Hunting Optics – What I look for
Have you ever wondered what are the best medium priced rifle scopes or binoculars being used by the average hunter?
After thirty years of stomping through the bush and sitting in tree stands during the hunting season I have come to depend on my hunting optics a great deal.
Before spending your hard earned cash on optics what do you look for in rifle scopes, binoculars, range finders, spotting scopes, trail cameras, shotgun and crossbow scopes and cameras both still and video.
Yep that’s a lot of optics to consider for your next hunt!
Manufactures in today’s competitive hunting optic market offer a wide assortment of optics in high and low end models.
Depending on your budget is likely the first place you will come to a decision on purchasing the model best suited to your wallet.
Sure there is high-end optics with built in range finder and compass. They are fog proof, waterproof, and have crystal clear view during those low light situations. Expect to pay accordingly of course.
If you were on a once in a lifetime safari I would recommend those hunting optics to get the job done. After all quality optics will last a lifetime and perform when it counts.
However if you’re perched in a tree-stand at the edge of a cornfield you don’t need those $2000 optics to count antler tips.
Many whitetail deer hunters using rifles, muzzle loaders or shotguns during the first week of November to hunt the rut. Bow hunters in Ontario hunt from October first till December thirty- first.
Moose hunters have a shorter season and can be hunted with bow or rifle.
The optic requirements differ between bow and gun hunters. Bow hunters depend on binoculars and range finders. Most gun hunters, especially us older one depend on a good quality scope for their rifle.
On last years moose hunt I used my Browning BLR 300 WSM with a King Optics Dangerous Game compact scope. I chose that scope for my BLR due to hunting thick bush. The 1.4 x 4 x 26mm scope is very quick to use with the lighted optics. Not too many scope fit my compact BLR but this one was a perfect fit and suited my style of hunting.
Using a quality scope mount will ensure any scope stays in place shot after shot. This reasonably priced scope performs as expected and it is made in Canada.
My bull came out right at sunset. It was easy to pick a spot just back of his shoulder with my scope at 90 yards knocking him down with one shot.
However if you’re perched in a tree-stand at the edge of a cornfield you don’t need those $1200 optics to count antler tips.
Many whitetail deer hunters use rifles, muzzle loaders or shotguns during the first week of November to hunt the rut. I still use a smooth bore shotgun but hope to switch next year using a rifled shotgun barrel or muzzle loader.
Aging eyes and hunting open field edges is a lot more demanding than sitting in a tree stand over a food plot with a bow. Filling your tag on a buck at 130 yards is just as exhilarating as filling your tag at 10 yards with a bow regardless.
Learning how to site in a shotgun scope with a rifled slug barrel may take a few shots. Using quality ammo suited for your shotgun is the key. Sabots or rifled ammo will increase your accuracy not possible a few years ago.
A few rounds of target practice out to 50, 100 and 150 yards will give you confidence on making that shot during the deer season.
Bow hunters in Ontario hunt from October first till December thirty- first. The firearm season for deer normally runs the first two weeks of November; which is the whitetail-rutting season during most years.
Another hunting optic I depend on is a rangefinder. It’s a quick dependable way to mark that yardage to the target. I use a Nikon Pro 550 for all my hunting. It ranges targets from 11 yards out to 550 yards or (10-500 meters) with a six-power monocular eyepiece.
I do use my rangefinder more for bow hunting but find it tagging along on most of my hunting trips.
It is lightweight and great marking unknown distances accurately. You need bright numbers and easy one hand use. An auto off will help conserve your battery life.
I probably use my binoculars the most over the year. They are in my truck or knapsack when not around my neck during a hunt.
I use a comfortable Vortex Binocular Harness Strap on my 10x 42 Razors to ensure I don’t get a sore neck after a day of hunting.
On the rare occasions when I don’t have my binoculars with me I certainly wished I had them. As a back up I do use my Nikon 550 rangefinder in a pinch.
Western hunters tend to hunt longer distances and reply on spotting scopes more. This is where you need to spend some money on your optics. Waterproof and optimum glass is essential for long-range viewing. A tripod to hold it securely is also a great item to match to your spotting scope. Weight is always a concern when trekking across the side of a mountain but there are no shortcuts where optics is concerned.
Why would you walk for hours to find that trophy buck or ram and find out your hunting optics are not clear or bright enough to see detail.
Use a higher end quality name brand spotting scope and you wont be disappointed. I would look for a variable 20–60 power. Prices will start about $1500 for a decent spotting scope.
I do a lot of bow hunting using both my Bow Tech Compound from tree stands or my Excalibur Crossbow from the ground. As my Bow Tech has fiber optic pins I depend on available light to make the shot.
My Excalibur has a Vortex 3x32mm crossbow illuminated scope mounted. I can dial in brightness in either green or red or turn it off completely.
Red or Green dots you choice when it counts
I have been using it with awesome results for my Grand Slam Turkey hunt for Rio and Eastern gobblers. This spring I hope to complete my Grand Slam gobbler hunt in Florida and Montana birds.
I think the biggest breakthrough for pre season and post-season hunting has been made easy with new technology in game trail camera. Today’s trail cameras are extremely powerful and dependable compared to models a few years back.
My SpyPoint Pro-X game camera is capable of taking 12MB photos and quality video day or night. Compact and easy to use with a large display screen I use it year round for scouting new hunting areas. Trail camera have increased my hunting opportunities on productive and active areas with out spending hours in the field. I hunt numerous food plots on farms and some time wandering on crown land I will set up a camera for scouting a potential hotspot.
Of course there are dozens of trail camera models available to hunters who want a photo of the deer where they hunt. Prices can range from under a $100 to over $700 per unit.
Depending on your wish list of requirements this will help decide on what model you choose.
Ease of use is near the top of my list. 
Speed of motion sensor will ensure clear photos.
Battery life and type used.
Regular or infrared flash.
Size of media card.
Programmable times and picture resolution is also good to have.
Waterproof with lockable case are a few things to also consider when purchasing a unit.
Some units are lightning quick but have low-resolution photos. Their purpose is a get a photo of deer using a trail.
If you want better quality expect to pay more. Bells and whistles are never cheap but sometimes required.
That’s a quick rundown of the hunting optics I use and depend on.
One last optic I use is a Nikon D200 camera to record a successful hunt. With inter changeable lens and quality photos possible it’s my go to camera for publishing photos in print.
I do have a Pentax Optima pocket camera for quick grip and grin photos. I also use it to view my trail camera media cards while in the field.
Often its easier to just change cards to view the photos from my computer.
So how does your hunting optics compare? I think the average hunter has a varied assortment of optics in use at any one time.
Budgets vary as do requirements.
Quality last longer than cheap. So analysis what works best for your hunting circumstances and budget is always the deciding factor.
I wouldn’t go hunting without my optics. Choosing what ones I require for a certain hunt is the key to not overloading one’s self and making it complicated.
Good luck with your hunting this season, try out some hunting optics to improve your chances at filling those game seals and freezer.
Check out Ripple Outdoors Hunting & Fishing Podcast #174 – Hunting Optics