Help me gear up....Topic 4...OPTICS

[bald9eagle]

I don't own a pair of binos. Don't have a need in a 100 yard opening in a pine thicket. For that same reason I don't have a spotting scope. I recently bought a good rangefinder....don't know why I never owned one before. Another simple question here....

Bino magnification
Spotting scope magnification

I can buy a cheap spotting scope off craigslist knowing that I may only use it on two trips. For me I don't want to invest 500+ bucks in a piece of equipment when a cheaper version can get the job done. Same with binos.

[shaneatkinson82]

Following this thread because I am in the market too. I have read that for binos 10x42 is the way to go and with spotting scopes something in the 60-65mm range is best.
Looking to see if the more experienced guys can agree or disagree with what I have read.

[ishy]

All else being equal 10x42 are good, 8x42 or 10x50 will gather a little more light. You divide the diameter by the power and five is about all our eyes are good for so beyond 5 it does no good.

[Brendan]

Depends where you hunt. I used my binoculars very little in 11 days in Montana, no need for a spotting scope where I hunted. In that area in the future I'll be bringing lightweight 10x30's, selling my 8x42, no spotting scope.

But, in other areas I'd supplement that with a tripod and my 65mm spotter (Vortex) and in more open country - I might want bigger binocs too.

[pointysticks]

i kinda made a minor mistake.

i jumped at the opp to buy some high end 10x50's for less than the same 10x42 price. they mis-marked the price and told me they would honor it. i love them!! bright. but a bit heavy and big. i think the average size of a pair of 10x42 is just about perfect. live and learn. unless i grow another kidney to replace the one i sold to buy these damn things. a new pair aint gonna happen.

i use them all the time!! even hunting brushy texas, i use them. if the landowner tells you can take a buck if it has so many points and no browtines..believe me, a pair of binos will save your butt. half of my friends couldnt shoot with confidence and didnt take any shots because they couldnt pick out antler details in the shrubs..even at relatively close distances. bigtime problem with low light.

in AZ. i'll be there again in a few days. i have the binos up to my face almost the entire time i am sitting. i would go home if i forgot my glass. they are that important.

[zpd307]

I made a point to use my binos in the thick timber this last year. you know what, I saw a lot more bulls because of it. they are always around my neck now. I bought a pair of medium level leuopold binos for my first hunt 3 years ago. I forget what power they are.

[Brendan]

Don't want to clutter the thread - but any Elknuts interested in a set of really compact Leupolds (Forget magnification) or a set of Zen Ray ED 8x43 - please PM directly. They're going in the classifieds soon anyways - I have a new set of Swaro's on the way.

To ZPD's point - I earned myself a shot at a bull one of the few times I was using my binocs in timber this year. Spotted the elbow of a rear leg, waited until I saw it move. Stalked in, and blew a 42 yard shot, sending it right over his back

[Fridaythe13th]

Optics are easy.... YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR. The more you spend the better the optics. I would rather own 1 pair of good bino's than a crappy spotting scope and bino's. Put a max $ limit on bino's and shop around. I own Burris signature series 10x42 but have been looking at the Vortex viper 10x42 that Paul is selling.
In my opinion spotting scope are for seeing how big a bull is at long ranges. and I don't care how big it is I'm just trying to fill the freezer.

[Indian Summer]

[quote="zpd307"]I made a point to use my binos in the thick timber this last year. you know what, I saw a lot more bulls because of it. quote]

Quote of the day! So next time you are sitting in that 100 yard opening without them think about what didn't walk into the opening because it saw you scratch your nose not knowing it was watching. Binos are priceless. They are NOT only for open country. The rule of thumb with any gear is buy the best you can afford so you aren't shopping for new ones in a year or two. 10X42 are an excellent choice. Even in timbered elk country there will be times where you peek across at longer distances. if you knew for 100% sure you were never leaving the timber I'd say ok go with 8X30s. But remember... we all move around over the years. Elk country is big. You'll never regret buying the 10X42s.

Do not buy a spotting scope right now Baldy. You'll have enough to carry. Plus you'll be able to see elk with 10X42 binos. Like Friday just said: At your stage of the game it's not important whether or not it's a wallhanger because they are all wallhangers right now. Just go hunt. If you eventually find somewhere to call home and it is open enough for you to benefit by owning a spotting scope contact Elknut and buy .... no "invest" in a good Vortex and don't look back. With an el cheapo you'll probably look back more than forward.

I use Swarovski everything except my rangefinder which is a Leica. I would never leave home without my binos. In Wyoming I use my 20-60 power spotting scope every day. I don't even take it when I go to Montana. Slow down a little. Learn a little about your hunting preferences and the areas you'll be hunting. Then make your decisions based on some of your own experiences as well as those of others.

Good luck!

[pointysticks]

In my opinion spotting scope are for seeing how big a bull is at long ranges. and I don't care how big it is I'm just trying to fill the freezer.

for the most part, yes. i spent way too much time and way too many boot miles putting awesome stalks on doe. in a non-doe hunting area.
i love my spotting scope to check for legality. i find the "Brown spots" with the binos, and then out comes the spotting scope to look for any hint of antlers.

i've actually gotten awful effective at sitting behind my spotting scope on the lowest power and using the pan head to check every bush and rock on hillsides. i am finally approaching my brother's level of initial animal sightings. i used to suck!!

but i honestly think it is the tripod.

[shaneatkinson82]

Ok, so far I am seeing 10x42 IS the size to research. I read a lot about Vortex. On here I see "contact ElkNut" being new to this forum is he the big distributor for the site? Are his prices better then anywhere else?

Would love to get into owning Vortex optics but can only afford binos right now....or at least I have prioritized my optics to binos first.

[bald9eagle]

What I've seen....the prices for the Vortex are the same everywhere. I would suggest buying them from Paul just to support him rather than a big box store.

[shaneatkinson82]

Coming back here after much research. I have looked into the Vortex optics. Thanks to y'all I think that is a brand I can get behind. As I get older I realize spending more money on something with a great warranty is the way to go.

Now, here is where my confusion starts. I've never owned a good set of glass on anything. Maybe I have one scope that is considered great for the gun it is on. So, when I went to research 10x42 on the Vortex site I thought that would be easy. But, there are so many 10x42 options witht he Vortex's. Where do I start? What am I looking for in options? Things like fully coated vs multi coated, locking eye cups, etc. I know the more money is better but there has to be a middle ground of great options that work that are equal to or close to the highest end. Any help is appreciated.

[Rizzy]

FWIW, I would highly recommend a pair of 8X42 Binos for these Rut hunts. You will be creeping through the timber looking for the Bull that answered your call or a Bull that is coming into your call. They come in silent and can see through the timber a lot better than a human can. You want to constantly be looking through your Binos when your hunting so you can see them first, your success is highly dependent on seeing them first. Just about every situation I have stumbled across and jumped an Elk or Deer could have been prevented by seeing them first.

I have both 8X42 and 10X42 binos. I take the 10x when scouting and the 8X when hunting and sometimes scouting. Overall I'm useing my 10X less and less. The 8x42 are a lot lighter than the 10X, easier to hold steady, have less shake in the FOV, and more light gathering capability. Holding steady, minimal shake, and light gathering is important when the Elk is stationary in the dark timber, especially when you are not in the dark timber but are trying to look into the dark timber. In my opinion and experience the extra 2X of magnification doesn't provide enough gain in spotting animals in a still hunting situation like rut Elk hunts. However the gain in minimal shake, light gathering, and overall weight savings I notice, especially on a Backpack hunt and scouting trips deep in the wilderness or high on the mountain.

Even on a tripod and in big country, I don't feel I lose a whole lot with the 8X, but I do gain in the low light and weight. Typically I use binos to look for feeding animals that are out and moving around. I switch over to the spotter to get a closer look or pics when I'm scouting or judge the animal when I'm selectively hunting. I use the spotter exclusively for long distances or bedded animals. Granted this is more of a scouting scenario before the rut, or a hunting scenario after the rut. I would say in this context I use my spotter more and binos less. If you learn how to look through your spotter with both eyes open it's a lot more comfortable. Learning to do this has opened new doors for me, I can sit and scan with the spotter on it's lowest setting which is a big jump from the 10X binos. Where the spotter falls short is in depth perception and this makes a big difference sometimes.

I never take my spotting scope or tripod on the rut hunts, and usually don't even take them on the rifle hunts either. With the rut hunt, it's a calling and still hunting game. With the rifle hunts, I already scouted the area and I am not usually trophy hunting anyways. Elk are big, have big antlers, and feed out in the open most of the time. My 8x are enough to see what I need to in a lot of situations.

[Huntrgathr]

If you want the short answer - Viper 10x42's. It will be after quite a few years of hunting that you decide you want to upgrade. If you get less than the vipers you'll be wanting to upgrade in the first couple years....

Those 10x42's will do anything you need them to regardless of timber density. Forget about the spotter until you know what country you are going to be hunting. And if you're not "counting inches" you might never need a spotter...

[Indian Summer]

^^^^

Yep... what he just said. If and when you ever do need a spotter a cheap one will be useless. To me they are like um.... parachutes. You either want one that works for sure or you're better off not owning one at all.

[chipick]

I have a pair of 8x42 monarch 5. I wanted to get 10x42 but have heard that you will see Mirage/heat ripples at longer distances, not sure for sure I ain't looked through bigger but have looked through cheeper