Spotters for backpack hunts

[dangerousD]

Wondering what most of you guys are carrying on backpack hunts for spotting scopes in terms of size? Would be great to have the Vortex 20-60x85, but can't decide whether that's too much weight to lug around. This will be my first spotting scope. When you guys/gals have the choice and money was not the deciding factor, do you generally prefer the bigger scopes? I suppose a lot depends on the specific hunt or area, but for the near future this will be for mostly elk hunting. I've pretty much narrowed my selection down to the Vortex Razor line, but can't decide which one. Thanks any input!

 

[bbrown]

65mm is the best comprise of weight and performance. Unless you can swing 2 - then the 50/85 combo would be hard to beat.

 

[Matt Cashell]

65mm is the best comprise of weight and performance. Unless you can swing 2 - then the 50/85 combo would be hard to beat.

I think this is good advice.

However, I don't really have any regrets on carrying my 85mm spotter on several solo hunts last season. i have also backpacked the very 85mm Razor the OP mentioned, and while it was a big load when you add in the kind of tripod you need also, it was sure nice when you got to your spotting area.

If you are going with a partner all the time, I like the 85mm, where you can split the tripod and scope between two.

 

[a3dhunter]

I'm not trophy hunting and not counting inches, so the 50mm works for me. If the difference between 10" on a buck or 20" on a bull made a difference to me then I would like having a bigger scope.

 

[couesbitten]

I'm not packing a Razor, but it is a 65.

 

[luke moffat]

I'm not trophy hunting and not counting inches, so the 50mm works for me. If the difference between 10" on a buck or 20" on a bull made a difference to me then I would like having a bigger scope.

Not much of a trophy hunter either, more of a freezer filler, but often times legality hangs on antler configurations up here so for moose and sheep especially where you are counting browtines or judging antler spread or looking for a full curl on a sheep it makes sense to have the best glass you can have.

I believe (but really dont' know cause I've only seen one elk in my entire life) there are antler restrictions on elk and maybe even deer? So if hunting in such units a bit more power might be nice as well. But I'm a 85mm with a 20-75X guy.

 

[littlebuf]

go big or go home. little baby spotters are for wuss's. if a smurf like luke can pack one all over creation you dont have any excuses

 

[luke moffat]

Says the guy that rides a buffalo in on all his hunts

 

[dirtytough]

I like a big spotter also and it doesn't matter if I have a partner or not with me. If 2 guys go then we bring 2 big spotters.

 

[littlebuf]

Says the guy that rides a buffalo in on all his hunts

You know how lazy buffalo's are? I end up packing that damn thing too. So a 85 mm spotters nothing

 

[Justin Crossley]

IMO if you are just using it for elk, the 65 would be a great choice.

If you plan to use it for deer, go with the 85! You won't regret it.

 

[pyroducksx3]

I have a ziess 85 with the 75x eyepiece. I love that spotter it allowed me to harvest two animals this year. One a longrange identification where I picked up a crabclaw on a deer. The second I spotted an elk in the brush it had fork on one side but I was able to positively identify the spike on the other at 409, a 65 might have done this also but for day hunts I will always carry the 85. With that said On my backpack hunts because Im looking for a big deer I dont necessarily need the ability to pick up the little points just get a good idea of the animal we pack my buddies swaro 65mm 20-60 which I think is the best backpacking spotter.

 

[dangerousD]

Thanks everyone for the added perspective. Maybe I'll buy the big one now and add the 65 or 50 next year. Or the 65 now and 85 next year. Ugh... I don't think I "need" the big one for my hunting purposes this season but I'm still leaning towards the "Go big or go home" mantra for this purchase. Thanks guys!

 

[Mad Mountain Mike]

If I were to buy another spotter for backpacking it would be the zeiss dialyt 18-45x65. Light, compact and quality glass for a mid range price.

 

[WestDan]

Love the nikon fieldscope ed 50 13-30 for light, excellent glass. Certainly the larger spotters will pick up some more but I like this option when packing deep.

 

[luke moffat]

If I were to buy another spotter for backpacking it would be the zeiss dialyt 18-45x65. Light, compact and quality glass for a mid range price.

Having looked through one I'd pick the vortex 65mm over that Zeiss any day of the week. Roughly the same price range and I feel the vortex is superior, granted it weighs about 8 oz more but it's worth it to me to have the straight angle and not the super limited eye relief of the Dialyt.

 

[Matt Cashell]

Having looked through one I'd pick the vortex 65mm over that Zeiss any day of the week. Roughly the same price range and I feel the vortex is superior, granted it weighs about 8 oz more but it's worth it to me to have the straight angle and not the super limited eye relief of the Dialyt.

I am with you Luke. The Razor also has better eye relief and is more easily adaptable to digiscoping.

 

[5MilesBack]

I'll just throw this out there.........in over 30 years of elk hunting I have NEVER once taken a spotting scope. So.......from that perspective, I don't know what to tell you. Don't buy something that you'll eventually just leave at home or the truck anyway. I have 65mm scopes.

 

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

I'll just throw this out there.........in over 30 years of elk hunting I have NEVER once taken a spotting scope. So.......from that perspective, I don't know what to tell you. Don't buy something that you'll eventually just leave at home or the truck anyway. I have 65mm scopes.

You can toss your used spotters my way

 

[Craig Van Arsdale]

I prefer the bigger spotters. Carry an 80mm