Spotting Scope or Binoculars ? If you had to choose .......
- Thread starter BradLantz
- Start date
Carry both leave something else at home. I have been packing a spotting scope for 30 years wouldn't leave the truck without one. With the light weight ones now available no reason to go without one.When you see those deer out there a couple of miles, you can tell if they are worth going after. A good spotter will save you many miles of walking.
FamilyMan
Very Active Member
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- 1,525
If you can carry only one, make it the binos.
You will find that you are glassing almost constantly. This is far more practical to do with binos than with a spotting scope. With the binos you simply pull them up and look at what interests you and then move on. With the scope you would have to sit down, attach the tripod, get back up, pack back up, and then move on. I think you can see what I mean.
That said, I would carry both if that is an option. I have been carrying both for almost ten years now. I don't see many others doing it. Advantages include having the magnification necessary to make out the quality of a far off rack and providing a diversion when things get slow in the middle of the day. I have even used the tripod as a field rest for shooting on more than one occasion.
Good luck on your hunt next year.
Mark
You will find that you are glassing almost constantly. This is far more practical to do with binos than with a spotting scope. With the binos you simply pull them up and look at what interests you and then move on. With the scope you would have to sit down, attach the tripod, get back up, pack back up, and then move on. I think you can see what I mean.
That said, I would carry both if that is an option. I have been carrying both for almost ten years now. I don't see many others doing it. Advantages include having the magnification necessary to make out the quality of a far off rack and providing a diversion when things get slow in the middle of the day. I have even used the tripod as a field rest for shooting on more than one occasion.
Good luck on your hunt next year.
Mark
well guys, I bought a 15x40-60 Leupold Gold Ring the other day and its sure shaky on the 40X without a tripod. If I take it, I'll have to take a tripod with me. And I don't have bino's, so I was thinking maybe it would be better to sell this spotting scope and buy a good pair of binoculars.
I'm from Arkansas, and am not use to sitting and spotting as my means of hunting. How well I'll do at that is yet to be seen.
Thanks for the replies
I'm from Arkansas, and am not use to sitting and spotting as my means of hunting. How well I'll do at that is yet to be seen.
Thanks for the replies
It's funny that you ask this question. I personally debated very seriously on leaving my binoculars in the truck almost every time I hiked into the high country in WY last year. I found that I used my spotting scope 80% of the time to glass things anyway. Like was said before I would carry both but if I absolutely had to choose just one it would be the spotting scope for me in the high country. Make sure it's a good high quality spotting scope too so you can use it for extended periods without straining your eyes.
Good luck,
NvrEnuf
Good luck,
NvrEnuf
I would take the bino's if I (had) no way of taking both.
The problem with bino's though is that if you spot what looks like a good buck at long range you are gonna have to hike over to get a better look every time.
I made that mistake myself this past year and hiked a mile straight up timberline to find out I was looking at a freak 2x2 thick 28" buck with eyeguards that I did not want.
Never again.
Best,
Jerry
The problem with bino's though is that if you spot what looks like a good buck at long range you are gonna have to hike over to get a better look every time.
I made that mistake myself this past year and hiked a mile straight up timberline to find out I was looking at a freak 2x2 thick 28" buck with eyeguards that I did not want.
Never again.
Best,
Jerry
S
Shane
Guest
You have to have a spotting scope if you are hunting the high country. I have Swarovski bino's and I still can't tell if its a buck or not in low light elevations with darker backgrounds at anything over 1500 hundreds. Get them in snow or yellow grass they will stand out like a soar thumb but not in darker backgrounds. I have left my spotting scope in the truck and have regretted it several times. One time I left it behind and looked at a buck for thirty minutes at first light before I could tell it was a buck. In my bino's I could just barely see motion on either side of his head when he was feeding. I decided to take a closer look because the motion seemed beyond his ears quite a ways. I made a sneak and it ended up being a 28" four point with a six inch drop tine on one side. I didn't get an arrow in him but it got the blood pumping. Thats my two cents.
Shane
Shane
M
motohunter
Guest
I hunted the high country of Colo. last year and you need big optics. I would never go out without my spotting scope and binos. For only one take good binos. You can't put a spotting scope on something until you find it. The ultimate binos are the Leica 10+15. 10 power for quick glassing and 15 for sitting down with the tripod which you should spend 90% of your time doing. Good luck and have fun in that awesome country. Make sure to get in shape!
C
Canyonroad
Guest
I bought a doubler for my Swarovski binoculars and it worked out well this year. I left the tripod and scope behind and although it is nice to have both, when you're trying to save weight something has to go. I weighed my bino's and doubler and if memory serves I 31 ounces, or just under 2lbs.
On another note; the country you hunt may dictate your optics needs. Thoses high elevation basins in Wyoming necessitate more magnification, whereas deep, timbered canyons a greater field of view is nice. I believe that spotting scopes are great but at magnification over 25x heat wave distortion reduces the detail out of the image so you may hiking to get closer anyway.
On another note; the country you hunt may dictate your optics needs. Thoses high elevation basins in Wyoming necessitate more magnification, whereas deep, timbered canyons a greater field of view is nice. I believe that spotting scopes are great but at magnification over 25x heat wave distortion reduces the detail out of the image so you may hiking to get closer anyway.
D
DeerKing
Guest
I'd leave something else behind besides your binoculars or spotting scope. Both are very important when hunting the timberline country and I couldn't do without either.
AntlerQuest Hunt Consulting
AntlerQuest Hunt Consulting
soooooooooo
Keep the spotting scope, get set of binoculars too and learn the art of looking through glasses most of the day huh ? Okay, will do - thanks for the input.
I'll be in very good shape - and will likely be hunting tough, rugged, high country. I've talked a lot with DeerKing and Antlerquest will hopefully make a big differnce. I'm using 8 PP's - and I've waited a long time to use them for a big mule deer hunt.
I'm experienced enough with hunting with the exception of glassing - thats something I've never had to do. Other than that, the physical aspect, the camping, the hunting etc I'll be ready for and know how to do it.
Keep the spotting scope, get set of binoculars too and learn the art of looking through glasses most of the day huh ? Okay, will do - thanks for the input.
I'll be in very good shape - and will likely be hunting tough, rugged, high country. I've talked a lot with DeerKing and Antlerquest will hopefully make a big differnce. I'm using 8 PP's - and I've waited a long time to use them for a big mule deer hunt.
I'm experienced enough with hunting with the exception of glassing - thats something I've never had to do. Other than that, the physical aspect, the camping, the hunting etc I'll be ready for and know how to do it.
L
ltcksc
Guest
Swarovski 15x56 SLC binoculars period! I personally own all of the optics mentioned on this thread and other similar ones and when it comes down to packing my pack for a 7 hour vertical hike I always end up bringing them along. I have never regreted it. they are heavier and more bulky than any of my 10-40 class binoculars but not too heavy. They can be comfortably used from a seated position without a tripod although I agree that the combination of a bogen pistol grip and tripod are more ideal. They have enough magnification to let you see detail that is critical for fine tuning the score prior to pulling the trigger and don't suffer heat wave distortion. I have not found a doubler to be useful or necessary. They are tough as nails and are lifetime warrantied. Well worth the money and extra weight.
fatrooster
Long Time Member
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- 4,187
If I could only have the scope or the binocs then I would choose a high quality pair of binocs. You can put the binocs on a tripod and do some quality spotting and you can use them on a stalk. So you have two uses with the binoculars. The spotting scope is only effective as a spotter. If you see something with your binocs and you can't tell what it is exactly then you'll just have to get closer. I also owne the 15 x 56 swarovskis and the 10 x 42 el swarovskis. If I had to choose one pair of binoculars to use then I would choose the 10 x 42's. And I would still use it on a tripod. But in a perfect world I want my binoculars AND my spotting scope. That spotter saves wear and tear on your body not to mention time. fatrooster.
woodruffhunter
Long Time Member
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- 3,675
Thanks for posting a great question. I would lean towards the binoculars. However, I did buy a Swarovski Spotting Scope last fall and found it to be a great asset.
However, when I looked at differant tripods I found that the light weight tripods didn't seem to work that great. Therefore, I went with a swarovski tripod that works great but is also quite heavy to carry around the mountains.
Should I have went with one of the compact Spotters (Leica/Zeissx) or can you recommend a 'pack' tripod that works good for you? I hope these questions don't take away the main intent of a great thread.
Thanks,
Jason
However, when I looked at differant tripods I found that the light weight tripods didn't seem to work that great. Therefore, I went with a swarovski tripod that works great but is also quite heavy to carry around the mountains.
Should I have went with one of the compact Spotters (Leica/Zeissx) or can you recommend a 'pack' tripod that works good for you? I hope these questions don't take away the main intent of a great thread.
Thanks,
Jason
I would recommend both if you can! But I would not leave your spotting scope if you are scouting or hunting areas that have more than 400 yards of shooting distance. I remember two years ago looking through my spotting scope and finding 2 bucks that were decent and decided not to go after them, but through the corner of my scope I spotted horns move and after 15 minutes of thoroughly scanning in a 50 yard area I found 14 bucks and 4 of the 14 were huge, now I didnt harvest a buck that year but I sure wouldn't of seen them if I didnt have the spotting scope!
I went back this year and same spot same situation saw 4 bucks instead of 14 but they were impossible to see with binos and they were only 400 yards away across a canyon.
I went back this year and same spot same situation saw 4 bucks instead of 14 but they were impossible to see with binos and they were only 400 yards away across a canyon.
C
cpugsie
Guest
I have Swarovski 10x42's, 15x56's and a Leupold 12-45x60 spoting scope. I would probably choose (if I had to) the 15x56's with my light weight Slik Carbon fiber 713 tripod. I've searched long and hard for a stable/light weight/semi-resonably priced ($249) tripod and have purchased the Slik 713 pro. It's not quite as stable as my Bogen but does an excellent job. It weighs 2.7 lbs and extends higher than my Bogen 3001. Alot of my friends that I've turned on to this tripod like it very much.
Just my 2 cents worth.
Carl
Just my 2 cents worth.
Carl
