Spotting Scopes

[couesnewbie]

Being new to coues hunting and the area, I been trying to talke to people about there hunts. The more I talk to people, I've heard that a spotting scope can be invaluable for looking accross canyons. I've never used one as I grew up hunting Blacktails in the thick Oregon brush. What are some things to look at while purchasing a spotting scope? Magnification, durability, cost? What specifications seem to out weight the other? Any information would be great.

[azpackhorse]

Welcome couesnewbie, I also grew up in Oregon hunting blacktails (Junction City). Basically it boils down to $, the more you pay the better the quality. Good spotters start around $1000.

[couesnewbie]

What is something usuable for a first timer, but not so expensive? Is a zoom good to have?

AZpackhorse- hunted Willamette valley around same and the hills east of 1-5 north of Eugene

[bullwidgeon]

double post

Edited January 1, 1970 by bullwidgeon

[bullwidgeon]

save your money and buy the absolute best pair of 10x, 12x or 15x binos and a tripod that you can, even if you have to save for a year or more.

 

Bret M.

[COUESAZ]

I agree with bullwidgeon. Get a set of binos. then get a tripod from amanda on this site. You will do best with the kind of set up that most of us use. The only thing I use my spotter for is to get a beter look at something that I want to score first, And even then last year I never got it out of the truck. I just used my binos to do the job. My back felt much better last year for it to.

Edited January 1, 1970 by ARIZONA GUIDE

[TAM]

As mentioned above, buy the best pair of high power bino's you can afford. Use them to glass for hours at a time and your eyes won't strain as bad as trying to keep one eye closed while looking through a spotter. Many of us actually carry both a high power set if bino's for glassing, then we get out the spotter (40-60 power) when we find a buck we want to take a closer look at. Get the bino's and tripod first, then buy the spotter down the road.

[azcouesandelk]

How much for a tripod on this site. I need a tripod for my 8 x 42 wind rivers. I know that they are not great for couse because they lack power, but they are crystal clear and get the job done.

[Red Rabbit]

For reasonably priced 15X binoculars, try the Minox or Docter brands for around $700(half the price of the Swaros). Binos are a lot more comfortable to glass through for hours on end than squinting through a spotting scope.

I have the Velbon Chaser EFL-4 tripod which I got for around $130 with head. I really like that its legs are adjustable outward and it is easy to sit under. Slik came out with a good tripod with outwardly adjustable legs that is about a pound lighter. Stay away from the $30 walmart specials as the plasit leg brackets break too easy, and the legs don't swing out wide enough.

[coues addict]

couesnewbie

I would try to get the zeiss classic 10 x 40`s from cabela`s for $699.00 and a tripod from Amanda. Then down the road you can get a tripler from zeiss for around $279.00 that screws right on to one eyepiece for an instant spotting scope. Actually the 10 x 40`s will do a real good job just by themselves for several years. Just my 2 cents worth. Good Luck Coues Addict

[GRONG]

I use the Leupold 12-40X60mm spotting scope. I've used this bad boy for several years now and love it!!! It's up over $800 now but I have never regretted buying it. You can never underestimate the awesomeness of good 15X binos though. I take both with me everytime I get out of the truck, unless I'm using the south side of a bush for something else of course. I have used the WalMart $30-40 tripods for years now and love them. Like Doug said though, sometimes they don't spread out enough but for me I'd rather spend the $$$$ on the Wally World tripods, I get about 2-4yrs use out of them and that's good enough for me. If you've got lots o dough then spend the big bucks and get anything you can from Amanda's site.

 

Josh Epperson

[Guest Ernesto C]

Younghunter,email Amanda and she'll give you the price for tripod,adapter etc.etc. is not expensive.

 

God bless.

 

Ernesto C.

[recurveman]

I have a pair of Pentax 16X60. You sure could spend more money but they work good enough. I also bring a tripod too. That is the only way to glass for deer.

 

I have a spotting scope to but I don't care for them at all. The biggest problem with them is that you can only use one eye and the other eye gets tired. So I use one pair of binos. I used to carry my tripod but it seemed like I never really used it. If I see a buck that I want to score I always try to get closer. If the buck is big enough for me to think about scoring him then I want to get close enough to shoot him too. Not to mention it is easier to score an animal closer.

 

End result. High power bino's and a tripod work great for me.

 

Later,

 

recurveman

[couesnewbie]

Thanks for all of the good info. I can see the point about binos being easier on the eyes. I'll have to get a pair and run and scout out 36B a bit the next few months as I have never hunted there before.

[coueshunter]

Newbie: I am originally from Olympia Wa and understand hunting the brush for blacktails. Everyone who has said get good bino's is right. I have swarovski 10 & 15's but spent a few years saving up. I know there now is Zeiss 15x45 for 550.00 that are american made and I would look into those if Swaro's are out of question for you. I think a spotter is great for field judging but most of your hunting will not be field judging but rather "finding" the bucks. I think your best money is not on a spotter but on great bino's/Tripod. Allen.......