timber hunting scopes

[VernAK]

Are you stand hunting or mainly walking-up deer? Makes a difference imo.
Trijicon accupoint 1-6 for me, Ive only had mine a year but really like the scope, and prefer it to others Ive used for the purpose for many years. Great eyebox, good glass, reticle is good against the busy background, and the small objective has not been an issue for me with regard to light gathering. If you search “close range scope” “woods scope” and search some specific models on this site you’ll find quite a few similar threads. You’ll want to specify a budget as the go-to choices run the gamut from relatively inexpensive to pushing $2k or more. When I purchased mine I was deciding between it and an S&B 1.5-6. Many of the popular options (2.5-8, etc) were off the table due to previous problems Ive had with reliability.

This is where I'd be with the triangle post reticle.

 

[JohnsIsl]

S&B Polar 2.5-10x50

 

[JO.]

Nightforce 2.5-10x42

 

[willtim]

My 68 yo eyes really like the Leupold illuminated reticle in low light.

 

[sdupontjr]

Accupoint 2.5-10x56 (gave to son) then went to 2.5-10x56 S&B Klassik, then settled on 4-16x56 S&B Polar.

I hunt 90% hardwoods but do hunt other areas. The hardwoods is my family property. I have tried them all except a Hensoldt. From meopta R1, Zeiss victory, diavari (can't hardly find them anymore), Trijicon. All are very nice optics. The Polar, in my books is king. There are several optics, including the much cheaper Accupoint 2.5-10x56, appear to be brighter during daylight. Where the Polar shines is when the sun sets and dusk is upon you, that's where the coatings of the Polar stand out. I chose the #4 reticle because of the illumination. The dot is a pin prick which doesn't overpower your pupil in low light.

The trijicon is the cheapest of them and can be had on sale for $699-$750 if your patient. The illumination is Tridium and self-adjusts as it gets darker. Very good system and no need for batteries. If you're on a budget, get the Trijicon, if you can find a Polar for a good price, it's a no brainer.

Oh, and one other thing, in south Louisiana, when the sun sets, it gets dark, and I mean real dark. There are times when you can hardly see, yet it's still legal hunting times. Alot of it has to do with the foliage and the leaves that haven't dropped. It's doesn't get really cold here until close to christmas, thus all the leaves are still in the trees blocking out the sun. So, when I compare an optic, it's to my settings. Someone out in Utah may claim that a NF or Burris or whatever brand optic gets them to legal light. Not here. Because of my hunting terrain, I needed the best.

 

[JohnsIsl]

Where the Polar shines is when the sun sets and dusk is upon you, that's where the coatings of the Polar stand out. I chose the #4 reticle because of the illumination. The dot is a pin prick which doesn't overpower your pupil in low light.

This

 

[Macintosh]

100% "timber hunting" means totally different things, with totally different priorities, depending on where you are and how you hunt. The guy tracking deer on 100,000+acre wilderness areas covered in timbered mountains and swamps is going to have a very different set of priorities than the guy hunting from a blind looking over an oak flat, and still different than someone hunting in a state with full leaf-cover and shooting hours a full hour after sunset. But they are all "timber hunting". Lots of good options, but impossible to say what might translate best for where and how the OP will use it.