One thing that helps bowhunters bag more game is laser rangefinders. Below you will find specs for some of the latest and greatest rangefinders on the market.

Manufacturer: Bushnell (www.bushnell.com; 800-423-3537)

Model: Sport 850

Weight: 5.8 ounces

Magnification: 4x

Max distance: 850 yards

Price: $180

Special Feature: The Sport 850 has a 20 mm fully coated lens which offers great clarity and decent visibility in low light conditions. This is the perfect model for crossbow hunters who also gun hunt, given the units’ 850-yard range.  

Manufacturer: Leupold

Model; RX 10001 TBR

Weight: 7.6 ounces

Magnification: 6X

Max distance: 1000 yards

Price: $380

Special Features: This rangefinder comes with True Ballistic Ranging for angled shots and digitally enhanced accuracy which delivers increased accuracy speed and range. The high performance lens in the rangefinder delivers lots of light even in low light conditions. The unit is less than four inches long.  It’s proof that big things do come in small packages. 

Manufacturer: Nikon

Model: Archers Choice Max

Weight: 6.9 Ounces

Magnification: 6X

Max distance: 200 yards

Price: $370

Special Features: This rangefinder has every bell and whistle you can think of including ID Technology (Incline/Decline compensation) and an Active Brightness view finder so you can easily see what you are doing, multicoated lenses that are waterproof and fog proof and 18 mm eye relief.

Manufacturer: Opti-Logic (www.opti-logic.com; 1-888-678-4564)

Model: Micro II

Weight: 3.5 ounces

Magnification: none

Max distance: 400 yards

Price: $330

Special Features: The Micro II truly is designed for bowhunters and crossbow users.  It has built-in Ballistics compensation, which provides an accurate reading every time hunters range something.  The compensation works on arrows and bolts that don’t exceed 350 FPS.  This rangefinder is small and fits perfectly in shirt pockets.

Manufacturer: Wild Game Innovations

Model: Ir500x

Weight: 12 ounces

Magnification: none

Max distance: 500 yards

Price: $161

Special Feature: The Halo r500x Laser Rangefinder ranges up to five hundred yards, making a great option for gun hunters and crossbow hunters. It comes with scan mode and angle intelligence which makes getting an accurate reading on steep angled shots simple.  

When are you in a treestand or ground blind, having a quality pair of binoculars is critical.  

Manufacturer: Nikon

Model: Monarch X

Magnification: 8.5 x 45

Price: $630

Special Features: Crossbow hunters looking for top notch optics will be thrilled with the Monarch X.  These binoculars come with dielectric layered prisms that work well in low light conditions.  At twenty-five ounces, they are lightweight and easy to use for long periods of time.  Long, 20.6 mm eye relief and waterproof and fog proof ruggedness make the Monarch X a great choice for serious hunters.

Sidebar: Low tech rangefinder perfect for hunters on a budget

Archer Range Rangefinder
When heading into the woods, crossbow hunters shouldn't leave without a rangefinder, pull-up rope and tape measure to estimate their big buck's rack after the kill. The Archer Range Rangefinder is all of that wrapped up into one easy-to-use product. The manual range finder accurately judges distances out to fifty yards.  It doesn’t require batteries and gives you the horizontal distance like many high-end rangefinders that cost hundreds of dollars. The unit's tape measure doubles as a 33-foot pull up rope. After your bow is attached to the rope, simply climb  your tree and the rope automatically unwinds as you climb.