How many of you pack around binos and spotting scopes on a hunt ?

[Huntingtyler123]

I have a vortex viper spotting scope 15-45 x65 that I got a good deal on two years ago. I barely use it at all. Pretty much brand new. I don’t ever pack it on my hunts because of the extra weight and I’m not glassing super far.

I have a set of bushnel cheap binos and wanting to upgrade to the equivalent of my spotting scope or at least better. Not sure what to get. Eventually I’d like to go on a goat hunt and I think the spotter would be handy for me then.

Would you sell spotter then upgrade to killer binos or keep spotter and buy the best I could afford like razor or viper binos ( that price range of like 600-800$)?

Im thinking of having a good set of binos on a tripod that would do the work of a spotter but without hauling extra weight?

what do you think? Just brain storming here

[todbartell]

I'd keep the spotter, you'll end up buying another someday anyway. Get the Viper HD binos and tripod adapter. Glassing with binos attached to a tripod is really awesome, but there's times where the magnification of the spotter will be needed

[jac]

It really depends on how and what your hunting. If we are on a goat or sheep hunt we pack a spotter. If we are hunting anything else just the binos and I do have a tripod for the binos if needed. Once you steady the binos on a tripod they do work better. I would look at the maven or the Leica trinovids are a good option.

[swampthing]

Spotters dont get used a bunch but are a must have item. I only carry mine if I am in open type country. I also use a compact spotter thats quite light. I am less tempted to remove if from my pack when I am trying to cut weight. Quality binos are more important for sure!

[Huntingtyler123]

Thanks for the responses so far. I do think your right tod about ending up buying another spotter down the road.
mill check out the mavens and the leicas also
thank you

ya when I do upgrade my binos I’ll definitely get the attachment for my tripod

[GEF]

I have to say i have started using a spotter a lot more and probably doubled the amount of game i have seen .
After scanning a grid on a hill side with my 10x42 Leica binos I go over it with the spotter and pick up game I missed with the binos.I have done this more than once.It is especially effective earlier in the year before the snow flies.

[Bustercluck]

My partner packs binos and I pack the spotter. He does quick checks with his binos and when we stop to glass, he uses the binos and I get the spotter out.

Im probably getting new binos nest year. Ive been looking already and settled on the leupold bx4

[HarryToolips]

Keep spotter and upgrade binos as best you can...I pack both around with me always...

[waserwolf]

I pack both as well.

A Spotter can help you confirm Antler Points.
On one situation my Spotter kept me from shooting a 5Pt Elk during a 6Pt Season.

If your Budget is $600 - $800, check out Maven.
Although I don't own a pair myself....the Founder of KUIU as well as Rockslide gives Maven a solid Review.

[Squamch]

I pack both. 8x binos, 15-45x65 spotter.
I also rest my binos on my hiking stick when glassing.

[Weatherby Fan]

I pack my Leica spotting scope 25-50x65 every where I go, I also have a 1.8x doubler so I can make 90X if needed, as other have said you don't use it all the time but man when you see a decent buck at 1000 yards and want to check it out its invaluable........

If I was you I would save for the next 9 months and buy a decent set of Binos then down the road replace the spotter, the scope you have has decent glass but is bigger and a touch bulky but it will serve you well for the time being.

Good luck in your choices

[whitlers]

I take both usually everytime unless I know I'm hunting timber. Spotting scope doesn't weigh alot and I usually have the tripod with bino adapter anyway.

[Huntingtyler123]

Sounds like I should be packing both just in case. I think I’ll keep my spotter and upgrade bino and get the attachment for a tripod
thanks to everyone

[ACB]

I pack both. 8x binos, 15-45x65 spotter.
I also rest my binos on my hiking stick when glassing.
X2 on both, I use both usually, most of my spotting is with my Bino's 10x52 Minox, then with the spotter with a 15-45 vari. When you're hunting high elevation 4 pt. mulies you have be able to identify a deer as a 4 pt. sometimes at a great distance. The spotter can save a lot of unneeded steps on a pair of boots.

[Haydenmk]

Unless I’m still hunting timber, I always have my spotter with me. From mule deer to goats it is a important piece of gear. I would buy the Razor binos, you’ll have them forever and won’t regret having the best glass vortex offers. You can always upgrade your spotter later.

[Downwindtracker2]

Binos a lot. They are only 7 or 8 power, but they do pick up details as well as the what's that moving. Very very rarely the spotting scope. I can't climb mountains anymore or hunt sheep.

[The Hermit]

I used to sell very high quality binos from KOWA (Genesis Prominars) which IMO are equivalent to the best bino glass at any price. Millions of birders that swear by them are not wrong. I have a set of 8x44's however, I wish I had stayed with my Leica Geovids 10 power because I loved having the built in range finder which is not offered in the KOWA line up. https://www.peleewings.ca/inventory/listings/optics?stockID=1927&department=5

I'd suggest keeping your spotter for now, save up over the off season for a set of Geovids or other truly top-of-the-line brand rangefinding binoculars before next Sept hunting season. Again just my opinion but binoculars are more important than a spotter for most of the hunting most of us do day-in and day-out.

Then save up and buy the KOWA 770 spotter... EASILY the best spotter out there on a value of money basis... tremendous glass and construction. https://sportingoptics.kowa-usa.com/scopes/ and https://www.peleewings.ca/inventory/listings/optics?stockID=182&department=6

[Danny_29]

If your not hunting in a style that requires a spotter ditch the weight as it is kinda pointless. Sure there might be a time you'd need a spotter in an unconventional way but thats what happens when you leave things behind. Invest in the best optics that suite your needs, doesn't make sense to have a nice spotter and shitty binos when you'll be using your binos everyday and your spotter once a season. When you do decide to do a goat hunt pick up the spotter then and don't cheap out, spotters are crazy important on a goat hunt.

[rocksteady]

Bino and spotter.. mandatory during 6 point elk season

[IslandWanderer]

I strap my bino's on when I head out and they stay on till I'm home for the night. Worried I'll lose them otherwise.

My spotter is a 85 mm so I never have it in my pack. I focus on blacktail though, so it's pretty thick with timber and bushes.

[Silent But Deadly]

I carry 10x42 binos and an 85mm spotter all the time. Usually glass with binos mounted on a tripod. Once I see something interesting out come the spotter.

[jimzuk]

I usually just pack my binoculars. 12 x 50 so they are fairly strong. Most of my hunting is in treed areas so not looking a long distance. When sheep hunting I carry the spotter as well

[Ghilliesuit]

Get good glass. I've got a Nikon 10X50CF, around $200. lifetime guarantee, waterproof, fog resistant, except for Leica, excellent light transmission. Leica's are significantly more expensive. I've got a cheap spotting scope, $80 of sale, but I mostly hunt clear-cuts, creek bottoms and disabled FSRs, you know, 604 kinda stuff. I went with the Nikon because their history making binoculars and their multi-coated lenses, the tree lines light up, I can see at least 5M into the tree-line after sundown, 20M or more in full daylight. The spotter enables me to hunt transmission lines, if I get the focus right at 50P/tripod I can count the tines as far as this 70yr is going to hike.

[hunter1947]

Spotter and binoculars are my most important tool I carry besides my rifle I don't go anywhere without them..

[MRP]

D.I.Y. 10x50 monocular for 20+ years was new when sat on bye the fattest guy in the outfit. the moose is over 60

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/PXL_20201207_164825966_copy_1612x1209.jpg

[porthunter]

My spotter NEVER leaves my pack. Seasons over this year, maybe try setting aside a little extra every month til next season and working at getting that set of bino's you want and wont need to upgrade from again in future.

[MichelD]

I always have binoculars, usually a vintage pair of Bushnell 7x35. The only time I use a spotting scope is at the range.

I mostly hunt timber anyway, but even on alpine mulie trips the 7x35 set is all I take.

[Bugle M In]

Keep the spotting scope, if it is good.
Sheep and Goat Hunts they are a valuable asset.
Depending on some elk hunts, i take a spotting scope also.

Deer hunts i use binos, but a scope doesnt hurt either but depends if you will have area you will tend to sit for long times with great views to observe.
If walking all day, not really sitting, then leave at camp.
Some shooting tripods have an attachment for binos which is handy also.

[Rob Chipman]

I carry both most of the time. If I know I won't be glassing any great distance I'll leave the spotting scope, but most of the time I have both.

Scope is in the pack, bino in a harness with the strap around my neck (I saw a buddy lose 2 expensive sets of binos in one trip).

I mentally complain about the binos which motivates me to get them out and use them. Results occur.

I mentally complain about the spotting scope, which means that whenever we stop for any reasonable amount of time I get it out so that I'm not packing it for nothing.

I gotta be honest - I haven't picked up many animals with the spotting scope. With my luck I usually see *something* with the naked eye, identify it with the binos, and then look closely with the spotter. Typical is seeing something far away (especially above the treeline) looking through binos and thinking "maybe" and then getting the spotting scope on him to say "Yup, cranker/shooter/dandy" or "Where the hell is that 4th point?/is that really a spike bull?/etc".

If I had never spotted something far away and then made a multi-hour play for it I'd be less sold on the spotting scope, but it's turned up too much too often that's far away, so, yeah, I carry both 90% of the time.

Also, to riff on Bugle, a buddy just tricked out a tripod with a foam covered fence post saddle (JB welded a nut onto the saddle base, put foam on it, duct taped it, and it screws onto the tripod). Bions balance on each side of the saddle, the spotting scope rests in between and it works as a rifle rest.

[whitlers]

Too add to this equation. If your hunting any sort of open or broken country. I would highly recommend a bino adapter for your tripod. It is a complete game changer. Anyone who has used one will agree.