Which would you recommend to a budding mule deer hunter, assuming he could only have one? Whatever it is, it'll compliment my Leupold 8x42s.

My price range is around $600 tops, for the tripod and whole setup. So for big eyes, it'll be the Minox 15x58s. For a spotter, I don't have a clue.

I don't have experience with either, so any recommendations are welcome.

What kind of country and what's his style of hunting (IE can he sit and glass or can he not sit still)?

I'm thinking that as much as I like my Big Eye's there too much of a specialized tool for most places and a good spotter will do him very well. Not totally but for the most part I use the spotter to micro mgt horns at a distance way more than I use it for actually finding game.

Now the big eyes I use for both and totally kick butt excell at finding game in the hands of someone capable.

I'd tell him to find and old Leo 20X for a couple hundred bucks. By my eyes that old scope is still about as good as they come until I get into the really big money glass.

Dober

Thanks Dober,

I can sit and glass for a while, the anticipation of wondering when the bucks will just "pop" into view, where I didn't think there were any, really keeps my attention.

I'm not too concerned about over analyzing horns for now, I just want to find a shooter.

Since I don't know much about spotters, what should I expect to pay for a spotter, similar in quality to the Minox Big Eyes? I'll go look now for a Leupold 20x to get an idea.

I use my Swaro. 15's way more than my spotting scope. I like MD use the spotter only after I find the animal, but even then the 15's on a Bogen tripod can show alot. If I could only have one of the 2 I would keep the 15's.

Mark,

You mentioned that your Big Eyes are "specialized". In what way? In what situations would they be superior to a spotter?

Bluedreaux,

Hate to parrot what has already been said, but I agree with Dober. The old 20x Leupold spotters are fantastic. He gave me the same advice last year as I was entering my first attempt at mulies and Dober steered me right.

I use 8x42's as well and those topped with the 20x Leupold haven't left me wanting much more.

I only have one season in this open country under my belt (I cannot wait for this season) but I do spend a considerable amount of time in the outdoors and in some fantastic mule deer country. The 8x bino and 20x spotter are a great combo. Not to mention that 20x doesn't weigh much and the price should allow you some extra coin for a good tripod.

Just my .02.


Travis

I have always taken a set of big eyes over a spotter.
Yes a spotter has its pro's, but overall, the big eyes has a lot more pro's than the spotter.
My opinion is that if you are trophy hunting for big game. If you can see big with the big eyes, chances are you are gonna want to get closer and kill it. If it gets smaller as you get closer you can second guess it and no harm. A spotter eliminates the getting closer, but at the same time you lose FOV get more eye strain and the list goes on and on.
I have owned or used most big eyes out there and I gotta tell you. If I forget my tripod adaptable binos or my tripod, I might aswell not hunt.

That being said get the big eyes.

If you do a search on here. You will find a few posts I have done on big eyes. I think, if it is still up, on the main page there is a story on big eyes where the owner of the campfire learned and understood using big eyes over compact bins and a spotter.

Good Luck,
Kique

BTW Dober. I got my eyes on a toad of a coues!

I am in a lather for a set of 15x56 Swaro's...unless anybody has anything better in mind.

I have loved those things anytime I have hunted with them.Fabulous!

Enrique, I'm glad you chimed in. I've already read the the article (three times I think) and searched for all of the old Big Eyes threads. That first article got me really thinking about getting some.

A big question I've got is about the Minox 15x58s. If I get them and a tripod, I'll be completely tapped out for money. Do you have any experience with them? Is their quality good enough to serve me better than a similarly priced spotter?

Thanks in advance.