I came across an interesting product. It is a rangefinder that attaches to the sight pin frame.
http://www.deadonrangefinder.com/howitworks.html But there is a problem that I see with this device and that is that not all elk have the same back to brisket measurement.

Kahles Optik’s website has a chart for various animals. http://www.kahlesoptik.com/products/animal_silhouette.html They list elk ranging in back to brisket measurement as varying from 19†on a Tule elk cow to 33†on a Roosevelt bull. This rangefinder assumes the measurement to be 28â€. I will be hunting Rocky Mtn elk spikes. They list Rocky Mtn cows as having a 20†back to brisket measurement. Do any of you know if the spike would be more like the cow at 20†or more like 24â€? My guess is that it would be more like a cow. If it is only 20†and the rangefinder assumes 28†then it would be off by 20/28=71% so if you thought the spike was 30 yards away it would actually be only 21.4 yards away. I like the idea of this rangefinder but am not sure it would work for me if I am hunting spikes. Any thoughts from you all? Thanks, Bruin.

Man that just too much information to remember!

No offence, I think it's better to just train yourself to learn how to judge 20 yrds or what ever you personal range limit is.

This is one of the reason I sold my last compound bow 10 years ago and started hunting with a recurve.

Take a look at the pins on that site. U could use the current site u're using no doubt, if the pins were the right distance apart.-- i've been thinking recently about the viability of trying to range with a bowsite-- no doubt it'd work, especially since your talking much closer range than a scope ranging reticle. Fact of the matter is, u could use the mil-ranging formula once u knew the subtension of the stadia (pins).

The method sscoyote is describing has been used by 3-D shooters for quite a while. I use a laser when I can, and I range reference trees, rocks, etc when taking a stand. For close shots lots of practice stump shooting and estimating range pays off.

Hey Brad-- how's Alaska? Article should be out next TVHM-- i hope.

U know the modified mil-ranging formula should work then for sure if guys have been using pin "subtensions" to range targets-- it would look like this--

tgt. size in inches x pin subtension ydg./pin subtension itself at that ydg. in inches/quantity of gap tgt occupies in tenths of the total gap == range in yds.

Example-- cow elk is 20" back-brisket according to Kahles website.

50-60 yd. pin subtends maybe 40" @ 60 yds.

Now just fill in the variables to calculate range, i.e.--

20" x 60 yds/40"/tgt. fills gap completely @ 1.0 of your ranging pins== 30 yds.

20 x 60/40/.9 ranging unit == 33 yds.

20 x 60/40/.8 = 37

.7 = 43

.6 = 50

.5 = 60

etc.

Now just attach a sticker somewhere to the bow with this info., and u've got your ranging system.
Of course you'd have to measure the pin-pin gaps (subtensions) yourself, and to accurately range the bow's gonna have to be rested, as well as the same distance from your eye as when u established the "std.". Be interesting to see how well the system works, if anybody's willing to give it a try. U don't often see the "modified" mil-ranging system in use by scope users (if ever) much less archers, but in theory it should work. When u measure the subtension it can be any 2 pins at any range. And ideally if u had 2 or 3 other pins between the "main ranger pins", then u could calculate what part of the total gap each of the other pins occupies in tenths of the main ranger pins, and use those others to more accurately approximate the area the target occupies.

Hi Steve, I'm still researching AK and can't wait to go. I've been watching for the article. I agree the mil ranging formula should work. I also like the sticker on the bow. I did the same thing with my rifle and 1/2 mil scope. Just compare the elk to the pins in the sight, quickly refer to the sticker and shoot. There is a company making a stick-on that goes on the sight ring, that is supposed to do the same thing. Of course I can't remember what it's called or who makes it!

Why bother with all that !!! Last fall I drew an AZ bull tag. I hunted with a single pin. The pin was zeroed at 30 yards, which is not hard to do with todays modern bows. Then I figured out the drop at 40, 50, and 60 yards. Considering the sheer size of a bull elk, placing an arrow in the "kill zone" is not that difficult. The bull I killed was a 50 yard shot. I held the pin just below the top of his back and with the 12" of drop at that range, it was well within the kill zone. I developed target panic about 3 weeks before the hunt and I found that going to the single pin helped. With multiple pins, forget about it !!! I was ranging with a Nikon 440 rangefinder.