Nikon Arrow ID 3000 Bow Hunting Laser Rangefinder Review

Contents

Welcome to this Nikon Arrow ID 3000 Bowhunting Laser Rangefinder review! As the name implies, Nikon designed the Arrow for bowhunters. The range is a modest 550 yards and the ID (Incline/Decline) Technology only gives you the target’s horizontal distance rather than bullet drop / holdover options. Golfers will find this affordable little helper useful, but you may have trouble locking onto the flag. Rifle shooters would be better off opting for something that Nikon did not specifically design for bowhunters (maybe they will make the “Nikon Bullet ID 3000.”) Is this the right range finder for you? Let’s take a look.

Package

Besides the Nikon Arrow ID 3000 Bowhunting Laser Rangefinder you will get a functional Neoprene Case, a Strap and a CR2 Lithium Battery. The case covers only half of this unit, which means that the rear has no cover. The strap is quite handy if you want to hang it around your neck or elsewhere.

Features of the Nikon Arrow ID 3000 Bowhunting Laser Rangefinder

The measurement range covers 6 – 550 yards, which is really enough for bowhunters, because most of the time the maximum distance to measure will be around 200 yards when bowhunting. Imagine going for a deer or something like that. If game is farther away than 200 yards it will become really difficult to get good measures. It measures in yards or meters.

This one has no real elevation compensation integrated. It shows you horizontal and vertical distances in different modes. This is nonetheless a great feature if you are bowhunting down from a tree stand or from a rock or something similar.

This model has a fixed magnification of 4x (multilayer coated) and a 20-millimeter objective lens. Total eye relief is 20.3 mm. This makes it easy to be used by hunters that have eye glasses.

The display is a common LCD. The Redout is black, which makes it difficult when using this one in low light situations. Apart from that little downer the display is very clearto read in daylight.

Product dimensions are 3.6 x 1.5 x 2.9 inches. Its weight is 4.8 ounces. This makes it compact and lightweight. Another good property for bowhunters and hunters.

The automatic power shut-off happens approximately after 8 seconds of inactivity. This should be enough time for the hunting crowd. Golfers might have a bit of a problem targeting the flag within that timeframe. But it can be done.

This model is rainproof. This means you can use it on rainy, foggy or snowy days without problem. You shouldn’t submerge it though, because it won’t survive that little dive.

The Limited Warranty lasts 2 years.

Operation

One thing you might notice when you put the Nikon ID 3000 up to your eye is the extremely long eye relief, it’s over three quarters of an inch (20.3 millimetres to be exact.) If you wear glasses, this is a real plus, and even if you don’t, it makes looking through the 18mm ocular quite easy.

Magnification is 4x, which is fine because the useable range is less than 300 yards, beyond that you will have trouble picking up target the size of a deer. Optics are multilayer coated, 20-millimeter objective lens for bright clear vision and the ocular comes with diopter adjustment of +/- 4 diopters.

The ID 3000 has a mode button and a power button. If you hold the power button down, the Arrow will go into scan mode for eight seconds. That’s handy for taking a bunch of ranges one after another. This is useful not only for bowhunting but also for golfing, when you want to lock onto a flag..

By default, the Nikon Arrow ID 3000 Bowhunting Rangefinder is set display horizontal distance and the angle, but you can set it to show actual distance if you prefer. Ranges are shown in yards or meters and are accurate to one yard. This one also has a target priority setting so that you can set it to choose the closest or furthest target. Choosing the furthest target is useful if you are in thick cover and the laser is likely to pick up branches and twigs between you and the target. Closest target mode is good for small game and golf flags.

This device comes with a strap and a soft neoprene case, the case might be a bit flimsy, but it keeps the noise down, which is important when you are hunting game.

Uses of the Nikon Arrow ID 3000 Bowhunting Laser Rangefinder

This model is a simple, inexpensive device that rifle shooters will find useful, but not as useful as one specifically designed for them. If all you want is horizontal distance and angle readings, or true distance readings then it may be a good match for you.

True distance and angle readings don’t appear together in the same mode, so if you were thinking of working out ballistic compensation, you will run into trouble. It doesn’t do the calculations for you either, but hey, that’s why they call it the Arrow.

The Arrow is compact and easy to use, the grip is comfortable and the unit is lightweight. The black LCD display shows distance, angle, and battery life in an easy to read format. The LCD has no backlight, so you may have trouble reading it in low light conditions or against a dark background. This may suck while bowhunting in low light situations.

For bowhunters, particularly those using a tree stand, this one was made for you. It’s quick to pick up targets and gives you the target priority options. Range is limited, but it’s enough to get the job done well. 3D archers would find it useful for practice and training.

Golfers might want to go for something with features they can use, such as pin-lock. This unit will give you your range if you set the target priority right and use scan mode, but it doesn’t pick up small targets at long distances very well because … that’s not what bow hunting’s about.

Price

Since its release in 2016, Nikon have kept the price of the Arrow ID 3000 Bowhunting Laser Rangefinder under $200. For that kind of money, it’s not a bad buy. They been making high precision optics for a long time; they have a good reputation and a two-year warranty to back it up.

Summary

The ideal situation for the Nikon Arrow ID 3000 Bowhunting Laser Rangefinder would be bowhunting on a tree stand or in steep terrain where the incline or decline can really put you out if you don’t compensate – and this one compensates well. The optics are good and the ocular is suitable for people wearing glasses.

The 4x magnification gives a wide field of view, which is a real bonus while bowhunting because you spend less time looking for game and more time looking at it. Distant target priority is a must for ranging through brush. Overall, this model is ideally suited to its narrow niche.

Thanks for reading and shoot straight!