Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics 458Win: keeping Nikon 8X32 SE dry

Originally Posted By: 458Win

The one binocular that everyone claimed was obviously superior to everything in both resolution and brightness was my Nikon 8x32 SE's


Phil,

Now that I have a set, I am looking to hunt with them this year. What do you do to keep them water effects free in your climate?...thanks...jim

Here is my pair of SE's dressed up for the big outdoors. Notice Zeiss ocular rain guard, zip-ties to hold the rubber eyecups at the correct extension, and Butler Creek flip up objective guards. The ocular guard fits over the zip ties fine--I just tipped it up for the picture. We get 60 inches of rain a year here and 95+% humidity most of the year.

I live in a pretty dry climate, I actually can't remember the last time I deer hunted in the rain. I don't use objective covers and the ocular covers that come with the bins work fine for me. If I'm out in wet snow I'll stow them in my coat, to pull out when needed.

John

Fireform,

Thanks for those photos.

John,

We get about 9" a year average here, but I need to gear up for Oregon blacktail this fall.

jim

Jim:

How do you like the SE's, I hope you are happy with them?
I don't wear glasses and so they are perfect with the eyecups up.

I just smile every time I look through mine, as the view does
not get much better.

As they say, keep your powder dry, and that also helps with the
bins too, many with experience say they are quite water resistant so just good sense should prevail.

Jerry

I grew up in western Oregon and would be delighted to use that rig there anytime. The Butler Creeks work great.

They are small enough to put in a zip lock plastic bag, wish I had kept the ones I had but like a DA returned them to the "going out of business" store because there was no warranty card.

I'll second the just keeping them inside your coat while using a strap or harness. Even if it's raining it keeps them from getting soaked. I don't have SE's but I've hunted a lot in the rain.

fish head

Jerry,

I do wear glasses but the SEs fit me well, and the view with the glass is one that makes me say "Wow!". Thanks again...

I hunt with my nephew who lives in Roseburg. Last fall we were about 50 miles east of Roseburg, 2010 will depend on what hunts we draw (went for late ML deer and elk this time around). I will try the Butler Creeks...thanks...

jim

That's beautiful country, and I have always liked Roseburg. I grew up a little further south, in Rogue River, but the Cascade foothills are very similar all along there. Steep and wet.

My other rels are in Grants Pass and a bit north of there, but roger on the steep and the wet!

jim

My inlaws have lived in Grants Pass since around 1988, I have spent a lot of time down there. Good fishing to. I also have a very good friend who transfered to Roseburg Lumber around ten years ago.

John

(edit)I meant Roseburg OR. not Roseville CA, where my wife worked for another wood products company called Sierra Pine.

My family homesteaded on the lower Rogue starting in about 1880. I went back to the place summer before last and jumped a herd of elk. Wish we still had it, but I still have the place I grew up on.