyed 11 arrows when the inserts pulled out; the arrows couldn’t be removed from targets or misses that destroyed the arrow. Compound archers practice every day on adventure hunts, and you should too. Without a quality target, this isn’t possible, or you’ll consume all your arrows.
2. Practice like a compound archer. If you plan to shoot at 50 yards, practice at 80, even 100. Precision matters. Shooting a “little” left or right won’t matter for a 20-yard tree stand shot, but at long range, an inch can turn into two or three, a matter of wounding instead of a clean kill. Additionally, practicing at a longer range will demonstrate your limits and reinforce best practices in shooting.
3. Eyes First- Take the extra time needed to watch a setup video and read the instructions before sighting in a rangefinding scope. Even if you are a tech wizard, watch the setup how-to until you feel comfortable. I printed directions from the internet, underlined the steps needed, and took them with me. These setup procedures are not intuitive, and without “reading the directions,” you are asking for frustration.
4. Practice Ranging- It may sound simple, but practice ranging on cows or other animals is essential until the process becomes automatic. You can still pre-range objects to speed up the sighting process, yet you should practice with your scope until you can work it without thinking. Place the sighting button where you hold the bow for the Burris Oracle and the Garmin Zero X1i, and have a routine with the Sig rangefinder. In the heat of the moment, it’s easy to get confused or leave the rangefinder on the ground.
5. Carry a spare battery- Even with long battery life, don’t leave home without an extra. Fortunately, all of these power systems are readily available for purchase. I bought mine at my local grocery store, and they last for years in storage, so buying one isn’t a waste of money. Sooner or later, you will need a power boost, and there is no worse feeling than looking through a dark scope at a critical moment.
6. Finally, use a quality grasping tripod like the Final Rest, which doubles as a shooting bench and greatly enhances accuracy. Given the need for precise shot placement, having a gripping rest makes sighting in and zero testing much easier. No matter how confident you are, your accuracy is only as keen as the aiming system. For long-range shooting, your arrow impact must be spot on. A gripping rest not only allows you to adjust for extreme accuracy in the field but also helps deliver it.
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