Laser rangefinder
A built-in laser that measures how far away the animal is. The rated range is for big, reflective targets; expect much less on a coyote.
What it means
A laser rangefinder (LRF) sends out a short pulse of invisible laser light and times how long it takes to bounce back. Many thermal scopes and monoculars now build one in. Makers rate them by maximum range; on the units on this site that runs from about 650 to about 1,600 yards.
What it changes in the field
Range matters most for long shots, where a misjudged distance means a miss or a wounded animal. Judging distance at night is hard: with no daylight landmarks, a coyote at 280 yards and one at 200 can look the same on a thermal screen. An LRF takes the guessing out.
Over a feeder or a fence line you already know the distances, and many hunters skip the LRF there. Hunters calling open country with shots past about 200 to 250 yards are the ones who value it most.
Rated range versus a coyote
The maximum range is measured on large, reflective targets. A coyote is small, furry and dull, and it reflects far less. Expect a coyote to range well short of the rated maximum. Fog, rain and snow cut the range further, and some owners report integrated rangefinders getting finicky in hard cold.
The laser beam also spreads with distance. At long range it can be wider than the coyote and return the distance to the brush behind it.
What to look for
- Rated range well beyond your longest shot, since real range on an animal can be about half.
- Whether the LRF feeds a ballistic calculator that moves the aim point for you.
- Battery cost: ranging adds drain.
- Laser use while hunting is regulated in some places. Rules vary; see the thermal and night vision laws page.
How we use it on this site
We show the maker’s rated range in yards, or “No” when the unit has none. It is not scored, because rated range is a poor guide to range on an animal.