Choosing hunting optics

[Nebraska Outlander]

So I bought a Redfield Rampage a few years ago because I felt I needed a spotting scope but I don't use it no where near as I thought because I feel it's kinda awkward to carry. So now I think that a pair of 15x vortex binos might be better than a spotting scope. Yet then I think that maybe a compact 11-33x50 vortex razor spotter might be a good choice as well. FYI I do carry a 10x40 pair of binos but want something with more power while glassing for mule deer.

So my question is if you had to choose ONE glassing optic for western hunting purposes for back packing, road scouting, stand hunting, or any other style of hunting which optic would you choose.

 

[ivorytip]

spotting scopes drive me nuts but I know a majority of the guys on here wont hit the mountains without one. im happy with my 10x42 binos, I know that if I can see something to far away ill go after it and sometimes I think I have more energy than I actually do

 

[ScottR]

The trick to using a spitting scope is making sure it and a tripod are accessible. I use a spotter a TON especially for picking apart mule deer.

15x binos have their place, they do really well in the open sage type country, or South central Utah type of stuff.


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[JimP]

All I have ever used are binoculars. Currently I have a pair of 10x42's and have never felt hampered by not having a spotting scope with me. All a spotting scope would do is to add unnecessary weight to my pack.

You have to ask yourself a question, if you do spot a deer 2 miles away with that spotter are you actually going to go after him? Unless you are hunting trophy animals in the 200" range I highly doubt it. And then what are you going to do with the spotter? Leave it sitting where you are at or are you going to pack it the 2 miles with you only to find out that the deer has moved and you can't find it when you get there.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

The trick to using a spitting scope is making sure it and a tripod are accessible.


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Where can I find one of these "spitters"!!! LOL

A couple of days ago I was cleaning out a gun safe that was my Dad's. His binos were in it. There are 1950's vintage Bushnell 7x50's. Huge size and heavy as hell! I remember Dad always having them around his neck when we were deer or elk hunting. There are still crystal clear today. Technology has come a long ways.

 

[sneakypete]

I have a pair of 10x42 el and the 11x33x50 vortex spotter. I use both all the time, I do spend more time behind the bino's though, but if I need a closer look out comes the spotter. I also use the vortex high country tripod.

CC, maybe you could mount your dads bino's on the tractor to do some gentlemen farmer recon!

 

[mcseal2]

I have and use both 15x binos and a spotter. I almost always have a spotter along, how big depends on what I'm looking for and how far I'm traveling. I have a little Nikon ED50 and a Slikk Compact II tripod if I only plan on evaluating and not locating animals. It is light and the spotter is clear and very nice for its size. The tripod is just good enough to get by telling if an elk is broke up for example before hiking all the way to him. More often I take a Swaro 65 or 80mm spotter and an Outdoorsmans compact medium tripod. They are heavier but steadier, brighter, and show more detail.

The 15x binos are a great tool for locating game. I'd much rather use them than a spotter off a tripod to spend hours behind breaking apart country. The eye strain is so much less and the low light performance is great. I have the Swaro SLC 15x56 HD binos.

Packing one or the other depends on the hunt. I hunt a lot with another guy and when we do that he packs his spotter and I take my 15x binos. It works out good for both that way often, I find more game and he sizes them up.

Sometimes it's worth taking both, and I feel it's definitely worth owning both. If I could only have two pieces of glass I'd likely go with Swaro 12x50 binos I could use freehand or off the tripod and a Swaro 65mm spotter with a real good tripod and head like the Outdoorsmans set up.

If trophy hunting I feel a spotter is a great advantage. Meat hunting it's not so important, big binos to locate game are better.

 

[ScottR]

Where can I find one of these "spitters"!!! LOL

A couple of days ago I was cleaning out a gun safe that was my Dad's. His binos were in it. There are 1950's vintage Bushnell 7x50's. Huge size and heavy as hell! I remember Dad always having them around his neck when we were deer or elk hunting. There are still crystal clear today. Technology has come a long ways.

Spitters can be found in old saloon style restaurants across the west as decorations...

Spotters on the other hand can be found at your local Spirtsman's Warehouse...

That was a funny catch CC, I laughed.


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[Slugz]

NO,
We mainly elk hunt archery/muzzleloader and 1st rifle here in Colorado. 3-4 days before the opener or when a slow spell comes upon us I go to our "glassing spot" with a set of 15 x binos and a spotting scope. While hunting I have a set of 10x 42s around my neck. I will rarely pull out the spotting scope unless I need to find the animals again.

Now fast forward later in the seasons (4th/late rifle) after the animals have been bumped a few times, that same spotting scope is my mainstay mounted on my window as I cover many miles in the truck looking up in the many draws/gulches/valleys to figure where they went.

For me, if I had to have only one, I'd have a 10x42 set of binos.

 

[Alabama]

I like a spotter but if I had to choose just one, I would choose 10x42 binoculars. You can't get a lot of detail but it's great at spotting game because of the wide field of view. I wouldn't choose a 15x binocular because of the size and it's too much magnification when game animals are close.

 

[xtreme]

Will 8x 30 be the best choice in thick dark timber? My 10 x 42 seem a little two much.

 

[mntnguide]

Will 8x 30 be the best choice in thick dark timber? My 10 x 42 seem a little two much.

No!...Your 10x42 will gather more light than the 8x30s. . Take the objective/magnification...42/10=4.2; 30/8=3.75. That is their Light gathering ability. The human eye gathers light at roughly a 3.2ish....So anything over that, the binos are helping you in low light or darker areas, under than, your eyes are better than your optics. The higher that number, the better the binos will gather light in dark areas such as timber.

 

[raspy]

10x42 swaros are good. I have a vortex spotter and I would rather pick up the binocs. Way more convenient then trying to focus in on game with a spotter. I do a lot of glassing this time of the year from the pickup. Way easier getting animals in a set of binocs then trying to get the spotting scope and window mount ready.

 

[kidoggy]

All I have ever used are binoculars. Currently I have a pair of 10x42's and have never felt hampered by not having a spotting scope with me. All a spotting scope would do is to add unnecessary weight to my pack.

You have to ask yourself a question, if you do spot a deer 2 miles away with that spotter are you actually going to go after him? Unless you are hunting trophy animals in the 200" range I highly doubt it. And then what are you going to do with the spotter? Leave it sitting where you are at or are you going to pack it the 2 miles with you only to find out that the deer has moved and you can't find it when you get there.

uhm , with a spotter you don't have to walk the two miles until you are absolutely sure, it is a deer you want to go after. that is the whole point of having the spotter.I am a firm believer in letting my eyes do the walking for me.
once confirmed it is, damn right I will walk that two miles.

 

[mntnguide]

I agree with kidoggy; When i am hunting here in Region G wyoming, the last thing i want to do is spot what "could" be a great buck, but be unsure if its worth leaving my current ridge to check it out. My Vortex Razor spotter will be the first thing in my pack for all my scouting trips this summer and during the hunt. . . It definitely depends on the type of hunting your doing and the area for sure, but I 100% agree I would much rather my eyes do the walking before I load up my pack and head over to another area to chase a big buck. . and yes, when I spot a big buck, I damn sure will be walking however far I need to!! When elk hunting, i rarely pack a spotter unless it is big country that it is very helpful in, but with trophy mule deer, I think it is one of the most vital pieces of equipment you can have along with your binos

 

[Slugz]

Here is a plug to reference MCSeals post on optics/reviews he has done. He accumulated a ton of info and a review of his posts taught me a bunch.

 

[NE69]

The type of terrain in most of the areas I prefer to hunt makes the spotter a great help. Usually very long distance I'm spotting at and with the wide open areas I want to keep far enough away the deer will not be concerned by my presence. Spotting at several miles demands the spotter. I use the binos constantly, but the spotter gives the details. Once a buck is alerted to your presence even from more than a mile away, it's almost impossible to get in for the bow shot. On a good air morning, I might be looking at deer from more than 3 miles away.

 

[ivorytip]

there have been times where ive glassed a nice buck with my binos, and could tell it was a nice but but was wishing I had a good spotter with me to know what all I was seeing

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

CC, maybe you could mount your dads bino's on the tractor to do some gentlemen farmer recon!

I could hard mount them on a pedestal, mount a Barrett .50 cal on the engine cover and them go shoot prairie dogs!!

 

[kidoggy]

LOL. NOW THERE'S AN IDEA Worth pondering.