Obviously, I have to look through the little holes in the binoculars and not the big ones, but how do I get the most out of them when hunting? I know not to look for a whole deer, but what am I really doing with these binos?

I'm an experienced deer hunter, though I've tended toward meat hunting. This year, I will pass on does till anterless season.

I hunt primarily two hilly, wooded lots with pasture and crop fields around. There are several woody draws lead to and from the woods and fields. The woods are hilly with ravines.

Don't be afraid to use them in heavy cover. With binos you can virtually look through brush to see what is behind it in good detail.

I really don't see shape well, some people are lucky and see shape, I see motion.

I use a combination of my naked eye, the stuff I pick out of the corner of my eye/instinct and then use the binoculars to look closely. A lot of false alarms.

Ear twitches are the biggest giveaway for me.

Different at low light or in the dark. I scan lighter areas to pick out the darker game animals or the contrast.

One thing to remember, don't get twitchy, slow and smooth, they pick out motion well also.

Well let's back up to basics for everyone.

I have grandkids who use my binoculars at times. So each morning I adjust the focus on some far object and have made this a habit. Usually once you have set your diopter you can leave it alone. But I taught my kiddies how to get the best focus.

To Focus
I Look at an object through the left eyepiece with my left eye. I rotate the focusing ring until you I see a sharp image of itin the left eye. I then look at the same object through the right eyepiece with my right eye 0 keft eye closed. I then rotate the Diopter adjustment ring (usually located under the right eyepiece) until I see a sharp image. Now open both eyes - I am should be in focus. Practice this and it takes mere seconds.

Then as flags said I use them in heavy brush looking for that out of place Horizontal line. The back of the deer. Or that Vertical Line the leg of the deer. eI look at anything my naked eye suspects might be a deer. And as flags said you will be amazed how much farther into the brush you can see. Make it a practice to use the binos alot. You will see more deer.

And as Mudder wrote movement is the key. That shadow that just moved. That ear twitch as deer are always adjusting ears towards sound or that tail flick. It is their movement that gives them away as I sit.

It is also your movement to..that will give you away....never sit where you are back silloetted.
Always have something behind you to break up your body outline and sit still as possible. To sit realy still you must be comfortable. Bring a cushion or chair if that is what it takes. The more comfortable you are the longer you can sit still. And dress for the climate.

..So grandpa taught - sit very still - he told me to become a stump or rock and don't move - move your eyes first as far as you can before you move your head. You think you see a deer.....look away quickly and look back. Watch for those
Look for Horizontal lines out of place or for that tree the just grew legs Vertical.
And be sure of your target and beyond.

Anohter very nice addition to your binocs Father Forkhorn- a S4 Bino Carrier(Google it). You will never regret the purchase. The binos are locked down to your chest but are there quickly when you need them. They are covered in bad weather but are there when you need them. And the S4 is so comfortable to wear. Best Xmas gift ever from my brother.

JW

I don't know if you wear glasses or not, if you do, some binoculars have eye cups that you can roll down to use the binoculars with your glasses. Some have hard plastic eye cups or no eye cups.

I'm one of those boneheads that always reads the destructions last, the thrill of discovery.

These are all great things I would not have thought of specifically:

I'd be looking into it, but not past it. Good tip.

Specifically looking for color contrast might not have occurred to me. I know what you mean from seeing deer in the woods at low light, especially in snow. I know not to rely on seeing a whole deer, but have thought of it more in terms of seeing that horizontal line of the back or the vertical line of the leg. Looking for color contrast adds a dimension.

Good to remember. I have to watch myself when still hunting, as I can start head-bobbing as choose my route and places to step. Same principle applies.

Thanks. This is much clearer than the directions in the box. It reminds me, I ought to do this ahead of time so it's ready to go come Wednesday morning (opening day here).

Another thing I might not have thought of.

Mine do and that's another thing to set up.

This is all very, very helpful.

Also, look for horizontal lines in the trees and brush, its often the back of an animal. Found a couple deer like that last week while glassing.

What model and size did you get?

Update: our opener was today and the your tips and the binocs were very helpful.

i didn't connect, but the worth of the binoculars was obvious. Just before legal shooting light, I happened to see a white spot in the trees and realized i was looking at a deer's tail and the barely visible profile of the rump and hind legs.

It would have been impossible to see otherwise.

Unfortunately, I didn't have much chance for a better look as the deer was moving away from me and got over a rise.

On a side note, I also saw an owl in a tree (cool birds) and the biggest woodpecker I've ever seen. It was the size of a football.

Last tip is to relax, if the distance between the two eye pieces isn't exactly right, trying to force it (tensing up) just makes it worse. Relax and deal with it, kind of like shooting a shotgun with both eyes open, it can be a leaning curve.

The more you do it, the easier it gets.

Remember your diopter settings, so you can quick check them occasionally.

I use compressed air (air in a can) to clean the majority of the dust off of my lenses, then I use eyeglass disposable cleaning tissues for a finally cleaning. You usually keep Binoculars for many years, those tiny scratches from dust add up. IMO don't get anal about cleaning the lenses, a little dust is better than permanent scratches.

When they really help out is when it is cloudy and overcast and still dark as heck, but is the legal time to shoot.

If you have not already, buy a bino strap that hold the binos against your chest until you want to use them. This keeps the binos out of the way of a bow or firearm, and distributes the weight.

As already mentioned, a major use is to zero in on what does not appear to be "woods" or when you happen to "see" movement. I keep a couple of manufacturer's approved lens wipes with you just in case.