Spotting scopes during archery?

[Coupe de Gras]

This will be my first archery trip and I am trying to decide whether I should invest in a spotting scope or just use my bino's for the archery season. Opinions?

 

[LandYacht]

Save your money


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[Staroutdoorsport]

Depends on where you are hunting, if there is a lot of open area than bring spotter, if its mostly timber with smaller openings binos will be plenty.

 

[KeatonMullenix]

Depends on where you are hunting, if there is a lot of open area than bring spotter, if its mostly timber with smaller openings binos will be plenty.

Pretty spot on here. If it is open country and you have the luxury of passing/picking an animal you’d like to pursue, I would go with a higher quality glass. Meopta has served me well but they aren’t swaros for sure. Glassing bucks at 1000 in less than ideal conditions, the meoptas don’t allow me to see detail. I can see quality but not detail. Different story with swaros.


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[Usi05]

Same situation and I’m going binos after talking to some guys who have been out and done it.

Obviously wide open country might change that.


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[Back Country Hunter 2]

All good advice here. Binos on a tripod will work for most situations.

 

[Coupe de Gras]

It will be more timber with some open areas, I could use either but needed some advice so I wouldn't regret buying/not buying them. Judging by what y'all say i should stick to bino's. Thanks guys!

 

[Swede]

I would spend my money on something else. I very rarely use mine elk hunting or scouting. Most years it stays at home when I go.

 

[jdmaxwell]

I would spend my money on something else. I very rarely use mine elk hunting or scouting. Most years it stays at home when I go.

Same for me

 

[Newtosavage]

I wouldn't consider it a necessity unless you're after a trophy. Might make the difference whether you go after a bull you see 3/4 mi. away, or not. Even then, it may help you decide if a bull is legal or not. My old scope (2 1/2 lbs) used to always stay in my truck but now that I have my tiny little Nikon ED50, it goes in my pack and I never notice it. That scope is lighter than my binoculars!

 

[EDW]

As stated earlier trophy evaluation is the primary advantage for carrying a scope. I still carry one as a habit which seems to be hard to change. I find that a good pair of bino's is all i usually need. Out west I use 10X42 in the east 8X42.

 

[sneaky]

GOOD binos will serve you better than a spotter in the terrain you described.

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[backcountryshaffer]

I glanced at your prior posts and assume that you have not tagged your own elk yet? Leave the spotter on the wish list. What I would suggest is getting a solid tripod setup for your binos. That is where it's at for discovering critters. Spotter should be renamed, it sucks trying to spot game with a monocular scope.

 

[Newtosavage]

What I would suggest is getting a solid tripod setup for your binos. That is where it's at for discovering critters. Spotter should be renamed, it sucks trying to spot game with a monocular scope.

This in spades. I would feel naked without my binos on a good tripod mount. Makes all the difference in the world.

 

[Jpugs]

I would save your money. Especially in the terrain you described. If you don't have quality binos I would spend the money on a good set of 10x42s. Depending on how long I am going out for and if I can spare the weight, I pack my carbon fiber slik tripod and mount the binos on it utilizing the outdoorsman bino stud & tall pan head adapter.... pair that with a phoneskope and the zoom on your phone and you realistically have a very wide angle spotter(and can take good pics/video). If you want to shed even more weight, you can always use your trekking pole as a rest for your binos., works great and any item in your kit that has a multi purpose use is a win win in my book! ( Dont carry a set of poles ? ...find a nice stick)! You will be VERY surprised at how well & far you can see with a nice set of 10x42s on a solid rest. As long as your not trying to sit there and field judge antler score for a giant trophy, there is absolutely no need for a spotting scope, just IMO. ESP, If your out for any legal bull its a no brainer. . The only time I pack a spotter is for mule deer. Hope this helps. Good luck on your hunt and your final decision!

 

[ElkNut1]

Personally, I like having a spotter at camp or in the rig especially in new areas or areas with lots of burns or plain open country with pockets of timber. I have one available when I'm hunting areas that I've hunted for 30 years, reason being is there are times I want to save my legs in the evenings so I head off to specific areas where glassing & spotting an hour or so before dark helps me locate elk for a mornings hunt if desired. I don't do this every evening as many days I'm out all day & do not carry a spotter with me on my OTC elk hunts. Out of state on a decent draw & I'd have the spotter in my pack in open country. I generally am glassing from roads or no more than a 1/4 mile from them to get the needed elevation.

I may only use the Spotter 4-5 times in the month of Sept but am glad I have it when needed. I know it's not a must but I like being prepared for any & all situations once I'm out there!

Here's a photo of me set up glassing elk in the evening, I spotted two bulls at this spot, no way to see or find them with my 10X binos when a couple plus miles is being entertained! The two small red dots is where I spotted the bulls, Good luck!

ElkNut/Paul

 

[Coupe de Gras]

Thanks guys, I already have a tripod setup. I will be hunting a burn area so the trees weren’t really a concern for me. Sorry I guess I should have been more specific. I have hardly any trees where I live so when I get around a few trees they are a lot. The timber will be close to what the picture elknut posted.