Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Do you use a spotter?

Somewhere I have pictures of this 6x6 through my spotter



Try not to be jealous of my fine and sophisticated taste in beer







I spotted this matched set through my spotter.

Looking at all of the pics makes me think I should be using a spotting scope. I have a compact Leupold 15-30x50 that I thought id use in the field but it stays in the truck once the real hunting starts, the weight isn't worth the benefit to me.

I carry 10x42 Swarovski binoculars that I bought 3 years ago and went to a 3-15x50 Zeiss Conquest last year so I can identify points or brow tines right before squeezing the trigger. All the upgrades including the little spotter were the result of not being able to determine if a bedded bull was legal at a little under 400 yards in thick brush. He stayed there 45 minutes before we were sure he was legal by changing viewing angles a few times, very lucky he didn't spook. By the time we were sure he was good to shoot some cows had wandered into range so we got a bull and cow in a few seconds once my buddy shot at that patient bull.

An excellent quality spotting scope is next on my list probably still a few years away.

Thanks everyone for all of the input. I've picked up a mid size spotter (65mm obj) and plan on carry it this fall on my elk hunt. Now I need where to sit and how to be effective with it.

Confession: I have a tendency to start chunk'en stuff out of the pack after the first day to reduce weight. This year I will resist and "endeavor to persevere".

Get a better pack

I fixed that for you

Oh BTW Ted,
What tripod are you using, that's a good looking pod.

Tks,

Sirui

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1118086-REG/sirui_bsrt1005p_t_1005x_aluminum_tripod_with.html

I will put this Vanguard in my pack this year to try

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1123605-REG/vanguard_veo_235ap_aluminum_tripod_pan_head.html

Several here like the Slick

IMO, a spotter with a bipod is too much added weight and bulk.

I spent my money on Swarovski Binoculars. If you can hold them steady, you can get a "doubler" for a little money and not much weight.

donsm70

Doublers are a giant waste of money IMO. I hate em.

Drum, still using that Leica 62?

I sold the one I had when we were out looking but I just bought another one. I also have a Meopta S2 that's incredible. I keep the S2 near the truck or ATV and keep the Leica in my pack

How's everything my friend?

Doing well and I trust you are too?

Meopta has come on strong, haven't they? If they pick up the light trans a bit across the product lines, it wouldn't hurt...:)

Am planning to roll thru the metropolis there in mid-August and aim to make some time to buy you lunch, if you are willing...

Would love to see you! Stop in anytime!

Meopta is putting out some fantastic stuff. I agree about having some lighter options. If they come out with a 60mm spotter I'd be all over it

We are fantastic here. Kiddos are growing up too fast

Will do--will bring my Nikon for a compare...:)

For elk I do not. I use 10x42 Meostar HD's on a tripod and keep the spotter in the truck.
Is this your first elk hunt? Elk are generally not that hard to dredge up with glass. They will glow if the sun is shining on them.
The only reason I would carry a spotter is if I had a primo unit and had my heart set on a 330+ bull. I would use the big glass to try to get a rough estimate of how big he was before I burned the boot leather to get closer.

Workday post--still recuperating?

Yup.. I'm out for 2 weeks. Lotsa campfire time and time at the reloading bench.

I think it depends on what you are hunting, I have great quality glass but use the spotter very little. If you are counting inches then a spotter is mandatory. If you are looking for elk then a high quality pair of binoculars will meet your needs. If you have spent much time looking at elk, you can sex them by color. Not always 100% accurate but it works.

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.