I was reading a article in this months Trad. Bowhunter Mag on binocular use benefits for hunting.
I have 2 pair 8x and a 10x and can see the benefits of picking up game further away and picking out small parts of game through brush but have used them less because I feel I move around more when they are around my neck.
What do you all think more of a advantage versus disadvantage?
PS I can see where you hunt will make a difference with your answer. I hunt southern Michigan thick 20 acre woodlots surrounding 100s of acres of crops or thick tangley swamp where I cant see 25 yards. Not as necessary for me maybe as someone out west.
I hunt the Hudson Valley and the Catskill Mts in NY. I'm lost with out them. I don't necessarily use them for great distances, I use the to clearly see in thick stuff. I want to know if its a buck or a doe, or even, that the movement that I just saw was in fact a deer or not. If I'm still hunting, gotta have them!
Don't underestimate the value of binocs to pick a critter out of the crud at close range. I wouldn't think of hunting big game w/o a pair of binocs.
For most bowhunting I use a pair of nice compact Bushnell Trophy 7x35s. I like 10x40s too, and recently upgraded my pair of Trophy 10x40s for a pair of Cabelas Alaskan Guides 10x40s.
I either put on a long strap so I can wear them across my body & under my arm like a side quiver, or snap on a set of Bino Buddies which keeps them tight to my chest until I need them...
It's much easier to spot a moving animal than one that is still. If I'm moving, I'm looking for a still animal, so I use my binoculars a lot. Now if I'm on stand, I'm looking for a moving animal and trying to be still myself, so I don't use them as much.
I would agree on the value of binocs to pick up aniamls out of the brush at close range. I won't go out hunting without a pair with me.
For most bowhunting I used to use a pair of nice compact Bushnell Trophy 10x35s. Last couple of years I have toted the extra weight and taken the 10x42s.
I put on a longer strap so I can wear them across my body & under my arm like a side quiver, or I use a set of Bino Buddies which keeps them tight to my chest until I need them...
There are other benifits to having the 10x42's - they keep me from getting to bored and nodding off to nappy time. I get started scanning for deer, then spot some birds, and more birds, and keep myself occupied in what is going on in the range of my vision.
Chinook
The thicker it is, the more I like my binos.
I don't use 'em for seeing things farther away...I use 'em becuase they make me focus on a small area and really pick it apart. You can't believe the game you are looking past at 40-50 yards!
QuoteOriginally posted by jsweka:
It's much easier to spot a moving animal than one that is still. If I'm moving, I'm looking for a still animal, so I use my binoculars a lot. Now if I'm on stand, I'm looking for a moving animal and trying to be still myself, so I don't use them as much.
Thats a good point. I typically am sitting still on the ground or up in a treestand. And feel the looking around with the binos adds to my movement for deer to pick me off. But like being able to see em before they get in range.
Yes, binos are an essential tool to the bowhunter! I do not take to the field with out a pair. I use them for any and every viewing situation. My favorites is the 8X40, but recently, I have change to a pair of 10X28 compacts.
I keep a small set handy. Mostly for looking at interesting things. Two 8 points sparring the week before buck season. a Feisty black squirrel that was determined to rid the neighborhood of grays. As said above when on stand I am mostly looking for movement.
I used to doubt the need for binoculars where I hunt in hunt here in the South. When I changed leases I ended up with more clear cut and crop fields to hunt so I started carrying a pair. once the habit was formed I started carrying them into the brush with me as well. Now I would as soon leave my bow at home as my binoculars. I have actually been halfway to a stand and gone back to camp for binoculars on several occassions. It is amazing the amount of utility and enjoyment that they bring to a hunt.
QuoteOriginally posted by huntin_sparty:
QuoteOriginally posted by jsweka:
It's much easier to spot a moving animal than one that is still. If I'm moving, I'm looking for a still animal, so I use my binoculars a lot. Now if I'm on stand, I'm looking for a moving animal and trying to be still myself, so I don't use them as much.
Thats a good point. I typically am sitting still on the ground or up in a treestand. And feel the looking around with the binos adds to my movement for deer to pick me off. But like being able to see em before they get in range. [/b]
I agree, though I think with slow enough movement, deer won't see you. I still hunted to within 40 yds using my zeiss 7x last season... Its like Peterson and Asbell said, if you think you're moving slow, SLOW DOWN MORE! Still, at 40 it was too thick and too far to shoot, but it was cool just getting that close to whitetails on the ground!
Binos in the stand is also all about slow, slow, slow. I raise my glasses slowly, glass slowly, and lower slowly. I have caught sight of deer up to 30-50 yds off using binos without being picked off. Any closer and you really don't need 'em anyway :)
There are many situations/timber conditions when I don't want or need them. But when I do need them- they are the difference between knowing and not knowing if game is there.
They only help if you use them of course...
Most articles I read about glassing usually describe it in ways that makes the activity sound like a ball and chain(work). But in my experience when they help you see what you otherwise cannot, using them is like looking with eyes only ie: Intuitive and easy.
Every time I read about gridding a section while glassing I just wince. Just look at everything and do it slowly and maybe more than once. Don't make it an un-natural chore and you'll find using binocs is as second nature as looking without them. After awhile I bet you use them in a very efficent manner.
Joshua
I stand hunt as well and its generally in timber, not impossible to see long distances but its not ideal. I like to have the binos with me for several reasons. I use them when Im sure a buck isnt going to come in at all and I just want to get a good look at the ones Im not going to get a shot at today. It is also very common to see a few deer way out there and I may just be able to pick out a good buck and adjust my shooting position early before hes on top of me and more likely to catch my movement. I feel like I have a better chance of turning a buck that is some distance away from me as well, up close they are expecting to see what made that alluring bleat but from 75 yards they have to close the gap some before they are gonna see little miss hottie doe. Like any tool you gotta know the best time to use them and of course I get busted now and then goofing with the binos when I should be drawing a bow but all in all the plus column is richer than the minus column.
A few years ago, I dropped the money on a pair of Leica 8x32's. I now never do anything in the woods without them on me. They are perfcect for whitetail hunting in thick cover. I have seen a number of deer that I would not have seen without them. Also, it really makes the time on stand more enjoyable, when you can watch all of the other critters around you, including small things, and be able to really "get the picture". A good pair of binoculars from a good company with a lifetime warranty is a great investment for any bowhunter. I can't believe all the years I hunted without them.
A good set of Binos that you can see with at dawn/dusk is a big help for me. Some are worthless in low light while others are amazing how they collect the light and improve your odds in low light. Try them out in a low light area of the store and compare them side by side before buying.
Binos are essential to spot and stalk hunting. 6x32 is ideal for my use.
There are only 2 things I'll go back to the house and get if I forget them on the way to the stand - my bow and my binoculars.
Hunting whitetails without binos would be like hunting them with one hand tied behind my back - can't imagine not having the glasses.
I use Custom Compact 7X26 glasses for all of my hunting - small enough to be handy, but not "sub-compact" so they work well. I've even used these out west and in Canada for longer range glassing of burns/clearcuts, but if I were going to spend LOTS of time behind glass I'd upgrade....however for whitetails these are the berries.
R
I carry a pair of 8x30 Swarovskis. I wouldn't hunt without them. I carry them on every hunt. Spot something at long range, I can identify it. That slight twitch of a movement in the brush, I can pick it out and know if it is a bird or a deer. Never leave home without them.
I take two pair with me on most hunts.
A small pair of Tasco 8x21's that I only take from around my neck when I hit the sack,and a pair of Nikon 7x50's that I take if I know I'm going to be sitting anf watching for any length of time.
Bino's increase your depth perception a lot.
If your looking at a distant ridge line that has cover on top,that is where your visabilty ends,but with a good set of bino's you can look clean through that cover to see clearly what's beyond it.
In a lot of my mountain hunting I will sit in the evenings until dak watching as much as two Kms away.
Do that with only your eyes and you will miss most of what's out there.
Those little Taco's are exellent in heavy cover for focusing out what's directly in front and focusing on what's further out.
You just can't do that with your normal eye sight.
I will not hunt without my Swaros. H
i feel naked without my binos!
G Fred is spot on, bino's for hunting make a big difference.
For that type of hunting Minox 6X30 fixed are very good for skanning.
GreyWolf hunting cloths will put on a bino pocket anyplace on your jacket or pants you like. This way there's no chance of catching it upon release. I can't use bino buddy's for that reason.
Aside from the ability to evaluate the important things(deer), I just like to check out the not so important things like squirrels, birds, and chipmunks.
It helps me pass time when the deer activity is slow and I enjoy seeing everything else.
Swaros 8 X 30! As the saying goes, never leave home without them!!
Using binos changed my hunting forever! The ability to focus through the various layers of underbrush and foliage is indispensable. Regularly spot deer bedded before I get busted. Still little chance of getting a shot but more exciting than seeing just a white flag running away.
And for anyone interested, these 7x26 Bushnell Elite Compacts are really nice glass for the price(around 275.00).
Until I bought a pair, I didn't believe that you could get this much quality for the price.
They are not Leica or Swarovski, but they don't cost as much either. If you NEED 10 power, or 40mm objectives, these aren't the ones for ya', but they're great for their intended market.
(http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s220/osta-doc/542196.jpg)
A buddy and I were sitting in a elevated box blind surveying the terrain with binos. He with his nice 8 X 40 Swarovski's and me with my compact 10 X 25 Bushnell's. Just as the shooting light was fading he pointed out a nice buck cutting in front of us at about 50 yards. "Where. I don't see anything" I looked several times and nothing. He said "look through these" Wow, what a difference. That sucker was a plane as can be. I decided then that my next big purchase was going to be a quality set of binoculars.
I still have my Bushnell's but my go to glass is my Stiener 8 X 30 Predators. I always carry binos into the field. They're great for window shopping when the light is too low to shoot.
i have a set of nikons that rarely come out of the case,only use them to look over large open areas.not real sure why i even carry them most of the time.
If I'm in the Stand I use them only when I have to,as I feel I move to much if I use them to often.I've gotten busted by Deer that I was unaware were close and they caught my movement.
2X on Irish Archer's post...those are the same glass I use (mine are a bit older model). Check the New York camera outlets as well and sometimes you can get a real deal on'em.
R
I hardly use mine down here in the south becouse its so thick the deer can be on you in a sec.
Wow! I am suprised by the range of anwsers to this question. I have several sets of glasses and all of them are quality optical performers. I use my glasses for so many things while outdoors, I would feel naked without a set on me. They are a must for stump shooting also. Get yourself a quality set of glasses and a bino-harness system (best way to tote glasses around, in my opinion).
I currently own/use Eagle Optics Ranger Platinum series 6x32, Minolta 8x42D and will be adding a set of Burris Euro Diamond 10x42's here shortly. Think that will cover just about any bino glassing needs I will have. If I need some heavyweight optics, I'll deploy the Cabelas Pro series spotting scope.
i will add though that binocs are a very important tool for birdwatchers and such. :biglaugh: ....seriously i realize the importance of binocs and all for certain types of hunting,the type of hunting i do which is pretty much just elk and they hopefully are coming to me so hence no need for them other than to look over large areas for mulies and such.but in general they are critical to most hunting scenarios....
Took me awhile to figure out that I did need to use binos.......especially in the thick stuff! G Fred gave a seminar at Cloverdale years ago and mentioned bino use. We talked about it after the seminar and he urged me to spend time in the stand disecting the cover around me with the glasses. I started not only seeing more deer in my hunting area(s), but killing more deer as well. By really looking the cover over, I started seeing deer sooner, rather than later and was able to prepare myself for a shot. I am convinced that I was spooking deer that I didn't even know were around. I've got two pair of Leupold's- Katmai(sp) 6x32 and Wind River 8x40. Don't leave home without 'em! Mike
I've had a few pairs of compact bino's, but the best I have for the money are a pair of Nikon Travelite V 10x25 5 degree. Nice and compact and clear as a bell. I've had $15 pair, and they actually hurt my eyes.
I wouldn`t think about going hunting without my binoculars, I use a pair of Burris 10X32 when I go elk hunting I use binocular harness, but when I hunt out of a tree stand I just hang them on a peg,