Treestand Binoculars

[ADKHTR]

Another vote for Swaro 8x32 EL’s

 

[LostArra]

8x32, the best you can afford.

Alpha is the first choice. A bargain option for deer is the Sightron Blue Sky 8x32 HD. On a Rick Young harness it's easy to get a quick one-hand glance. It's so thick I can't see past about 75 yards from most of my deer stand setups and I'm usually just identifying button bucks vs does. I know a shooter buck when I see it.

If I had a nicer rangefinder I would probably go with that.

 

[dreamingWest]

I killed, what at the time was my biggest buck, because I was sitting bored in a tree marveling at the clarity of my new SLC 10x42s. It was about two hours before dark and I wasn't really expecting much action until sunset. My Swaros were new and I enjoyed just looking through them at the brush focusing on various objects, limbs, leaves, squirrels, etc. Doing exactly this on a ridge about 90 yards away...wow huge rack moving through thick brush. Grunt tube...nothing. Frustrated loud grunt...he turns and makes his way right to me.

Silly anecdote! But don't discount binos in the whitetail woods!

 

[JCMCUBIC]

My favorite is a pair of Meopta 7x42's. The biggest pro for them, in my use with RX glasses, is the massive eye relief. Occasionally I'll use one of my other bino's but always wish I had the 7x42's. The 6x exit pupil and 20+mm eye relief make them so easy to get behind, especially at odd angles. They are also very nice in low light.

The biggest downside to them is the weight...they're a chunk. Next downside would be the smaller FOV with the long eye relief. I can live with the con's because of the pro's.

If it's raining, especially if I'm still hunting, I'm usually carrying older Minox IF 6x32 that I don't mind wiping lenses on. I'll be wearing contacts instead of glasses in the rain. The Minox IF's have a LONG depth of focus which is their biggest pro.

Occasionally if I'm wearing contacts I'll use a pair of Meostar 8x32 HD's. Good glass, light weight, great FOV, but shorter eye relief.

I use bino's heavily in the stand. They let me see deer that I would not have seen or been able to pick out from adjoining ridges, brush, etc. They aren't to see the deer I can see easily, they are to see the deer that wouldn't have been seen without them.

 

[Trey Arentz]

I have the Kowa 6.5x32. They are incredible for a treestand bino. There low light capabilities are way better than any binocular I have used, I can actually see later into dusk with them than I can with my own eyes. Paired with a Rick young harness and it's the absolute best treestand system I have found.

 

[Boarmaster]

Yes, same ones I use on all my hunt. Swaro EL 8.5x42. Just right for all my Eastern Whitetail hunting.

 

[ianpadron]

If I'm in the thick woods, my 8x32 ELs are the glass of choice, and one of the few pieces of gear that has never been on the chopping block.

Light, bright, great FOV...just incredible

Shoot, I bring them on high country hunts sometimes and put them on a tripod because they're so excellent.

 

[AlabamaMountainMan]

8x and 10x cover a ton of situations a hunter could face whether they are in thick timber or open terrain. I have never found my Vortex Viper10x42's to be too much here in AL. I am sure something in the 6x range would be just fine. I do like knowing I have that little extra magnification though. During the late season the woods really open up and you can see a long ways even if you cannot necessarily shoot that far.

 

[Boarmaster]

I think some hunters don't see the value in great binos for stalking or treestand hunting woods hunting. I did not either until I really started to learn how to look into the woods and see deer. Not only does it cure the being bored to death but lets me see the deer way before I would otherwise not see or not see as quickly. Having a great bino that has good clear optics will allow you to really pick out that deer in the thick stuff. Its not about seeing from a distance as much as seeing whats there in dense woods. Thats where quality comes in. Although I prefer a 8x42 size bino I would trade a bit of mag and obj size for quality optics everytime for eastern hunting. I wouldn't really want anything less than 8 power as I might end up on a field or a powerline or even a logging road. Field of view certainly plays in as well.

 

[Boarmaster]

If I'm in the thick woods, my 8x32 ELs are the glass of choice, and one of the few pieces of gear that has never been on the chopping block.

Light, bright, great FOV...just incredible

Shoot, I bring them on high country hunts sometimes and put them on a tripod because they're so excellent.

I bet they work great.

 

[hs194565]

For Cheap, I have really liked my Vortex Diamondback 10x50s for hunting edge of woods and fields in Ohio

 

[PSDBowhunter]

I think some hunters don't see the value in great binos for stalking or treestand hunting woods hunting. I did not either until I really started to learn how to look into the woods and see deer. Not only does it cure the being bored to death but lets me see the deer way before I would otherwise not see or not see as quickly. Having a great bino that has good clear optics will allow you to really pick out that deer in the thick stuff. Its not about seeing from a distance as much as seeing whats there in dense woods. Thats where quality comes in. Although I prefer a 8x42 size bino I would trade a bit of mag and obj size for quality optics everytime for eastern hunting. I wouldn't really want anything less than 8 power as I might end up on a field or a powerline or even a logging road. Field of view certainly plays in as well.

I'd like to compare those to my B2's. Looks like they would be a smaller footprint and a little lighter. I know the glass will be better as well being a Swaro, but the Maven's do a good job for the price.

 

[AlabamaMountainMan]

I think some hunters don't see the value in great binos for stalking or treestand hunting woods hunting. I did not either until I really started to learn how to look into the woods and see deer. Not only does it cure the being bored to death but lets me see the deer way before I would otherwise not see or not see as quickly. Having a great bino that has good clear optics will allow you to really pick out that deer in the thick stuff. Its not about seeing from a distance as much as seeing whats there in dense woods. Thats where quality comes in. Although I prefer a 8x42 size bino I would trade a bit of mag and obj size for quality optics everytime for eastern hunting. I wouldn't really want anything less than 8 power as I might end up on a field or a powerline or even a logging road. Field of view certainly plays in as well.

Honestly, the cure for boredom is such an underappreciated pro of having binos.

 

[Long Cut]

8x30 Maven B3’s for me. I’m unsure if the ROI is worth it for 8x30 Swaro’s as the maven’s check a lot of boxes for my uses personally (inside 200 yards mainly)

 

[juju]

Didn't see where you said how you and the stand get to the site. If you're packing a climber a long way in that's different than riding a 4wheeler to a permanent stand. I don't park any nearer my stand than I have to. Sometimes I hunt out of a climber. Low light performance is always a concern. Making a mistake on antlers spread has significant consequences some places.

6x30 or 8x40 for me, depending. I'd have some 8x56 but I have a strong aversion to heavy.