wbyfireman

Sounds like Tyler is great at spotting deer..... perhaps he couold help me with my hunt right after thanksgiving!! Awsome post!!

I lived in Texas for 2-years (not by choice) most all of it is private, you have to get permission or fork out alot of money... however if your looking for hogs look no further than your local bar. The ugliest people I have ever seen or met come from texas!! "Happiness is texas in my rear veiw mirror" Boomer Sooner!!

Desertbulls.com it costs 30.00$$ they send you scouting reports, quality maps, and GPS cordinates where good places are. I used them last year for unit 33 and got mine opening morning, they put me right in the thick of them!!

Is there a good spotting scope out there that is worth getting for 500$ or less?? Bushnell, Vortex, and even Nikon also has what looks like a decent one for about that price also. Any help would be appreciated!! Thx

Good link THX

I 've got the garmin etrex and like it alot. I spent an extra 100$ and got the topo USA program also. Well worth the money, between that and google earth you can get some pretty awsome scouting done from your computer!!!!!!

A group of us got together and compared our 15 power binoculars on tripods looking at papago park and south mountain from decent distances the other day. The binos were Swarovski 15X56, Minox ED BR 15X58, Vortez Viper 15X50, and Fujinon 15X60's. The results we ALL agreed on were.... -- To no suprise the Swarovski were the best overall. -- To ALL of OUR our suprise however was the Vortex was agreed uopn by all to be the second best Bino. in the group!!! Just a shade behind the Swaros. and ahead of both the Minox and the Fujinons. The light gathering was awsome in the evening, and the color was brilliant all the way out to the edges. What seperated them from the Minox and Fujinons was not so much the difference in clarity, but of all the detail we were able to see in the shadows cast by trees and bushes. This put them ahead of the Minox and Fujinon's as agreed upon by everyone Not a scientific study, just regular ethical hunters looking at some mountains. In fact three of us now have gone and bought the Vortex. One of whom owns the Minox. Take it for what you will. Be safe this season

599$$ at outdoorsman, bear mountain archery, just to name a couple. Also look online you can avoid tax and get them for an even 600$$, dont wait too long, I spoke to some Bino dealers and they said the prices are going to go up considerbly in the near future . Another interesting fact about Vortex-- a lead engineer from Swarovski jumped ship three years ago to work for Vortex (I'm sure the money did the talking). Anyways he took many of the concepts, ideas, and technology along with him and assisted in making the Razor, as well as the Viper line of optics. There are patents that Swarovski owns that he couldn't touch obviously, however both lines of Binos look suprisingly similar to the Swaro's.

Well put sir!! I'm sure ill get blasted by a few on this board, but until you have compared binos side by side like we did I hope those who do critisize have put forth the effort just like we have; and dont just argue for the sake of argueing. But I always like to hear different opions, ideas, and info that can help the rest of us suceed in hunting and buying gear.... especially when your talking about spending hundreds and sometimes even thousands of dollars!! Good luck to all this season!!!

I have the Harris, cnat remember the length but it is the tallest one they offer. It's tough to lay prone and set up correctly, but while shooting from a sitting position it is absolutly AWSOME. They are worth the price tag!!

All three racks are awsome..... in all three pictures

Check out the Fujinon 15X60's!!!! I have some friends who absolutly swear by them. I have checked them out and I was also VERY VERY impressed. Had I known I would of gotten them over my Pentax 12.5X50 DCF SP's. Let us know what you ultimatly decide upon!! Gfood Luck

Very sorry for your loss... I suppose for what it's worth he probably lived and experienced things others only wish. Our hearts go out to you, and his family!!

Thanks for all the replies!!! It's just going to have to be "slow and steady wins the race" for me!! Just in two weeks I have saved about 100$ from stashing change, saving 5-10 dollars here and there etc. Dont think I'll have them this season but hopefully by next season I'll be proudly sitting behind them with a smile on my face. Until then what I have is not as good as Swaro's mind you, but have found me ALOT of deer the past few seasons. Ill just have to make up for it through hard work and patience Thanks Again to all, and be safe!!!

I have oficially started saving for a pair of Swarovski 15X56's. (Myself and my wife are on a limeted income to begin with) Beleive it or not firefighters don't bring in a ton of loot. I have stared with about 40$ put away and figure it will take about two years to acheive my goal of stashing change and one dollar bills to reach the 2000$ mark. Any tips on how to save money would be appreciated. Donations would also be appreciated :) JK Good luck to everyone and stay safe this season!! Wish me luck on my early December hunt in Unit 33 The Swaros will just have to wait till next season, my Pentax 12.5X50 DCF SP's will hopefully do me good again this season

Has anyone had any experience with the Steiner 20X80 Marine Binos?? They are running about 1100$$ on just about every website. Do you think it is worth a try, or should I just keep savin up (what seems like forever for something else, Swarovski 15X56 perhaps ) I already ahve the Pentax DCF SP 12.5X50's. and cant say enough good things about them. Compared them to my buddies Swarovski's on last years coues hunt and the only real difference was very early moring or late at night. Anyways any thoughts about the BIG Steiners mentioned above? Do you think the extra power is worth it? Or do you think I will just be kicking myself for not waiting and getting the Swaro's

Very nice!! I hope to someday get a deer like that in my scope!! Good luck

Thanks for the replies!!! I think I might as well bite-the-bullet and save up for the Swarovski's. It just sucks because we are on a limited income and I feel selfish spending the 2K for binos. I will just keep telling myself that I deserve them; and some day when I save enough pennies and dimes to buy them I will never have to get any other binos for a long-long time. Thanks again and stay safe

7mm, or the 257wby

257wby mag. pushing 115gr nosler ballistic tip ammo at 3400 fps... possibly the flattest shooting mass produced round on the market!!

338-378 wby compare....ballistics..... I mean foot pounds..... I mean.. OH wait nothing compares!!!!!!

So I guess my Nikon 1200 yd RF just wont cut it. Other than the fact that it is crystal clear, dead on accurate, and costs about half as much!! Folks who work for a living and who dont have much money to toss around can still make it work. I say get the best you can afford, strapping your family to get a Swarovski or Leica RF just dosen't make much sence to me. hope I dont offend anyone Be safe

I might have the opportunity buy the end-all of optics down the road. What would you reccomend, Leice, zeiss, or swarovski. I am kind of leaning toward the Zeiss 15X60 over the swarovski 15X56. The Leice are awsome but the only 15-power is also a range finder, and i dont need that feature on my binos

I never have, seems almost impossible, but it can happen

Copy that ... Swaro it is Thx I was kind of shocked at the overwhelming reply toward swaro. other optics forums actually thought the zeiss were superior to the Swaro, bu tto each his own I guess Thanks again