Affordable spotter (<$1k)

[CMF]

Any other year, I'd be willing to bite the bullet and invest in something great for a hunt like this, but this year we're starting construction on a new house, and I can't drop several thousand on a spotter.
Hunting Archery Bighorn in CO in Aug.
I tried some cheap scopes from amazon($150-250) years ago when I started elk hunting, but they weren't any better than bino's.

What's some recommendations for the minimum spotting scopes I should look at?

Is there a scope worth considering for under $1k(preferably less)?

 

[wesfromky]

I really liked my Maven CS.1A, enough to upgrade to the CS.2A, so listing it in the classifieds. It's a nice compact scope with pretty clear glass.

 

[Cannonball]

Vortex Optics average savings of 36% at Sierra

Great Deals on 47 styles of Vortex Optics at Sierra. Celebrating 30 Years Of Exploring.

www.sierra.com

 

[fmyth]

Vortex Razor Gen 1 65 or 80. I picked up my Gen 1 65mm for under $500 new. Sportmans Warehouse has both the 65 and 80 on sale a couple times a year. Another option would be an Athlon Ares but I think they are slightly heavier.

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

Guided or DIY? What is a legal ram on the hunt? What are the plans to confirm legality? These things matter.

Don't need much quality if it is guided and the guide is on the hook to say legal or not; hopefully the contract puts the burden on the guide and not you. Don't need much quality if the definition of a legal ram is "has testicles".

Borrow or rent alpha glass.

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

I’d borrow or rent. Another option is the Kowa 553, there are several in the classifieds for $1000 or right under. The eye relief isn’t great for true “glassing” but it’s great glass for confirming what you are looking at. Lightweight as well.

 

[BigAl!]

Check out Athles Ares or a Cabelas Krotos. Way under budget and still really good for the $

 

[CMF]

Guided or DIY? What is a legal ram on the hunt? What are the plans to confirm legality? These things matter.

Don't need much quality if it is guided and the guide is on the hook to say legal or not; hopefully the contract puts the burden on the guide and not you. Don't need much quality if the definition of a legal ram is "has testicles".

Borrow or rent alpha glass.

DIY
Half curl is legal

 

[CMF]

I’d borrow or rent.

I considered renting, but I plan to arrive a week or two early and stay the entire season(Aug 1- 31) if necessary. The rentals I've looked at for that duration don't make sense.

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

I considered renting, but I plan to arrive a week or two early and stay the entire season(Aug 1- 31) if necessary. The rentals I've looked at for that duration don't make sense.

If I didn’t have 2 hunts during that time where I needed mine I’d send it your way. Maybe someone else will reach out. Looking forward to the hunt updates.

 

[spottedbass]

Buy the very best you can afford and then some buy once cry once.

 

[Gila]

I really liked my Maven CS.1A, enough to upgrade to the CS.2A, so listing it in the classifieds. It's a nice compact scope with pretty clear glass.

Maven designs optics for hunters by hunters. Their customer support is excellent also. The CS.1A fits nicely in a side pocket on my day pack. If you knock things around like I do you may want to get the jacket for it….well worth the money in my opinion. They are a direct buy company so no retail markup.

 

[hereinaz]

I considered renting, but I plan to arrive a week or two early and stay the entire season(Aug 1- 31) if necessary. The rentals I've looked at for that duration don't make sense.

Buy one used, then sell it. A rental you can make money of if you buy it right.

I am selling a gen 1 65mm Razor cheap.

I picked up a used Kowa 554 under $1000, you can too if you look.

 

[Bowfinn]

I agree with @hereinaz buy cheap good used spotter, and treat that as a rental. If you are able to wait for a good deal the amount of money you loose should be minimal if you don’t come out ahead.

Edit- the spotter I used in the past was a Leupold Gold Ring HD. I think that would work for your situation.

 

[JS.Fletch5]

Check outdoorsmans.com for some pre-owned high end optics. Outdoorsmans is great, been using their products for year. CS is excellent.

***not sponsored or compensated in any way by Outdoorsmans***

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

Another consideration is to look at used quality 15/18x binoculars since "legal" is half a curl; no need to attempt to count rings.

 

[mj23polaris]

Maven cs1 or sc2, used maven s2, used razors or like posted above new discounted gen 2.


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[Bluumoon]

I have a Cabelas branded Meopta 80mm (straight) that I was going to list when I get back from vacation. PM if interested I'm moving to a smaller scope. The Meoptas are great and can be found in the 1k ballpark.

 

[TX_Diver]

Sent you a text with a loan offer.

I need it for a scouting trip in mid August but maybe there’s someone else on here who can loan you one for just that weekend.

CMF loaned me some stuff for a once In a lifetime hunt earlier this year. Hopefully he can get something put together for this

 

[Davyalabama]

You could buy what you want in great glass, then sell it on here for even more money than what you spent, like some do with their clothing. Father's Day is approaching, some may have a sale, or wait for July 4th sales.

I'm just being facetious. Am I? Was this a chatbot post or was this really me typing?