What would you chose if you had a choice.

[5MilesBack]

You said that the horses would be coming back in 10 days. What if you guys fill your tags on day 1? I assume that with the horses, they will pack out your kill.

So.........actually I don't see a "must have" on the list. You can get by with everything you've already got. You certainly don't need the VX-6, the VX-3 is a great scope. The spotter.......I've never used a spotter in an actual elk hunting situation in the 35 years I've been hunting them. A pack.......yours is fine, especially if the horses are packing the elk for you.

So that leaves the bino's. Will your Cascades work? Probably. But good bino's are such a great item even beyond hunting. I'd start there and then possibly look at a new pack down the road.

I think that we all just look for an excuse to spend money sometimes.

 

[Jon Boy]

Pack, there is a company that rents spotting scopes btw. I can't remember it though.

Beartooth Outfitting Company
beartoothoutfitting.com

-Jon

 

[Muledeerfanatic]

Why does he need a $600 pack? He has horses. Optics are the most important part of hunting out west.
Either binos or a spotter for sure!

 

[JG358]

If anything I'd say the binos.

Horses are doing the packing so no need for the pack except for day gear. No need to replace a VX-3 with a VX6 unless your just trying to burn some cash. I've never had much use for a spotter elk hunting.

 

[chas]

I do have to pack the kill out. At least to camp to be picked up. That's the reasoning for the pack. Thanks for the responses. Good, common sense advice.

 

[Beendare]

Binos all the way.......I can deal with a bad pack.

Agreed, binos first...pack #2

 

[SDC]

Binos, then pack. Both of what you have will work. Neither is really "great", but the Eberlestock is a better pack than your Leupolds are binos. You can get into some truly amazing glass for relatively little money these days. You have to find the animal, first, and then worry about packing it out.

If it were me, and I'm doing this in stages as well, I'd put the money in the binos this year then next year go for the pack. The spotting scope would be way down the list for me (in fact, I'd be looking to lighten up that rifle perhaps before the pack).

 

[bwlacy]

I would look at the Range finding binos, maybe Swaro, or Leica. But I would get new binos for sure. I wish I could get some new ones now. I have Leupold Range finder binos and use them all the time.

 

[mtnclimber]

Binos, then pack. Both of what you have will work. Neither is really "great", but the Eberlestock is a better pack than your Leupolds are binos. You can get into some truly amazing glass for relatively little money these days. You have to find the animal, first, and then worry about packing it out

I agree.

 

[husky390]

I do have to pack the kill out. At least to camp to be picked up. That's the reasoning for the pack. Thanks for the responses. Good, common sense advice.

Binos, you have the horses to do the main pack out and a little bit of misery killed no one. Plus, you might be able to snag a used pack between now and then. There's a guy here in CO selling a Kifaru T2 for $400 or you can find a HPG Ute pack used for around $300 if you really want to upgrade. Your scope is fine, heck I wish I was using VXIII's. Good luck and have fun.

 

[GotMyTag]

The big ticket item from my view is apply in enough places to get a great tag.

 

[WyoBowhunter21]

Being from Wyoming I have hunted much of the state. Depending on where you were going in the state would dictate what I would get, especially on a drop camp hunt. I would guess your going to be at treeline or around there if your hunting deer/elk. Some of the state is open country while some is a mix. I was once in your shoes and I went with this. I did the bino upgrade, then the pack, then spotter. I have found that the binos help in open country as well as in the timber. Sometimes that little extra magnification helps. A nice pack is awesome but if your going to have horses to pack out the meat I sure as heck wouldn't worry too much about it. Good luck in your endeavors. Don't forget the bear spray.

 

[jgeary338]

I was in a similar predicament last year and went with binos this year I got a SG sky5100 for my situation I needed both but went with some vortex viper 10x42's and love them! I use a trekking pole with a mount for my binos instead of a tripod. Love the SG pack also it can handle more weight than I can carry!

 

[luke moffat]

Binos for sure!

 

[Jackelope]

I'll buck the trend.

If your pack works fine for you, binos are one of my most critical pieces of gear. I am constantly using them. I don't know much about the existing brands/models you say you already have or their condition though. I would decide between pack and binos as to which one you could live without replacing.

I'll also add that unless you are hunting really open country, the binos are more important than a spotting scope. The places I've hunted in CO have a lot of dark timber so I rarely carry my spotting scope while hunting.

I'm with this guy with everything he said.