First of all do you use binoculars?
What brand, model, size?
How do you carry them around in the field/woods?
Do you have a harness that works well for you?
I have been using a Bushnell Compact 7x26 National Audubon model for over 35 years. If you have ever seen pictures of M R James of Bowhunter in the field he has used the same model for years also.
I always take them hunting, hanging from my neck, but admit I don't use them as much or as effectively as I should partly because it's a pain to continually take them out and tuck back into my coat. I mostly still hunt big woods and patches of heavy cover and also use them while going from point a to b when not actually in hunt mode - sometimes.
Any tips to better control and manage binoculars to get the most utility while hunting?
I always carry binoculars. The few times a forgot them, I hated it. I like quality glass: high end Nikons 8x42 or Leica 7x42. Have a pair of 10x40 Zeiss but only use them out west. I usually use a harness like bino-buddies. Don't like them swing around by a strap
I always have binos on me no matter what I am hunting. I absolutely hate it if I ever forget them! For whitetails and closer range game I carry a pair of Vortex 6x32, and for out west or longer range areas I have a pair of Swarovski 8.5x42.
I'll be completely honest - on many hunts, whitetails from a treestand for example, I can't really say they are essential to helping me actually take game most of the time. Usually, what is going to come is going to come, and if they get close enough to shoot I don't really need the binos.
But I really enjoy being able to check things out that are not in range - it simply greatly increases my enjoyment in the field. They really help to be able to see deeper into the brush. And once in awhile I might identify a nice buck that I couldn't have seen clearly otherwise and will then use a grunt call or rattle horns in an effort to bring him closer.
Out west is a whole different ball game, and in that case I really do use them not only to find animals, but to plan stalking routes, etc.
As for how to carry them, I always want them handy. My smaller pair I carry with a chest harness strap that keeps them tight to my chest. My bigger pair I like in a covered bino harness. I've used Badlands, KUIU, and just recently picked up an Alaska Guide Creations harness that I think I will really like.
I always carry my 8x30 Swarovskis with me hunting. I feel lost without them I've had this pair 25 years and they are still going strong.
Whitetail hunting I use them to check out a movement in the brush I can't see with the naked eye or I watch deer or any game at a distance. Sometimes its just to observe but it's enjoyable.
When I head west i use them or my 10x42 Kahles and they are used to look over country, spot game, plan a stalk.
I have 10x30 Swarovskis that I use a bunch. They may not be the best at very low light conditions, but are light enough where I don't question using them.
Would not get out of the truck without my "glass". US Army field artillery school taught forward observers how to grip and use binos. Worked in RVN and works every year out here in the west. Back east I used them to investigate movement or noise, out here you use them to locate and identify game. We also use them to chart out routes for a stalk.
I use a harness.
Buy the best glass you can afford, as nuance in shadows will give you a stalk, but poor glass may not give you that definition you need.
I have a pretty basic and utilitarian pair of Steiners that I am hardly ever without. I wear them on a harness and use them all of the time. Generally, I am an eastern treestand hunter, but I can't tell you how much more enjoyable the whole experience is being able to check out the acorn crop, birds, distant deer, etc. I always glass fields and treelines before I approach them.
I have a pair of Leupold 10X40's. They are good field glasses for around $400. I wear a cabellas Bino harness that works pretty good. I have been looking for good lens caps that won't get lost, because it sucks dragging them around in the dirt when sneaking up on something. I use to leave my binos with my pack when I started a stalk, but has been more then once when I started getting close that I needed them to relocate deer. When hunting through thick brush for elk, It is amazing how much better you can look at the path ahead with more than your naked eye.
Mine are Burris (pre buy out) 8x42. Low light performance is huge. I tested mine against Nikons and these won.
I use mine to glass open parks and mountain sides. I also use them in the timber sometimes as situations require. I am not a glass the woods in front of you all day long guy though.
Regarding power- I find that 10x is much harder to steady when hunting hard at elevation and I can see what I need to see just fine across a drainage at 8x. Is it a bull elk or not a nice mulie or not. Sure it would be neat to count hairs and see drool out the bulls nose but you pay for that in xtra weight and less low light performance. Wanna see drool and count points?
Get closer!
I use no special harness. Experiment with the strap and your arm/elbow/chest/shoulder and your hunting shirt, you will find a quick and sure way to keep them handy but quiet without more special gear to do that. I run the strap over my shoulder outside of upper arm- it is sorta like getting into the sling rifle hunting. Or I tuck into my shirt just so.
Joshua
I still have a pair of Bushnell Custom Compact 7x26 as well. Excellent glass for its time, and even now. I now mostly carry a pair of Leica 8x32 Ultravids.
Have my glasses on a short strap around my neck all the time. Never in a pocket. Can grab them with one hand and look at stuff quickly if I have to, but it's mostly the ease of access that enables me to use them a lot while still hunting to check out things I'm not quite sure about with the naked eye.
They come in handy even in a tree stand. Lots of times, one might catch movement just at the outer range of vision. The glasses help to see through the brush.
Binos and my bow are the two pieces of gear I won't leave home without.
I'm with Whip in that I know they probably don't increase my chances for success when hunting whitetails, but it increases my enjoyment just because I can check out any and everything that makes a move.
I have a pair of Nikon Premier 10x42's that I carry in my pack and hang on the tree when I arrive at stand.
I will say they do help when a buck appears. I like to be able to determine the general age of bucks before they get in range.
Especially since here MO not all bucks are legal.
Bought some Swarovski slc HD 10x42 this year. They are amazing! New for this year I am using an Alaska Guide Creations Bino harness. It is bigger but doesn't get in the way. Has extra pockets for stuff so I like that as well. Will see how it works this year
Also I hunt clear cuts in western Oregon so I am sitting and spending time behind them. I bring them even on stand mostly out of habit. Doesn't feel like hunting without binos
I currently use Leupold BX-3 Mojave's in 10 x 50 and wouldn't be without them for whitetail hunting. For bucks, I only hunt for mature bucks and like to check them out at a distance, if they give me the opportunity. I also just like looking at deer or other animals when on walks, etc.
When coming out in the evening, I use them to scan any field I'm going to cross to see if anything is out there I might kick out. They have excellent light transmission...not as good as the 7x42's I have, but good enough I can see if deer are in a dark field.
I have used harnesses and personally don't like them. I just use a regular neck strap.
One thing I really like about these is that between the tubes is a good sized gap and the tubes are flat on the insides of that gap which makes these very easy to hold one-handed AND adjust with a finger from the same hand. I can hold my bow in my left and easily manage the binocs with my right hand alone.
Leupold's service is second to none. The pair before this was dropped from about 5 feet onto a cement floor right onto the twist-out eyecups and one of them 'froze' up. I sent them to Leupold asking if they could be fixed and was surprised when I received a brand-new upgraded pair at no charge in just a little over a week. Service doesn't get any better than that!
You need to up grade ! I use Vortex 8x42 and 12x50. I made my own lanyard of para cord in a cobra weave for the 8x42 and ware it Bandolero style for spot snd stalk, the 12x50 i use an Alaska Guide Creations bino pack and can use either pair in it, which is the bomb, i just love it. Give Jerrett a call at Alaska Guide Creations when you settle on what binoculars to get they are great to deal with " high recommended "
I have some Bushnell 8x42's that I wear with an LL Bean harness. I use them quite a bit, and feel naked hunting without them.
One thing I like is using my longbow as a "monopod" to hold them steady when possible.
Have used a cheap pair of compact Tasco binoculars around the neck for years while bird watching (one of my favorite hobbies) and also use them when still hunting for whitetails. They work fine.
I have Zeiss 8x30s that I wear using a crooked horn that can be worn around the neck or with belt loops. I prefer on the belt. I gave a trad gang member my Alaska Guide harness, just wasn't using it.
don't use em anymore i use to have a pair of Bushnell 8 x 25 real good glass :thumbsup:
What FlinNSteel said X2...Had a pair of Leupold that were ten years old,broke the eye cup off. Sent them in to be repaired and asked how to pay for repair...got a brand new pair back. Said that's what they do. Very impressed...
I have some compact Zeiss I wear in my shirt pocket when Im deer hunting here. My 10x50 Leupolds, Bushnell Elites, and Swarovskis I use out west with a harness strapped around my neck and chest.
Swarovski 8x42, good compromise size for me. Bino harness to carry to keep them tight to chest. My pack fell out of the tree stand last year with binos in it, maybe 20 feet. Binos worked but were not as clear. Sent them back to Swarovski and they repaired them, cost me postage to them and they are about 20 years old. A great guarantee is important. They are with me on every hunt to see into the shadows and thick stuff for id game.
Glass is something you do't regret buying the best you can afford.
Alaskan guide compacts for whitetails in the east and Nikon 7/32 for out west. My harness is a old military field jacket bottom elastic cord with two small snaps on each end that snaps into the loop at binoculars. Been using it for 40+ years. It wouldn't work with really large binoculars though.
What binoculars do you guys find that works best with eyeglasses?
Like others have said, my binos are with me when ever I'm hunting anything. I love my Swarovski 7x42s, great low light performance. A few years ago bought Vortex 8x28 and for most of my hunting they are around my neck as they are almost half the weight of the Swarovskis.
Most of my bino use is looking ahead when moving through the woods. My eyes aren't what they used to be and binos almost make up for my lack of vision acuity.
As for carrying, I use a neck strap but shorten it so when I pull them up to my eyes there is almost no slack in the strap. The end up riding just under my chin and out of the way.
I will agree that buying the best glass you can afford is money well spent.
Stiener 8x30 predators, I like to walk a ridge with a good wind, zig and zag to the edges and glass down hill to look for feeding or bedded game. Sometimes it works, sometimes not. But I always learn something in the process. I do use a harness, not sure of the brand.
I generally sit in fairly thick woods in a tree stand, so I seldom use binoculars.
Use them all the time in midwest whitetail and turkey hunting. Ranks up there with my knife and bow. I determine size of deer, do I want to call them in, get ready etc. I have ambushed tons of turkeys- seeing that slight head in the brush before they see you is critical.
Western hunting optics are essential. You could hunt without them, but spending hours glassing is FAR more productive than wearing out the legs, spooking everything, and hoping you stumble into them.
8 (or 10) x 42 in the best glass you can afford seem to be the good all-around optic. Some type of harness (simple bino buddy to Alaska Creations, etc) that holds them close to the chest works great for all types of hunting- even in the treestand.
Of course- western hunting does open an entire optic discussion; scope, binocs, tripod, head etc. Reading and listening to the newer podcast world on such issues is a great education. Be prepared to work some overtime or a part-time job. :)
Dan in KS
QuoteOriginally posted by KSdan:
...Of course- western hunting does open an entire optic discussion; scope, binocs, tripod, head etc. ...
I agree, though I concluded after using a tripod and spotting scope that for elk and deer these are just extra, unnecessary hassle and expense over binos. Goats and sheep notwithstanding.
Not intending to open a debate on this topic.
More to underscore how much can get done with a single set of optics, with reasonable low magnification and thus good light gathering for timber and for open slopes and across drainages. Even out West. We all tend to opt for more optional gear than less. Less optional gear is almost always better in the end, IMO.
Joshua
I cant stand to hunt with out my binoculars! I have 3 pair, a compact set of Swarovskis and a larger pair both 8 power. I feel I don't need any more than 8 power and I wiggle to much with 10x .I also have a pair of Leupold 10x in one of the trucks they never leave the vehicle so I am able to steady myself on the window or wheel. I use a harness on the swaros . I had a leather thong on a key ring from which hung one of my binos and carried them under my right arm, they would side effortlessly up the thong and were out of the way of shooting my bow, it worked great.
Great responses. Guess I'm not surprised with all the high end models mentioned as buy the best glass you can is always good advice. But what some can afford encompasses the whole range. I once tried out a pair of Swarovskis in a Bass Pro and it was amazing but not realistic for me. Will be using my Bushnell 7x26's for now as upgrading bow is next priority.
For someone looking for quality low end or first pair for a kid check out the Leupold Yosemite line of porro prism compacts. Come in 6x,8x and 10x. I got my grandson a pair of 6x online for half of what Cabelas and others sell for and was surprised with the quality for the cost - had great reviews too.
And to Hawkeye's question about using with eyeglasses, I also wear glasses and find folding down the eye cups that are std on all models positions the eye in the same relative position as
extended eye cups without glasses.
For use with eyeglasses my swarovski rear eyepieces twist in to keep lens the right position from your eye. Also the diopter adjustment on one eye piece if I am not wearing glasses reduces eye strain for extended viewing.
The Bushnell custom compacts of 25-30 years ago were and still are a high quality glass. When I bought mine, they were about $250, and that was about 30 years ago. No need to rush into upgrading them.
They're a very good glass, as good as most available today, certainly in that size, except for the very high end stuff, and even the high end stuff isn't packaged in so small and light a package. Of course, the current Bushnell offerings don't compare.
When Bowhunting I use Vortex 8X30. Nice and compact. Like Whip I like to be able to see deep in the briars and other thick stuff especially right at daybreak or dusk. Before "deer thirty" they are usually hanging next to me. For the first or final 30-45 minutes they are around my neck bandolier style . The vortex has covers both front and back
I have 10x30 Swarovskis that I use a bunch. They may not be the best at very low light conditions, but are light enough where I don't question using them.
I can twist the eye cups down also, my problem is either smears, fog of needing to readjust my eye glasses. Was much better before bifocals!
I have 8X20 Zeiss that I use almost all the time for bowhunting. Just such a nice handy size and very good glass.
I do have a bigger pair of Swarovski for most everything else. I had a pair of 10X40. Leica and I liked them a lot but they were just heavy enough that I didn't want them hanging around my neck all day.
I love my Vortex diamond backs with a bino diopter lock and Rick Young harness. Best I've used in a long time. Lifetime warranty is great too.
I use Nikon 10x42 on every hunt regardless of the type of hunt. Wouldn't think of hunting without binos. But Montana has some wide open spaces. Pretty tough to have a successful hunt out here without some decent glass.
Tom
"Bought some Swarovski slc HD 10x42 this year. They are amazing! New for this year I am using an Alaska Guide Creations Bino harness. It is bigger but doesn't get in the way. Has extra pockets for stuff so I like that as well. Will see how it works this year"
X2 what bbell said. Although I find that I keep going to my 8x32 swaros more than my 10X42s. They are lighter and good for most all I need in the field. Alaska Creations Bino Harnesses also offer smaller ones for smaller binos.
I have a pair of Leupold Mojaves, 8 x 42, that I always take with me. I wear them on a chest harness. Great for watching birds and other critters when hunting is slow. Also very handy to see if there are antlers on the deer running away from me. :dunno:
They are one of the greatest tools you can have on a hunt. Mine are a set of 15 year old Zeiss 8x35 and I wear them strapped from my right arm so the binos sit under my left arm out of the way and protected. For ground stalking, the slower you go and the more you can use them the better your results will be.
I have a nice pair of Leupold Acadia 10X42mm that were given to me several years ago when my father upgraded his binos. They are great! However, hunting with a stick bow in steep country I generally only cary my range finder which gives me enough to see goats and pigs in detail at 100 yards or less.
Maybe I will start carrying binos again.
Like Keith, I find 6X is great for PA. I try to sit after moving, then glass after the area has quieted then move and do the same. I scan the full field of view close then work my out. The birds and squirrels are fun but it is amazing what we can look past without the benefit of magnification. Catching an eye or antler tip of an animal you would have spooked makes it worth the deliberate approach and the weight of the binos.
Which 6x's do you use. Those puppies are hard to find!!
I have Vortex's and yes, they were hard to come by. Anything higher is not practical where I hunt. The 6x has a wider field of view and good magnification. It is rare for me to be able to see much beyond 75 yards in our woods.