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Binocs..Yes/No

K

Kyrodan

New Member
Joined
Oct 24, 2018
Messages
17
Been dinking with carrying binocs in pack..in front pack..a back pack..etc..not sure i want them in front of me in case it ruins a shot..just wondering if I even need them being that the deer we are going to kill will be normal EYE range...thoughts...anyone else stop carrying the Binocs...trying to minimalize what I drag to the tree and up the tree.
 
I only carry on rare occasions as 95%+ of what I hunt is about 50-60 yard max visible range. But in my few spots where they are useful I carry them


Spencer
 
I carry them. not knowing where a hunt will take me, and not having great vision, I like looking deeper into woods.

That being said, I think most people use way too much magnification for optics. A hunting buddy likes 25 power to look across a 200 yard field, I use higher quality 8x and I would rather have top quality 6x for that distance with better light. More mag doesnt mean more see, better quality and light is more see, and I have terrible vision. More see, dont know why I said that but its funny. I use a Marsupial chest pack. I bought their pack straps so I can carry on my sitka pack straps, and change to harness when I am setup.
 
I would feel very handicapped without my binos. Not only for identifying an animal you want to, and in the case of antler restrictions, can shoot, but for stalking and scouting. I’ve never had them interfere with my shot. I’m not a fan of a big harness on my chest, just the binos with a strap.

This one is easy: get some binos. Vortex is best bang for your buck. 8x42 is my preference.


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I bring my binos every time. Never know when you'll need to identify some thing, and they're great for peeking into the thick brush even when visibility is limited with the naked eye. Plus for just general wildlife viewing.
 
I always have mine on my chest on a Rick young style strap. I barely notice they're there and I can grab them to look at something in about 1 second. They won't do you any good buried in your backpack. Even in thick stuff I find them very useful. I'll glass thick cover while still hunting trying to pick out an ear or an antler tine of a bedded deer. I'll look at tracks in mud/creek crossings or rubs, scrapes, etc. without walking around leaving ground scent all over the area. I'll look up in trees for acorns and other mast. I'll use them to evaluate my arrow and look for blood before climbing down after a shot. Just a few examples. Binos are on the short list of things that I carry on every hunt (and every time I walk into the woods for that matter)
 
I always carry them with me, some days I use them some days I dont, just this year I got a front pack from Alaska Guide Creations, it also stores range finder, Game tag, Wind checker and a few other thing, so far I love it. It also doesnt interfere while shooting the bow
 
I carry them full time. I find that it is nice to be able to "burn through" vegetation. Which essentially for me means, I can focus on one plane. I can look through a given chunk of leaves or grass or trees with my focus being solely on what's behind it. Makes it much easier to see animals from further. I don't live with my eyes glued to my binos, but I do spend about 50% of the time looking through them and slowly scanning and the other 50% scanning with the naked eye. I have a 6 power range finder that I tend to use as a backup in instances of things being close, which allows me to get a good study of antlers and the like while also giving me real time info for what range an animal is at.
 
I use a larger pair if I'm in an observation type stand. I typically only hunt areas that I have a 20-30 yard shot max. For that scenario I have a super tiny pair from REI that takes up no space and they aren't bulky. They are very nice to have. Its surprising how far you can see into high stem count areas with a pair of binos. You don't need to spend top dollar on a low range pair just something that works. Spend your money on long distance pair. The entire vortex line is very affordable and has great warranty
 
I had to borrow a pair from my dad this year scouting for teal. Sold my last pair of binoculars maybe 3 years ago and haven't missed them until then. Used to be big on glass when bird watching was something I did more of.
 
Vortex 8x26 is my compromise. Small enough to fit in a dump pounch. I leave them hanging during the hunt. Sufficient (IMHO) for archery, maybe not for gun.
 
I carry them 100% of the time. I feel naked without them. I've walked 100 yards back to the truck because I forgot them. It's crazy not to have them. One thing I find useful is after a shot, before I climb down and start trailing, I will glass for blood.
I also keep a tiny Suunto compass on the strap...so I'm never without a compass.
 
Got a pair of brand new Vortex Diamondback's. I love 'em. One thing I have found with saddle hunting is that my chest harness gets caught in my bridge while tethered to the tree. I would recommend carrying them in a back pack or something and hang them on you're gear hanger. Just my 2 cents
 
fl@t0ut89 said:
Got a pair of brand new Vortex Diamondback's. I love 'em. One thing I have found with saddle hunting is that my chest harness gets caught in my bridge while tethered to the tree. I would recommend carrying them in a back pack or something and hang them on you're gear hanger. Just my 2 cents
Click to expand...

I ran into this when I was new. What I have done as a compromise is to tighten up my bridge (which I made adjustable) and set my tether at about chin height. This allows me to keep my bridge about a foot from my Bino harness. I love it.
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I always carry them when archery hunting. I do most of my glassing with my scope during rifle season. Where I rifle hunt most of my shots are a minimum of 250 yards because of the terrain. I have lost deer in the grass and trees switch from binos to the scope.
 
For bow hunting I just use my 6x range finder, don't feel I need anything more than that. For gun hunting I bring my Vortex binos.
 
I used to never carry them but, last year I bought a pair of Leupold Yosemie 6x30. I carry them with a DIY Rick Young style harness. A couple weekends ago I was hunting Friday through Sunday. I carried my binocs every hunt up until the last hunt which I happened to shoot a doe on. She ran off about 80 yards and just stood there. I was kicking myself for not having my binocs. I could have figured out a lot of information about the hit while she was standing there if I had them. She eventually walked off and died just out of site but, if I would have had my binocs I could have got a better look at the hit and seen she was pouring out blood and wouldn't have been so nervous on the track job.
 
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