Glass opinion 3rd season mule deer

[Highvoltage1]

Going on a first mule deer hunt this upcoming fall. Nothing is set in stone but I’m thinking 3rd rifle CO. I have plenty of points to draw. I currently have the Nikon ed50 for a spotter. My question is whether I should upgrade to the 60 or even 80mm. I’m sure I’m going to do a bunch of glassing but I’m interested in hearing some different approaches to optics for the 3rd season mule deer. I’m also interested in hearing the optical differences between those spotters specifically. I’ve tried to do research , read reviews but I think a formal discussion of them would help me more. Thanks in advance and best wishes.

 

[HingleMcCringleberry]

You could always rent a spotter for your hunt.

 

[snowymtnwolf]

Can you go to Scheels or Cabelas to go outside to test optics in person ?

Did you google “Nikon XXXX spotter vs…” and see what auto fill shows for options ?

I’d start there and start narrowing down your options.

So many different scenarios on using optics for glassing large open areas or just counting tines.


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[BigAntlerGetter]

Biggest question is what kinda of country are you going to hunt? My area I quit carrying a spotter, just not enough use for the added weight. Are you hiking or truck hunting? Typically a good set of binos will get you buy good enough to know if it’s a trophy or small.


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[TaperPin]

Some areas I wouldn’t hunt without a spotter and some areas I’d never carry one. It’s quite a personal decision to even bring one, and the one you have will work well for most things. My personal scopes are 60mm, but if it were me I’d use the one you have, unless you try one side by side that you like better.

 

[Hnthrdr]

I am from Co usually hunt 3/4 seasons for MD. I carry 12x binos or 10x and a baby spotter. Unless I’m hunting sage flats Or glassing 3.5-4 miles those optics do everything I could ever want them to. Binos off a tripod 90% of thr time I’m glassing

 

[Highvoltage1]

I’m in the planning stages now. I have a few units in mind from a numbers/ pref points standpoint haven’t looked at any aerial photos or got a chance to talk with cpw. I’m trying to be prepared for anything that I may encounter. I have options to either truck camp (tipi with stove) or hotel/motel/ air bnb. I don’t know that I’m prepared for 3rd season spike camp unless it’s mild weather… lows around 10-15. I’m just trying to get as many i’s dotted and t’s crossed. This is usually the time of year when folks upgrade gear and some second hand stuff pops up from time to time.

 

[dirtytough]

I personally think it depends on the individual hunter. Are you looking for a certain amount of inches? Or is a big frame buck good enough? Or is it just any buck?

I personally always pack an ATX 95 and the BTX. That way if glassing miles I can use the BTX and if I need the extra mag to judge I have the eye piece to zoom in.

 

[Hnthrdr]

Also what kind of buck are you looking for? If this is a just trying to kill a MD hunt i wouldn’t worry about much optics wise.

 

[Highvoltage1]

I’m looking to get a decent older buck. I’m not counting inches, I’ve never hunted mulies before and understand hunting is hunting but like everyone, I’m trying to put all the odds in my favor in doing so. I hunted elk last season and could see mule deer on a ski slope close by but with my 8x binos I couldn’t determine what I was looking at.

 

[Hnthrdr]

I’m looking to get a decent older buck. I’m not counting inches, I’ve never hunted mulies before and understand hunting is hunting but like everyone, I’m trying to put all the odds in my favor in doing so. I hunted elk last season and could see mule deer on a ski slope close by but with my 8x binos I couldn’t determine what I was looking at.

In that case I’d bring a spotter. They are for judging game, I’d start looking at some of the threads here for judging MD, but like many game animals, big and mature are pretty apparent especially if they are around other MD

 

[180ls1]

I’m looking to get a decent older buck. I’m not counting inches, I’ve never hunted mulies before and understand hunting is hunting but like everyone, I’m trying to put all the odds in my favor in doing so. I hunted elk last season and could see mule deer on a ski slope close by but with my 8x binos I couldn’t determine what I was looking at.

I think you'll be just fine with that scope and 8x on your chest.

I hunted 3rd the last couple of years with 10x on my chest and 20x binos in the pack and was dandy.

Unless you are super picky counting points, you'll be able to see the size of the frame way further than you'll be able to hike over and hunt it.

 

[Bugger]

The 60mm with the 24x wide lens is a pretty good piece of kit for glassing/scouting medium ranges out to a mile-ish for deer without spending bookoo $$. Especially if you can digiscope from it and zoom in even more. Colorado has a lot of tall spindly young deer that will trick ya further out with just binos, at least in my area. The low light isn’t great but it gets you detail that you’re gonna have a hard time figuring out from 8-10x binos. I scout with the spotter and hunt with the stabilized 16s in the pack for less weight.