Spotting Scope for sheep

[Remps17]

Hey everyone

Just joined up here and this is my first thread. I am looking into getting a spotter for sheep hunting. I have been hunting for years but just getting into sheep hunting. I live in Alberta so I will be targeting Big horn. I do lots of backwoods trips and I am looking for a light weight spotter. I am wondering if I should sacrifice weight for higher power or stay lower power and save the weight.

I am looking at the Vortex razor line as of right now. Wondering if you guys might have another brand o think of checking out.

Thanks a bunch

 

[Cripler]

The size and power of spotter is going to be personal preference. If you want to haul a larger spotter in you will take a weight penalty but will see a little father and might see if a ram is worth going after on the legal side from afar. I went smaller saved a bit of bag space and weight. The money you save going smaller you can put towards better glass. Get the Best you can afford or want to afford.

 

[Broomd]

If legality is an issue, and it should be there in AB, go for a Leica 62 (or newer 65mm) apo on non, or a swaro 65mm HD or non.
You'll likely want angled for looking upwards...but straight would probably suffice. A huge objective 80mm isn't necessary.

There are other alternatives (Vortex razor 65mm HD, etc.), but since you asked for opinions...

 

[bobhunts]

There was a review on here regarding spotters. Not sure how to find it ..but it would be a good resource for you. I use a big Meopta and looking at a smaller Swaro or maybe a Razor??? Not this year but soon.

 

[JP100]

I have the Razor 65mm and I am happy with it. But if you have the cash go Swaro. They are better.
Big 85mm scopes are way better BUT BIG and HEAVY and you also need a bigger tripod to stabilize a bigger scope.
With a smaller scope you can use a smaller tripod so you have to factor in that weight aswell.

 

[Bambistew]

I have a 65mm Diascope with a neoprene cover... it weighs exactly the same as a bare 85mm Swaro. The bigger glass is worth it IMO. If I didn't already have a scope I would buy a 85mm Swaro in a heartbeat. Nothing.compares when it comes to judging rams at long range.

 

[6mm Remington]

I know that Leica makes impressive spotting scopes and I've heard good things about Vortex scopes. That being said for what you are looking for, this might be a very good one for you. I've always had great luck with Leupold and this is going to be my next spotting scope. It is short and compact and is something weight wise that a person would carry all the time. To me the power range is about right also because I have found that it is hard to spot with the higher power scopes when the wind is blowing and such and the darn scope is vibrating and moving. This to me seems about right! Best of luck and I sure would like to see some sheep pictures!!

David

https://www.leupold.com/hunting-shooting/spotting-scopes/gr-spotting-scopes/gr-15-30x50mm-compact/

 

[LandYacht]

I used my 65 mm Swaro STS HD and was never disappointed last year. I've never had the chance to use bigger glass, so I can't compare them, but I could see the sheep just fine with the smaller glass. I wouldn't want to have one ounce more on my pack when climbing up after them.

Sent from my VS986 using Tapatalk

 

[PA 5-0]

I run a Swaro ATM65 angled and love it. I would never buy a straight for Mntn hunting. That said, my dall guide last year had a Leica 85mm. The light gathering capabilities of the big boy was very noticeable. Downside was the weight was just as noticeable. Spend the money once and pass the glass on to ur grandchildren. Best of luck, Dan

 

[RyanC]

I have hunted sheep with 65mm and 85mm glass. After using 85mm glass I won't go back....at least while I can still pack the extra weight (grin). The light gathering ability is worth the extra weight in my opinion. I look at other items in my kit to cut weight but glass just isn't something I am willing to compromise or settle on in the sheep mountains. As far as brand.....like others have said buy what you can afford. I would go with Vortex Razor or if you can afford it Swarovski (angled for mountain hunting).

Happy Hunting

RC

 

[handwerk]

View attachment 37662

If you can fund a swaro I'd look hard at going with the 80MM, I've had both and for the extra 9oz./2" it's well worth it.
Here are my 2 side by side before I sold off the 65mm.

 

[back country]

I'd look hard at the swaro atx 65 mm...I've compared mine side by side with the swaro ats 80 mm along with a couple buddies while we were scouting in the high country and 2 of us (myself one of them) thought that the 65 mm was a tad brighter and also had slightly better edge to edge quality. The third guy said it depended what he was looking at to determine what scope seemed brighter and crisper to his eyes.

Also compared it side by side at last light in october hunting mulies with a friend's razor hd 85 mm, and the swaro was hands down better in the low light.

Go swaro and don't look back. You'll never be in the market to upgrade again if you do. Also the 65 mm is roughly 3.5 lbs (can't remember exactly) and doesn't take up as much space compared to an 80 or 85 mm scope. Both very important qualities for gear when sheep hunting.

 

[luke moffat]

I have been using a Zeiss 85mm diascope for the last 4 years. Before that I had a Swaro 65mm ATM HD and before that a Swaro 65mm ATS non-HD. All are great and IMO if I was going to go back to a 65mm class spotter I would go back to Swaro no doubt.

That said I really like my Zeiss and it was an improvement for to for picking up details like counting brow tines on moose and judging sheep over my 65mm 20-60 HD Swaro. While I can't always use the 75X on the eyepiece of my Zeiss due to atmospheric condtions its easy enough to dial back when I can't use it. However often I can and I like having that option to crank er down and suck it in close. Can't really go wrong with top tier glass. That said better to go with a mid priced spotter this year than skip a year of hunting because you are saving for a top tier spotter. Time afield always trumps gear.....

 

[jherald]

Love my 65mm with 20-60 eyepiece.

 

[hunt'n'photos]

I picked up a Razor 65mm last year before sheep season and have used it on numerous hunts now. You won't regret that choice. A hunting partner an I compared it to his swaro hd and there is so little difference for half the price, and that was only in real low light.

 

[dotman]

I have a 65mm Diascope with a neoprene cover... it weighs exactly the same as a bare 85mm Swaro. The bigger glass is worth it IMO. If I didn't already have a scope I would buy a 85mm Swaro in a heartbeat. Nothing.compares when it comes to judging rams at long range.

Think you mean 80mm Swaro, the 85mm atx is a pig at 75ish oz. The 80mm sts/ats is 57oz.

 

[AKMAN]

I picked up a newly discontinued, angled Razor HD 16-48 by 65mm the night before my sheep hunt. (2.5 weeks ago) It was on sale and I just got paid.
It doesn't weigh appreciably more than my old Redfield and the optical quality was waaaaaaaay better.
I've heard good things about the Vortex warranty; part of the reason I got it.
It made looking at sheep and other critters all the more fun. Bet you could find one soon for sub-$900.

 

[Shrek]

My ATX 85 weighs 72 oz with both lens covers and a large Jim White adapter plate. It may be a pig but it's one high performance pig ! If I ever go sheep hunting it's coming with me. I've gotten used to Swarovski glass and everything else now looks bad to me. If I was going to the sheep mountains every year I'd have good glass. An ATS 65 at least. ATS 80 is about the best weight to performance balance but I think the Meopta S2 edges it out in the optical performance department. ATX 85 or 95 are in a league of their own imo.

 

[garyw]

TMK has a new leupold 15x30x50mm with tripod and case for a very good price. check him out.

 

[robllachance]

angled or straight?