How many optics is the right amount?

[Clarson757]

Hunting mule deer I use my 12x. Bring a Lowa 554 if I feel like getting any pics etc. usually use 6x in whitetail woods and turkey. Sold those with the idea of getting an 8x option. Eventually would like to get a large format spotter.

I’m easily persuaded to have more gear options but at times I feel like that mentality makes it easier to bring too much shit on a trip or hunt.

 

[Hoodie]

I think you could cover almost any western hunt pretty effectively with just a 10x42 and a 65mm spotter. If you're willing to own 3 optics you can afford to specialize a little. Which 3 would be best would depend on what type of hunt someone does the most.

Right now I've got an 8x42, 10x42, and 18x56. I use just the 8x for timber hunting which is 90% of what I do. I use the 8x42 and 18x56 when long range glassing is a possibility or when scouting. When weight matters but I still want the ability to do some serious glassing at distances over 1/4 mile I pack just the 10x and a tripod. I don't really need both the 8x and 10x.

Somebody who hunts more open country could get by with something like just a 12x50 and a 65mm or 80mm spotter.

 

[180ls1]

Remember "no solutions only tradeoffs"

I think 2 or 3 is perfect. Your spotter is great for your use, keep that.

8's are fantastic for your chest then add a 14/15/18x pair of binos for your pack + spotter if warranted.

NL Pures in 10/12x or the Sig stabilized 12/16x+ your spotter if warranted.

What 12's do you have?

 

[RockAndSage]

Hunting muleys is probably the most optics-intensive hunting, in terms of how much ground you need to pick apart, and how well you need to do that, if you really want to maximize your success. But a lot depends on where and how you're hunting. Deeply forested vs high desert, backpacking in vs truck scouting, etc.

At a basic level, especially in heavily timbered country, you're probably good with just an 8x or 10x set of binos, along with a good spotter.

At a little more advanced level, especially in brushy and desert country, it's hard to beat a set of chest-binos at 8x or 10x, high-powered binos at 14-18x from the tripod, and a spotting scope. Choice of spotter is the most variable thing for me - the more foot-based the hunt, the lighter and smaller the spotter get. But I spend about 80% of my time behind the high-powered binos, picking apart the landscape in a very methodical manner. Spotter is most often used to double-check something I think I might be seeing, especially when on foot. Truck scouting can be pretty successful in some places with a high-powered, big spotter too. Chest binos get used for an initial glassing scan of an area to see if you can pick up anything moving, standing, out in the open, etc, and checking things out when you're on the move.

 

[justinspicher]

I’m a single optic kinda dude. I just have a pair of binos. I’ve never wished I had a spotter. I put my binos on my tripod and call it good.

 

[Clarson757]

Remember "no solutions only tradeoffs"

I think 2 or 3 is perfect. Your spotter is great for your use, keep that.

8's are fantastic for your chest then add a 14/15/18x pair of binos for your pack + spotter if warranted.

NL Pures in 10/12x or the Sig stabilized 12/16x+ your spotter if warranted.

What 12's do you have?

12x NLs and they are bad ass. I had a pair of 18x razors and the 12x NLs blew them out of the water. So at the moment I’m down to two pieces in my arsenal.

Hunt out west in desert/ high desert.

 

[Clarson757]

I’m a single optic kinda dude. I just have a pair of binos. I’ve never wished I had a spotter. I put my binos on my tripod and call it good.

I’m like this most of the time. I do like my spotter at the range but mostly just thinking if I need a lower power for whitetail and turkey in thick Missouri whitetail world (I’ve taken my 12s and it was overkill).

 

[Clarson757]

Hunting muleys is probably the most optics-intensive hunting, in terms of how much ground you need to pick apart, and how well you need to do that, if you really want to maximize your success. But a lot depends on where and how you're hunting. Deeply forested vs high desert, backpacking in vs truck scouting, etc.

At a basic level, especially in heavily timbered country, you're probably good with just an 8x or 10x set of binos, along with a good spotter.

At a little more advanced level, especially in brushy and desert country, it's hard to beat a set of chest-binos at 8x or 10x, high-powered binos at 14-18x from the tripod, and a spotting scope. Choice of spotter is the most variable thing for me - the more foot-based the hunt, the lighter and smaller the spotter get. But I spend about 80% of my time behind the high-powered binos, picking apart the landscape in a very methodical manner. Spotter is most often used to double-check something I think I might be seeing, especially when on foot. Truck scouting can be pretty successful in some places with a high-powered, big spotter too. Chest binos get used for an initial glassing scan of an area to see if you can pick up anything moving, standing, out in the open, etc, and checking things out when you're on the move.

I’m in deser and high desert areas. I have 12x NLs and they are my workhorse. Sometimes I wonder if I’d be better off with 8 or 10x and a high power scope. But the 12x are just incredible.

If I got a lower power it would be for the truck/ whitetail and turkey hunts I think. But I’m not sure if I would be better off with a high power spotter since 99% of my hunts are mule deer. I’m on foot majority of the time and day hunt but mix in some overnights depending where I’m going.

I have been thinking of grabbing some 8x binos for when I’m in various canyons and the 12s are not the right fit.

 

[mainbeam pursuit2]

I subscribe to the theory, you can't shoot what you don't see. I started with just binoculars(cheap ones), then added a small spotter. After several years and many cheap binoculars, I saved like crazy and bought 10x42 SLCs. That was a game changer, started spending a lot more time glassing. Now that I've gotten older and have more financial means, I have increased my optics collection. Bottom line, after while you find what works best for your personal style of use. I think someone that has a similar style of use can help considerably, but you don't truly know until you find out for yourself.

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

Build an appropriate optics arsenal for your hunting needs.

Here is what I have:
* Binoculars - Viper HD 8s (retired)
* Binoculars - SLC 10s
* Binoculars - SLC 15s
* Spotting Scope - Kowa 554
* Spotting Scope - STX 65/95
* Tripod/head - Slik Pro 635 CF w/ Jim White 2.0 Head
* Tripod/head - Manfrotto 290 XTRA w/ Jim White 2.0 Head

I take what makes the most sense for any given hunt.

 

[TaperPin]

Nowadays a 7x bino is greatly under appreciated for use in the timber, broken timber, and even while walking ridges for mulies. Still hunting in his manner has taken the back seat to long range spotting, even though it’s as productive today as it’s always been. I smiled seeing Maven has a 6x - those guys have hunted some of the same areas in Wyoming and there’s an old tradition of low power binocs there while chasing elk and hunting ridges. This is one place anything that gives the hunter a tiny advantage is worth it.

If I were to go back and give teenage me some guidance, learning how to still hunt ridges for mulies by carefully glassing the 50 to 300 yards directly ahead while moving along slowly would be at the top of the list. Many singular high ridges can’t be easily glassed from below or any surrounding topography and they are prime spots for smart old deer. Hunting ridges was a favorite past time as a kid because of the excitement, but I only knew to do it with bare eyesight moving too fast and that cut way down on success rates. Figuring that out early would have worth at least one more big deer.

Ultra long range spotting in rough steep country is still fun, but with every western hunter I’ve known since the 1980s hauling spotting scopes around, extrovert animals that hang out in the open or easily seen bedding areas don’t live long. Most old deer I run into can’t be glassed, at least not from beyond a few hundred yards. The #1, #2, #3 and #4 largest deer seen scouting or hunting were all shy, lazy, liked to sleep a lot in out of the way places.

 

[180ls1]

12x NLs and they are bad ass. I had a pair of 18x razors and the 12x NLs blew them out of the water. So at the moment I’m down to two pieces in my arsenal.

Hunt out west in desert/ high desert.

Man, you pretty much have the ideal 2 optic setup. However 12s are too much for hand held, at least for my taste.

The only "upgrade" I see is running a 2 bino setup. Pure 8 on the chest and Pure 14 in the pack. I think you'd be very happy with that.

 

[nm.otter]

Hand held 8x is easy.

Pull out the 15s and tripod when I need to reach out.

 

[NickyD]

I mostly hunt mule deer and I currently have 8x and a 85mm spotter. I can handhold the 8x very well and they shine in high contrast situations (elk, deer in summertime, and snow) because of their FOV, but I find they are a little lacking when looking at further distances or late season when there’s no snow on the ground.

I plan to get some 15x binos before season starts. I’d love to get the 14x NL but think 15x SLC are more in budget for me.

I don’t think I’ll always bring all 3 but having options is always nice. I’d love a twin spotter but I think that would complicate things. Too many options can lead to always wanting the option you didn’t bring.

 

[Alpine4x4]

10x SLC on the chest
16x Sig Stabilized in the pack
65mm Spotter in the pack if the country is more open
85mm spotter for truck glassing

Been happy with this so far.

 

[WCT3]

10x SLC on the chest
16x Sig Stabilized in the pack
65mm Spotter in the pack if the country is more open
85mm spotter for truck glassing

Been happy with this so far.

How do you like having the 16x stablized as your big binos? I feel like this would be a great combo but don't see a ton of people running it compared to smaller stablized on the chest and spotter or tripod binos in the pack.

 

[Danger23]

I use Maven 10’s and a swaro 65. Deciding on adding either 15’s or 18’s. And then to decide between SLC 15’s or Maven 18’s

 

[Clarson757]

I guess i don’t really have regrets on the 12NLs as far as weight/ FOV. They are overkill sometimes but underpowered for the real long stuff. I think in a perfect world I’d pickup the 8NLs for closer range and for big open country and a BTX 85 for the desert floor.

But which would be first? My 554 is cool for the size but I’m not spending time behind it because it’s mostly just to confirm, snap a few pics and for the shooting range.

 

[handwerk]

This year my plan is:
Same old Geovid 10x42’s on chest and in my pack I’m trying my new STC 55 instead of STS 65.
Specialty binos at home are 15x Geovids .
For most my hunts the 10x and small spotter are all I need.

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

This year my plan is:
Same old Geovid 10x42’s on chest and in my pack I’m trying my new STC 55 instead of STS 65.
Specialty binos at home are 15x Geovids .
For most my hunts the 10x and small spotter are all I need.

You should like the STC as it'll give you 90%+ of the STS at a fraction of the weight and pack space. And the STC will be much better in windy conditions than the STS.