Spotting scope vs. high-power binoculars

[Daubs]

Hunting the Sandhills of Nebraska. Have good set of Cabela's 8x42 nocs...want to add more viewing power.

Spotting scope or high powered nocs (combined with tripod).

It's public area and weight will be an issues.

Thanks, D.

 

[Tristate]

Once you really get good at glassing you will see the great benefit to glassing is the distance advantage you can take in your hunting. You can really start watching and hunting game from distances over a mile. You can control your scent and take some pressure off of your quarry while also covering more ground with your eyes than you can with your feet. For me 8X binoculars aren't enough to effectively glass a lot of country.

One thing you might be able to do is compromise between the two by moving up to a pair of 15X binocs set on a tripod.

Good luck out there.

 

[WestNDMuleys]

LAST EDITED ON Aug-10-16 AT 03:45PM (MST)[p]If you are going to be spending long days spotting then the 15X binocs are easy on the eyes as you can have both eyes open vs. always having to close one eye while using a spotting scope. I prefer a spotting scope as I can have no issue at spotting deer and getting a great look at it from a ways away.

 

[fortheloveofthewild]

Why not get both?
A good pair of 15x. and a good spotting scope.

-"mello"

 

[DreaminOf200]

15x binos on tripod and the Kuiu bino harness are the only way to go. Bought both a few years ago and it's possibly the best hunting purchase I've ever made.

 

[YBO]

15x will change the way you hunt in a very positive way. I've been using 15x's for 25 years and ironically my trophy room has seen bigger and bigger animals. You won't regret it!

 

[Daubs]

>15x will change the way you
>hunt in a very positive
>way. I've been using 15x's
>for 25 years and ironically
>my trophy room has seen
>bigger and bigger animals. You
>won't regret it!

Thanks all. Cabela's has Outfitter Series 12x50 nocs on sale for $299. I already have Outfitter 8x42's and like them very much.

Thoughts?

 

[tagsoup]

I'm not a big fan of 15x bino's. I like my 10x el's on a tripod combined with a 25x wide view spotting scope. If you can look through a spotting scope with both eyes open then a 25x wide view spotter is a lot nicer to use than 15x bino's.

"Go hunt for meat at Walmart."

 

[Deerlove]

If your looking at miles of terrain in low country 15s are great. High country back packing is a diff story.

 

[Daubs]

>If your looking at miles of
>terrain in low country 15s
>are great. High country back
>packing is a diff story.
>

I'm hunting Sandhills of Nebraska...

 

[Vanilla]

Regarding weight being an issue: 15x binos with a tripod aren't that much lighter than a spotter and a tripod.

Most people that have high powered binos really like them. I wouldn't trade them for my spotter, though. You already have binos. Get a spotter to get out beyond where your binos will take you.

 

[Daubs]

>Regarding weight being an issue: 15x
>binos with a tripod aren't
>that much lighter than a
>spotter and a tripod.
>
>Most people that have high powered
>binos really like them. I
>wouldn't trade them for my
>spotter, though. You already have
>binos. Get a spotter to
>get out beyond where your
>binos will take you.

Last time I had spotting scope in field, struggled with eye strain. And then used my 8x42's the rest of the day. I'd get spotter if it was really something I needed, but after reading this thread, and other threads on other sites, i think the way for me is high power Nocs. Thanks all!

 

[WiscoKid]

I'm sure by now you've made your decision, but in areas like the sandhills and where I've hunted in South Dakota, binos are so much more convenient than a spotting scope. Unless you have to get an incredible look at a deer to decide if hes 180 or 190, binoculars are plenty good for finding deer there.

I have 10x Vortex and they have served me quite well, but 12 or 15x would be nice at times.

I'd actually love to pick your brain, Doug. I believe I sent you a facebook friend request.