AZ_Hunter_2000
WKR
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2019
- Messages
- 3,297
Folks regularly ask how far they can glass with an optic at X magnification. Others respond with an impressive distance. There are times where the light and air is perfect and you can get crystal clear images at insane distances. However, those times are rare.
I figured I'd see about get some photos so people can see for themselves. However, things didn't turn out as hoped. The photos didn't turn out and the air/light were not the most conducive for effective glassing. Such is life.
Terrain: Classic desert mule deer country
Weather: 105* F, sunny, light wind, some haze
Time: 0930 - 1130
Glassing Distance: 1150 yards
Optics: Swarovski SLC 10s/SLC15s/STX 65/STX 95, Kowa 554. All optics were on a tripod.
Model #1: 110" class Coues whitetail shoulder mount fully exposed in the sun at the top of a fence post. A purple Monster can was its marker. Mount was partially quartered facing me.
Model #2: 130" class whitetail shoulder mount in the shade, two fence posts to the right of the Coues. A pink Monster can (in the sun) was its marker (just above the mount). Mount was facing me directly. Note: The placement was overly optimistic in the shade; a real deer would be tucked in tuck under a tree which would make it significantly more difficult to find.
Simulation: Early season hunt and it is time for hardcore glassing since it was mid-morning.
The glassing conditions sucked but that is also 100% realistic.
So the results...
1) SLC 10s: At no time during the 2 hours were they able to see either mount or the Monster cans.
2) SLC 15s: At first I could not see the mounts nor the cans. I was concerned the mounts fell so I threw a spotting scope on and still nada. Drove down and they were where they were supposed to be. Drove back up and continued. As the light changed (more sun) they became visible. Conditions never allowed field judging of any type.
3) Kowa 554: At min and max power, it was about the same as the SLCs. It could never overcome the light and air conditions. It was not enough to "see through the shade" to see the one mount.
4) STX 65: Same results as the Kowa.
5) STX 95: It handled the "shade" better but it too could not overcome the light and air conditions.
Lessons Learned
1) There is no optic that is usable 100% of the time at any specific distance. About $10.5K in optics and none of them could overcome the air and light conditions with two stationary targets with very favorable positions (make seeing them easier and not hiding like a real animal would).
2) All optics will leave you wanting more at some point. Have realistic expectations on what an optic can actually do under a variety of conditions.
3) Glassing an area a couple of times and moving on is a potential waste. Need to spend time and take advantage of the changing light conditions. Those two "deer" would never been located if I glassed the area for a bit and moved on. On a hunt I'd have glassed them up at some point with my SLC 15s (based upon prior experience glassing for extended periods of time in comparable conditions). But that is with me being in my optics for potentially the entire day.
4) Need to figure out what's up with my phone and digiscoping. My money is on the idiot using the phone. Will be picking up a remote.
5) Strongly recommend taking your own mounts and do your own testing.
Side Note: If someone happens to know where this is, it is bone dry but the quail and dove are healthy.
Models
Glassing Knob
I figured I'd see about get some photos so people can see for themselves. However, things didn't turn out as hoped. The photos didn't turn out and the air/light were not the most conducive for effective glassing. Such is life.
Terrain: Classic desert mule deer country
Weather: 105* F, sunny, light wind, some haze
Time: 0930 - 1130
Glassing Distance: 1150 yards
Optics: Swarovski SLC 10s/SLC15s/STX 65/STX 95, Kowa 554. All optics were on a tripod.
Model #1: 110" class Coues whitetail shoulder mount fully exposed in the sun at the top of a fence post. A purple Monster can was its marker. Mount was partially quartered facing me.
Model #2: 130" class whitetail shoulder mount in the shade, two fence posts to the right of the Coues. A pink Monster can (in the sun) was its marker (just above the mount). Mount was facing me directly. Note: The placement was overly optimistic in the shade; a real deer would be tucked in tuck under a tree which would make it significantly more difficult to find.
Simulation: Early season hunt and it is time for hardcore glassing since it was mid-morning.
The glassing conditions sucked but that is also 100% realistic.
So the results...
1) SLC 10s: At no time during the 2 hours were they able to see either mount or the Monster cans.
2) SLC 15s: At first I could not see the mounts nor the cans. I was concerned the mounts fell so I threw a spotting scope on and still nada. Drove down and they were where they were supposed to be. Drove back up and continued. As the light changed (more sun) they became visible. Conditions never allowed field judging of any type.
3) Kowa 554: At min and max power, it was about the same as the SLCs. It could never overcome the light and air conditions. It was not enough to "see through the shade" to see the one mount.
4) STX 65: Same results as the Kowa.
5) STX 95: It handled the "shade" better but it too could not overcome the light and air conditions.
Lessons Learned
1) There is no optic that is usable 100% of the time at any specific distance. About $10.5K in optics and none of them could overcome the air and light conditions with two stationary targets with very favorable positions (make seeing them easier and not hiding like a real animal would).
2) All optics will leave you wanting more at some point. Have realistic expectations on what an optic can actually do under a variety of conditions.
3) Glassing an area a couple of times and moving on is a potential waste. Need to spend time and take advantage of the changing light conditions. Those two "deer" would never been located if I glassed the area for a bit and moved on. On a hunt I'd have glassed them up at some point with my SLC 15s (based upon prior experience glassing for extended periods of time in comparable conditions). But that is with me being in my optics for potentially the entire day.
4) Need to figure out what's up with my phone and digiscoping. My money is on the idiot using the phone. Will be picking up a remote.
5) Strongly recommend taking your own mounts and do your own testing.
Side Note: If someone happens to know where this is, it is bone dry but the quail and dove are healthy.
Models
Glassing Knob
