Spotting Scope
#12
Typical Buck
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 612

One thing to consider in the balance, is size and weight. I will maintain that you will find animals with a spotter that you won't with binos, but you have to decide whether it is worth it. Are you hunting an area with larger expanses with edges and openings that will justify the weight? If not, then you won't want to carry a spotting scope that day. Also, a reasonable sized scope can make the difference. I carried an 80 mm Vortex Nomad for a year. Great scope. Weighed a ton by the end of the day. Definitely a truck scope. Now I carry a Nikon ED50. Very compact and light. With a light weight tripod, it is a great little device. High quality HD glass, 16 oz without the eye piece. The variable eyepiece with it is okay, but if you can scam on a wide angle 27x fixed unit, grab it up. Leupold and Minox make some small scopes too, though I don't believe the quality of the glass is as good.
#13
Spike
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: wheatland wy
Posts: 51

I am with wyoming trapper, as a rule I dont go much of anywhere without a spotting scope. In my pack I carry a leupold 12x40 gold ring for its size and ease of packablity. My tripod is actually my bogpod shooting stix. Not the most stable of outfit but makes since to double up what equipment can do. In my truck I carry a swarovski 65 with a 25 to 50 wide angle eye piece. If I had to have one it would be the leupold. I dont like taking 1-3 mile hikes to look at a critter that you could have kicked back and watched to see if he is what you are looking for. I spent the better part of my youth doing that stuff and a little weight to me makes more sense than lots of extra miles. Just my .02 cents