Optics advice on Internet forums can help whittle down the list of binos that might be suitable for a given hunt, but there is just no substitute for spending some time with a glass before purchase. As said many times - everyone’s eyes are a bit different, and in my experience features and handling are of near equal importance but are often overlooked.
On an average sheep or goat there is generally a ton of time devoted to glassing - both off-hand and supported. In addition I’ve found higher than normal impacts of weight, ergos, handling as I carry them everywhere and put them to my eyes longer and more often (unsupported) than on many other types of hunts. Things like focusers, weight, balance, ruggedness, skin, protective lens coatings, etc, all make a difference in the field. How will I feel about it after carrying and using it all day?
Optically, we live in fantastic times. There used to be a chasm of difference between the premium binoculars from the Big 3 vs everything else. The Big 3 are still the best, but the mid-grades improved dramatically over the past decade or so. My favorite all-around sheep hunting glass is the Zeiss Victory SF 10x42 - I have many others (including the Swarovski NL and SLC) but I keep coming back to this one for its extremely sharp and saturated view, handling, balance and focus.
If limited to $1500 here’s what I’d be looking at - with the caveat that there is no such thing as the perfect binoculars - its all about the features and image characteristics that one prefers:
Maven B6 10x50 - has the optical advantage of a 50mm in the size-weight range of a 42mm. To my eyes the image in crisper and more deeply saturated than the B1.2; also for a 50mm glass the handling and build quality is superb.
Zeiss Conquest HDX 10x42 - the standard HD is a better bargain but the additional features of the HDX - lighter weight, locking diopter, upgraded skin, better protective coatings, etc. To my eyes the Conquests have deeper color saturation and color contrast vs Maven B1.2 - this is an optical characteristic that I put a lot of value on when trying to locate game. While some will point out the Conquests have a hint of CA - it has never bothered me in the field.
Nikon Monarch HG 10x42 - sharpness, color, FOV are all excellent. Was considering replacing these with a Maven B1.2 when they first came out, but after spending some time with both found I preferred the HGs. The downside fo the HGs is ruggedness of build and warranty when compared to Zeiss or Maven.
If you are a first responder, veteran or outdoor professional you can likely get the Zeiss SFL 10x40 for $1500. To my eyes this glass is a more refined mountain hunting glass than those listed above.
Lastly, I’d recommend staying with a 10x glass. Noticed a recent move to 12x by some recently. In my experience most cannot absorb more visual information by hand-holding a 12x vs 10x, and it willl certainly lead to more eye-fatigue over a full day or days of glassing.
My 2 cents - YMMV.
