How often do you bring binoculars hunting?

Gdpolk · May 05, 2017, 10:30:00 PM

Simple poll. How often do you bring binoculars hunting?

If you care to post in addition to answering the poll, please state how often and why you chose what you did.

Gdpolk · May 05, 2017, 10:32:00 PM

I vote always/almost always. I find them invaluable for looking ahead before moving into an area, differentiating between brown bumps and animals, scouting, differentiating between sex of animals at distance, looking through brush, and generally enjoying the birds and other wildlife. I probably spend 1/3 - 2/3 of my time when hunting looking through glass. I almost never hit the woods without some and for how and were I hunt I sometimes consider them more important than my weapon of choice. I've taken home quite a few animals that I never would have known were there if I had left the binoculars at home. I've also filled some nice buck tags that I wouldn't have been able to ID as a legal buck without them because the brush was so thick. It allowed me to punch through the brush and count tines as they moved along then scan for shot windows to thread the needle through. My second best buck to date was taken solely because I was able to ID him as legal through the brush and pick a shot window out with binoculars and that wasn't even in very open territory or over a long shot distance; it just happened that the glass helped me to better ID and plan for a shot that would have been too risky for me to want to take without being able to plan it like I did and my naked eyes couldn't cut it by themselves.

KyRidgeRunner · May 05, 2017, 10:49:00 PM

Very rare that I carry them. I'm a minimalist especially since I started trad hunting. I'm a bow, tolit paper, bottle of water and if it's early season a thermacell kind of guy. Sometimes I don't even take a big knife, I'll just let my old case mini trapper pocket knife do the work .

May 05, 2017, 10:54:00 PM

I voted never/almost never. Most of my hunting is from stands where I can't see very far anyway. I do take binos on hunts where they have age or point restrictions on what you can shoot, or on the few western hunts I get to go on.

Bisch

yeager · May 05, 2017, 11:10:00 PM

Never leave home without them, even in thick cover.

mj seratt · May 06, 2017, 12:14:00 AM

Don't leave home without them, ever. Have some in my pack, both vehicles, turkey vest, and my travel duffel bag. Have several fairly low-end glasses, but rely on Zeiss 10x30. Wish I had another pair just like them in 7 or 8x for most hunting in Tennessee.

Murray

mj seratt · May 06, 2017, 12:20:00 AM

Don't leave home without them, ever. Have some in my pack, both vehicles, turkey vest, and my travel duffel bag. Have several fairly low-end glasses, but rely on Zeiss 10x30. Wish I had another pair just like them in 7 or 8x for most hunting in Tennessee.

Murray

Ron LaClair · May 06, 2017, 12:22:00 AM

We only have two sense's that help us be successful in hunting, sight and hearing. Binoculars enhance our sight. Spotting game in thick brush when sometimes only a ear, or antler can't be seen with the naked eye I NEVER hunt without them.

Sam McMichael · May 06, 2017, 07:18:00 AM

Almost all my hunting is for deer done at short range. Therefore, I don't feel much need for binoculars. I have found it inconvenient to use them, particularly since my eye sight has declined making focusing them difficult, and find myself making too much movement. I do better sitting still till the deer comes in close.

STICKBENDER98 · May 06, 2017, 07:25:00 AM

Ron said it all, I never go hunting without my binoculars.

Jason

cacciatore · May 06, 2017, 07:39:00 AM

I hunt the mountains so they are a must for me also if after LASIK I see like a eagle.

frank bullitt · May 06, 2017, 07:52:00 AM

Always! Not just for hunting.
So many uses, too.

I am surprised more survival/ prepper "experts",
don't recommend them in a pack!

tracker12 · May 06, 2017, 09:05:00 AM

Always. I find one of the best uses is after the shot. You can often see where the hit was made.

Meflyfisherman · May 06, 2017, 09:20:00 AM

Pretty thick here in Maine, I only bring them if I'm lucky enough to draw a moose permit

nek4me · May 06, 2017, 10:00:00 AM

I always bring mine but don't use them as much as I should. Have always tucked them into a shirt or coat to keep them out of the way and protect from rain and snow but it is a pain and a lot of extra movement to take out and put back. Had been looking for a harness but didn't see one I liked. Recently saw a post here about the Rick Young harness and think it will make a big difference for making better use of them.

59Alaskan · May 06, 2017, 10:18:00 AM

Rarely/never. If I have them, I use them, which means I am moving. Generally hunting thick cover here though. If I am intentionally setting up to watch a large field or clearing just to pattern activity then I will

BWallace10327 · May 06, 2017, 10:33:00 AM

I always have binoculars with me. If I am elk hunting it is important because there is a point restriction on bulls and I'd better be sure. It is also fun to glass avalanche shoots and other spaces and appreciate the sights. Sometimes I'll see sheep, goats, deer or bears. Other times I just enjoy watching pine squirrels gather up food for the winter.

Dave Pagel · May 06, 2017, 11:12:00 AM

I always have mine on using a bino harness, Crooked Horn I think. I use them a lot to evaluate the critter I am hunting and for watching other wildlife.

However, they have become part of my hunting setup because they keep my clothes compressed on my upper body. I have never had a shirt or vest get in the way of my string since I started using them this way.

D.P.

Bill from NJ · May 06, 2017, 11:21:00 AM

Always bring with me.
But, they usually sit in the truck.

jcar315 · May 06, 2017, 11:23:00 AM

Never while hunting whitetails from a tree stand

Always while prowling on the ground for hogs