Tag. I'm interested to see the responses. I bought a Leica golf rangefinder a few years back on clearance and have been pleased with it. I use it not only for bow hunting, but also rifle hunting in large fields.

 

Yes they are the same thing. They are just re-badged for golf.

 

check the manufacturer for how it prioritizes targets. they all call it something different. in general, golf rangefinders will find the nearest object (the pin) and drown out the background. some hunting rangefinders are meant to drown out the small stuff (twigs, etc.) and get to object in the distance they're you're actually trying to shoot. some rangefinders can switch back and forth between the two modes.

 

I believe you are correct. My old Nikon hunting range finder would switch between modes, but I never really could tell the difference. Despite being labeled for 800 yds, it wouldn't range a deer past 250 and would barely hit a woodline at 400 after a few years of use.

My current Leica golf rangefinder seems to follow your description of picking up the nearest object. It works great in a field to pick up a deer that may be 20 or 50 or 80 yds out from a treeline and you can't really tell at +/-400 yds. I have noted a few times bowhunting in the woods that it wanted to pick up a small vine or limbs instead of the tree or deer I was trying to range. I rarely range an actual deer in the woods, but prefer to range various trees and know my distances before the deer show up. It will also hit a tree line out to 600+ like it should.

 

I think that the cheap golf rangefinders determine the range by how tall the pin looks in the rangefinder. These are not laser range finders.

 

Those are the old $20 optical rangefinders, no electronics just a calibrated reticle. Very similar to a ranging reticle in a scope, they rely on a known target size to work properly.

 

This is it. ^^^

I have played competitive golf my whole life and played college golf. I've tried using hunting rangefinders on the golf course and they just won't do the trick. About 100 yards is the max I could pick up a flag with a hunting rangefinder. I currently use a leupold GX 3i for golf and bowhunting. It works great on both applications.

 

The difference is in the marketing of the product and a few icons in/on the unit. Range finding capability is the same.

 

About 20 years ago I purchased a Bushnell scout for bow hunting but it ended up being used for about 50 rounds of golf each year. It's still kickin!!!!!!

 

The Laser rangefinder can be used for hunting and golfing. You can use a laser rangefinder for both activities if you choose a smart device that has features to serve both golfing and hunting adequately. You just need to know the basic differences between golf and hunting rangefinders and some limitations.

Fast of all you have to know, what is golf rangefinder and hunting rangefinder.

Golf Rangefinder
Golf rangefinders seek for the nearest flagstick for the measuring the distance in an open field. “First target mode” is the default target setting of this rangefinder as they are built for the golfer. A typical golf rangefinder ignores distant objects like trees, people and so on. Modern and dedicated golf rangefinders come with various features to make golf easier. The “Slope Angle” helps to design shots plan, and GPS enables rangefinders to calculate the distance accurately using software and satellite information.

Hunting Rangefinder
The rangefinders always are in “Distant Target Mode” by default to spot wildlife in wooden terrains. This target set automatically ignores close objects that could obstruct the view. These rangefinders come with about a mile range so that it can range beyond the brush.

Here I wrote the 3 difference, I think this is the main difference between Golf vs Hunting Rangefinders and it should be remembered:

• First Target And Distant Target Modes
  Golfers need “First Target Mode” to detect the near objects like flag or pin in an open golf ground. Hunting rangefinders rarely good at detecting close objects. For hunting, “Distant Target Mode” is appropriate to range a target past the wood. Modern rangefinders come with toggling options between both first target and distant target modes, but they are expensive.
• Quick And Accurate Reading
  Golfing rangefinders detect the object quickly, and hunting rangefinders give the accurate reading. It is true that golf rangefinders do not need to be as precise as hunting one. Hunters want to make sure that their prey can be perfectly located.
  We can also think it differently. Golf rangefinders give opportunities to locate prey quickly, which is an advantage for the hunters. As the hunting rangefinders are slow, hunters may lose their target in the name of accuracy.
• Magnification Strength
  You might be aware of the fact that Hunting rangefinders always have more magnification than the Golf Rangefinders. Golfers need the distance of the next hole, which could be maximum 400 yards. For the bow hunters and hunting, 400 yards rangefinders are also appropriate. In case of rifle hunting or long-distance shooting sports, you will be needed maximum 1000 to 1500 yards ranges.

This is the basic differences between the golf and hunting rangefinders are. Golf rangefinders and Hunting rangefinders have a lot of similarities, but their features are not completely congruent with each other. People prefer a high-functioning hunting rangefinder to fulfill both functions. But you can easily use a hunting rangefinder on the golf course, but when it comes to quick reading, you may lose your temper.

I hope this information is helpful for Golf & Hunting lovers.

 

A laser rangefinder is a device used to measure the distance between you and a target. That target could be a 10-point buck, hole number 18, or a steel gong at 1000 yards. I also want to get Best Golf Range Finders for best result of golf.

 

Golf range finders will work well for hunting as well. Hunting range finders don’t work well for golf. The best golf range finders have pin seeking tech that will lock onto the pins and alert you with a vibration or a beep. I have high end hunting range finders that have a hard time picking up the pin period. Both will pick up a critter no problem. That’s the difference. I have Leupold models for both.

 

I would think the angle compensation feature on a lot of hunting rangefinders would be missing from the golf ones, but I do not golf so I do not know for certain.

 

The golf range finders have angle compensating features too. It will display actual yardage and the corrected angle compensated yardage. Mine even has a feature that will suggest a club to use if you program in your normal 6 iron yardage I think. Not a feature I use.

 

I used to work at a golf course and a ton of range finders had been left behind. I had the chance to test a few in the field and they all performed just as well as my hunting rangefinders

 

Well over 20 years old, laser, and it reads exactly the same as the 2 Nikons and Leupolds I've had.

Opti Logic claimed to have made these, cut me a deal on one of their new ones at an event, if I'd trade mine in.

I did that, called them a few days later demanding the return of my DME and my $ back.
Opti Logic was junk.

 

I use the same bushnell rangefinder for golf and hunting, never an issue.

 

There are a lot of different rangefinder types available on the market, so it can be hard to decide which one is best for you. A hunting rangefinder is designed to track your prey's location as you hunt them, while a golf rangefinder[recommend Bluetees] is specifically designed to track golf courses.

 

Sorry but my Sig will not work for golf unless I shoot a sandtrap or mount around the green. New flagsticks have reflectors built in to help golf range finders as well. It all depends on the type of range finder you buy, but a Sig will not work for golf.

 

I was a walking scorer for the high school states a few weeks ago

They all had range finders, being wyoming they all were their hunting range finders. They didn't range the pin but something near the green,

 

This is a 6 year old thread that was bumped by a bot.

 

only marketing for most models

 

My Leupold can do both.

It has settings for closest target, which is good for golf as it hits the pin and not the tree line behind it.

It has settings for furthest target which is good for hunting as it gives me the deer and not the twigs between me and it.

Can do both direct line of sight as well as angle compensating. It's able to pick up the flag from well outside the range in which I can go for the flag as well. No issues here using my range finder for both hunting and golf.