Binos for Caribou

[BrettB342]

Going up with arrowhead outfitters this year and am curious on optics. I have 12x42 NL pures and am wondering if it’s worth bringing a spotting scope ( all I own is a 95mm swaro and a BTX and ATX) it doesn’t seem worth it because of weight. I want a pair of sig Zulu 6 16x Binos and is that a better all around choice since it’s such big country to glass

 

[Geewhiz]

Hey Brett, I went on my first caribou hunt this fall. It was a hike in rifle hunt off of the haul road. That is big open country and even though it was a pretty good hoof to get to the rifle zone I still felt it was worth it to me to bring my binos as well as a spotter and tripod. I believe arrowhead outfitters services that same region. If you hunt this type of country (I live right down the road from you) then I would just bring the glass you have, unless you are just looking for an excuse to make another purchase, in which case I fully support that as well.

 

[mcseal2]

I had a little Kowa 55mm spotter when we went, and it was nice to evaluate distant herds, see if there was anything worth chasing. I also shot my caribou off my optics tripod standing because the terrain wouldn't let me get lower and they were leaving.

 

[Geewhiz]

I also shot my caribou off my optics tripod standing because the terrain wouldn't let me get lower and they were leaving.

Same here which is a worthwhile consideration

 

[Rock’N Tacos]

I recommend a spotter. You need to know if there is something worth going after. You can see a really long ways out and it has to be worth the hike. Just did a North Slope hunt last fall. It was a zoo on the river and won’t ever do that hunt again although we both punched our tags.

 

[BrettB342]

Awesome I plan on buying the sigs anyways for my Arizona deer hunts and will for sure shoot off a tripod just worried about weight on the plane with how heavy that 95mm and BTX

 

[Duckhunter14]

I ran my Swaro 15’s and then we took a 65 swaro as well. I was so glad I had the spotter for filming. Was able to size up caribou at distance. Got my buddys wolf kill on film, multiple griz and three different wolverine. My buddy brought his pos vortex tripod and that’s the only thing I would have changed, a much better platform. We went with Arrowhead as well, hiked all our stuff from the lake we were dropped, to the highest point and it allowed us to glass in every direction. There are a lot of ways to cut weight and not do an extra gear flight. We made the cut no problem without taking a bunch of extra crap we didn’t need.

 

[BrettB342]

I ran my Swaro 15’s and then we took a 65 swaro as well. I was so glad I had the spotter for filming. Was able to size up caribou at distance. Got my buddys wolf kill on film, multiple griz and three different wolverine. My buddy brought his pos vortex tripod and that’s the only thing I would have changed, a much better platform. We went with Arrowhead as well, hiked all our stuff from the lake we were dropped, to the highest point and it allowed us to glass in every direction. There are a lot of ways to cut weight and not do an extra gear flight. We made the cut no problem without taking a bunch of extra crap we didn’t need.

Any regret in bringing 15s over 10s or 12s?

 

[Duckhunter14]

No I love my 15’s. Spotted a lot of game with them and then threw the 65 mm on the tripod to film or get a closer look. We could see for miles when the weather broke. You’d have to be on the glass when you had weather and although it looks flat, entire herds would appear and disappear just as fast. That country is so deceiving.