Geovids
Hi all,
I have used 10 by 42 Geovids for nearly two years now in the North island of New Zealand and will never go back to seperate components or lesser optics.
I previously owned a CRF 1200 and found it too small to be watching animals for 6 or 7 hours at a time in the morning and 4 hrs in the afternoons, it would range reds or Sika out to 1150yrds max. I also used top end leupy binos which I thought were ok...
Once using the leica Geovids I realised the fun, and ease of sitting in behind quality optics for long periods of time, having a very clear, wide field of view to watch and gather info on my intended quarry (making me a more effecient hunter).
I like nestling in behind my Sendero with the Leica's in hand, locating and watching animals, ranging the animal of choice and then settling in behind the M4 8.5-25 M1 LR/T TMR.
Using the Geovids to spot with I have shot and killed Hares out to 1103yrds and rabbits out 1151yrds, they certainly have the clarity and ranging precision(on a tripod) to do the job.
The Geovids will range Sika or Red's out to 1344yrds all day for me and im very happy with them. Some hunts are 15 to 20 km one way at around 4500 to 5000 ft and while I put the Sendero away and take the Alaskan Titanium, - the Geovids always come along.
Again their optical quality helps find the wily Sika which love bush/scrub margins and crappy scrub covered faces. Most animals in their winter coat are simply NOT visible with the naked eye, especially once past 300yrds.
I have not found a better way to locate, evaluate and range game in one go. I can find game, range it and shoot it before my hunting buddy has worked out which one to shoot ! -(had to beat him to the draw once, -with some good natured banter to prove a point).
Although expensive in New Zealand, the Leicas are proving to be the optical "search and destroy" equipment of choice. I hope you guys get to try them out in your intended hunting areas and find them as good and helpful as I do.
Good and safe hunting to all.
Andrew R..............nz
3 Red stags in velvet on 19th December 07.
The pic is a little low on quality due to it being taken through a telescope and they were 1800yrds away. 300yrds out of range!