Mule deer optics

[tommynealy]

Going to Colorado next year for my first backcountry hunt. I have a nice set of 8x42 binos and a low/mid grade 20-60x60 spotter. If I were to buy another optic before my trip should I get a set of 15x56 binos to run on my tripod or upgrade my spotting scope?


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[CApighunter]

15s were a game changer for me this year; that’s the direction I’d go instead of a spotter.

 

[tommynealy]

15s were a game changer for me this year; that’s the direction I’d go instead of a spotter.

Do you still carry a spotter or just save the weight?


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[CApighunter]

Do you still carry a spotter or just save the weight?


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I’ll take a spotter for pre season scouting when I’m not packing a weapon but during season I just take my 9s on my chest and 15s for the tripod. They’re smaller and lighter than the spotter and easier to use for long periods of time.

 

[idahohikker]

If you want to judge a mule deer more than a mile and a half away, a spotter is the ticket. Most of the hardcore mulie guys I know and watch carry spotters, at least 65mm, unless hunting timbered country. Caveat: some guys just hate glassing or judging with one eye.

The Athlon Ares is a great mid range option. Feel free to search on here for it and you’ll find a bunch of happy campers.

 

[Nickofthewoods]

If this is your first Western style hunt I would ditch the spotter. I carry 10x42 Nikons in my chest pack and 15x50 Vortex Vipers w/ tripod in my pack (and I think I'll jump on the 12x50 only bandwagon someday soon). I'm one of those that hates looking through a spotter with one eye and I also don't really try to field judge an animal's score via optics. 15's (and usually my 10's) are good enough for me to determine whether or not I'm going to pursue something.

 

[tommynealy]

If this is your first Western style hunt I would ditch the spotter. I carry 10x42 Nikons in my chest pack and 15x50 Vortex Vipers w/ tripod in my pack (and I think I'll jump on the 12x50 only bandwagon someday soon). I'm one of those that hates looking through a spotter with one eye and I also don't really try to field judge an animal's score via optics. 15's (and usually my 10's) are good enough for me to determine whether or not I'm going to pursue something.

How do you like the vipers compared to higher end glass?


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[Nickofthewoods]

They have been great especially for the price (picked mine up used for $400) and you cant beat the Vortex warranty. But the only better ones I have used were a friend's Swaros so I can't draw many field comparisons. They are lighter and less bulky than the Vulture 15x56 for example but you lose a little field of vision, and brightness in really low light.

 

[Jimss]

Are you interested in just spotting deer or are you interested in spotting plus field judging bucks? If field judging isn't important to you I would buy 15x binos and scratch the spotter idea. If you are like me and trophy judging is super important I would go with 8 or 10x binos plus a spotter. It may be frustrating spotting a buck with 15x binos across a canyon and not being able to get an estimate of score, You can likely tell if it's 170 or 180 class buck with a spotter? If that doesn't bother you then go for 15x!

You will find out in a hurry that it is next to impossible to field judge game with 15x unless you are super close. You'll also find out that you can spot an antler, ear, or rump of a buck in a small patch of trees with a spotter that you won't be able to find with 15x binos. I am super confident that I can find more game in big canyon country with my 10x binos plus Swaro scope than anyone with 15x binos! It may be tedious but I can find game that are impossible to find and field judge with 15x.

With that said, I'd love to have a pair of 10x, 15x, plus Swaro spotter on a hunt! Guys are right that 15x would be nice to spot game in vast, open areas. I haven't gotten to the point where I want to swap back and forth between 15x and a spotter on a tripod....which likely would work well together. I'm usually trying to figure out strategies to loose weight in my pack so I'm not too terribly interested in 15x binos!

 

[tommynealy]

Are you interested in just spotting deer or are you interested in spotting plus field judging bucks? If field judging isn't important to you I would buy 15x binos and scratch the spotter idea. If you are like me and trophy judging is super important I would go with 8 or 10x binos plus a spotter. It may be frustrating spotting a buck with 15x binos across a canyon and not being able to get an estimate of score, You can likely tell if it's 170 or 180 class buck with a spotter? If that doesn't bother you then go for 15x!

You will find out in a hurry that it is next to impossible to field judge game with 15x unless you are super close. You'll also find out that you can spot an antler, ear, or rump of a buck in a small patch of trees with a spotter that you won't be able to find with 15x binos. I am super confident that I can find more game in big canyon country with my 10x binos plus Swaro scope than anyone with 15x binos! It may be tedious but I can find game that are impossible to find and field judge with 15x.

With that said, I'd love to have a pair of 10x, 15x, plus Swaro spotter on a hunt! Guys are right that 15x would be nice to spot game in vast, open areas. I haven't gotten to the point where I want to swap back and forth between 15x and a spotter on a tripod....which likely would work well together. I'm usually trying to figure out strategies to loose weight in my pack so I'm not too terribly interested in 15x binos!

I won’t be trying to field judge bucks but I’m definitely concerned that with just the 15’s I won’t have enough power to pick out animals that are far off. I’m almost thinking about a compact 50mm spotter that can meet in the middle and only carry one tripod optic. Still have my 8’s on my chest.


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[idahohikker]

I won’t be trying to field judge bucks but I’m definitely concerned that with just the 15’s I won’t have enough power to pick out animals that are far off. I’m almost thinking about a compact 50mm spotter that can meet in the middle and only carry one tripod optic. Still have my 8’s on my chest.


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Downvote on the 50mm spotter. You lose so much. Look at the 65mm ones. Many are plenty light and packable. Glassing with a spotter is awesome. I agree completely with jimss. That weird looking bush at 3 miles is a sweet deer that you should go after, what a feeling.

 

[tommynealy]

Downvote on the 50mm spotter. You lose so much. Look at the 65mm ones. Many are plenty light and packable. Glassing with a spotter is awesome. I agree completely with jimss. That weird looking bush at 3 miles is a sweet deer that you should go after, what a feeling.

Just curious what you mean by losing so much with the 50 compared to 65?


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[idahohikker]

Light transmission, brightness, clarity, etc. Read up on the small spotters before buying. Kowa and Nikon make nice ones but it's a niche market for a reason.

 

[kabarNC]

After my first mule deer hunt with just 10x42 binos, even tho i was successful i will be bringing a spotter next time to let my eyes do some of the hiking. I bought a Kowa 773 with wide angle 20-60 eye piece and love it.

 

[tommynealy]

I’m really liking that Athlon Ares 15-45x65. Perfect range to replace 15x binos and a large spotter


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[willfrye027]

I won’t be trying to field judge bucks but I’m definitely concerned that with just the 15’s I won’t have enough power to pick out animals that are far off. I’m almost thinking about a compact 50mm spotter that can meet in the middle and only carry one tripod optic. Still have my 8’s on my chest.


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I think the 15s are much easier to spot animals with compared to a spotter. I was glassing up high country bucks at 2.5 miles (by google earth) with 15s and then getting an idea of their frame with my spotter. Looking with two eyes just helps things pop out to me compared to a spotter. The exception might be looking far off into shade trying to find a bedded buck...even then I mostly use the 15s.

 

[RRJ]

I’m currently looking into all of the same options. Does anyone have experience with the Athlon Ares warranty? I have some Vortex glass and I know there service is great

 

[Touchdown88]

I bought the new Leupold Guide Pro 15-45x65mm for the hunts last year. It's a bit on the heavy side but I'm a firm believer of letting my eyes cover the distance instead of my feet.

I've had this scope next to Swaro ATS HD and found the color to be very similar. The Sawo will also give you a few more minutes in the morning and evening of glassing but it's also 1.5K cheaper.

 

[tommynealy]

That Leupold guide pro looks very nice. Definitely heavier than the Athlon Ares. It also seems to have much narrower field of view from the specs on their websites. That would be a much bigger deal to me than the weight.


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[idahohikker]

Dude, you’ll see how much people love the Athlon if you read reviews about it. The warranty is solid if you ever need it and it’s not common that you would. Buy one and be done with it. I’m keeping mine for a long time.