Just asking 'cause you mentioned that you looked at that buck through your 12X scope for several minutes before knowing it had a third point. That's enough time to get a spotting scope out and set it up, let alone raise binos. Probably more movement than you'd get away with, but time wise, with this buck it sounds like you'd of been fine with a good pair of binos.
First:
That was ONE of very few times I've had that kind of time.
Second:
Why would I opt to use 8 X 20 binos WHEN I had 12 X on the rifle ?
Jerry
