Bino's vs. Spotting scope?

[Tbob]

Question for you optics folks.
    I have some quality 10x50 bino's that I love and take everywhere with me. Just curious if I'll notice that big of a difference using those and setting up a spotting scope? Was looking at Something packable. I was looking at the 20-40x60 type scope. I moved down south and am doing a bit more hunting in the desert out in Socal and AZ. Just not sure if the price for a spotter is worth it if the difference won't be that great vs my binos. I'm not a trophy Hunter by any means so I don't need to see details of front forks or anything like that,  as long as I know its leagal I'm going for it.
What is your opinion? Save my money for something more useful or will the spotter be a tool that will add value to my hunts? Thanks in advance for opinions. I've never used a spotter or hunted with anyone who uses one.

[Bob33]

What do you hunt?  Where do you hunt? What is your hunting style?

[bearpaw]

Spotters are great in open country or mountains where you can sit down and find game. Ask yourself if you are the type of hunter to sit down for an hour or two and look for animals at long distance. If not then probably a waste of money to buy one, you can probably get by with your 10x binos.

[Tbob]

Right on, Thanks guys.
    I am going out to AZ this year (and local here in San Diego) for some muley/javelina archery hunting. I'm new at this type of desert terrain hunting so that's why I asked. this will be my second season doing this and usually do a good job sitting up high and using my monopod under my binos. I just noticed that a lot of these more open country hunters are using spotters. Id rather not have to pack anything else along with me, but if It would be that big of a help I was considering. I guess Im wondering if Id probably find the same animals if I'm glassing well with my binos and maybe just not as much detail, Or do you think a spotter would help me spot more game that I might miss just using my binos? Hope that makes sense?

[BULLBLASTER]

You could pick up a tripod and use your binos on it to try things out. If you find you like it add a scope later

It's amazing how much more you can see with binos on a tripod

[Bob33]

Doubling the magnification from 10x to 20x brings you twice as close but also cuts the field of view significantly.

[WAcoueshunter]

My AZ buddies and I all use binos (mostly 15s) on tripods when hunting the desert.  We have spotters too, but they seldom leave the truck.  10s are obviously a little less magnification than the 15s.  But I still think you'll see more with the 10s on a tripod versus a spotter.  We hunt southern AZ mostly, and the rolling hills down there mean most of our glassing is in the 300-1500 yard range.  Around a mile or so, the spotter starts to be a better option simply because you need the magnification to pick up detail at that range.

As others noted, you will see a ton more by putting your 10s on a tripod.  I was in denial on this for a long time, but ultimately broke down and went to a tripod for my binos.  Night and day difference.

[Bean Counter]

I won't deer hunt down here in S AZ without my spotter. Won't do it. Waste of time for how I hunt. Sell some guns and skip a year of hunting if you need to, but a $1k+ spotter or at least some super binos is a no brainer.

For elk up north I don't bring it as binos are sufficient.

[dscubame]

Spotters are great in open country or mountains where you can sit down and find game. Ask yourself if you are the type of hunter to sit down for an hour or two and look for animals at long distance. If not then probably a waste of money to buy one, you can probably get by with your 10x binos.

Thanks for the insight.  I think it is this reason I keep coming back to when thinking about a spotter.  I may just be a bino guy.

[Bean Counter]

Question for you optics folks.
    I have some quality 10x50 bino's that I love and take everywhere with me. Just curious if I'll notice that big of a difference using those and setting up a spotting scope? Was looking at Something packable. I was looking at the 20-40x60 type scope. I moved down south and am doing a bit more hunting in the desert out in Socal and AZ. Just not sure if the price for a spotter is worth it if the difference won't be that great vs my binos. I'm not a trophy Hunter by any means so I don't need to see details of front forks or anything like that,  as long as I know its leagal I'm going for it.
What is your opinion? Save my money for something more useful or will the spotter be a tool that will add value to my hunts? Thanks in advance for opinions. I've never used a spotter or hunted with anyone who uses one.

Tbob if you're going to be in any of the 30s units this fall let me know and we can try and meet up. I'll let you look through my spotter and if you like to sit on top of a mountain I can almost guarantee you'll be hooked 

[AZcoueshunter78]

Lived and hunted az my whole life up till 1.5 years ago when i moved here. Ive had spotters up next to binos on the tripods and i prefer the binos. Easier on the eye strain . You really just have to try them out for yourself and see what's comfortable for you.

[JDHasty]

I have been using a 15x56 Swaro on a tripod for a couple years now.  The best money I have ever spent.

That being said:  I have had a 12-40x60 Leupold since they came out ~ 25 years ago.  Before that we used a B&L and a Leupold GR 25x50 and 8-10 power binoculars.

I was talking to an optics rep (gun writer) who said:  Your binocular is for finding game, a spotting scope is for looking at what you have found.  So does that mean a Vortex or Swaro doubler on a ten power is the ticket?   I don't know, I have never used one. 

I have never hunted AZ, but the guys I have met who do (my dad lived there for 25 years and I met more than a few) , and are really serious, use BIG binoculars almost exclusively.   None of them talked about their spotting scope.  BUT, you already have a ten power you like.  And you are trying to find game... not evaluate trophy value.

Bearpaw likes spotting scopes for "looking for game" in open country.  Before we had our 15x56 Swaro I did too and maybe he is onto something.  Maybe your best investment would be in a spotter that can extend the distance you can find game at. 

Here's what I am getting at: What a spotter has going on is it gets you to focus on a limited area and pick it apart before moving on.  Tripod mounting your existing binocular may also train you to do that.

To do that you need to be comfortable more than you need power, me thinks.  You need to critically look into every nook and cranny twice before moving on and ten should be enough.  But what do I know?

I can see that you are caught between a rock and a hard place because you want to be able to resolve images that are just that much further than your tens are capable of.  Look at the Leupold 12-40x60, I have one and I also have a Razor 85 that is much better optically (mine is 25+ years old) but before we had the 15x56 Swaro there was absolutely nothing better for looking for game that was beyond what out ten power binoculars were effective at.

They can be had for about a grand.

Just my       

 

 



 

 

[Tbob]

Awesome! Thanks guys!! That's exactly the type of info I was hoping for! I think I'm going to start out with my binos on a tripod and see how that goes. I'm heading out for one more July scouting trip before the August opener so I'll still have time to get on a spotter if that's the route to go. Thanks again for all the info!

[pianoman9701]

The one thing a spotter is essential for is range work. If, in addition to your hunting, you do a lot of range work, get a spotter. If you think you might be reloading soon or getting a precision firearm with which you want to become proficient, get a spotter. Borrowing the range spotter is a pain. If you don't see yourself at the range much and you have a high quality pair of binos, get the tripod adapter and use those. If you find they're not enough for you, you can buy a spotter later.