When do you pack a spotter?

Almost always, for mule deer. About the only time I don’t is if I’m hunting heavy cover in a relatively small area where I won’t need to see beyond a few hundred yards.


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I always have mine especially on the open prairie. I like taking pics through it as much as finding game so the weight is worth it to me
 
Almost always- the amount of walking one has to do versus what you can cover with your eyes is immense. I much prefer a big hike to a glassing site over walking all day.
 
Everytime if I just bought a nice one ;) Haha. Seriously though like I was talking to you about I have trouble glassing for long one eyed so I'm running 15x56 instead but I completely realize that means I can't check the shadows as good or score an animal from as far (but I'm not a trophy guy at this time) so I'm leaving a bit on the table. But as long as the freezer stays full I'm happy for now. When my motivations change and budget allows I'm sure a nice spotter will find its way into my gear pile. Whether that ends up being a 15-30 compact, 15-45, 20-60 and what objective is all TBD for now. ;)
 
It really depends on the location, rarely will I take it in my pack hunting elk in my usual area because the furthest I can glass while hunting is maybe 800 yards but I can glass the areas I hunt from a road very well. So I'll use it when I'm scouting but not hunting. Now for western KS mule deer it'll be in my pack.

That said when I pack in for elk I'll take it because the country opens up. I always pack either my tripod or swaro tree mount for my binos.
 
elk hunting on the west side never. I dont even take bino's. wilderness blacktail, bears and the super rare mule deer I always take it. I really enjoy digiscoping and use it for that as well so it has a "duel" purpose most trips.
 
I pretty much only do mountain hunts anymore and I always pack a spotter. I even pack a spotter on my daily hikes when I’m training, because I like to digiscope from time to time. I did take my son moose hunting this year, for a couple weekends, and didn’t bother with the spotting scope, but we were just trying to fill his cow tag so no worrying about counting brow tines.


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Every time I go out it's usually in my pack unless I know I'll be in a jungle or hunting a large flat Mesa with thick pine or ponderosa.
 
I usually carry a spotter unless still hunting or stand hunting, it just depends on what size spotter I take. For smaller areas while blacktail or elk hunting I take my 20 power Leopold micro-spotter to save weight (and more importantly space). The power is more than adequate for small drainage and valleys when just looking for legal animals. For big country (mule deer) I take my larger spotter to cover the terrain with my eyes rather than my feet.

I got a doubler a while back i want to try out with my binos and my small spotter to see how it works out. Not ideal, but a much smaller package than my big spotter when backpack hunting.
 
pods8 said:
Everytime if I just bought a nice one ;) Haha. Seriously though like I was talking to you about I have trouble glassing for long one eyed so I'm running 15x56 instead but I completely realize that means I can't check the shadows as good or score an animal from as far (but I'm not a trophy guy at this time) so I'm leaving a bit on the table. But as long as the freezer stays full I'm happy for now. When my motivations change and budget allows I'm sure a nice spotter will find its way into my gear pile. Whether that ends up being a 15-30 compact, 15-45, 20-60 and what objective is all TBD for now. ;)
Click to expand...


i have that same problem i went and bought a pirate patch and use that for extended periods of glassing and really has helped with my eye fatigue.
 
I try to bring a spotter with me most of the time. Since 2012 the only spotter I had was my 85mm 4+ pound Zeiss Diascope. Its a pain to carry at times and sometimes I question bringing it but generally glad to have it.

However now that I have the new 55mm spotter from Kowa and comparing it heads up to my 85mm Zeiss....for most hunts that weight is a factor the Zeiss is getting left behind especially if its not needed to determine the legality of the animal. Deer, bear, caribou, and mountain goats would all qualify for that. I do like having the big/little spotter options now for sure, now that I have found a little spotter than is actually worth hauling around.
 
The only time I don't have it in my pack is when I know I will only be hunting elk in dark timber. Keep in mind I have the smallest Vortex Razor possible so the weight isn't a huge factor and I always have my tripod for taking pictures.
 
luke moffat said:
I try to bring a spotter with me most of the time. Since 2012 the only spotter I had was my 85mm 4+ pound Zeiss Diascope. Its a pain to carry at times and sometimes I question bringing it but generally glad to have it.

However now that I have the new 55mm spotter from Kowa and comparing it heads up to my 85mm Zeiss....for most hunts that weight is a factor the Zeiss is getting left behind especially if its not needed to determine the legality of the animal. Deer, bear, caribou, and mountain goats would all qualify for that. I do like having the big/little spotter options now for sure, now that I have found a little spotter than is actually worth hauling around.
Click to expand...

Been awhile since you did an optic write up, think it's about time now that you have the 55mm Kowa 😏
 
Ryan already guilted me into it after he found out I bought one....review forth coming....along with 3-4 more I am behind on.
 
luke moffat said:
Ryan already guilted me into it after he found out I bought one....review forth coming....along with 3-4 more I am behind on.
Click to expand...

We’re not above using guilt here at Rokslide.

Justin and I will fast track that review. Lots of guys wondering on the Kowa.


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I've been really wanting to see a review from one of our writers. I almost bought one last week but wanted to see some real world feedback first so I ended up settling on buying an ATS 80 hd instead.

Live2hunt custom shelters
 
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