I use a spotting scope alot, would be lost without it, I have a cabelas 45x, rubber armored, not sure who makes if for them, and a short tripod, and also a window mount. I don't do any scouting with it, i use my binoculars, i own a good 10 x pair, and when i find animals, sometimes over a mile away, i use the spotting scope to determine if it's worth the walk to get over to the animals, it saves alot of walking. I live in montana, with lots of wide open spaces. I consider a spotting scope essential, especially for plains and foothill hunting, and even in the mountains when elk hunting, i get up high early and late, and look over a bunch of country with binoculars, and use the spotting scope to see if what i think are elk, are actually elk. I don't tend to take the spotting scope in my back pack when i know i'll be creeping through the timber all day long, but it's with me any other time.