Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Which Binoculars do I want for western hunting?

I use both 8x42 and 10x42 premium binoculars. My 10x is my major use binocular but I like to run a 8x when hunting the timber and less open country. Advantages of the 8x are a larger FOV, brighter and easier to look through and hold steady than a 10x. I will not drop down to a 8x32 class because of loss of brightness in low light.

Most will agree that a 10x42 is better in open country and that is true. The 10x50 class is even better in all aspects but I can't afford the extra weight /bulk when I am also carrying a spotter, tripod and rangefinder.

There is another area the 10x42 had an advantage over the 8x42 and you seldom see it mentioned. The extra resolution of the 10x over the 8x in low light gives the 10x advantages when trying to identify the quality (antlers) of game animals. I learned this the hard way while running a premium 8x42 against my friends premium 10x42 on a trophy deer hunt. This advantage is expressed in the twilight factor. The 8x is brighter but has less resolution / lower twilight factor than the 10x42.

The 10x is also excellent on a tripod for mid range glassing.

For the reasons stated above my 10x is usually my choice for most hunts.

Image shake and depth of field is why my 6x36's are my current favorite. Leaning heavily towards buying a new pair of 8x42's...

I appreciate everyone's input!

David

I appreciate all of the comments so far.

In general, I'm more inclined to lower power optics. Question is mainly, am I handicapping myself by using an 8x? Based on the responses so far, it would appear the answer is no.

David

I'd go 8x. My opinion is this: with 8x or even 7x I can see anything I need to "locate."

In other words, once I've spotted a buck, I've rarely even needed binos to decide if he was big enough or not. The big ones, are. Even with the naked eye.

Maybe I'm shakier than most

Shooting sticks are the friend of shaky folk. whether as a rifle rest or for glassing....

Evidently many Campfire members fit into the older (and shaky) demographic that supposedly includes most hunters these days.

Evidently many Campfire members fit into the older (and shaky) demographic that supposedly includes most hunters these days.

Maybe I just need to practice glassing more. I've seen a lot of improvement in my shooting from field positions, including off-hand over the last year or so. I brought a cheap pair of 10x40's to the range while I was shooting and found them difficult to use w/o a rest of some sort.

David

Crap, I'm only 46!

Starting to be able to hit a 8x10" steel plate off hand at 300yds, but still find the 10x bino's difficult.

David

Wow! Is your name Quigley?

I cannot underestimate the need of a tripod when western hunting. If you are exclusively hunting in thick, dark timber forests or something where tripods are useless, you will need a tripod for the usual western mule deer hunting. Been all over the west, been hunting for over 35 years out here, and I am telling you you will need it if you want to be effective. Sure, you can by chance encounter a mule deer buck while driving or walking or something and the use of optics wasn't necessary, but to get a quality buck, you are gonna have to see him before he sees you. That means using optics. That means spending hours with optics on the side of some hill. That means you cannot hand hold optics for hours. And do it for days. And don't forget, often, the distances can be well over a mile. I have hunted with guys who didn't use optics and tripods, and, well, let's just say the people who use them tend to be more successful.

My advice is 10x42 and a tripod. And bring a spotting scope if you can.