Optics and Boot changes

[MossbackBuck]

Writing this in the blacktail section because I’d like some feedback from those that also enjoy being soaked to the bone and hunting timber so thick it’s like dusk all day.

First - I’m looking to consolidate my current optics down to maybe just a pair of binoculars.

Second - Which boots actually stay dry in this country? Ideally a mountaineering style boot, not mucks. And any recommendations on rain pants that are packable for bush-wacking through ferns and blackberries.
*normally I just suffer and stay wet all day, and change back at the truck into dry shoes and pants*

My current gear
Nikon 8x42 Monarch 5
Maven 12x50 B3
Kowa 883 25-60x TE11 eyepiece

Lowa Tibet with gaiters


I originally purchased the Mavens and Kowa spotter with the intention of hunting more open country and amateur phonescope photography but life happened and have had to hunt close to home here in Western Washington and had less time to go take photos. So I’m looking to change both of these out to a more suitable better optic for still hunting the timber that has good low light clarity and for the occasional clearcut opening.

I should also note my rangefinder LED are giving out on me and are not warrantied so I’ve considered a rangefinding binocular as a one size fits all. Looking into 8x42 size in the big 3 brand but am open to everyone’s suggestions.

Here’s a nice little blacktail for attention

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[Ron.C]

I live on Vancouver Island and hunt blacktails in some pretty wet country as well as hunting BC's east kootenays for elk and goat in some pretty wet country for days on end.

I wear hanwag alaska GTX. I treat them with Obenauf's lether. Had these boots for 12 years (several resoles) before the boot itself gave up and started leaking. Bought 2 more pair when they were on sale and I wear them on all hunts in very wet conditions.

Rain Gear - If it's truely a deluge or sopping wet bush, I wear my HH Impertechs with the lighest merino base layers and least amount of clothing underneath that I can get away with.

My "packable" rain gear is from a company in Vancouver BC called Taiga Works. They make very good 3L raingear (in non hunting patterns) but its awesome. Very well vented and it holds up very well in sopping wet conditions.

I use OR gaiters. Work as well as any other and still wear them under the rain pant. as the cover a big chunk of the top of the boot.

As far as bino's, I think it's pretty tough to beat something in the 10x range for all around work. Anything higher sucks in thick timber. I'd also look for the largest Objective lens I could get for its light gathering capability. Buy whatever brand you favour

 

[roosiebull]

If I’m spending your money, I would get 8x42 NL or the 8.5x42 EL for binos (your purpose)

Crispi lapponia have been really good for staying dry, my current pair has stayed dry longer than any other boot and I have had a bunch, zamberlan have been the only other boots I’ve got much life out of in the wet

The only rain gear that I’ve found reliable on the coast in the brush is kuiu Yukon and kutana, the only other hunting brand that is a wildcard to me is first lite omen, I would assume it’s pretty good too, but haven’t proven it. The Taiga mentioned above is something I’m going to look into, I like options, especially good ones

I have used a ton of rain gear over the years and most of it sucks, like getting soaked after a week in the salmonberry and blackberries, and none of it’s cheap

I like the kuiu Yukon gaiters, they hold up and more comfortable than the OR or peax, etc, and in less serious weather I like the kutana gaiters, and they hold up well for what they are.

Even in good rain gear, sometimes damp is as good as it gets, if it’s dumping and blowing 40 all morning, water is coming in through the hood and cuffs, so proper layering is still pretty important, but if it’s not blowing hard, I stay pretty dry in good gear.

I still wear xtratuffs quite a bit, because they of course don’t leak, have the best traction of any boots I’ve worn in varying terrain (especially wet rocks and buckskin wood) and they are very quiet for sneaking and stalking, but of course no ankle support, but I have never had an issue with them and have packed a lot of meat in them over the years

They are not bad to wear all day if they fit well and have felt insoles, but I have worked in them my whole life, so I may be an outlier

 

[Hoodie]

Nice buck! I hunt Cascade blacktails exclusively.

I'll second the Crispi Lapponia as a good waterproof boot. Sno-Seal helps a lot. Another thing that will help is wearing a mid-height gaiter underneath your pants instead of on top of them. This prevents water from wicking down the pant leg into the boot.

As for binoculars, if you're looking for an 8x42 I can't recommend the Opticron Aurora enough. It runs about $1k and punches way above its price range. Only weighs about 25oz so there's a noticeable weight savings over the 42mm alpha models. The Maven B1.2 is also good and so is the Monarch HG. Both are light, but both are a step below the Aurora optically to my eyes.

For an 8x32 I'd recommend the Opticron Verano but they recently discontinued it. I really like a lightweight 8x32 for the timber, but glare is my biggest pet peeve in optics and most 8x32 binos, particularly those with ultra flat fields, tend to suffer from it. I've heard good things about glare control in Leica's 8x32 models, but they don't have enough eye relief for me.

 

[fisherman983]

For me hunting oregon coast i have always used kuiu Yukon for rain gear and the Yukon gaiters
For boots either kenetrek or crispi. Whichever fit your feet best. I liked kentreks until I tried crispi and they fit a little better
I like lapponia and guides

For timber hunting binos the 8x swaro nl pure wins every time

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[casey36]

I hunt mainly NW PA. Our season can be cold and rainy or very cold and snowing. My boot choices are pretty simple, Irish Setter ,all leather Elk Tracker 1000 gram. Treat them with Obenaufs lp, never have my feet got wet. When the temps drop, I switch to Schnee extreme pacs. Work eveytime, warm and dry. If I need rain wear, it's older Columbia Widgeon Wear.
Can't help you binoculars much, I can tell you what I use. I like Leica 10×42 Ultravids. They work great for my needs.

 

[chizelhead]

If you can dry out at night, you might consider just running all wool, top and bottom. I did that for years in the coastal SW Washington rain after trying a bunch of different rain gear and still ending up just as soaked. This was back when Gore-Tex was just coming to market, so yes, it’s been a while. One big advantage of wool was how quiet it was, which really helped for bowhunting. I also felt like I thermoregulated better in it. That said, I now run Kuiu Yukon and Kutana rain gear and would probably go that route today if I were hunting the coastal mountains again.

Boots:
I used to use Sno-Seal, but I found it eventually ate away at the stitching. I’ve switched to Obenauf’s and have had better luck. You’ll get similar features in most quality hiking/mountaineering boots—fit is the most important thing. Lowa and Zamberlan both fit me well. If your Lowas fit and you want to try another boot, Zamberlan is worth a look. In that kind of constantly wet environment, I don’t think Gore-Tex works all that well; it’s hard to keep a boot truly dry for long. XtraTufs sound great for staying out of the water, but they don’t offer much support. Kudos to the folks who can actually hunt in them.

Binos:
How much are you really using binos in the rainforest/jungle? I really like the idea of a rangefinding bino when still-hunting in that kind of forest. There usually isn’t time to drop the binos, grab a separate rangefinder, reacquire the deer, and then get a shot. How many deer have you missed by not having a rangefinding bino?

I think you’re fine with 8x. If you’re going with standard binos, I’d look at the Swaro NL Pure 8x42, or a good used pair of ZEISS Victory 7x42 T* FL or Meopta 6.5x32. I don’t have personal experience with rangefinding binos yet, but I’ve been researching them. If you’re leaning that way, I’d look hard at the 8x42 or 8x56 Leica Geovid R. I don’t think you need to pay up for integrated ballistics, since you probably won’t get many chances to use that feature in that environment.

 

[Steve300xcw]

I'd ditch the spotter.

Been playing with a set of 15x56 b5's for the last year. Damn nice glass but just a bit to much. Planning on trying to trade them off on some 12's for tripod duty. And then round up some 6 or 8x30ish for use in the timber.

 

[blackveltbowhunter]

If hunting straight timber its tough to beat a 8x. The best i have looked thru are pure 8x42. I personally would upgrade the nikons and mothball the other optics for the future. If dead set on elimination then sell them all and get the pure. In 8x. Super wide FOV and bright in low light.

The big factors IMO is not the wet itself. But the temp, how active the rain is, and your activity level.

If your still hunting as soon as you hit the bumper of your rig in downpour conditions life is easy. Pick a PU raingear of your choice, layer wool underneath to your thermostat, combine with appropriate footwear for terrain and enjoy being dry and warm thru any brush and any downpour. This is truly the best.

Unfortunately, it seems I typically have some sort of high exertion prior to getting to where im planning to hunt, and its not always real cold and the rain is off and on. I have not found ANY rain gear that keeps up with my sweat level in mid 40s or higher. I have tried them all, all the top models from the big names and PU gear from grundens and HH. IME the best management i have found is get the big pushes out of the way with merino tops, rapid drying synthetic pant, and good boots and gaiters. I use lapponia boots and kuiu gaiter. I pack a waterproof top (Yukon is the most breathable, Sitka Thunderhead the most quiet, and PU the most waterproof). A dry merino top, and synthetic puffy. I keep this all in a contractor bag until im ready to slow down and hunt. This system allpws me to layer to temp, keeps me dry on top, my feet and lower legs stay warm and dry and I tolerate the waist to knee being damp. Quality synthetic pants dry quickly if its not activley raining or busting brush. If its low 40s or less I swap the synthetic pants for wool and can swap the synthetic puffy for a heavy wool pullover. Wool is super quiet, and will stay warmer when wet, but it also gets heavy when wet and has less flexibility in the fabric if moving alot.