Unit 22 OTC Deer Advice

[WarrZone]

I have the Leupold Rogue 10x25 binoculars. I don't really see how they could be mounted to a tripod but I'm willing to give anything a shot.

[mattys281]

I have the Leupold Rogue 10x25 binoculars. I don't really see how they could be mounted to a tripod but I'm willing to give anything a shot.

 

10x is a good magnification for an all around bino, but you're small on the objective lense which will give you low light glassing problems. If you decide to upgrade get something with an exit pupil of at least 4mm, preferably 5mm. You calculate the exit pupil by dividing objective lense size by power so your 10x25 are giving you an exit pupil of 2.5mm. Thats bad for gathering light. I have 10x42s that ride around my neck and love them. 10x50 would gather even more light, but I personally find them a bit bulky for neck glass. I have 2 sets of bigger glass that could go in the pack depending on where I'm going. 12x56 and 15x56. These are the tripod glass.

 

If you have unlimited budget, you can spend as much as you like. If money is a concern, I like the nikon monarch line. I think the 10x42s are around $250ish. They are rubber armored, water proof and pretty clear for being cheaper glass. Ive been using mine forever and have no complaints. These also do great on a tripd and adapt with the standard front screw type of adapter.

[Zeke-BE]

What they don't tell you is hunting is expensive if you want to spot deer all day! But in the old days our grandpas just walked around until they saw one and shot it. But there are lot less deer today and more hunting pressure then when grandpa went out 30-40 years ago. But we are not saying don't bother to hunt unless you get the nice stuff. If I couldn't afford any binoculars I would still go out and beat the bush you will kick out something sooner or later (but more work included). If your on a tight budget do what matty said! You can even get the 10x50 nikon the big bulky one for around 150. If you got a couple hundred more get the monarch line they can do you good. But once you start looking through some really nice glass deer almost pop out like magic compared to the lower end binos.

 

Get the tripod adapter and pop off the cap that is on the middle dial of you binos. You should see a brass threaded insert. The tri pod adapter threads on that and then the adapter snaps in you tri pod. I first started off with the cheap walmart camera tri pod for 20 dollars. It works but you need to find a spot that work out on the ground for you.

 

Once you get going with you tripod you can scan without fatigue. Your hands don't get tired and your eyes start adjusting to your binos. It takes some time but after a while you can sit there for 15-30 mins just looking through your binos. A month ago I pick out a nice hill hiked to it and sat there all morning glassing. I could easily glass out to a mile away with a pair of 15x.

 

If money is not a problem get good glass!! Everybody usually makes their way that direction and I never heard of anyone ever saying I wish I get rid of these and go back to the 300 dollar binos. No one regrets it.

[Zeke-BE]

Its sideways but It makes it lot easier to glass all day using a tri pod

[wildwoody]

Yes sir, slow down, glass the same hill over and over and over and then they appear. And don't forget to glass the close stuff also , with these new super bino's we tend not to. Oh ya a good pair of shooting sticks will work to hold your Bino's steady if you can't afford the super equipment. What flavor of deer you after whitetail or carp

[AZbowhntr]

Here is a picture of us glassing on the San Carlos several years ago. Looks like we have upgraded some equipment since then.

 

[Zeke-BE]

Here is a picture of us glassing on the San Carlos several years ago. Looks like we have upgraded some equipment since then.

 

 

 

What tri pod is the green one?? That is why I don't sit in a chair because I'm leaning over like the first guy on the spotting scope. But if I can get it like that Ill end up bringing chairs with me

[WarrZone]

 

Took everyone's advice and did some glassing.

 

Not much luck this time but I can definitely see the advantages.

 

Thanks again everyone.

[CatfishKev]

http://www.coueswhitetail.com/forums/topic/21870-glassing/

 

Now read this thread a couple times to hone your glassing technique.

[buddydog]

Jay Scott has some great podcasts in regards to glassing. Highly recommend checking them out.

[WarrZone]

Your guys' advice has been paying off. So thank you for that.

 

Now onto some stalking advice, if you guys don't mind.

 

For some reason most of the deer I've been seeing are moving around, almost all day. Even in the middle of the day. And I can't quite figure out how to sneak up on them when they're feeding.

 

So my question is, when they get out of their beds in the evening and start feeding what do you guys do? I've managed to get within about 100yds and each time I'll slip behind a hill so they can't see me and when I come back up I lose them. They're totally gone and I can't relocate them.

 

For example. I was stalking a small group and they were feeding up hill about an hour before dark. I can see they're headed to a saddle between two hills. So I slip into the next canyon and run up the hill to try to cut them off. I get to the top and they've disappeared. No where to be found. After waiting a while I head down the opposite side of the canyon and I can't find them anywhere. They don't seem to be in the drainage anymore. They were only out of sight for about 10 mins.

 

Do you guys make sure they are always in your sights or? And isn't it standard practice for them to feed up hill in the evenings?

[trphyhntr]

Your guys' advice has been paying off. So thank you for that.

 

Now onto some stalking advice, if you guys don't mind.

 

For some reason most of the deer I've been seeing are moving around, almost all day. Even in the middle of the day. And I can't quite figure out how to sneak up on them when they're feeding.

 

So my question is, when they get out of their beds in the evening and start feeding what do you guys do? I've managed to get within about 100yds and each time I'll slip behind a hill so they can't see me and when I come back up I lose them. They're totally gone and I can't relocate them.

 

For example. I was stalking a small group and they were feeding up hill about an hour before dark. I can see they're headed to a saddle between two hills. So I slip into the next canyon and run up the hill to try to cut them off. I get to the top and they've disappeared. No where to be found. After waiting a while I head down the opposite side of the canyon and I can't find them anywhere. They don't seem to be in the drainage anymore. They were only out of sight for about 10 mins.

 

Do you guys make sure they are always in your sights or? And isn't it standard practice for them to feed up hill in the evenings?

i have no advice since thats about as close as i get lol. keep it up and it will happen.

[mattys281]

If theyre in sight, then they can see you too. The minute you start a stalk, you need to drop over the backside of the hill you are glassing from and get out of sight, circle around and come up above them.

 

Deer can bust you at 800 yards, especially if you move quickly or skyline yourself. Its not uncommon for them to stay put and see what you're going to do, and then split as soon as they lose sight of you.

 

If you're going to try to stalk head on, better find yourself an invisibility cloak.

[WarrZone]

mattys281 - thanks for the advice.

 

That's what I was doing, or at least what I thought what I was doing. I went on the backside of the hill because I knew they would see me coming. But when I came up above them, I couldn't fin them anywhere. Not in the drainage. They didn't run over the opposite ridge or down into the canyon as far as I could see.

 

I guess it's standard practice to lose sight of them for a bit to get in a better position and if they left and I can't even spot them anymore then I probably was too loud or they winded me or something, wouldn't you think?

 

And don't they usually feed uphill in the evening to keep the wind in their face?

[Ohthatguy]

I've been doing more hiking then glassing

 

^^^^^^^That's been your problem....

Iv'e found that the deer are fine as long as they know what it going on around them. You can hike right by some bedded deer and they couldn't care less. The moment you stop, they don't know what you are doing so they get jumpy. How many times have you stopped for a few minutes and a deer busted out from some cover right next to you? Had you kept on walking, you would have passed him up none the wiser. Just another way to say that glassing is better than hiking all over the hills.