Do You Pack a Spotting Scope?

[woodtick]

It's the West, doesn't everyone carry their spotter?? I can't leave home without it, my 15x SLC's and my Leica 10x's. Absolute must go everywhere I do, I'll leave out something less important to save the extra weight.

 

[Firefighter44]

Always! unless im hunting some thick territory I will just bring my 15x56's. I highly recommend a pair. They have really been a huge help finding game and very easy on the eyes!

 

[okielite]

+1 on high power binoculars. I switched over a few years ago and found that I really prefer using both eyes to glass.

 

[25contender]

Binos only here. Way less weight to carry around.

 

[Bitterroot Bulls]

I always have a spotter with me. Either the 50mm for solo trips with only occasional spotting, or the 85mm for glassing intensive trips.

 

[Wooly Marmot]

Not always. Spotting scopes are great for long distance, but I really like the convenience of lightweight binoculars.

 

[LaHunter]

In the area where I hunt out west, I absolutely pack my 65mm Vortex spotter. I actually find at least as many deer with my spotter as I do with my 10X binos

 

[WY ME]

I think there are guys on here that would sooner leave their sleeping bag rather than their spotter... I think it really depends on terrain and species you are hunting. In some areas your hunt would really suffer if you didn't have one.

Agreed. I wouldn't hunt antelope if I didn't have a spotting scope with me but I don't bother to bring one when I hunt whitetail. Everything else is judgement call but I never leave home without my binoculars.

 

[In God We Trust]

I always carry one. A 60 mm spotting scope doesn't weigh that much and is small enough to pack around.

 

[mtnkid85]

Once again, it depends. Mule deer yes! Elk, maybe maybe not, depending on the country they are in. If Im sleeping out to put a move on the animal then no, but if Im sleeping out just to try and locate the animal then yes. Am I targeting a specific animal or am I out to fill the freezer? ect ect.

 

[Joseph]

I don't have one so no I don't pack one with me. I would love to have a lighter packable spotter but I have a hard time trying to justify the cost. I don't get overly concerned over antler size so all I need to identify is whether or not the animal in question is legal or not, which in most cases my binoculars are adequate. If I ever get the chance to do the diy dall sheep/caribou fly in I'll make sure to either buy one or my hunting partner can pack his.

 

[MSUcat61]

The area I grew up elk hunting, it never made any sense to bring a spotter. The timber was thick and we would still hunt the timber and scattered parks. I've shot three bulls at bow range with my rifle doing this. Anything you would need a spotter for was going to be miles away and not the area we were hunting. It was just the way the terrain was setup. Plus any legal bull was getting shot so there was no judging, etc. and you could tell a legal bull with 10×42s easily. However, on my Nevada bull hunt, it wasn't even a question to bring it because of the terrain and open county type landscape. Plus I wanted to make sure I was pulling the trigger on exactly the bull I wanted. Same goes if I was antelope hunting or deer hunting in an area that I knew I could look over multiple bucks, I'd always bring one.

 

[akrem44]

If you are worried about the extra weight try and put a few more gym sessions in your schedule before you go out. You may not be cutting weight on your pack but the extra strength in your legs and back will make up for it. I carry mine all the time and now it just becomes part of my pack.

 

[sneakypete]

I always have mine in my pack, 11-33-50 vortex razor along with my Sawro 10x42's

 

[stevevan]

Yup, I always do as I consider a spotting scope to be a "must have". Usually pack my Vortex 11-33x if I plan on going any distance.