I’ve always been a Vortex man and still love them, but after losing my vortex range finder while hunting my cougar I thought I’d try a new product to see how they compare. After doing some internet research I fell upon the Nikon Arrow ID 7000. A popular rangefinder in the Midwest, South, and East part of the country but how would it do in the more open west? I was first drawn to it by the basic features it has: incline/decline technology giving the archery hunter a true distance always. This is on most rangefinders that hunters pack now so that wasn’t a swaying point for me, but the vibration reduction technology was. I like a lot of hunters shake a little when their game is in sight (not to mention my hands shake quite a bit alone), this is the first thing that caught my eye and I wanted to try. Finally, it gives options of first and Distant Target Priority, distant target was great because it virtually ignores branches and obstacles and hits the farthest target. Something that has cost me game in the past because of clutter 20 or 30 yards closer than the target that I didn’t notice in the first view. Not that the shot was unethical or cluttered, I have hit a strand of grass in an open field that told my range finder the wrong distance and I thought it was the game. It has a range out to 1000 yards so unless you are doing long range shooting it works great with rifle hunting as well.

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My findings: I was very pleased with the performance of the rangefinder. Ergonomically it fits nicely in your hand and has easy controls. I attach mine to my Kuiu bino case and it is always near and handy. Out of a blind it was flawless and the readouts easy to see. Next was where I really wanted to see it perform, on my free range Utah elk hunt. I would be hunting in thick scrub, aspens, and cedars. I had long ranges as well as up close and personal. I was bow hunting and ended up shooting my bull in very thick scrub oak, I was able to get good ranges on the bull even with small branches and leaves all around. And because of the vibration reduction technology I never missed a range. Later on in Wyoming on an pronghorn hunt I had no problem ranging out to 600 yards in the wide open grasses.

              Conclusion, I would suggest this product to anyone especially those who are bowhunting. Cons to this rangefinder are they don’t have the warranty that vortex or some others have and if you were going to hunt in high plains with open territory you should only expect to range consistently out to 600 yards. (I know on some Pronghorn hunts and hunters that isn’t an option.) I am very happy with the purchase an feel the price around $400 is worth it.