Backcountry mule deer spotting scope

[Ndstevens]

I’m looking for some guidance on the best spotter I could get for backpack deer hunting and I would like to keep it under 1500. Yes I’ve always heard the buy one cry once and I know you get what you pay for but in my situation Thats about all I can justify spending. Any info on brands or models that come with some experience is appreciated.


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[HuntWyld]

Kowa 554/553 is probably the top dog for backpack spotters and hits right around your budget threshold.

 

[Megastink]

I was looking for something similar for different game. My budget was also far less ($500). I bought a Kowa TSN502 and was very disappointed in the optical quality passed about 20x. I ultimately sold it and got a Bushnell Legend Tactical with mil reticle to match my mil scopes. I’m very happy with it.

that being said.... I’ve heard nothing but stellar things about the Kowa TSN554/553. If my budget was what yours is, that would probably get the nod.

 

[Anello]

I bought a Vortex HD spotter from a member here a few years back and love it. I am not a high end glass snob, so I am not someone who cares about brand. The glass is great for the price and I have yet to be in need of more. In that price range, I would give them a look. You can usually get them used in the classifieds on this site.

 

[HuntNTag]

I think it depends on how good of a scope you would like and what weight you are looking to carry.

If I was in that dollar amount, I’d stash a few extra bucks and just get the 65mm atx used.

But For the dollar amount there could be a few really solid options on the used market where you aren’t hitting the max either. Here are a few that come to mind

I know lots of guys here love the Kowa’s. The TSN 553 or 663 are solid options.

The Leupold GR 60mm is a great option...

The maven C series spotter or the Athlon Ares 65mm are solid weight to performance. I personally have the Ares for backpack hunts and love it.

Here is a pic I took last weekend from 1,300 yards out with my ares for reference.

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[Wassid82]

You won't go wrong with KOWA....ridiculously good for the $$$$. My hunting partners and I have compared everything we can get our hands on. Swaro ATX is good don't get me wrong but gun to my head....I can't tell a difference.

 

[TheGDog]

I've got a Vortex Razor HD 11-33x50mm Angled I'll sell ya that's seen little use. $500+ whatever it takes to cover shipping. PM me if interested.

 

[Trumpkin The Dwarf]

What is your use case? Spotting deer? Field judging them?

What are your current binoculars?

 

[TheGDog]

BTW... since you say backpack hunting... seriously see if you can find somebody who has some top-tier glass 15x Binos and have a look thru them on a spotter. Heck for that matter see if you can get a look thru even some regular 10x42's in top-tier glass!

I recently bought some used ZEISS Conquest 10x42 HD's off a fellow rokslider and compared it side-by-side with my Vortex Vultures 15x56. And with the differences I noted, I'm now really keen to see what looking thru some Top-Tier 15's must be like! Because honestly the ZEISS get the nod over those 15x Vultures. The Vultures are not bad... it's just that depth of field is less and overall clarity is like one small click down. Um.. it's sorta like when you go into the Win10 Photo editor and you thought the pic looked good... but then you go and mess with "Shadow" and "Contrast" and then you realize how impactful and more sharp the overall image becomes by messing with those adjustments. The beginning picture was "good", or so you thought, but now you realize there was this sort of haziness to the overall image that adjusting those values cleaned up. I experience something like that when comparing the ZEISS to the Vultures. It was pronounced enough that at first I could have sworn the ZEISS were presenting me an image with the same amount of maginifcation as the Vultures! I checked, obviously they aren't... but it's because everything is that degree more sharp and crisp and the depth-of-field is soo much more you just naturally are gonna prefer looking thru it instead!

 

[BluMtn]

^^^^ Welcome to looking through Alfa glass.

 

[TheGDog]

^^^^ Welcome to looking through Alfa glass.

Thanks man! Ugh it's addictive especially since my Vision requires glasses 24/7 nowadays anyway.

I'm already wanting to get either some alpha glass 15's... or some alpha spotter. If spotter, I know I want at least 45x on the high end. So 65mm likely. I gotta hike-in a long ways to my spots typically. So 80mm+ would be a nogo.

 

[BluMtn]

I use swaro 12x50 binos and Kowa 884 for a spotter. Don't use the spotter for elk but when I am Montana mulie hunting I pack it with me. You can get by with the 12x50's alone and it would work fine. Where we hunt mulies you can sit and glass along ways and the spotting scope helps in those dark recesses. It is a sickness that is only cured when you find the right combination of glass, then you look back and wonder what took you so long to get there.

 

[eaglemountainman]

I've had a Kowa 554 for two years now. Mine is paired with Kowa Genesis 10.5X44 binos. Along with a stable tripod, and a VA-5 head, I feel it's a killer combo.

 

[PredatorSlayer]

I just picked up some Santiam HD 15x56 binos and am hoping they alleviate the need to haul a spotter into the back country. We’ll see. The FOV on these is almost the same as the 12x50’s I was using, but the glass in the santiam hds is amazing.

If this ends up not working out like I want, I will go with a Kowa 554 and pair it with some 10x50’s or 12x50s

 

[TheGDog]

I've had a Kowa 554 for two years now. Mine is paired with Kowa Genesis 10.5X44 binos. Along with a stable tripod, and a VA-5 head, I feel it's a killer combo.

So question... on the 554 (which I've been considering)... do you really get 45x on the high end? Realistically, what's the highest magnification setting where everything is still sharp and not too crazy darkened up due to Exit Pupil getting small?

Like... on the Vortex Razor 11-33x50mm I feel that's realistically 22x, for example. Clarity starts to fall off and darken up fast after that.

 

[TheGDog]

I just picked up some Santiam HD 15x56 binos and am hoping they alleviate the need to haul a spotter into the back country. We’ll see.

I really liked gridding out a ridge with the 15's. WAY WAY more rapid and natural than with the little spotter.

Sometimes I'd bring Diamondback 8x28's for handheld checks, and the Vortex Vultures 15x56 for tripod work. Those little 8s are nice small and light. Easy to throw up when you've been huffin and puffin on the trail but wanna check something over there.

 

[PredatorSlayer]

I really liked gridding out a ridge with the 15's. WAY WAY more rapid and natural than with the little spotter.

Sometimes I'd bring Diamondback 8x28's for handheld checks, and the Vortex Vultures 15x56 for tripod work. Those little 8s are nice small and light. Easy to throw up when you've been huffin and puffin on the trail but wanna check something over there.

I’ve thought about grabbing a lightweight monocular to use the same way you are using the 8x28’s.

 

[TheGDog]

I’ve thought about grabbing a lightweight monocular to use the same way you are using the 8x28’s.

Don't... I went that route... just get the small binos instead. Much easier to use and you get the benefit of stereoscopic vision.

 

[PredatorSlayer]

Don't... I went that route... just get the small binos instead. Much easier to use and you get the benefit of stereoscopic vision.

Thanks for saving me some time and money

 

[eaglemountainman]

So question... on the 554 (which I've been considering)... do you really get 45x on the high end? Realistically, what's the highest magnification setting where everything is still sharp and not too crazy darkened up due to Exit Pupil getting small?

Like... on the Vortex Razor 11-33x50mm I feel that's realistically 22x, for example. Clarity starts to fall off and darken up fast after that.

GDog, the 554 is absolutely crisp and clear all the way to max 45X, just as it is at 30X. It's also quite surprising how bright it is in the low light of early morning and dusk. Sure, you're going to lose a few minutes to a 70 or 80/85 mm objective, but it's brighter than I ever thought it would be. It gives up nothing to my buddy's ATS 65. I use my binos on the tripod as my primary glassing optic, and only use the scope to assess trophy quality. As such, I don't mind losing a few minutes, or the smaller FOV for a 28oz compact spotter to have a permanent place in my pack.