Spotting Scopes on a Budget <$500

[chukar hunter]

I as well could not take a year off hunting!  I've got out of state hunts planned for the next three years, so was looking to expand my optics for these hunts.  It's truely an obsession....Crazy Talk!

Yes you can. It is a choice. I took most of last year off because I was expecting a baby around the time of the fall hunts. I could have hunted, but it would have been a bad choice.

Hey that was bad timing on your part!  That is something we can control   All my kids are born between the months of February to July!  Haha

I appreciate all of the candid advice.  All great info.  I need to head to the store to see the comparison with my own eye.  And yes, I'll hit Elknut up if I go with Vortex, I have an account with him already. 

[deerhunter_98520]

Hey chuckar if your ever around Aberdeen hit me up if you want to look through a 85mm razor HD...I just got it from elknut1 and couldn't be happier....I've been using a Bushnell trophy the last few years and as far as I'm concerned its a paper weight now...I'm glad I saved up the money for the hd

[Bean Counter]

I as well could not take a year off hunting!  I've got out of state hunts planned for the next three years, so was looking to expand my optics for these hunts.  It's truely an obsession....Crazy Talk!

Yes you can. It is a choice. I took most of last year off because I was expecting a baby around the time of the fall hunts. I could have hunted, but it would have been a bad choice.

Hey that was bad timing on your part!  That is something we can control   All my kids are born between the months of February to July!  Haha
...

Yep I don't do well in that department. I think if I make another I'd better schedule an appointment for the knife. A man only needs so many tax deductions...

[chukar hunter]

I'M RUINED!!!

Went to OE last night on the way to working at the home show and was able to look through the spotters.  They had the Leupold SX-1, Vortex Diamondback, and the Vortex Viper on the shelf.  We put each on a tripod and compared side by side each one.  Holy cow the Viper is Light Years better than the Leupold and even the Diamonback.  At 60X the Viper was so clear I could read the price tag off of a Jacket across the whole store.  With the lesser spotters I could tell that it was a price tag, but in no way could distinguish bar code from cost.....I'm Ruined. 

Looks like I need to find a few more deductions on this years tax return....

[huntnphool]

Nikon Spotter XL works well and is light weight for the money.

[deerhunter_98520]

I'M RUINED!!!
P
Went to OE last night on the way to working at the home show and was able to look through the spotters.  They had the Leupold SX-1, Vortex Diamondback, and the Vortex Viper on the shelf.  We put each on a tripod and compared side by side each one.  Holy cow the Viper is Light Years better than the Leupold and even the Diamonback.  At 60X the Viper was so clear I could read the price tag off of a Jacket across the whole store.  With the lesser spotters I could tell that it was a price tag, but in no way could distinguish bar code from cost.....I'm Ruined. 

Looks like I need to find a few more deductions on this years tax return....

Think your ruined now start looking through the high end optics 

[Bean Counter]

I'M RUINED!!!

Went to OE last night on the way to working at the home show and was able to look through the spotters.  They had the Leupold SX-1, Vortex Diamondback, and the Vortex Viper on the shelf.  We put each on a tripod and compared side by side each one.  Holy cow the Viper is Light Years better than the Leupold and even the Diamonback.  At 60X the Viper was so clear I could read the price tag off of a Jacket across the whole store.  With the lesser spotters I could tell that it was a price tag, but in no way could distinguish bar code from cost.....I'm Ruined. 

Looks like I need to find a few more deductions on this years tax return....

You'll be laughing it up at all the clowns down below driving around in circles looking for deer as you're digiscoping pictures of bucks from your kick ass spotter.

As I said, I had to significantly cut back my hunting last year. I got a four measly days. So I picked up an OTC deer tag for a public land, DIY hunt. I was able to glass this dude out maybe 2 miles away and eventually put him down, with dozens of other hunters in the area. They had no clue about this bachelor herd, where all the bucks were holed up.