Bushnell Yardage Pro 500

by gunner

I had a guy at a local tackle/shooting store ask me about range finders the other day.  He wanted to know a little bit about them and what could they be used for other than hunting.

That gave me the idea for this article!  I have had two different ones now, both by Bushnell.  The one I am using now is a Bushnell Yardage Pro 500.  I got this one as a replacement/upgrade from my last one, which just disappeared.

The specs on the Bushnell Yardage Pro 500 are as follows:

Instantly measures up to 500 yards

Multi-functional in-view liquid crystal display with automatic shut-off

Lightweight and very durable construction

6X PermaFocus sighting system

Built in Tripod mount

Weatherproof

Form fitting case

Scan mode

Rain mode

Reflection mode (will go to 999 yards on this reflection setting)

Zip mode

Target Quality meter on screen

This range finder is very accurate on rainy days and through thick cover.  I had the Sport Model prior to this one.  There was nothing wrong with that model, but it just came up missing one day.  So, when the chance came to replace it, I went with one that was a little better and offered some more features.

So, what CAN you use these for besides hunting?  As you know, the list can be almost endless, but I will name a few things:

• Marking targets at a shooting range

• Checking the distance across a body of water

• Measuring the distance down or up for rappelling and/or rock climbing

• Tracking on how far someone can hit or throw a ball (for kids sports)

• Seeing how far you are from the shore or structure while fishing

• Checking the distance of water, camp or emergency shelter while hiking

This is one of those items that you will probably want to get for hunting, but trust me…after you get one you will find MANY more reasons for using it.

The price for the Yardage Pro 500 is around $210.00-$230.00, but I am sure if you do some digging you might find it for under $200.00.  (The Sport model is about $50-$75 cheaper, but it offers fewer features.)  Like a GPS, it is money well spent. 

See you out there…

gunner