Viable Distance for Spotters

Eagle

WKR
Joined
Feb 27, 2012
Messages
1,247
Location
Western Kentucky
Could some of you optics experts help a novice out.

What kind of distances can the different powered scopes offer? For instance, how far off, under average atmospheric conditions, could you determine the number of browtines a bull moose has, or if a ram is full curl or of legal age with the various top end offerings out there (vortex, swarovski, zeiss, leica, kowa, meopta, ect)?

How about a breakdown for the following roughly general groupings:
10-30x50
20-50X65
20-60X85

I'm sure it changes from hunter to hunter and day to day, but just a vague generalization would be very helpful.
 
I was playing with the razor 85 this weekend (purchased a whole bunch of stuff for a display) had it setup on a tripod side by side with a swaro on the other tripod. same power. Im not going to do a review but to answer your question (semi vague) I was glassing the nearest mountain side in average desert archery early season conditions. And was counting a/c units on a building the units were approximately 18x18" and I could make out the grills on the units but no writing or brands/logos. When I got home I googled the location I glassed from and drew a path to the mountain where I glassed the units at. Im not sure if google earth does a "crows fly" measurement or an actual measurement on the terrain for distance. But the path measured 2.3 miles via google earth and that was pushing the limit for the optics pretty far. I would consider that to be my opinionated "max" for the biggest spotters you mentioned. It would take some time to guesstimate tines or guess curl but with the right angles on an animal I think you could do it at that distance with quality 80-85 mm spotters.
 
I cannot give you examples of moose and sheep.

but for blacktail's using a nikon ed50 during morning light (sun is up, no heat waves) I can see a forky out 2-3 miles for sure. If it is a small antlered deer its backdrop would have to be perfect. There is distortion on the antler and if it had crab claws in the fronts I would not be able to see them.

for a nikon ed60 I was able to see the crab claws on the fronts (2-3 miles). the distortion of the antler is far less and if it was a small buck and the antlers did not blend with teh back drop I can make out probably a 8-10" antler on its head.

this was my comparison this year useing both and glassing up bucks.
 
I think you are going to get a varying audience and group of questions here. One guys visual mile may be 2-3 or vice a versa. Just like every mans inch is different :)
 
Hardstalk, congrats on your new spotter. It definitely will serve you well in your hunting adventures. Maybe you will spot them nasty ole mountain lions before they can get in your tent and eat your cookies, lol. Thats definitely one of my favorite stories. We'll have to hook up again one of these years. I enjoyed hunting with you.
Eagle, as you already know daily atmospheric conditions will change and will change the effectiveness of the scope. But when you can count tines at 2 miles as stated above with an ED-50 or 60, well thats pretty dang good optics. Just imagine what the 20x60x80's can do. Optics have come a long ways and it goes to show that it doesn't take a huge scope to get the job done and be an effective hunter. Are you researching and in the market to buy a scope? fatrascal.
 
Back
Top