Binoculars and deer hunting - do you use them?

[juststarting]

So, like the title suggests - wondering who uses binos when deer hunting. To date, I haven't. I either sit down or prop myself against something and slowly glass the area with my scope. But lately I've been thinking, this is somewhat uncomfortable. But, the flip side is that it saves on weight and stuff I need to carry. I have Vortex binos, which are not too heavy, but not that small either, which makes me think twice about lugging them around.

Thoughts? Pros & cons? What do you do...

[bigfellascott]

Yep much easier to use bino's than a scope to scan the country side properly.

[juststarting]

My use case is generally hills, with perhaps 100m - 300m visibility at the very extreme best. Not so much open country side.

[Gwion]

Plenty of reasons why using binos is a better idea. Larger field of view, easier to scan due to size and ergonomics and you aren't sweeping the entire country side with your rifle.
Just another thing I need to save for. Bought a monocular a few years ago but it is just Shyte quality so I never use it.

[Archie]

Apart from the comfort side - depends where you are, and I'm probably being paranoid, but I get nervous when people start initially scanning wide areas with the pointy end of a rifle. Maybe I'm over cautious. But where I hunt there are a lot of small farms and if someone sees me checking out some movement with the rifle scope rather than binoculars, I don't think it'd go down too well.

[RoginaJack]

Yes Archie, you make a good point, especially from the safety aspect, not only for your shooting partner but from the small farms around.
It looks super cool too, with rifle over shoulder and binos up to the eyes - professional!

[juststarting]

Safety, good point. Super cool - but what if there's nobody to see you? Does it mean you've blended in well, but you're not cool Damn decisions! Also when I am walking, I am on my own, so there's no issues with hunting buddy having a barrel swung around them.

[bladeracer]

Bino's always. Waving rifles around is a bad habit to fall into, and just makes you more obvious to your game anyway.
Scopes suck for glassing, unless you only have one eye of course.
Mine are strapped to the left side of my chest.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Allen-Binocular-Ready-Pouch/17175612

[bladeracer]

Safety, good point. Super cool - but what if there's nobody to see you? Does it mean you've blended in well, but you're not cool Damn decisions! Also when I am walking, I am on my own, so there's no issues with hunting buddy having a barrel swung around them.

You might think you're alone, but what if there are half a dozen other hunters concealed and watching you through their scopes because they didn't bring binoculars either?

[juststarting]

Then I failed at concealment

[on_one_wheel]

I just picked up a set of tasco binoculars on ebay. I was going to ask for advice on what brand / size to get but I couldn't go past these. Hopefully they're ok.


It should be much esier to scan the country side using binoculars instead of swinging my rifle around for a look .

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[bigfellascott]

Not sure I'd bother with 16x mag for glassing duties, much rather a 8x30 or similar (way too much movement detected through high mag scopes/binos and I'd imagine those wouldn't be real flash eye relief/comfort wise either and probably a bit ordinary in the shadowy stuff too but time will tell how well they go for you mate.

I bought a cheap 2nd hand set for $40 a while back 10x50 they are if memory serves me correctly, they are ok (not the best sharpness wise but good enough for the duties I bought them for (Whistling foxes) and general hunting duties but they are a bit heavy to be walking the hills with (which is an important thing to think about when doing long stalking duties) so reasonably compact and light is the way to go for those sorts of things in general (heavy is a PITA for long days walking) and you will soon get sick of having them around your neck so a harness is a good idea to have also.

[AusTac]

I've really had no use for them in my Vic hunting adventures so far, i've been in mostly thick bush and generally can't see more than 50-100 metres ahead, however if i was up in the high country i'd be glassing with binos rather than my rifle scope, easier on the eyes and a much better field of view, it depends on your hunting environment

[Bent Arrow]

Bino's every time. I couldn't imagine not using them when looking for game. I also bow hunt, and not every rifle I like to hunt with has a scope, so I couldnt go down the "scoping for game" path anyway. It would also make a mockery of the rules I am embedding in to my kids head of only pointing the rifle at things you are intending to shoot. 8-10 power is plenty. Get a good harness, it makes a very big difference to how comfortable it is to carry binos

[RoginaJack]

You never know who's out there, so -

"Never point a gun at the Phantom (Old Jungle saying)"

"The Phantom has a thousand eyes and ears."

use the Binos, not the rifle!

Cheers,

[Supaduke]

The phantom also wore a purple leotard , with undies on the outside and knee high boots. Nothing suss going on there. I would value his opinion

[Wylie27]

But the phantom carried 2x1911's so he had something going for him..

[wrenchman]

binos i have bushnell 10x25 compact fold them up and fit them in my pocket

[Oldbloke]

I do based on the situation. If it's fairly open I take them. If it's thick and intend walking a lot I don't. I have 7.x 20s. A tad small I reckon 8 x 30 are the go.

I like to travel light. Getting too old to lug stuff I don't use.

[RoginaJack]

Well said Wyle27, no argument from me on that point and .45 too!

[bigfellascott]

I do use my scope if I don't bring my binos with me when out hunting (which is most of the time) but for deer bino's can be very important due to the fact you usually glass more than walk as a rule.

[Bent Arrow]

No disrespect intended, I am sure you all are very successful when you are hunting...... I bet you either walk past, spook, or walk away from a lot of game if you are not spending a lot of time looking through your bino's. I've lost count of the number of times I have found game and been able to stalk into them only because I spent the time looking rather than walking

[on_one_wheel]

Not sure I'd bother with 16x mag for glassing duties, much rather a 8x30 or similar (way too much movement detected through high mag scopes/binos and I'd imagine those wouldn't be real flash eye relief/comfort wise either and probably a bit ordinary in the shadowy stuff too but time will tell how well they go for you mate.

I bought a cheap 2nd hand set for $40 a while back 10x50 they are if memory serves me correctly, they are ok (not the best sharpness wise but good enough for the duties I bought them for (Whistling foxes) and general hunting duties but they are a bit heavy to be walking the hills with (which is an important thing to think about when doing long stalking duties) so reasonably compact and light is the way to go for those sorts of things in general (heavy is a PITA for long days walking) and you will soon get sick of having them around your neck so a harness is a good idea to have also.

I can report that the Tasco 16x32mm binoculars are terrible.

Just as you said the eye relief is so small that you need to open your eyes wide and press the binoculars almost hard against your eyeballs to see through them.
The high magnification amplifies the slightest hand tremble making the viewing picture look like a special effects scene from some kind of earthquake movie.

I rate them 0 stars but the kids think they're great

Back to the drawing board.

[on_one_wheel]

No disrespect intended, I am sure you all are very successful when you are hunting...... I bet you either walk past, spook, or walk away from a lot of game if you are not spending a lot of time looking through your bino's. I've lost count of the number of times I have found game and been able to stalk into them only because I spent the time looking rather than walking

Not a truer word has been said... there's some good advice hiding in that statement

[Oldbloke]

7 to 10 mag x 20 to 50mm

It's about compromise. Weight and light transmission

[bigfellascott]

Not sure I'd bother with 16x mag for glassing duties, much rather a 8x30 or similar (way too much movement detected through high mag scopes/binos and I'd imagine those wouldn't be real flash eye relief/comfort wise either and probably a bit ordinary in the shadowy stuff too but time will tell how well they go for you mate.

I bought a cheap 2nd hand set for $40 a while back 10x50 they are if memory serves me correctly, they are ok (not the best sharpness wise but good enough for the duties I bought them for (Whistling foxes) and general hunting duties but they are a bit heavy to be walking the hills with (which is an important thing to think about when doing long stalking duties) so reasonably compact and light is the way to go for those sorts of things in general (heavy is a PITA for long days walking) and you will soon get sick of having them around your neck so a harness is a good idea to have also.

I can report that the Tasco 16x32mm binoculars are terrible.

Just as you said the eye relief is so small that you need to open your eyes wide and press the binoculars almost hard against your eyeballs to see through them.
The high magnification amplifies the slightest hand tremble making the viewing picture look like a special effects scene from some kind of earthquake movie.

I rate them 0 stars but the kids think they're great

Back to the drawing board.

Yeah knew they would be, cheap high mag optics are never a good combo sadly and as you found out high mag often means every movement will be noticed and it makes them hard to use for the purpose you bought them for (get yourself something to sit them on like a tripod they may be slightly better to use then but I'd go around 8x 30 or 40/50mm depending on what you are wanting them for (smaller and lighter for doing long walks) heavier and bulkier is ok for sort walks and general use I find but lighter and compact for the long walks where weight becomes more of an issue.

[Bigjobss]

No disrespect intended, I am sure you all are very successful when you are hunting...... I bet you either walk past, spook, or walk away from a lot of game if you are not spending a lot of time looking through your bino's. I've lost count of the number of times I have found game and been able to stalk into them only because I spent the time looking rather than walking

Having a pair of binos around my neck reminds me to stop occasionally and slow down, catch my beath and look around.
For me at least I think that living a hectic 9-5 working life can have negative impacts on stalking technique.

[Bosbefok]

I just got a set of Vortex Talons 10x42 i think. From optics planet for around $350. Nice compact set with great glass. Very happy. Not the cheapest but definitely not the most expensive. I also grabbed a harness that attaches the binos to your chest. Way more comfy.

[d3driver]

Got my Vortex New Diamondback in 10x42 delivered today for just under $300 from the US on eBay. Hope to have an opportunity to use them soon.

[AusTac]

Very happy with my diamondback i reckon you will be too