Western Hunting Optics Guide - Picking the Right Binocular and Spotting Scope

By Josh Kirchner

When it comes to Western hunting it is undeniable the advantage that quality optics provide the modern-day hunter. Having the ability to meticulously survey massive amounts of landscape and study animals from what is sometimes miles away, makes us more efficient, and ultimately more effective.

Doing so to the best of our ability requires a little homework. A solid binocular and spotting scope combo, with a good tripod, will cover you from top to bottom in the west. The best thing is, there are options for everyone.

For this article, I’m going to focus on the Vortex Optics line of binoculars and spotting scopes. It’s what I’ve used for over a decade and what I know and trust the most. Regardless of the company, this information is applicable.

Tripods and Heads Overview

Before we get into chatting about optics, let’s talk tripods and tripod heads real quick. If you are planning on scanning the mountains for an extended period of time having these accessories will change your game and put it on another level. This is because you’ll have the ability to spot movement much easier from a distance. And when you do, you can lock your tripod head in place so you don’t lose that giant buck in the frame.

I’m not going to dive too much into the weeds here, but just make sure you’ve got a sturdy, easy-to-use tripod that suits your style, whether that’s for standing or sitting. For the tripod head, a fluid pan head will do you wonders. The smoother the better. Home is where you’ll find stuck heads, not in the field.

Binoculars

Picking the right binoculars for a hunt is like picking the right tool for a job. Can you use a screwdriver to pry and pull out a nail? Yes, I’ve done it, but a nail puller will work infinitely better. Conversely, you can bring a pair of 15×56 binos into the dense timber. Your effectiveness, though, will be squashed. Something like a Vortex 8×32 Razor UHD would be far better suited because the smaller magnification will provide a wider field of view resulting in faster target acquisition. On the flipside, the 15×56 Razor UHD would be ideal in big open country, say for coues deer. You’ll have the punch you need to reach out there.

If you’re looking for more of a do-it-all binocular, check out the 10×42 version of the Razor UHD. In my opinion, 10×42 is the most versatile magnification there is. It’s got enough punch to sit and glass from a tripod, but it’s still small enough to not be a bother on your chest or for freehand glassing. The bigger the magnification, the bigger the shake when freehanding optics.

Budget-friendly options to consider, that will be more than capable of getting the job done, are the Diamondback HD and Crossfire HD lines of binoculars. Good glassing doesn’t have to put you in debt.

Spotting Scopes

Adding a spotting scope to your optics arsenal is going to make you even more versatile and efficient behind the glass. You’ll be able to not only glass areas from a much farther away distance, but you can also verify animals. Time is money. Spending time closing the distance on an animal only to realize you want to pursue something else upon arriving is time taken away from that “something else” you’re looking for.

What size of spotting scope you bring along the way is going to be entirely dependent on your style. Consider your goals too. If you’re a backcountry hunter looking to save weight and just verify an animal is worth getting closer to, then something like the 13-39×56 Razor HD will be a dream. However, if you’re someone out there looking for specifics, whether that is counting inches of antler or counting annuli on sheep, then a bigger optic will be better. The 27-60×85 Razor HD spotting scope is going to be the winner in that situation.

For a good do-it-all spotting scope size I’m a firm believer in the 22-48×65 Razor HD. It’s not as heavy as the 85mm but still provides a great amount of optical reach.

On the more budget-friendly side of things, the Diamondback HD line has fantastic options in both 65mm as well as 85mm. A very impressive spotting scope for a fraction of the cost when compared to the much higher-end versions.

A Note on Digiscoping

Digiscoping has gained in popularity immensely in recent years, so I want to touch on this briefly before moving on. Simply put, the higher the magnification of the spotting scope, the better the digiscoping quality will be. This is something to consider if you’re filming your hunts. Ollin makes a great option for digiscoping that fits a wide range of optics. Phone Skope also offers a non-magnetic version that's a bit more budget friendly.

Final Thoughts

In my early years, I never took glassing seriously. In fact, I left my binoculars at the truck regularly. I now know my hunting suffered because of it. Today, a good glassing system falls under the category of “don’t leave home without it” in my humble opinion. Seeing animals before they see you is a massive benefit.

A good binocular/spotting scope combo are tried and true tools of the trade in that regard. So, whether you are dodging lightning bolts in the wide-open alpine looking for mule deer or creeping through dark timber still hunting for elk, there is an optics system catered to you. Don’t leave home without it.

Shop a wide range of binoculars, panheads, riflescopes, and spotting scopes on BlackOvis.com.