Skip to Content

Can You Use a Rangefinder at Night?

Can You Use a Rangefinder at Night?

Rangefinders are valuable tools for hunting. They allow shooters to estimate their target range by using a laser to measure distance rather than calculating it based on size or shape. These devices were initially designed for use during daylight hours, but many hunters wonder if they can use them at night.

Rangefinders don’t work in total darkness. It doesn’t matter if you have – a laser or a reflective one, an old fashioned one that uses optics or even a new digital model — they don’t work in total darkness. However, some models may give reliable results in low lighting.

The question of what you can or cannot do with a rangefinder at night is a common one. This article will explore the answer to this question and provide helpful tips for using a rangefinder in low light conditions. So don’t give up hope yet. You may be able to use your handy hunting equipment at night.

Can a Rangefinder Work at Night?

This is a common question among hunters, and it’s not hard to understand why. Many hunting takes place during the early morning hours or in the evening when the light begins to fade. Therefore, it only makes sense that hunters would wonder if a rangefinder works at night. There are some caveats if you choose to try a rangefinder at night.

Readability Challenges

Visibility is the primary concern of nighttime users. You need to read your rangefinder’s display, which means that you may have difficulty seeing the numbers on the LCD screen in low light conditions. This especially becomes an issue with some cheaper models whose screens are too dim for use after dark.

You also won’t be able to tell what you’re aiming at when it’s dark, which makes it pointless to use a rangefinder.

Another challenge with using a rangefinder at night is the reticle’s color. Typically, when using a rangefinder, you peer through the scope and use the reticle to focus on your object. Since the reticle is black, it’s easier to do during the day than at night.

At night, you’ll only see total darkness through the scope. This could affect your accuracy and even lead to missing what you’re shooting at.

Overall, it’s not a good idea to use a rangefinder at night because of how difficult it will be for you to see both the LCD screen and reticle correctly. You’ll also struggle with knowing precisely where you’re aiming, which will make your hunting process much more difficult.

Light Gathering Capability

Various rangefinders have different light gathering capabilities. This is the amount of light that the rangefinder can capture in low-light conditions.

The more expensive and high-end models will have a greater light-gathering capability than the less expensive ones.

This means that they’ll be able to pick up more detail and give you a better picture of your target, even when there’s low light. However, for the best experience, you need to purchase a rangefinder that’s marketed to support low light conditions. Unfortunately, these aren’t readily available on the market and can be pretty expensive if you manage to find one.

How to Use a Rangefinder at Night

So with all these challenges, how can you use a rangefinder in low light conditions? There are three simple tricks you can use to overcome these limitations. These include:

  • Use the rangefinder in a well-lit area at night: A simple hack to overcome readability and visibility issues is to find a well-lit area. For example, this could be an open field with the moon shining. By doing this, you’ll give your rangefinder enough light to properly function and capture readings.
  • Use a spotlight: Another way to improve readability is by using a spotlight. You can use white, green, or red lights to illuminate your surroundings. Using the spotlight will provide enough light for your rangefinder to function correctly and give accurate readings.
  • Use night vision: This will work perfectly when using IR light to flood the area, and you’re using a scope that can see the light.

However, it’s crucial to note that these tips may not work for all rangefinders because they’re not made equally.

Wrapping Up

If you were wondering if you could use a rangefinder in the dark, the answer is maybe. However, this is only possible if there’s some light in the area since these devices don’t work in total darkness. These tips should help you get the most out of your rangefinder during nighttime hunts.