spotter for solo AK backpack sheep hunt— 50,65,80?

[Winternews]

I pulled a sheep tag for kind of a unique area in the Chugach (photo), and have searched the forums but am still trying to figure out my spotter situation. I appreciate the 'buy the best glass' argument, but a couple factors complicate this for me:

-I'm carrying everything in and out on my back
-My budget is sub $1k
-I already own the little 11-33x50mm Razor, so I'm unsure that purchasing a slightly larger scope is a good value

Based on this, I'm thinking it may make the most sense for me to rent, but I can order most non-Euro brands at ~40% off, so the couple hundred $ of a rental plus AK shipping would put me a fair ways toward just purchasing something like the 65mm Athlon Ares.

I'd appreciate any advice here— feedback on currently available options, rental suggestions, or combos of scope body and fixed eye piece to look for used. Would you take the 50mm Razor? Purchase a larger mid-tier scope? Rent a premium one? Let's hear it!

Thanks

 

[hereinaz]

Buy a used Kowa 553/4 for about $1000 and sell it for the same. Lightest and clearest for the money.

Sell the baby razor.

 

[Moosehunter]

Or you could just rent a Kowa 66s

 

[wildwilderness]

Sounds like you are an AK resident? Going solo?

Is this your first sheep hunt?

I personally would like a bigger better glass- saves a lot of hiking in knowing if a ram is legal or not. If it comes down to counting rings; you can’t have too much clarity and magnification… especially if you can digiscope and play back, pause etc.

I have a 65mm swaro and thought of going bigger myself….

Unless you drew one of the very few Any ram tags? Then it’s not so important and can get by with your 50mm if you are ok shooting whatever ram.

Can you borrow one from a friend? Maybe ask around etc? Someone go hunt with you who doesn’t have a tag but wants to hunt the chugach?

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

I pulled a sheep tag for kind of a unique area in the Chugach (photo), and have searched the forums but am still trying to figure out my spotter situation. I appreciate the 'buy the best glass' argument, but a couple factors complicate this for me:

-I'm carrying everything in and out on my back
-My budget is sub $1k
-I already own the little 11-33x50mm Razor, so I'm unsure that purchasing a slightly larger scope is a good value

Based on this, I'm thinking it may make the most sense for me to rent, but I can order most non-Euro brands at ~40% off, so the couple hundred $ of a rental plus AK shipping would put me a fair ways toward just purchasing something like the 65mm Athlon Ares.

I'd appreciate any advice here— feedback on currently available options, rental suggestions, or combos of scope body and fixed eye piece to look for used. Would you take the 50mm Razor? Purchase a larger mid-tier scope? Rent a premium one? Let's hear it!

Thanks

Great area. I’ve climbed and snowboarded the West Twin Pencil Thin couloir.

With your budget, I’d pick up the Athlon Ares 65mm spotter. It’ll work better for sheep than the little Vortex.

 

[Winternews]

Sick. Thanks for the advice!

Sounds like you are an AK resident? Going solo?

Is this your first sheep hunt?

I personally would like a bigger better glass- saves a lot of hiking in knowing if a ram is legal or not. If it comes down to counting rings; you can’t have too much clarity and magnification… especially if you can digiscope and play back, pause etc.

I have a 65mm swaro and thought of going bigger myself….

Unless you drew one of the very few Any ram tags? Then it’s not so important and can get by with your 50mm if you are ok shooting whatever ram.

Can you borrow one from a friend? Maybe ask around etc? Someone go hunt with you who doesn’t have a tag but wants to hunt the chugach?

Thanks for the advice. It’s the DS130, full curl hunt so I will definitely have to be selective.

 

[hereinaz]

Sounds like you are an AK resident? Going solo?

Is this your first sheep hunt?

I personally would like a bigger better glass- saves a lot of hiking in knowing if a ram is legal or not. If it comes down to counting rings; you can’t have too much clarity and magnification… especially if you can digiscope and play back, pause etc.

I have a 65mm swaro and thought of going bigger myself….

Unless you drew one of the very few Any ram tags? Then it’s not so important and can get by with your 50mm if you are ok shooting whatever ram.

Can you borrow one from a friend? Maybe ask around etc? Someone go hunt with you who doesn’t have a tag but wants to hunt the chugach?

I have heard more than one guide say to really count rings you have to be close enough to use smaller spotters.

Whether that’s other’s guides ideas, it makes sense to me given trying to really focus on small things.

Far away it there are just too many physical things that interfere.

 

[Winternews]

really count rings you have to be close enough to use smaller spotters.

I never thought about that, but it makes sense. I’m a first time sheep hunter but have about 40 years of backpack caribou hunts so generally my approach is to bring less of everything. With that lack of experience I am not sure how reliable counting rings would be for me, though. I’m headed in there this weekend to look around so maybe I will find out.

Ben Reynolds— still can’t get over that line. Thanks for sharing the photo. I took a splitboard down from the summit of Carpathian years ago and thought that was steep, but it was pretty much a wide open face of summer snow. That narrow couloir looks like the real deal!

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

I never thought about that, but it makes sense. I’m a first time sheep hunter but have about 40 years of backpack caribou hunts so generally my approach is to bring less of everything. With that lack of experience I am not sure how reliable counting rings would be for me, though. I’m headed in there this weekend to look around so maybe I will find out.

Ben Reynolds— still can’t get over that line. Thanks for sharing the photo. I took a splitboard down from the summit of Carpathian years ago and thought that was steep, but it was pretty much a wide open face of summer snow. That narrow couloir looks like the real deal!

If you want any info on the area where your tag is, feel free to DM me. I know where rams hang out this time of year and make for a great opportunity to observe and practice aging etc. Also, would be interested to know who you are and the story about Carpathian. That thing is a beast!

 

[Snowwolfe]

Nice to see that area has rebounded enough that F&G is giving permits out again. Good luck on your hunt. Tough area.

 

[CMF]

Following.
I just posted a similar thread in the sheep section. I'll be in CO in Aug for an archery hunt. Trying to find a scope for the same budget, sub $1k.
I think a decent 80 will be out of budget, and seems heavier than I'd like, so I'm looking between 55-66....
Leaning toward a used Kowa 554. The only used 664's I can find are on ebay and come from Japan.

 

[Steve O]

Sounds like you are an AK resident? Going solo?

Is this your first sheep hunt?

I personally would like a bigger better glass- saves a lot of hiking in knowing if a ram is legal or not. If it comes down to counting rings; you can’t have too much clarity and magnification… especially if you can digiscope and play back, pause etc.

I have a 65mm swaro and thought of going bigger myself….

Unless you drew one of the very few Any ram tags? Then it’s not so important and can get by with your 50mm if you are ok shooting whatever ram.

Can you borrow one from a friend? Maybe ask around etc? Someone go hunt with you who doesn’t have a tag but wants to hunt the chugach?

This is excellent advice given. The little Swarovski ATC replaced my 65mm ATX but cannot compare with my 95mm ATX. Some weight is worth carrying.

 

[justinspicher]

On both of my AK sheep hunts we used a Vortex 11-33x50 and never really wanted anything more. It was light and that was the deciding factor. The bigger the spotter the more ounces added up. Just my opinion, your mileage may vary.

 

[wildwilderness]

Yes, you do have to get close to know for sure sure and even then it can be nerve racking to decide based off rings.


What I am talking about is saving that extra mile or 3 and maybe a thousand or more of vertical getting close enough to count with a 50mm lower power spotter. A better scope will weigh more but may save a lot of energy just getting closer to a questionable ram.

I have also found it very beneficial as mentioned to digiscope and play back, pause certain angles etc to tell in a ram. Even counting rings on video is way easier. So a better spotter might help with video quality.

But if you are super fit and fast you can cover the distance to make a smaller spotter work for sure. I am just getting old and sore and wanting to save energy if needed to pack out solo! I’ve done it

You should be able to find a full curl on a draw hunt like that. Exciting

 

[Winternews]

Following.
I just posted a similar thread in the sheep section. I'll be in CO in Aug for an archery hunt. Trying to find a scope for the same budget, sub $1k.
I think a decent 80 will be out of budget, and seems heavier than I'd like, so I'm looking between 55-66....
Leaning toward a used Kowa 554. The only used 664's I can find are on ebay and come from Japan.

Good luck on your search. I've ordered a few items— Mont Bell and camera gear —from Japanese sellers with no problem; even send a down jacket back to Japan as a return for refund. No problems yet.