Thought Exercise: Western Hunting Optics

[RickDalton]

Little thought exercise for the group: If you could only have two optics for western hunting (elk, mule deer, bear, moose, antelope, sheep, and goat) what would they be and why? Tripods, rifle scopes, range finders, and accessories don’t count I’m just talking strictly glass.

I’ll go first 12x42 NLP and a Kowa TSN 99.

 

[accountantsanonymous]

Maven B1.2 - 8x42
Maven B5 - 15x56

 

[chicoredneck]

Sig 16x50 Zulu and 85mm BTX

 

[hunthikecamp]

Sig 16x42 Zulu6 - because then 90% of the time i don't need my spotter
Kowa 554 - i have limited experience with high end spotters but i've liked everything i've seen out of this from using a friends. if i'm looking that far out I want to be able to identify legality/general age class, but my hunting style and age class of animals i'm after doesn't justify a giant objective. I'd rather have something i don't mind packing along and save a few bucks

 

[UKwildcatfan]

Swaro 15x and Leica 10x AB+. Why? Cause that's all I need.

 

[PVHunter]

8s in chest harness
15s in pack

 

[RickDalton]

Wow good bit of love for the Zulu's.. never looked through them- Might have to!

 

[chicoredneck]

Wow good bit of love for the Zulu's.. never looked through them- Might have to!

The glass is not the best, but the steady view will make you a better glasser despite that. I find more game with my Zulu’s now than I ever had and it’s because you can pick out small movements so much easier.

 

[RockAndSage]

Little thought exercise for the group: If you could only have two optics for western hunting (elk, mule deer, bear, moose, antelope, sheep, and goat) what would they be and why? Tripods, rifle scopes, range finders, and accessories don’t count I’m just talking strictly glass.

I’ll go first 12x42 NLP and a Kowa TSN 99.

That's a pretty good combo. I'd probably go with 10x42 NLPs for a bit easier off-hand glassing, and Kowa TSN 88 to save a bit of weight. But would be very happy with 12s and the 99. It's a great combo.

 

[wind gypsy]

That's a pretty good combo. I'd probably go with 10x42 NLPs for a bit easier off-hand glassing, and Kowa TSN 88 to save a bit of weight. But would be very happy with 12s and the 99. It's a great combo.

I'd say this too but I haven't used handheld NL 12s to know how bad hand holding would be. They do seem to be easier to hold steady. My 12x50 ELs stay behind when more hand holding and less tripod glassing is on the menu currently.

 

[mainbeam pursuit2]

As of right now, I would go with 10x42 NL's and 15x 56 SLC's.

 

[Elkangle]

12 nls and stx 85, but the stc is my most used spotter and the 115 might be the most importnant but by far least used..

 

[Ajsomp]

I guess I’d have to be realistic - am I looking to range animals greater than 2k? Do I need integrated ballistic solving in my binos?

For me I’m mostly hunting pronghorn, mule deer, and elk out west. I am by no means looking for 400+ inch bulls and 200+ bucks and I do most of my hunts backpack style and spike camp. So I would prioritize two pairs of binos. I just picked up a pair of 8x40 rangefinder binos to try out as my chest binos for both rifle and archery.

The other is a good set of 14/15s- likely Swaro NL pure 14s. There’s a case to have a set of the sign zulu6 12x (understanding the tradeoff between the glass and IS) which would work in the truck and have the ability to swap them out on my chest.

 

[handwerk]

2 hunts so far this fall under my belt with more to go, don't see changing it up:

Leica Geovid 10x42
Swaro STC

 

[Lionhound1975]

Swaro 10x42 NL Pure and Kowa TSN 773

 

[6.5x284]

If I had to pick just two it would be Swaro 12x NL’s and Kowa 66S Spotter. My wife would be happy if I had to sell off everything else


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[z987k]

10x42 NLP and 20-60 ATM.

 

[WRO]

I'd say this too but I haven't used handheld NL 12s to know how bad hand holding would be. They do seem to be easier to hold steady. My 12x50 ELs stay behind when more hand holding and less tripod glassing is on the menu currently.

I have 8 els, 12s, and 14s.

My 12s are my favorite

Take out mountain goats and it’s my stc.

That being said I packed my 95 around a lot this year.


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[RockAndSage]

I have 8 els, 12s, and 14s.

My 12s are my favorite

Take out mountain goats and it’s my stc.

That being said I packed my 95 around a lot this year.


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How are the 12's for you in glassing off-hand? They've seemed marginal to me, but I've wondered if I couldn't get used to them in the field with a little more time behind them that way.

 

[dreamingWest]

Swaro 10x42 NLs
Swaro ATX 65
Remove sheep and my answer changes. But with sheep on the menu, I want a spotter. 65 mm works fine for sheep because low light is usually not an issue and 65 mm packs well. Since I only have one choice left, I want the absolutely best 10x42 money can buy. As far as I know, that's the NL.

Take sheep off the menu:
Leica Geovid Pro 8x32
Swaro NL 14x52
These two would cover everything else very effectively for both archery and rifle hunts.