Hunted elk Unit 4 New Mexico, spotter completely useless in the mountains. That setting up the spotter on TV shows to see the elk on the next mountain is just for the show to sell the spotter. Where a spotter would be useful is then the elk are low in the winter grounds, which are wide open. Then the extra power of the spotter would come in handy to help pick out the one you want.
I was looking at an Leica spotter, and one trip to the mountains that purchase is off my wish list.
I've been on 40+ elk kills in the last 10 years, spotters have played a big part in several of them. I've hunted them in the timber, high country, broken county etc.
Granted, I don't have the experience you do from 1 hunt, but in a couple hundred days chasing elk, the spotter has been a benefit more times than not.
