What size spotter for spring bear?

[ThunderJack49]

I use a spotter for bear hunting. It’s a fixed 20x Leupold.

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I am currently re-evaluating life.

 

[j3h8]

Thanks for the input everyone. My wife is especially excited that everyone agrees the spotter I already own is good enough and that we don’t “need” to spend money on more gear

First mistake, not buying a new spotter as soon as you thought you needed one. Second mistake, letting your wife know you didn't need the spotter because the internet folks told you so.

Always take the low road and purchase first, ask forgiveness after.

 

[j3h8]

I am currently re-evaluating life.

I have a fixed 20x Leupold spotter if one determines your life needs one.

 

[mtwarden]

I use a spotter for bear hunting. It’s a fixed 20x Leupold.

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I used one as well for several years

BUT recently splurged

 

[TheGDog]

Speaking strictly glassing, regardless of species, I also have the Vortex 11-33x50. BUT.. for me.. what I came to find was that I didn't like that when I decided something needed a closer look, I always had to commit to memory a nearby larger object... because then I'd have to lower the tripod down more to put an Angled optic on. And you invariably have to spend a lil time re-acquiring target to some degree.

Bought the Zeiss 65mm Dailyt which I love the amazing image. But felt it was a little heavy for this steep place I was trying to climb my fatassi self up to. So knew I wanted to try another Straight-body, cause it's nice, I don't hardly have to re-adjust where it's pointed at when swapping optics with adapter plate-based systems.

Came real close to pulling the trigger on an STC, but needed it to arrive quicker then they'd be ready for sale by.

Ended up scoring a used Maven S.2 12x27 spotter. I'm likin' it soo far. And for protecting it in the pack I can just shove it into an old MotoX sock, then slip it into my side pocket on the pack, easy-peasy. Makes it faster to retrieve outta the pack too.

EDIT: Note, another facet of my decision was how most of the smallest angled scopes DON'T allow you the luxury of being able to rotate the body of the scope while it's mounted on the tripod. And among the more thick Chaparral areas I'll go to... this disallows you the ability to stretch that tripod up tall so you can look OVER the top of the taller vegetation found there. Especially when trying to look downhill over vegetation, the angled body inhibits that scenario.
-G

 

[Thisisme2828]

Speaking strictly glassing, regardless of species, I also have the Vortex 11-33x50. BUT.. for me.. what I came to find was that I didn't like that when I decided something needed a closer look, I always had to commit to memory a nearby larger object... because then I'd have to lower the tripod down more to put an Angled optic on. And you invariably have to spend a lil time re-acquiring target to some degree.

Bought the Zeiss 65mm Dailyt which I love the amazing image. But felt it was a little heavy for this steep place I was trying to climb my fatassi self up to. So knew I wanted to try another Straight-body, cause it's nice, I don't hardly have to re-adjust where it's pointed at when swapping optics with adapter plate-based systems.

Came real close to pulling the trigger on an STC, but needed it to arrive quicker then they'd be ready for sale by.

Ended up scoring a used Maven S.2 12x27 spotter. I'm likin' it soo far. And for protecting it in the pack I can just shove it into an old MotoX sock, then slip it into my side pocket on the pack, easy-peasy. Makes it faster to retrieve outta the pack too.

EDIT: Note, another facet of my decision was how most of the smallest angled scopes DON'T allow you the luxury of being able to rotate the body of the scope while it's mounted on the tripod. And among the more thick Chaparral areas I'll go to... this disallows you the ability to stretch that tripod up tall so you can look OVER the top of the taller vegetation found there. Especially when trying to look downhill over vegetation, the angled body inhibits that scenario.
-G

It’s funny you mention Maven. The one I was thinking about buying to replace or supplement my small razor is the maven CS.1A. It is about 15oz heavier but very comparable in length. I just like the idea of a little higher magnification and larger objective lens. But then again, ounces are pounds and pounds are pain.

 

[TheGDog]

Grin and bear it, and pop for the better glass man. If you have to, be patient and keep checking the Used Gear listings on here.

ESPECIALLY for binos! It's even more important for Binos IMO. Because on the better binos, the Depth-of-Field of the image, how much of where you're pointing the optic at, at the focused upon distance... how much in front of, and behind the intended object you can still see without needing to further adjust the focus.. is SO MUCH BETTER on higher tier binos man! (And Of Course the main reason is the brightness, contrast, and sharpness)

So as a result, your brain is processing much more image data at-a-time in the FOV as you scan across the terrain (not as important when you're just glassing an opposing ridge, but instead where you're on the flatlands and making use of one. That Depth-of-Field is nice!

On the lesser tier binos, you'll do more hunting back-and-forth with the focus ring, which over the course of the entire day can cost you more time to process thru an area you're glassing-up.

Make sure the Tripod you have, or that you buy is rated to hold enough oz to be able to properly support the type of spotter you'd like to run. Especially important when you're looking at getting a lighter weight tripod and being weight conscious.

 

[Goody454]

Grin and bear it, and pop for the better glass man. If you have to, be patient and keep checking the Used Gear listings on here.

ESPECIALLY for binos! It's even more important for Binos IMO. Because on the better binos, the Depth-of-Field of the image, how much of where you're pointing the optic at, at the focused upon distance... how much in front of, and behind the intended object you can still see without needing to further adjust the focus.. is SO MUCH BETTER on higher tier binos man! (And Of Course the main reason is the brightness, contrast, and sharpness)

So as a result, your brain is processing much more image data at-a-time in the FOV as you scan across the terrain (not as important when you're just glassing an opposing ridge, but instead where you're on the flatlands and making use of one. That Depth-of-Field is nice!

On the lesser tier binos, you'll do more hunting back-and-forth with the focus ring, which over the course of the entire day can cost you more time to process thru an area you're glassing-up.

Make sure the Tripod you have, or that you buy is rated to hold enough oz to be able to properly support the type of spotter you'd like to run. Especially important when you're looking at getting a lighter weight tripod and being weight conscious.

Great advice/insight on the Binos.

I’ve always used lower-tier Binos in the past and have just recently been able to appreciate better glass. I agree with your comments on focusing and wasting time.

 

[packgoatguy]

Kowa 553 works great for me. But my 14 year old son finds bears 2200 yards away a half hour before dark with his 10x25 Bushnell Legend Ultra HD binos...

 

[Blind Squirrel]

Kowa 553 works great for me. But my 14 year old son finds bears 2200 yards away a half hour before dark with his 10x25 Bushnell Legend Ultra HD binos...

Young eyes, I remember those days

 

[SteveAndTheCrigBoys]

Swaro STC came in handy this weekend glassing big country. Picked up a bear 5 groundmiles away. Not sure how to calculate the exact straight line distance.

 

[TheGDog]

Kowa 553 works great for me. But my 14 year old son finds bears 2200 yards away a half hour before dark with his 10x25 Bushnell Legend Ultra HD binos...

The glass on those Bushnell Legend HD's is actually very good. I happen to have the 10x42 Monocular of that line.

 

[TheGDog]

Swaro STC came in handy this weekend glassing big country. Picked up a bear 5 groundmiles away. Not sure how to calculate the exact straight line distance.

Easy-Peasy. Just go into Google Satellite View and do RtClick and fuss with measuring the distance of points you can plop down on the Satellite image it shows you.

 

[Jason Snyder]

I was wrong, this is actually a 25x. Pretty good scope. Here in a few years I’ll likely upgrade to a Maven and get a new tripod head.

 

[Taudisio]

Through my 10x binos at 1.45 miles. The bear looks better with your eyes. It’s hard to line up an iPhone to the eye cup, while they are still attached to my chest, for a picture. Saw 10 bears over 5 evenings hunting.

 

[7mm-08]

I used one as well for several years

BUT recently splurged

And a HELL of a splurge it was. Great choice in glass. I'm "suffering" with a Kowa 554, but contemplating the new little Swarovski as an upgrade.

 

[BBob]

I used one as well for several years

I had one too way back. Late 80’s? Early 90’s? Before that it was an early Bausch and Lomb. Too many years ago, I can’t remember it all anymore

 

[mtwarden]

I had one too way back. Late 80’s? Early 90’s? Before that it was an early Bausch and Lomb. Too many years ago, I can’t remember it all anymore

Yeah definitely old school

 

[kodyshriver]

Spring bears in particular, I leave the spotter at home. 10x on a tripod adequately find bear a long long ways away, and FOV is most important to me when a bear could pop out into any opening. I don’t worry about judging because if it’s a big boar, you will know. If you think it “might” be a nice bear, it’s probably not (those are fun to shoot too, though).