Are expensive glassing optics a must

[longbarrel]

The Kowa glass is inset a bit with a rubberized surround, so you can put your glasses right against the scope eyepiece.

 

[Woodrow F Call]

I want to hunt elk for the first time. My plan is to buy a otc tag for Colorado! I’m confident with my conditioning,scope, rifle, and shooting skills upto 400 yds! I need to buy binoculars and spotting scope, my budget is limited so do I really need to spend 1000s of $s or will low to medium cost optics like Simmons be sufficient ?

I sure wouldn't let the fact you don't have "good glass" stop you. People got by for a long time without glass.

I think too many people get hung up on getting "all the right gear" before going and doing something..... sure there can be minimum tools to start, but that doesn't mean it's true for everything.

I guess it's part of the fun to get gear, but that ain't keeping you from going out and hunting. Besides, you might better understand what you want if you go and see the shortcomings yourself.

 

[pk_]

I am no elk guy but my vote for you is to go all in and buy the ‘best’ 10x42s you can afford. As these should do well for most elk hunting and are very nice to have even back East. Once you go into the field with decent optics it is hard to ever leave them behind...

 

[eaglemountainman]

I am no elk guy but my vote for you is to go all in and buy the ‘best’ 10x42s you can afford. As these should do well for most elk hunting and are very nice to have even back East. Once you go into the field with decent optics it is hard to ever leave them behind...

Yep. As far as I'm concerned, good optics are more important than my rifle. Given the choice, I'll spend more for great optics than I would for a great rifle. Consider how much time you'll be spending behind your binos, vs you trigger.

 

[rclouse79]

I currently have leupold 8x bx4's and vortex kiabab 15 x 56's. I have toyed around with the idea of picking up a spotter, but will probably resist the temptation. I already don't like the weight of my pack when rifle hunting. I am sure I would enjoy better glass, but I don't feel like my current setup detracts from my hunting experience. My bear hunting buddy glasses with Swaro's and I think we are pretty even in terms of spotting game.