Systems Approach to Hunting Optics, "The Dream Team"

[307]

For discussion purposes, and to help out people who are new to this (very expensive) game what would you put on your Optics Dream Team? Let's assume that you had very generous/unlimited budget for optics, and resale value is 100%, what elements would your ideal Optics System include? From archery hunting elk, to rifle hunting sheep, and everything in between what pieces would you choose?

Let's assume that optical quality was a non issue, IOW, the quality level is the same regardless which element is chosen.

If we can use generic terms, ie 65 mm spotter, rather than specific models and brands it will be more useful for those trying to figure out their own systems based on the experience in this group and eliminate the usual brand comparison pissing matches.

Let's break it down to groups based on the number of elements. Also, let each group stand independent of the others. For example, a 2 element group will likely contain 10x42 binos and a 65 mm spotter but when that person has a 4 element group, they may want 8x42 binos instead and a big spotter (80+mm).

**For the purposes of discussion, a tripod system is assumed and I have not included rangefinders.

For 307; (Archery hunter: Elk, Pronghorn, Deer in Wyoming, Deer and Turkeys western Nebraska)

1 Element: 10x42 binoculars

2 Elements: 10x42 binos, small to medium (65-80mm) spotter

3 Elements: 8x42 binos, 15x56 binos, 80mm spotter

4 Elements: 8x30 binos, 10x42 binos, 15x56 binos, big (80+mm) spotter

5 Elements: 8x30 binos, 10x42 binos, 15x56 binos, small (<65mm) spotter, big (80+mm) spotter

6 Elements: 8x30 binos, 10x42 binos, 12x50 binos, 15x56 binos, small spotter, big spotter

 

[270quest]

My dream setup would be:
Leica Noctovid 10x42
Leica CRF 2000B
Leica Televid HD 25-50x82

My eyes are too close together to use 15x56’s....I currently have two of the three listed, just need the spotter.

 

[carter33]

Interesting thread, I think I understand what you're getting at. For the majority of my hunting I would be in the 2 elements category with the 10x42 bino and small to medium spotter. Which happens to be exactly what I have though of course I would love to have more given an unlimited budget. I will break this down into my most recent as well as next upcoming hunt.

Most recent: Prince William Sounds Bear Hunt (drop off in bay, staying in cabin, had skiff with kicker for transpo, spot and stalk)
For this hunt I would have preferred 2-3 elements including 10x and 15x binoculars as well as large spotter. We would glass from sea level observing coastal mountains. My 10x worked well for scanning quickly and even identifying bears in less dense spots where bears were eating. It would have been nice to have x15 binos for viewing the denser areas as well as after spotting a bear spending time glassing to make sure it was not a sow with cubs and would be stable enough in the skiff. Weight and bulk was not an issue so the larger the spotter the better. From shore we would watch bears we had spotted with the spotter in attempt to gain an understanding of habits, movement and size though we weren't overly concerned with size I could see where some may be.

Upcoming: Drop camp caribou in open country may pack a few miles from camp
For this hunt I would only want 2 elements, the 10x binos to scan as caribou stick out pretty well especially the bulls in open country and can be seen miles away. Also the small spotter to observe bull size especially if two separate groups are viewable. I would choose the small spotter due to weight and the possibility of packing a decent distance. A bull is pretty obvious and I would not need to be verifying size for legality say as with sheep or 4 brow tines on moose which is where I may want a larger objective. Also I am fairly limited on weight for the drop, another reason to go slightly smaller.

Hopefully something like this is what you were getting after but these are just my thoughts.

 

[307]

Carter, I think it's pretty much to the point.

Stated slightly different, if you had "X" number of optics pieces to cover all of the hunting that you do, what would those pieces be?

In the example above, 4 elements were mentioned, 10x, 15x, smaller spotter, big spotter. We certainly wouldn't use all of them for every hunt. Some hunts may be just one or two and others may be more.

 

[carter33]

Gotcha, ya then 4 elements would comprise my dream lineup

10x for standard uses
15x when you just need a little extra and weight isn't much of a concern
65mm spotter for backcountry packing hunts
80mm+ for when weight is not a concern or when judging legality is tough (also thinking glassing animals such as goats before making ascent or scouting)

 

[huntstrong2850]

3 elements primarily mule deer and coues deer hunting...

1: 10x42’s
2: 15x56’s on a tripod
3: 80mm spotter

15’s for primary glassing and locating deer, spotter for judging deer as well as taking pictures.
10’s for the stalk itself


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[mlevimadden]

I'll play along...I'm currently at 2 elements and 4 elements would be my dream to cover all hunts.

1: 12x50 binos
2: 12x50 binos, 65mm spotter
3: 8x32 binos, 12x50 binos, 65mm spotter
4: 8x32 binos, 12x50 binos, 55mm spotter, 95mm spotter
5: I guess throw a set of 15x56's or a BTX in with the 4 elements

 

[Mike7]

1: 10x42 binos
2: 8x32 binos + 15x56 binos
3: 8x32 binos + 12x50 or 15x56 binos + an 80mm or bigger spotter
4, 5, & 6 not needed.

 

[BlackTail]

1. 10x50 Binos
2. 10x50 Binos and 65mm Spotter (current setup)
3. 10x50 Binos, 65mm and 95mm Spotter
4. 8x32 Binos, 12x50 Binos, 65mm and 95mm Spotter

#4 Would cover every hunting scenario I could ever imagine!

 

[307]

I changed my mind. Played around with my daughter's 8x30 binos last night and with my glasses, the FOV is just really small. The 8x42 is worth the weight and size difference over the 8x30.

I think my Dream Team for hunting would be:

8x42, 11x45, 15x56, 55mm spotter, 80mm spotter

I'd also like to have the ultralight tripod setup and the full size tripod setup.

 

[dotman]

1 - 12x50 bino
2 - 10x42 RF bino, 55mm spotter
3 - 8x42 RF bino, 55mm spotter and 88-95mm spotter with extender
4 - 8x32 bino, 15x56mm bino, 55mm spotter and 88-95mm spotter with extender

 

[Boreal]

1 - 9x45 bino
2 - 9x45 bino, 55mm spotter
3 - 8x32 bino, 15x56 bino, 80mm spotter
4 - 8x32 bino, 15x56 bino, 80mm spotter, 55mm spotter

After that I need the mule to carry it all in.

 

[idahohikker]

1. 10x42 bino
2. 10x42 bino plus 65mm spotter (current set-up)
3. 8x42 bino and 15x56 bino and 65mm spotter
4. 8x, 15x bino, 65mm, 80+mm spotter

The main difference I see is whether people go with the big bino or mid-size spotter. There is obviously some preferences between the size of binos and spotters themselves. I don't see a lot of people with the 4 optics set-up so choices have to be made and I think it's really influenced by terrain and animal type. I like the spotter to find bull elk at 3+ miles away.