How far do you glass?

[Blue72]

Curious what ranges you guys glass.

I find anything over two miles is not really worth spending time on.

 

[mighteywhitehunter]

Depends on your glass and visability and terrain and the type of animal you are looking for. 15x Binos out to about 1.5-2mi, 30x BTX beyond that.

 

[S.Clancy]

As far as I can, but generally not more than 2 miles. 1000 yds to a mile are my sweet spot. But I've glassed elk at 2.5 - 3 miles and hoofed it to get em.

 

[CougarBlue]

As far as I can. Not trying to be cheeky. As long as the country looks like it will hold what I'm after, I'm going to let my eyes do the walking for me.

Can't count the number of animals I've turned up that were further than I would have imagined they'd be. Finding animals 2+ miles out doesn't mean I'll make a play on them every time. But it's data that may influence my plans for the next day or two. If I'm only glassing at what I can reach right now, I may turn nothing up and end the day no better off than how it started.

 

[JakeSCH]

On my first cow elk hunt, I spotted a few in a burn area just over 4 miles away with 15x. Pulled out the 85 spotter and confirmed.

We were able to sneak in on them the next day and get them on the ground. I've spotted Bulls several times at the 2.5 mile mark.

Typically I force myself to look close than far, but after a few hours of nothing I go further and further. Let my eyes do the walking for me.

 

[Hatchet Jack]

with 30x kowas i try to keep it under 5 miles. I get a chuckle out of guys that tell me it's a waste of time to glass that far. I'm not trying to kill them today, it's sure nice to be able to sit back and take inventory and know which basins are worth it to hike into to hunt.

 

[WeiserBucks]

A few years ago I glassed up a bull at about 4 miles across two nasty canyons at first light. After consulting my GPS we went back to the truck, drove about 40 miles in a huge semi circle to access the ridge he was on. Hiked in a few miles and killed him at last light right where we had spotted him early in the morning.

 

[dirtytough]

I glassed multiple bulls last year at 5.5ish miles. I glassed two bulls at 8 miles on that hunt. The ones at 8 I couldn’t see antlers. Just two elk feeding together. I confirmed they were bulls the next day.

I glass as far as I can see. I’ll throw the 1.7x ME onto the BTX/ATX and extend the range as far as possible.

 

[6.5x284]

I’ve glassed multiple bulls over 6 miles and been able to drive around and get on them that night or the next morning.


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[fatrascal]

There is no limit. Many times I've spotted game too far to hunt that particular day only to hike or drive closer in the next day or two to check them out. Sometimes its very rewarding, sometimes they are not what I'm looking for and sometimes I see more game further out for the next day.
I specifically bought the BTX/ATX system for looking long distances accross private property onto public property. If and when I find something I like it might take a day or two to hike around private property onto public property to hunt him. Trophy hunting is all about going the extra mile to get into range and my biggest challenge is finding the trophy. Hiking into him is the easy part even when it's not easy. Fatrascal.

 

[fatrascal]

 

[Salmon River Solutions]

With this smoke… maybe a mile? By the time my hunt rolls around in a week, more like 500 yards

where I will be is flat sage brush land, easy to cover long distances. I would be glassing out to 3 miles or further if I can see that far.

 

[WRM]

All the way. And back. And, put down the glass and just look around. Amazing what you see sometimes when you do that.

 

[bradb]

Heck glassed my Dall sheep with 10x's from about 7 miles, but its white and you could see a white dot move.
I dont know the exact distance but we killed it 9 crows miles(by gps) from camp and I am guessing we were about 2 miles from camp when glassed it. Glassed it about 8 am killed it about 9PM

 

[Firehawk]

View attachment 309595

I got to put that spotter on my "wish list" for sure. But I am worried it may be a little heavier than I want in my pack.

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

My optics allow me to glass at extreme distances. Like many things, just because you can does not mean you should.

If there’s sufficient access, whether roads or easy terrain, then I’ll glass farther. If there are no roads and/or gnarly terrain, then I am more than likely wasting my time.

What type of animal in what type of weather? If it’s hot, no access, large animal, and nasty terrain then it’s a pass. The meat and/or cape will likely go bad before you can pack it all out. It can even be a pass if it’s a small animal in the same conditions.

Am I hunting solo (often) or in a group? That can dictate what I do as well.

Am glad that so many things worked out extremely well for the other posters. But I’d wager that most stalks that originate with glassing an animal up at 5+ miles end up in abject failure. Too much has to go right for those types of extreme stalks to consistently prove successful. Depending on the hunt that is a huge commitment in time and energy with a very low chance of success.

 

[Laramie]

I "glass" the moon all the time.

If by glass you are referring to binoculars, I think variables have to be considered. Are you looking for antelope in the desert or elk after a fresh snow. You can see a big animal on a snowy hillside an awful long way with a decent pair of binos. On the other hand, spotting a bedded Coues deer is challenging over 1000 yards in their natural habitat.

 

[Miflatlander91]

View attachment 309595

Thank you I just sent this 2 all my hunting buddies the "new swaro"

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[robby denning]

Bow range to 9 miles, depending on the equipment on hand, and conditions of course.


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[Dos Perros]

@sons_of_the_sod on Instagram: "A visual representation of my family headed to @kmachos on May 14th. @huhart @kerstenhillary @chris.kersten.3"

13 likes, 1 comments - @sons_of_the_sod on Instagram: "A visual representation of my family headed to @kmachos on May 14th. @huhart @kerstenhillary @ch..."

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That’s 4.3 miles right there, through a 80mm spotter and iPhone.

I’ll glass as far as I can see, just to get the data points.