Spotting Scopes
How many of you west coast hunters actually carry a spotting scope while backpack hunting? I have been trying to keep my gear weight down, but could see the advantage of carrying a spotting scope. What brand spotting scopes are you using and whats the weight coming in at with your scope and tripod?
I carry a Nikon Spotter XL spotting scope and a lightweight tripod, only if I am hunting big bucks in the high or very open country. They both weigh in at 3.25lbs.
Big Bucks are usually solitary and tend to hang more in the open(especially during bow season)and can be glassed from very far away, then if they bed I can sneak on them, but if what I see is not worth the march I don't have to waste the sometimes miles to get close enough for a good look.
Elk are a little different as they move constantly and I usually move with them. They are also much more unpredictable and can be miles away in a one day, they also spend most of the daylight hours in the black timber cover where a scope is useless. I also carry 8 x 30 Zeiss or Pentax 9 x 63 binos, depending how light I want to go, which allow me to glass out a long way and are still very lightweight.
Stop Global Whining...
I carry Zeiss 8x40 binoculars and also my Swarovski 80HD spotting scope w/ a light weight tripod when I am on multiple day high country backpack hunting trips. Good optics are worth their weight in gold.
Leupold Gold ring 10-20x40
Nikon ED50
A Nikon Prostaff and a tripod. It's heavy but I find myself using it quite a bit. If you balance what energy it takes to haul a scope around vs what it would take to actually cover the places you can view, I think the scope saves you a lot.
If your looking just to have a scope and don't want to carry a heavy one, try the Alpin 20X60. It weighs next to nothing and will run you about $60. yes, it is cheap glass. But it still does a pretty darn good job and will not take up room in your pack. I got quite a bit of use out of mine with few complaints. It found me deer and help me put antlers on them at a distance.
Judge Gideon J. Tucker, wrote in a 1866 ruling that "No man's life, liberty, or property are safe while the legislature is in session."
Thanks guys. Really apprciate the feedback.
Has anyone had experience with a Vortex Nomad? I was thinking that was a nice midrange scope.
I have the Vortex Impact (I don't think they carry it any more). It's very compact for its power...I also have some Vortex binos and I love them...Best bang for your buck IMHOOriginally Posted by coothunter
Vortex Impact 25-75x70mm Spotting Scope IMT-70Magnification x Objective Lens
89-47
"Wilderness to the people of America is a spiritual necessity, an antidote to the high pressure of modern life, a means of regaining serenity and equilibrium."
- Sigurd Olson
“Civilized life has altogether grown too tame, and, if it is to be stable, it must provide a harmless outlets for the impulses which our remote ancestors satisfied in hunting"
I have the Vortex Nomad and for the price I'm pleased with it. it weighs in at 2lbs 4oz.
I researched spotting scopes a couple years back, bought a couple for testing and ended up with the Leuopold. It's very compact, light and offers enough magnification to see anything within miles. Plus price was mid range, which was good. I didn't go the HD model, but now wish I did.
I've lugged that thing all over the mountains on my pack. Sometimes it's invaluable, but most of the time I never even break it out. The reality is that I can see enough through my bino's most of the time. I find I leave it at camp more often now, simply to reduce pack weight. There are plenty of times when I've used it and saw game at a distance, but 9 times out of 10 I'm not willing to hike to the next mountain range and by the time I got there the game would be gone. So consider what your realistic hunt zone is and then determine what optics you need that day.
Oh...invest in a good , light, compact tripod. Most importantly in a ball/ joint mounting attachment. The cheap ones don't let you move the spotting scope when panning for game. The cheap ones jerk vs smooth movement. You won't notice it when looking at the setup in a store, but you will when looking through it at high magnification. I found all those in Cabelas were too cheap (surprising) so I went to a camera store.
Lastly, saw the other day they make a quick release attachment, which allows you to mount the scope to the tripod very quickly (vs screwing it in). I haven't bought one, but plan to.
I hunt with the Nomad and love it! I found mine on Ebay for about $200 I think about a year or so ago. I am a huge fan of most anything that Vortex makes, and they did not disoppoint with this model. Its not a Swaro but for 1/5 the price, it is a great value.
this will be my first season with a spotter, and see the value. I have done some overnight scouting and have determined that a 65mm class is not too big for a multiday BP hunt. I will be purchasing the Pentax 65 EDII
I keep trying to find a retailer near San Clemente that has a variety of glass but no luck. Who has this? I passed on the (angled) Swarovski 80 HD for $2K because I determined the straight eyepiece was preferable to road and spot & stalk hunting. Plus $2K buys a guided hunt which for me may be a smarter way to go. LOL
I see a lot of guys talking about using "doublers" on their scopes...what's the dealio w/ dat? Do all spotting scopes accept em?
Last edited by Where's Bruce?; 09-24-2011 at 03:13 PM.
Human beings only have two ways to deal with one another: reason and force. Force has no place as a valid method of social interaction, and the only thing that removes force from the menu is the personal firearm, as paradoxical as it may sound to some.
The U.S. city with the most restrictive gun laws in the nation, Washington, D.C., has the highest murder rate at 24 per 100,000. The state with the most unrestrictive gun regulations, Vermont, has the lowest murder rate at 0.48 per 100,000.
[QUOTE=Where's Bruce?;2297496]I keep trying to find a retailer near San Clemente that has a variety of glass but no luck. Who has this? I passed on
Bruse try www.optics4birding.com there in Irvine i bought a pair of pentax 10x43 from them real nice
Thanks for that!
Human beings only have two ways to deal with one another: reason and force. Force has no place as a valid method of social interaction, and the only thing that removes force from the menu is the personal firearm, as paradoxical as it may sound to some.
The U.S. city with the most restrictive gun laws in the nation, Washington, D.C., has the highest murder rate at 24 per 100,000. The state with the most unrestrictive gun regulations, Vermont, has the lowest murder rate at 0.48 per 100,000.
I carry a Swarovski 65 with an outdoorsman tripod on every backpack hunt. Yes, it does add weight to my pack but it prevents hiking miles every trip to get closer to a group of deer to determine sex and trophy quality. Worth it's weight in gold!
Coming to a National Forest near you!
What's up with the "doubler" and do you use one? When?
Human beings only have two ways to deal with one another: reason and force. Force has no place as a valid method of social interaction, and the only thing that removes force from the menu is the personal firearm, as paradoxical as it may sound to some.
The U.S. city with the most restrictive gun laws in the nation, Washington, D.C., has the highest murder rate at 24 per 100,000. The state with the most unrestrictive gun regulations, Vermont, has the lowest murder rate at 0.48 per 100,000.
Doublers are for binoculars.
You certain? I've seen guys referring to em on spotting scopes.
Human beings only have two ways to deal with one another: reason and force. Force has no place as a valid method of social interaction, and the only thing that removes force from the menu is the personal firearm, as paradoxical as it may sound to some.
The U.S. city with the most restrictive gun laws in the nation, Washington, D.C., has the highest murder rate at 24 per 100,000. The state with the most unrestrictive gun regulations, Vermont, has the lowest murder rate at 0.48 per 100,000.
Yep, they're for binos, at least the ones Swarovski makes. Trust me, you don't need a doubler on a spotting scope. 120X power wouldn't work very well.
Coming to a National Forest near you!
Bruce, the high end spotters can take doublers, they do just what they suggest, they double the magnification. I'd be careful with them, as some don't produce the best image.
Saw a guy stating that the 65 Swarovski does. Thx.
Human beings only have two ways to deal with one another: reason and force. Force has no place as a valid method of social interaction, and the only thing that removes force from the menu is the personal firearm, as paradoxical as it may sound to some.
The U.S. city with the most restrictive gun laws in the nation, Washington, D.C., has the highest murder rate at 24 per 100,000. The state with the most unrestrictive gun regulations, Vermont, has the lowest murder rate at 0.48 per 100,000.
Swarovski makes a doubler for their binos, I've never seen or heard of one for their spotting scopes. If there are any heat waves at all 60x is too much. I cannot imagine why someone would ever try to put a doubler on a 60x power spotting scope. 120x would literally be useless under all conditions.
I eyed the bino doubler for a long time and never purchased one. I have a pair of 8.5x42 EL's. I think having that 17x would be nice if you didn't want to pack a spotter. I've just decided to carry the extra weight of my spotting scope.
Coming to a National Forest near you!
Well I looked through a slew of scopes and quickly began to understand the benefits and trade-offs. Ultimately I just couldn't justify spending $2500. for the used Swarovski 80 w/ angled eyepiece for the limited amount of time I will be using it. I decided to go with a heavier model since I won't be packing it far and usually using it from a vehicle (Jeep/ATV) and not lugging it on the stalk. Found a sweet deal and got a Vortex Skyline ED 20-60x80 Straight eye spotting scope w/ Radian Tripod, Vortex Window Mount, and the Vortex Skyline Camera Adapter for $650 to my door. I'll be able to see into the shade of trees and view vast vistas in places where the view goes for miles. Decided this best suited my current hunting...may regret it later. We'll see. Thanks for all the info guys...a real eye opener. <g>
Human beings only have two ways to deal with one another: reason and force. Force has no place as a valid method of social interaction, and the only thing that removes force from the menu is the personal firearm, as paradoxical as it may sound to some.
The U.S. city with the most restrictive gun laws in the nation, Washington, D.C., has the highest murder rate at 24 per 100,000. The state with the most unrestrictive gun regulations, Vermont, has the lowest murder rate at 0.48 per 100,000.
Anybody have any experience with the Cabelas brand binos and spotters?
Reviews
In my experience the only way to buy optics is to look thru em. Opinions vary...seeing is believing.
Human beings only have two ways to deal with one another: reason and force. Force has no place as a valid method of social interaction, and the only thing that removes force from the menu is the personal firearm, as paradoxical as it may sound to some.
The U.S. city with the most restrictive gun laws in the nation, Washington, D.C., has the highest murder rate at 24 per 100,000. The state with the most unrestrictive gun regulations, Vermont, has the lowest murder rate at 0.48 per 100,000.
I recently bought a Burris Landmark Compact 20x50 spotting scope for backpack hunting. Not the highest magnification, but it is super light,compact and reasonably priced. Twice the magnification as most Bino's so I think I'll be happy with it for now. Time will tell.
Take a look at new Zeiss Dialyt http://www.cabelas.com/spotting-scop...&mr:adType=pla I've used it last year and will be using it again soon. Great glass, rugged body, relatively lightweight.
nothing beats binoculars. Two eyes are better than one!
All is for nothing, if not for GOD.....
"Now then, take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me"
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks