Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Upgrade binoculars or spotting scope?

I have a older pair of bushnell elite binoculars and a leupold mk4 spotting scope for hunting. The binoculars are surprisingly decent for bushnell and the spotting scope is nice and compact for throwing in the backpack. I would mostly be hunting deer in eastern WA. If I did upgrade the binoculars it would be nice to get a pair that included a LRF. But a spotting scope would be nice to upgrade as well. I do like the compactness of the Leupold, but the crosshair gets in the way for spotting game. I

was wishing for a Swarovski ATX 85mm but think I would use the binoculars more for hunting. However I'd probably get some use out of the spotting scope the rest of the year.

I'm thinking I can probably upgrade one or the other for this fall.

Bino first, no question.

My take - I would evaluate which was more critical for the type of hunting I do and which would get the most use.

For instance, I’m a sheep hunter and for THAT application I would upgrade my spotter first. Reason being, a good spotter is tremendously important for determining legality and determining if getting closer is worthwhile.

OTOH, for just about all my other hunting (goats/bou/deer) where legality is easier to determine and size of headgear is far less important to me, I would opt for the bino with lrf - each and every time. Not only do I use the binos far more, but the importance of the spotter in these situations is less.

FWIW and one opinion.

I see Rick pulled no punches! I haven’t hunted deer in eastern Washington, and I suspect he has ... so better listen to him

Thanks for the quick replies.

Second part of the question might be is it worth going over 10x on the binos? There is a 3pt minimum so counting points is necessary. Idk how much harder it is to hold a higher power steady.

Are you looking for a straight spotter or angled?

Paul

I'd probably look for a angled.

PM sent.

It would be my pleasure to discuss this with you. With our spotting scope sale through this Saturday and the availability of as new open box Sig 10x42 BDX 3000 Rangefinder Binocular for only $899.99 now is a great time for what you're looking for
I am in today till 6 if you have a few minutes to chat.
Have a great day
Doug
516-217-1000

Truth

Here is my 2 cents. With binos I can hold plenty steady resting on my knees or leaning against a tree with 10x. With 15x they are almost of no use without a tripod. Some might be younger or more steady. I don't have any 12x so maybe that is a compromise but for LRF most everybody makes a 10x.

Upgrade order for deers:

Eyeballs
Binos
Spotter

fwiw...on a move from 10x to 12x, it isn't going to make an ID that much easier if at all, most of the time. Heavier if you were considering a 10x42. A 12x is more difficult to pan with as there is less depth of field, requiring more focusing as you move from object to object at various yardages.

Get the best 10x binos that you can afford and a good carbon fiber tripod. Glassing from a tripod changes everything for the better.


mike r

This!