Glassing Knob necessities vs niceties

[canthitbombz]

First year going all in on archery mule deer. My question is, minus glass and tripods and yada yada...what are your glassing necessities? Glassing pad? hand warmers? umbrella to deal with the 90 degree heat and sun, lol? never really sat on the side of a mountain and glassed at length so just trying to get some ideas as to what others do to stay comfortable and sane.

 

[CC11]

Water, snacks, glassing pad, gloves (weight dependent on weather), I like the hooded lightweight shirts for when it's hot. Keeps the sun off my neck and ears.

 

[BustedRagHorn]

I would suggest looking at eye cups or ways to keep the sun from getting into the sides of your eye piece. Personally I use a shemagh for a ton of things so I drape that over my binos and head to help, add a bit of water to help if it gets too hot. But with intense wind it can whip around the cloth so depending on where you are it can hurt more than help. Anyway to prevent light from hitting your eye piece(s) helps more than you would think.

 

[Poser]

Lens brush, glassing pad, sunscreen, fatty/salty snacks, hood.

When its really cold: down mitts, mountaineering socks

 

[270Hunter]

The above comment hits the nail on the head. Especially with the hooded lightweight shirt and glassing pad. Good snacks and plenty of water. I also pack a super small tarp sometimes so I can setup some shade. Also chapstick, the heat and the wind usually really dries out my lips and that’s just a little thing that makes a huge difference in my comfort.

Before you get to your hunt practice switching your binoculars out for your spotting scope on your tripod, some people are clumsy switching optics over and sometimes seconds are crucial when glassing.

 

[RockAndSage]

Other than what has been shared above...

If you'll spend a long time behind a spotting scope, an eye-patch helps reduce eye strain, by allowing you to not have to squint one eye shut for hours at a time.

Depending on terrain and what kind of a hunt you're doing, in some situations a wind-checker bottle is good while glassing - especially if you're really trying to dial in everything you can on a specific place, in terms of patterning the wind, and seeing how the local vegetation reflects those currents too. Helps in understanding air flow with thermals at different times of the day, etc, especially during the hike in and out of a spot too.

 

[canthitbombz]

Great ideas! I appreciate the tips.

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

Glassing setup
1) Appropriate optic on an appropriate tripod/head.
2) Stool. Put your big girl panties on and deal with the 13.2 ounces of a BTR stool. Pads suck when there is cactus on the ground, insects and arachnids crawling around, and the simple fact that they just aren’t comfortable especially when glassing from before dawn till dusk.
3) Weather-appropriate clothing.
4) Appropriate food and water for the weather.
5) Understand you are likely going to be exposed to the elements and the game will be out of the wind and in the shade.

 

[JohnB]

Headphones and an audiobook. Listening to an audiobook has been like I took a couple Adderall.

 

[Muleys32]

What time of year and elevation? Puffy jacket, and possibly pants, are a game changer. Even early season a lightweight puffy can be unreal and the difference in you sticking around to glass a big buck moving mid morning vs hiking to warm up and missing the window when that buck moves.

 

[shootnrun]

Niceties can be necessities if you truly want to sit glass all day. Depending on season, you need to be able to stay at a survivable body temp, including your hands and feet. Having Raynaud's, I need extra layers, gloves, hand warmers, sitting pad, whatever to keep me functional behind the glass. Even a tarp if its wet.

 

[Blackbird]

Gummy bears

 

[WeiserBucks]

Gummy bears

Cigarettes

 

[TaperPin]

A patch of fleece the size of a kitchen towel will block excess light on the eye piece if draped half over your head and half over the scope. A T-shirt accomplishes the same thing. I think there are light blocking hoods made for photography or birding, but have never seen anyone use them. Maybe not ideal if it’s 90 degrees.

I’m naturally antsy, and alternate between binoculars and a scope. Turning the scope sideways makes a nice steady rest for binoculars. If I’m really bored I’ve used my left eye for a while. A buddy takes a nap, glasses, takes a nap, glasses. I don’t have a problem closing the off eye, but many people use an eye patch. Maybe that makes sense if you don’t use binoculars much.

One friend always brings eye drops. Seeing my pretty rifle must make him tear up, or the opposite of tearing up.

 

[TaperPin]

Variety in your food bag is really nice. I might pack 6 different things in small quantities just for lunch.

 

[Pafarm]

Glassing pad is a must. Snacks and water to keep you there. Handwarmers are a waste of weight imo. Nice things to have can keep you there longer to find the deer so sometimes weights worth it. Like everyone else said time of year?

 

[Pafarm]

T

Cigarettes

They sniff them and come in but only Marlboro 100s I heard.

 

[WeiserBucks]

T

They sniff them and come in but only Marlboro 100s I heard.

BS. Camels for the win. @Blackbird can testify to the lore.

 

[elsb0048]

Couple variations on other recommendations:

I like winged eyecups like field optics research for reducing eye strain

Crazy creek chair for a little back support rather than a stool

 

[RockAndSage]

Gummy bears

Ah, yeah. Sunflower seeds for me. The salt's helpful, too.