What binoculars and power are you all using for hunting and scouting in open country

Vortex 12 x 50 and I don't mind the weight. Biggest change I have made is going almost exclusively ninos. Used to carry a 60x spotting scope and ninos but found myself defaulting to much more time on the ninos and dropped the spotting scope

Love my 8x32 for eastern bowhunting
 
I have leica hd-b 10x42. After years of using a pair of $300 Brunton binos I decided it was time. Its nice having the rangefinding capabilities in them also. I got a good deal on them. A little over 2k. I can't even look through less quality glass now though. Nikon fieldscope ed is basically useless now. I also have canon 15x50 image stabilizer binos. Haven't used them since I got the leica. I'm sure there are better but these work for me and my hunting style.
I have had my Leica BN 10x42's for around 18 years now. Still amazingly sharp, and as I am also interested in birds the ability to focus them for very close targets is great too.
 
I use a couple of different sets. Mainly Leica geovids, but have been using a pair of 12x Mavens and an old set of brunton Epochs. Depends what i am doing...Or if the teenagers have my Leicas...
 
For really open country I have 12.5 Tracts and a tripod. Had 15X SLC Swaros but they were big and heavy and most of my hunting is backpacking. Also since I carry a spotting scope, I was willing to give up a little magnification for more FOV. Also have Zeiss 10X, Tract 8X and Zeiss 8x20. Ya gotta have options.
 
I use a Redfield 10x42. They are owned by Leupold now and I can look behind that glass all day without getting eye strain. I would eventually like to get a Swarovski or Zeiss, but for now they work. maybe next Christmas.

I do have a pair of Leupold 8x25 (Rogue) and while they are GREAT for hunting in the woods, for open areas I would go with my Redfield.

For my eyes, prism binos are the way to go.

Some binos with good coatings can be just as good as HD binos. Best to look through them at a store and if you can look outside, all the better.

If you have to adjust the Diopter Adjustment too much at various distances, shy away from those...as they will just give you headaches (eye strain) later if you have to look through them too much.

If you can get good binos on a decent bipod/tripod/mount, you would be amazed at how much more detail you can view versus just trying to holding them steady.
 
For $1000 get Cannon 15x50IS (image stabilization) and a monopod. More like $1200 now. The glass is amazing and image stabilization makes all the different in the world.

Much easier to spot bullet trace than a spotting scope and less eye fatigue. If you do get a pair make sure to fold the rubber eye cups back for a more comfortable view.
 
Leica Trinovid 10x42 have worked very well for me. There have been a few times I was wishing for a little more power and may try to pick up a pair of the new Swaro NL 12x42's before next season.
Like many other hunters I typically use my binos to locate animals, and my spotting scope to evaluate the quality.
 
Not in the price range but I carry 2 sets. I chest carry a pair of 10x46 Minox German HDs. I keep in my pack a pair of Swaro 15x56 along with my Outdoorsmans Tripod mounted Jim White Tripod head and QD attachment for either set of binos.
 
Warning! This thread is more than 4 years ago old.
It's likely that no further discussion is required, in which case we recommend starting a new thread. If however you feel your response is required you can still do so.

Recent Posts

Top