Often, my hunting and scouting outings are somewhat of the impromptu variety. That is, I decide to go at the last minute due to anything from a weather shift to an unexpected hall pass from my wife. And when I do, I’ll admit that, in my haste, I typically grab my inexpensive knock-around 8×42 binoculars and hit the road. While it doesn’t ruin the outing, it usually keeps it from being all it can be.
Optics have been monumental pieces of hunting gear since the 1800s. While they used to be bulky clunkers, hunters greatly appreciated them nonetheless. Luckily, more lightweight and compact sets would arrive around the middle of the century.
Today, tech-driven advances have yielded many alternatives based on size, weight, power, and a variety of other improved features. It’s a good thing because optics continue to represent a key piece of gear for the hunter and scouter of wild game that can make or break success when locating shooter deer, elk, and other creatures.
In a seemingly endless sea of binocular and spotting scope options, choosing them can be an overwhelming endeavor. The key is first to identify your specific hunting needs. That is, determine your hunting situation, particularly the terrain and habitat.
Arguably, the biggest consideration is whether you’ll be hunting and viewing across an open expanse or within the thicker cover. This is true whether you are chasing a 150-pound Texas whitetail or an 800-pound Wyoming elk.
If you want to capture your hunting and scouting images via digiscoping, the same rules apply regarding terrain and landscape. I, for one, try to pick the optimal binoculars with my digiscoping efforts in mind. That’s why I always carry my Phone Skope Carbon Pro Series case and other digiscoping components.
Optics for Dense Areas
In a nutshell; if you’re hunting and scouting in more congested terrain and habitat, you’ll want to seek less magnification and a greater field of view.
Denser areas are often associated with bow hunting where most shots are less than 50-yards. Whitetail hunters usually hunt these areas, as they contain grounds good for bedding and frequently are home to food such as browse, acorns, and other mast.
The ideal binoculars for this environment should have a good balance of magnification power and field of view. Binoculars with 8x to 10x magnification provide enough power to pick out details at longer ranges, while still maintaining a wide enough field of view to scan your surroundings effectively in closer quarters. I prefer 8X magnification in heavier cover and even choose my monocular over any of my binoculars. Above all, look for optics with objective lens diameters in the 25mm to 42mm range (50mm is also acceptable). Much like for low-light conditions, a generous field of view will gather more light for a brighter, clearer image in the denser areas of timber, woodlots, and overgrown brush.
Optics for Open Areas
In my experience, most hunters find themselves surveying more expansive landscapes. It’s not just Western hunters either. While our western hunting friends often survey animals and terrain thousands of yards in the distance, even whitetail hunters sometimes need to view and capture game animals at greater distances from their setup.
The golden rule for using your optics across bigger expanses is, you guessed it; if you’re hunting in vast, wide-open spaces, you’ll likely benefit more from binoculars with an optic that provides higher magnification and a lesser field of view. With that, power ranges from 10x – 18x are preferred for binoculars. Of course, you can further leverage optic power with a trusty spotting scope.
Since you’ll be glassing objects at greater distances, the higher magnification allows you to reduce your field of view and bring your target animal or land feature in much closer. So, in this case, bigger is better regarding optical power.
Closing Thoughts
Are there other optic features important for hunting and scouting? You bet. Other traits include durability, weight, water, fog protection, and image stabilization if you can afford it. One of my favorite binocular features is adjustable eyecups which afford me more comfort and staying power in the woods. Still, you can locate that trophy buck, bull, or ram more clearly if you outfit yourself specifically based on cover density. Take a few minutes to review your prospective terrain before hitting your favorite woods, prairies, or mountainous areas. Choose wisely, my friend.
