Glassing I’m Montana

[fire652]

I am moving to Montana next month and plan to do a lot of scouting this year. I missed out on the first draw but hoping to draw antelope and a cow elk tag. If not I’ll do fall bear. My question is that I have read Montana is heavily forested. Is there areas that are better suited for glassing if so could you recommend a few spots to look st. I will be in roundup and thought Lewis and Clark would be good but I have heard there are few glassing spots there and the ones that there are are heavily hunted. Any help would be appreciated. I really like to be able to glass a lot of country but if that is not possible I will adapt.


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[RockyMtnMT]

East of the divide is generally quite open. West of the divide much more heavily forested.

 

[fire652]

East of the divide is generally quite open. West of the divide much more heavily forested.

Ok so it all depends on which Lewis and Clark area I hunt it looks like. Thanks.


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[Jake Larsen]

East of the divide is generally quite open. West of the divide much more heavily forested.

2nd this. Totally depends on the range. I have elk spots where all i carry is 8x32 because its so dense. I have mule deer spots that will use up the biggest glass on the market.

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[fire652]

2nd this. Totally depends on the range. I have elk spots where all i carry is 8x32 because its so dense. I have mule deer spots that will use up the biggest glass on the market.

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Now your just convincing me to pick up the 15s I’ve had my eyes on. Hoping my 12’s will do


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[Jake Larsen]

For what it's worth, i carry 10x50s and 65mm 20-60 and an outdoorsman tripod. Its been a sweet system for me. I'm hunting everything from the southwest high mountains out to the badlands in the northeast/north central part of the state. As i said before, the only time i dont carry those is when im in my heavily timbered elk spots during archery season. The northwest part of the state looks more like north idaho.

Now your just convincing me to pick up the 15s I’ve had my eyes on. Hoping my 12’s will do


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[fire652]

For what it's worth, i carry 10x50s and 65mm 20-60 and an outdoorsman tripod. Its been a sweet system for me. I'm hunting everything from the southwest high mountains out to the badlands in the northeast/north central part of the state. As i said before, the only time i dont carry those is when im in my heavily timbered elk spots during archery season. The northwest part of the state looks more like north idaho.

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I have almost the same setup just with the twelves. Can’t beat the outdoorsman


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[Jake Larsen]

You'll be good man. If anything, id go bigger on the spotter before 15s. If it didn't weight a ton, I'd carry the 95 everywhere lol.

I have almost the same setup just with the twelves. Can’t beat the outdoorsman


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[Jake Larsen]

You'll be good man. If anything, id go bigger on the spotter before 15s. If it didn't weight a ton, I'd carry the 95 everywhere lol.

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Or upgrade to swaro/zeiss/or leica glass if you dont have it already. The clarity in even a 65mm spotter will make all the difference

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[fire652]

Or upgrade to swaro/zeiss/or leica glass if you dont have it already. The clarity in even a 65mm spotter will make all the difference

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I run swaro el 12x50 and the atx 65. I have the 95 but it is a beast


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[Jake Larsen]

We're basically running identical setups. I love mine. That atx 65 is so dang light too, i dont mind packing in everywhere, even in the crazy above treeline stuff. I have a hard tine justifying lugging the 95 around way in the backcountry. Sure is nice from the truck or out in the badlands though.

I run swaro el 12x50 and the atx 65. I have the 95 but it is a beast


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[rustneversleeps]

My question is that I have read Montana is heavily forested. Is there areas that are better suited for glassing if so could you recommend a few spots to look st.

Have you been to Montana before? Or are you just moving on a whim? Montana is extremely diverse and you would need to know the specific area to determine heavily forested vs glassable country. I've used my 12s everywhere and havent found a need for 15s

 

[fire652]

Have you been to Montana before? Or are you just moving on a whim? Montana is extremely diverse and you would need to know the specific area to determine heavily forested vs glassable country. I've used my 12s everywhere and havent found a need for 15s

Moving for a job. I’ve been to roundup Billings and Bozeman. Moving July 17 so should have plenty of time to scout. Just reading about Montana and thought I’d ask here


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[RockyMtnMT]

With binos I lean toward 8 our 10x. Clear glass is key more than power. Have a hard time holding higher power still enough by hand for long term glassing our while hiking and winded.

 

[Cowboy95]

Like many have stated already it depends on where you end up. Montana is so vast that you can hunt timber that you can see 20 yards and you can hunt areas where you can see for miles. I personally like more power I carry 15X50 binos but when Im in the timber they are way to much but enjoy then when get to the peaks and glass hillsides and basins