New Binoculars, spotting scope, or both...

[hereinaz]

Great points by @hereinaz and @Jake Larsen.

I spend 4 months in the southern whitetail woods, and two weeks out west roughly a year and the argument to upgrade binos keeps getting stronger. At least I can convince myself, I am giving myself the best chance to see critters ( to one of your points - cant kill what you cant see)

my wallet hates rokslide. Let us know what you decide OP!

Seriously, before the western hunt, save up and buy a used pair of alpha glass, with the plan to sell them after the hunt for what you paid. I've done that at least 3 times with the same 554 Kowa spotter over the years. That's in addition to all the buying and selling from season to season that I do. Even losing a hundred bucks or so is less than renting them.

The problem with that plan is, you won't sell them...

 

[Jake Larsen]

Seriously, before the western hunt, save up and buy a used pair of alpha glass, with the plan to sell them after the hunt for what you paid. I've done that at least 3 times with the same 554 Kowa spotter over the years. That's in addition to all the buying and selling from season to season that I do. Even losing a hundred bucks or so is less than renting them.

The problem with that plan is, you won't sell them...

Can’t agree more.

A pair of alpha glass binos mounted on a good tripod may be the single most important piece of gear on a western hunt. I grew up in the west hunting walk and glass style. When I got my first tripod and set of SLC HDs, I had been big game hunting for 12 years. It kills me to think back to all the animals I walked by and never even knew were there over the years.


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[hereinaz]

Can’t agree more.

A pair of alpha glass binos mounted on a good tripod may be the single most important piece of gear on a western hunt. I grew up in the west hunting walk and glass style. When I got my first tripod and set of SLC HDs, I had been big game hunting for 12 years. It kills me to think back to all the animals I walked by and never even knew were there over the years.


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I am convinced part of it is because glass has a way to commit you to sit down and just watch more. It has a way to focus the mind.

Agree, the animals are there, you just need to see them.

 

[iflyskyhigh]

This is great. I really appreciate the time and detail you all are putting in.

My buddy and I met today and talked about what we'd like to do this year. We are for sure going to put in for elk. I think our strategy is going to be to put in for the really good hunts with low probability of draw. And if we don't get drawn then just see what's left in the over the counter tags and go from there. We also foresee a coues hunt this year as well.

I think for the time being I'm leaning towards either the 10X or 12X NL's. I'd really like a chance to look through both. Maybe one or there other will stand out to me? On paper the 12's seem like a really good middle of the road compromise. Little more power, but still hand holdable if you need be, while not really giving up much on the FOV.

I will let you know what direction I'm going to go. I don't feel like I'm in a rush to get something. I'm going to try and meet up with @hereinaz at some point in the near future and any one else he can wrangle up and hopefully get a chance to look through some different options to help narrow things down.

Again I really appreciate the time everyone has put in their posts. I know it's time consuming and I am grateful for the input.

 

[Scoutfan]

Question for y'all. Do you think the Leicas range finding binos are a big enough improvement over the revics to use for the majority of tripod glassing when paired with the swaro atc, or so they give up too much compared to the slc and pures?

 

[hereinaz]

Question for y'all. Do you think the Leicas range finding binos are a big enough improvement over the revics to use for the majority of tripod glassing when paired with the swaro atc, or so they give up too much compared to the slc and pures?

My buddy has the Leica 15 rangefinder, and its very good glass. I don't think it gives up much over any premium glass. Of course, it isn't Leica's best glass, and Leica's ultravid glass is as good as Swaro EL. I had a pair of 12x that was similar for long glassing as my buddies with 12 EL.

I don't know about the rangefinders in Revic or Leica...

 

[iflyskyhigh]

I am convinced part of it is because glass has a way to commit you to sit down and just watch more. It has a way to focus the mind.

Agree, the animals are there, you just need to see them.

I'm really excited to get back out there again with a different approach to glassing.

As I said most of the hunting my buddies and I have done has been self guided, learn on the fly, as we go over the past 15 years. Neither one of us grew up hunting, nor are any of family or friends hunters. It's a steep learning curve.

And while we did a lot of glassing it was neither good nor productive. And I think a lot of that was due to poor technique and poor glass quality. I didn't really know what I was doing and spent way too much time trying to look through a spotting scope like a pirate. And a poor quality spotting scope at that. To your point, I'm sure we looked right past a lot of animals in all that time.

Despite all that I actually enjoyed sitting on a the side of hill looking for animals.

I think a solid pair Alpha binos on a good tripod with a good head will be more enjoyable, less fatiguing, and hopefully in the end more successful.

 

[hereinaz]

Despite all that I actually enjoyed sitting on a the side of hill looking for animals.

YES!!!

I beg to go along as a sherpa with friends because I enjoy glassing. I can't say exactly what it is, but it is refreshing.

Having good glass, and then finding success will make it so much more fun and enjoyable for you. Honestly, that's why I push for hunters to at least buy ONE good pair of binos and a tripod. It is worth it. Even if they are "only" 10x binos.

 

[Jake Larsen]

I'm really excited to get back out there again with a different approach to glassing.

As I said most of the hunting my buddies and I have done has been self guided, learn on the fly, as we go over the past 15 years. Neither one of us grew up hunting, nor are any of family or friends hunters. It's a steep learning curve.

And while we did a lot of glassing it was neither good nor productive. And I think a lot of that was due to poor technique and poor glass quality. I didn't really know what I was doing and spent way too much time trying to look through a spotting scope like a pirate. And a poor quality spotting scope at that. To your point, I'm sure we looked right past a lot of animals in all that time.

Despite all that I actually enjoyed sitting on a the side of hill looking for animals.

I think a solid pair Alpha binos on a good tripod with a good head will be more enjoyable, less fatiguing, and hopefully in the end more successful.

I think about it like this: I’ve got two prime hours in a day to find animals. First light, and last light. I’m going to do ALL the work to be in the best possible position for those two windows. If that means getting up at 3 AM and hiking for a couple hours in the dark, so be it. I can sleep during the middle of the day. Or maybe I need to change locations from my morning. I’m going to pick a spot to be set up and in position for that evening session.

Glass better be on the tripod, set up with my layers on and comfortable for that entire prime window. Consistent success is all about efficiency. I used to think about how “hard” I was hunting based on how many miles in a day I covered. I’ve long since realized that’s all backwards. It’s all about putting in high effort towards very specific goals. Energy conservation over the course of the hunt and staying effective. I was absolutely shocked by how much more game I started finding when I utilized glass rather than “covering country” with my feet. Now it’s all about getting to those specific glassing spots at the right times.


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[iflyskyhigh]

YES!!!

I beg to go along as a sherpa with friends because I enjoy glassing. I can't say exactly what it is, but it is refreshing.

Having good glass, and then finding success will make it so much more fun and enjoyable for you. Honestly, that's why I push for hunters to at least buy ONE good pair of binos and a tripod. It is worth it. Even if they are "only" 10x binos.

I find it peaceful and relaxing

 

[iflyskyhigh]

I think about it like this: I’ve got two prime hours in a day to find animals. First light, and last light. I’m going to do ALL the work to be in the best possible position for those two windows. If that means getting up at 3 AM and hiking for a couple hours in the dark, so be it. I can sleep during the middle of the day. Or maybe I need to change locations from my morning. I’m going to pick a spot to be set up and in position for that evening session.

Glass better be on the tripod, set up with my layers on and comfortable for that entire prime window. Consistent success is all about efficiency. I used to think about how “hard” I was hunting based on how many miles in a day I covered. I’ve long since realized that’s all backwards. It’s all about putting in high effort towards very specific goals. Energy conservation over the course of the hunt and staying effective. I was absolutely shocked by how much more game I started finding when I utilized glass rather than “covering country” with my feet. Now it’s all about getting to those specific glassing spots at the right times.


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Okay. Well, that's good, because that's what we were doing. Getting up before sunrise, hiking in to our chosen spot, setting up, and sitting still. Good to know we're on the right track. Hopefully we can be "more productive" in our glassing going forward.

 

[Jake Larsen]

Okay. Well, that's good, because that's what we were doing. Getting up before sunrise, hiking in to our chosen spot, setting up, and sitting still. Good to know we're on the right track. Hopefully we can be "more productive" in our glassing going forward.

If you’re doing that and not seeing game, you need to look somewhere else. Lots of opinions on how long to give it. Definitely species dependent in my opinion. Elk are easy to see. If I don’t see them on the first day, I’m moving on. Deer can be tricker, especially older bucks once they’ve shed velvet. I’ll usually do a morning, evening, and another morning if I’m pretty confident something is there, before moving on. That’s assuming you’ve got a really good glassing spot that allows a good view of the given area. Bears are kinda a whole different ball game. The morning/evening thing doesn’t really apply to them as much


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[iflyskyhigh]

I find it peaceful and relaxing

But maybe it's peaceful and relaxing because I never see anything

 

[iflyskyhigh]

If you’re doing that and not seeing game, you need to look somewhere else. Lots of opinions on how long to give it. Definitely species dependent in my opinion. Elk are easy to see. If I don’t see them on the first day, I’m moving on. Deer can be tricker, especially older bucks once they’ve shed velvet. I’ll usually do a morning, evening, and another morning if I’m pretty confident something is there, before moving on. Bears are kinda a whole different ball game. The morning/evening thing doesn’t really apply to them as much


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You're correct. We're still trying to figure it out. We'll get there, but enjoying the ride in the meantime.

 

[iflyskyhigh]

@Jake Larsen which range finder did you go with?

 

[Jake Larsen]

@Jake Larsen which range finder did you go with?

Sig Kilo 8k. Have buddies that love the Revic. Don’t think you can go wrong with either


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[iflyskyhigh]

Sig Kilo 8k. Have buddies that love the Revic. Don’t think you can go wrong with either


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Seems like Sig is kinda crushing it right meow? I was looking at some of the Revic stuff, but I see a lot of the same complaints with reliability and customer service that I see with the Vectronix stuff. Not quite to the same extent as Vectronix, but in proportionality to their share of the market seems high.

Sig’s move to cover not only the glass but electronics with the Vortex-esqe lifetime no questions asked warranty makes purchasing an expensive temperamental electronic device easier for me.

 

[iflyskyhigh]

Just looking around for the Sig 8K. Lots of OOS and No Longer Available. Wonder if something new is coming with Shot Show?

Probably a good time to just lurk and wait for all the latest and greatest to be released. I’m sure there will be lots of good late model stuff available over the next couple months as people upgrade.

 

[TaperPin]

You're correct. We're still trying to figure it out. We'll get there, but enjoying the ride in the meantime.

It’s cool you’re going about all this in a well thought out way and getting a setup that allows a lot easier use. As the others have said, once you get over the hump it’s fun - and the more fun someone has the more they’ll do it, and the better you get at picking up animals. That’s pretty cool.

I consider a window mount essential to fully use and enjoy a spotting scope - cheap or expensive, everyone should have one. It’s not ideal for a lot of things, but when the car is stopped nothing is easier for a quick peak at a small area. You’ll literally be glassing for fun in areas that otherwise would be passed up simply because it’s too much work to drag out the tripod. Friends and family can easily look at ducks, boats, coyotes, or whatever, and it’s using a scope in situations it otherwise wouldn’t be, and that’s pretty cool.

I’d also suggest a stable table top scope mount for the same reason - it allows a spotter to be used at times when it otherwise wouldn’t be. Sitting on a public picnic table and picking up a bear crossing a hillside miles away is fun for everyone that gets a look at it. Maybe it’s resting on the hood, roof of a car, or just on a bench at the range. Using optics more in any way possible, makes people better at it - kids growing up around optics may have hundreds of hours looking at weird things by the time they’re adults, and that’s pretty cool.

 

[Alpine4x4]

It’s cool you’re going about all this in a well thought out way and getting a setup that allows a lot easier use. As the others have said, once you get over the hump it’s fun - and the more fun someone has the more they’ll do it, and the better you get at picking up animals. That’s pretty cool.

I consider a window mount essential to fully use and enjoy a spotting scope - cheap or expensive, everyone should have one. It’s not ideal for a lot of things, but when the car is stopped nothing is easier for a quick peak at a small area. You’ll literally be glassing for fun in areas that otherwise would be passed up simply because it’s too much work to drag out the tripod. Friends and family can easily look at ducks, boats, coyotes, or whatever, and it’s using a scope in situations it otherwise wouldn’t be, and that’s pretty cool.

I’d also suggest a stable table top scope mount for the same reason - it allows a spotter to be used at times when it otherwise wouldn’t be. Sitting on a public picnic table and picking up a bear crossing a hillside miles away is fun for everyone that gets a look at it. Maybe it’s resting on the hood, roof of a car, or just on a bench at the range. Using optics more in any way possible, makes people better at it - kids growing up around optics may have hundreds of hours looking at weird things by the time they’re adults, and that’s pretty cool.

Totally agree. I throw my scope and window mount in the car everytime we leave just to stop and glass. We live in a big Mule Deer and Elk wintering range so there's always animals to look at. With a digiscoping setup the kids can sit in the front seat with me and see what I see on the phone screen. They love it.

I use this mount with a smallrig fluid head. I just got an Aziak Front Country ballhead to try with it too. I purchased both vortex window mounts and a vanguard window mount and sent them all back in favor of this combo, it just works, has better adjustment and has no slop unlike the other options.

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