Effective Glassing Range

[txhtr333]

Would like to hear some opinions on what most would consider to be effective glassing range for deer and elk? I know, it depends on a lot of variables, but for the sake of arguement, let's say we are talking about a high vantage point with fairly open terrain, clear weather, a quality 20-60x scope.
Just doing my escouting and trying to find the best glassing points to look into my targeted areas. My goal is to cover the most ground possible on my scouting days, so this would lend itself to stretching my glassing points out as far as possible so as to have the widest viewing range and be able to make the most efficient use of my time to get a good lay of the land. I'm not trying to score bulls down to the inch through this glassing, just using it to try to locate elk to put my gameplan together for my actual hunt days. I have some glassing spots that are up to 3 miles away from the basins that I'm wanting to look into, would you guys say that is within effective range given a good 20-60x piece of glass?

 

[nv-hunter]

We find elk and deer that far and further can usually till bulls at that range and a few bucks but not any size. Bere in nevada we tend to glass from the flat towards the top.

 

[Tim McCoy]

... I have some glassing spots that are up to 3 miles away from the basins that I'm wanting to look into, would you guys say that is within effective range given a good 20-60x piece of glass?

Since you are not counting inches, yes.

 

[ando_31]

3 miles is doable if the animal is moving around or at least in the wide open. When looking for bedded animals, I feel you'll have to be a lot closer (depends a lot on cover availability). Obviously there is a big difference between having the whole animal in sight or just a patch of fur/antler outline. Your 3 miles glassing points probably won't be as productive in the middle of the day.

 

[txhtr333]

3 miles is doable if the animal is moving around or at least in the wide open. When looking for bedded animals, I feel you'll have to be a lot closer (depends a lot on cover availability). Obviously there is a big difference between having the whole animal in sight or just a patch of fur/antler outline. Your 3 miles glassing points probably won't be as productive in the middle of the day.

This is actually a Late Season(December) hunt, with a good amount of snow on the ground to be expected, so I think this will cut down on a lot of that midday bedding

 

[Slugz]

You are right in there WRT the range. Those later hunts you are also gonna be able to see the large number of tracks in the snow in their feeding areas....most likley. WRT the bedding, they still will bed down, just not in the deep dark stuff. They will be somewhere comfortable, within range of just getting up and eating good forage.

 

[txhtr333]

You are right in there WRT the range. Those later hunts you are also gonna be able to see the large number of tracks in the snow in their feeding areas....most likley. WRT the bedding, they still will bed down, just not in the deep dark stuff. They will be somewhere comfortable, within range of just getting up and eating good forage.

Forgive me, what is WRT?

 

[Slugz]

With regards to. .....sorry I probably shouldn't shorten stuff��

 

[Ikeepitcold]

2 miles I think you can get a good idea on what the animal is. Even at 3 miles, but to get down to inches I need to get to less then a mile.

 

[ScottR]

1. When scouting for deer always pick the same travel routes and once in the country be religious about using them to move from glassing point to glassing point.

2. From any given glassing point you are likely only looking at most 60% of the real estate, moving to other points to find more deer will be a necessity.

3. Don't worry about the distance you plan to glass. You can always move closer for a better view, see point 1.

 

[Ikeepitcold]

Great advice Scott.