b2ap3_thumbnail_DSC00516-compressed.jpg

Getting back to hunting big mule deer, I’ll continue the review of my personal optics package.

If you missed my post on the number one technique to kill big mule deer, see Killing Big Mule Deer: Glassing.  There, I make a case for the first optic in my set, a low-power binocular.  Let’s discuss my second optic here.

In the early season, before the freezing temps and snow hits, I glass more.  This is for several reasons:

1) The big bucks are typically in the more open country and are easier to spot.

2) I can sit longer without moving due to the warmer temps.

b2ap3_thumbnail_DSC00516-compressed.jpg 

 

During this time, I find a high-power (15X-20X) tripod mounted binocular very valuable.  I started messing around with high-power binoculars over 20 years ago. My dad had an off-brand set.  While they were barely tolerable, I discovered the advantages of glassing with both eyes open.  Not coincidentally, I killed my widest buck to date after spotting him at three miles one early October day with a pair of 16X50 tripod mounted binoculars.

 

b2ap3_thumbnail_36-inch-Idaho-Buck.jpg

With a good pair, I can really take apart the country from short-rifle range to five miles, comfortably.  Being able to glass without eyestrain will lead to longer glassing sessions and more bucks spotted. While high-quality spotting scopes like my Swarovski CTC 75 are excellent optics, by design you’re forced to glass through one eye, which is not the way God wired your brain.  You’ll spot more bucks with both eyes open.  If I’m limited by weight or space, I’ll take only the spotting scope, but if I can bring both, it’s like having and eating my favorite cake (Jodi’s cherry-chocolate for the record).

I found out about the newly released Vortex Vulture HD 15×56 Binoculars at the Salt Lake Expo.  While Vortex has gained a pile of believers with their Kaibab 15×56 Binoculars, they wanted to offer a less-expensive option for the hunters who just couldn’t justify the investment in the Kaibabs (they take you north of a $1,000).

b2ap3_thumbnail_Vortex-1.jpgb2ap3_thumbnail_Vortex-2.jpg

The Vultures have all the same features as the Kaibabs:

  • Armor Tek anti-scratch lens coating
  • HD glass (high-density low dispersion glass for resolution and color fidelity)
  • XR anti-reflective coatings for high resolution and light transmission
  • Fog proof and waterproof performance via argon gas purging
  • The best warranty in the business- no questions full-replacement for any reason

I tried the Vultures and the Kaibabs side-by-side indoors, but couldn’t see the difference.  I arranged to try a pair in the field.  At around half the price of the Kaibabs, if the Vultures did the job, myself and a bunch of you might become fans.  Mark Boardman of Vortex sent me a pair in late spring.  I’ve got about five solid hours looking through them at all hours of the day at distances of 50 yards to several miles.  

My take so far?  They are a good pair of glass for the money.  While I could make myself sound really smart talking about chromatic aberration, contrast, resolution, and the like, all this deer hunter can really say is what my eyes like and what works in the field. These Vultures certainly do all that and more.  I’ll prove it by relying on them for all my early seasons hunts this year (keep reading, you might be taking these on your hunts next year.) 

Vortex is letting me give these Vortex Vulture HD 15×56 Binoculars away!  Facebook haters can unite—this is not a Facebook giveaway! (told you all I had a few of these in the works.)

Here are the rules:

1) If you’re not already a Rokslide member, go to our forum page and become a member by registering at the top of the page

2) Subscribe to the Rok Blog (upper right at “Subscribe to blog” under Fitness/Other links)

3) Follow the Live Hunts (to be announced) AND post at least one comment during any of the Live Hunts (make fun of my hair, ask questions, whatever, we just want to hear from you.)

I’ll announce the giveaway sometime in November (subscribers will get email notification when I post)

Since we’re talking about glassing, check out my my latest article on Roklide’s home page (it was a little long for the Rok Blog) here: Top 10 Glassing Mistakes

You might spot a few more bucks if you keep those 10 tips in mind.  

 

Previous articleTight Spot Quiver (you can win it, too!)
Next articleTop 10 Glassing Mistakes
Robby Denning
Robby Denning
Robby Denning started hunting mule deer in the late 1970’s, only missing one season in 35 years. At 25, he gave up the pursuit of all other big-game to focus on taking the best bucks possible. He began hunting the West on a DIY budget hunting an average of 30 days a year for mule deer. Robby loves the hunt as much as the kill and the entire process from research to scouting to hunting. He’s killed four bucks over 200 inches in the last 15 seasons, mostly on easily-obtained tags. He owns a public-land scouting service and runs a private-land outfitting business helping other hunters in their pursuit of deer and elk. Robby has scouted and hunted literally thousands of square miles of mule deer country and brings a wealth of knowledge about these experiences with him. To him, the weapon of choice is just a means-to-an-end and will hunt with bow, rifle, or muzzleloader – whatever it takes to create an opportunity to take a great mule deer. He is also the author of "Hunting Big Mule Deer" available on Amazon. Robby believes all of creation is from God for man to manage, respect, and through which to know its Creator

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

26 COMMENTS

  1. Just curious if the weight is the same between the new Vultures and the Kaibabs? I have a Vortex spotter that I love and a decent 10x pair of binocs, but no big pair of binocs. I will have to check out the new offering from Vortex

  5. Dosh Garn it Robbie, I had just made up my mind on getting the RAZOR HD 11-33X50 SPOTTING SCOPE now you have me questioning that decision. What is a guy to do? I am looking forward to reading more on this subject.

  6. Hi Bruce, well you’re going to need a spotting scope anyway, so get it. Besides, you’re a lucky guy and you might win these Vultures. Although I’m reviewing my optics package in order of low power binos, high power binos, then spotting scope, if I could only choose two of them, I’d go with the low power binos & the spotting scope then add the high power binos down the road.

  8. Thank you Robbie, yes I have been blessed this year with winning stuff. I have been able to win a few things I can give to my 4-H kids as well. I am going to try to sell my Vortex Sky Line HD, and use the money to help purchase the small scope. I hope you have a great time scouting and spending time with your family. I am keeping Y’all in my prayers.

  10. Robby nice review, I get the usefulness of having binos and a spotting scope on a hunt. But I think for me it would be weird having a 8x or 10x around my neck and another bino in my pack. Do I need to rethink this?

  11. John, you ask a good question. As I said in the review, if I’m limited by weight or space, I only take the spotting scope and I’ll often put my lower-power bino on a tripod. However, if I’m somewhere I can see a ton of country, I would much rather have those 15x. I’ll glass longer, better, and more comfortably. Usually I spot more bucks. Try putting your 8x on a tripod and you’ll see how much more effective they are. Now imagine twice that power.

  12. I have been looking hard at getting some high powered bino’s. I have a angles spotter and after looking through it for an hour or so my neck and eyes are killing me. I would much rather be able to use bino’s to do that work.

  14. Hey Robby! Great write up. I really like the Kaibabs I tried at a show, and have kind of wanted to try them out in a hunting situation but didn’t want to make the investment before being sure I would use them. The new Vortex offering might be a solution. They sound good. Would love to use a pair on my AZ Muley hunt with my son this year… I may have to see if Sportsmans here locally has them i could look through.

  15. Hey Robby, if the weight is that similar to the kaibab, what is the real difference between these?

  16. William, when I talked to Vortex it came down to the quality and specs of the glass used. Obviously to offer them for less $, something had to give. I can’t compare the two side-by-side in hunting situations so all I can offer is what I wrote- they are good glass for the money and is why I’m trusting my hunts to them for 2014. Like all glass, if you can afford more, buy it. If you can’t then these Vultures may do the trick for you.

  22. Mathew posted a question but it showed up in the wrong post, so I’ll post it here and answer.

    “Hey Robby,
    Is there anything out there you would recommend even if its more money, that has greater magnification than the nice vortex binoculars you wrote about but is still a binocular and can be used for glassing?”

    Hi Matthew, I assume you meant to post this in the Vortex 15×56 bino thread? I’ll answer here and on that blog post located here:. Vortex also makes a 20X bino in their Kaibab Line. I haven’t used them, but based on the good experience I’m having with these Vultures, I’d feel good about recommending them. Remember though, that by going to 20x, you’re losing a little bit of light-gathering ability as they did not increase the objective lens size along with the magnification. Here is their link: http://www.vortexoptics.com/category/kaibab_binoculars

    You asked about using them for glassing? I think you meant without a tripod? No, you won’t want to use these without a tripod. Too much magnification for that.

Comments are closed.