Hunting in the rain with a scoped rifle

[High Climber]

So what works for you guys to keep your optics clear for hunting all day in crappy weather? The cheap bikini style rubber one piece caps are the only thing I have found to keep the water out, but even they are only good until the first time I take them off. Seems like my nicer scopes (VX 5) do best with nothing at all but my cheaper scopes (diamondback) fog up as soon as the rain starts.
I don’t care as much about protecting the finish on the scope itself just need the glass to work even in the pouring rain. Maybe top end glass Is the only answer but I am curious to what guys have had luck with.

[fowl smacker]

Best scopes I have found for absolute pouring down weather where you ARE going to get wet are the Bushnell Elite scopes with rainguard.   The glass isn't top of the line like other optics, but you can clearly see your target even sopping wet.

[jowings22]

I put some Alumina scope covers on my VX III years ago and it changed my life.

[Duckslayer89]

I put some Alumina scope covers on my VX III years ago and it changed my life.

I think I have these on my VX6HD. It changed my life as well. You can hunt pouring down rain and not even worry about a fogged scope. I love it.

[Mtnwalker]

I like the neoprene scope coat type covers. Good protection and super quick to pull off

[Stevewazfishing]

I like the neoprene scope coat type covers. Good protection and super quick to pull off

I’ve also been running the neoprene covers and have had good luck with them.

[Duckslayer89]

I like the neoprene scope coat type covers. Good protection and super quick to pull off

After you get use to the flip up ones it’s like automatic for me. Almost like taking a safety off I don’t even think

[Jason]

Hunting the wet side Butler Creek scope caps are probably used by 8 out of 10 of my hunting buddies, they work great. I also have a set of Tenebraex scope caps on my Steiner scope, they also work good but are not cheap.

[hunter399]

Dry side here..... You guys are gonna grit your teeth on this one, I pull my dry shirt out from under my hunting jacket and I wipe it off .

[Shaqdiesel]

Solo hunter rifle cover or something similar, since using these covers it has dramatically lowered the amount of time I need to clean a rifle after hunting in rain, busting brush etc and setting rifle on ground. Also found since using it i have had way fewer negative interactions from hikers on trails because they don’t automatically see a “scary” gun on my pack.

[Stein]

I have both the solo hunter cover and a neoprene scope cover.  I use one or the other depending on how much protection I need.  Both seem to work well.

[brokentrail]

I treat my optics with Bausch and Lomb fog shield, thanks again @Jakeland for that tip!,  and also use Butler Creek scope covers.  Even when they get wet I can usually at least see through them enough to use.

[Mtnwalker]

I like the neoprene scope coat type covers. Good protection and super quick to pull off

After you get use to the flip up ones it’s like automatic for me. Almost like taking a safety off I don’t even think

I grew up on the coast running the butler creek flip ups. I have the leupold aluminas on my 3rd string backup rifle. Still prefer the neoprenes these days for the full scope protection. Killed my buck on a 10-second 35 yard encounter this year, don't even remember pulling the cover off but low and behold found it in my pocket a few minutes later  everybody has their preference

[Okanagan]

Butler Creek.  I used to like the Michael’s back when they made them.  Once you take the scope cover off in serious rain, with any kind I have used, you will be fighting water on the lens from then on. 

Therefore, I try to NEVER pop scope covers off till I am sure and ready to shoot. How we use the covers is more important to me than which brand.   I use binos a lot, with covers, and lean forward to shield them plus raise the binos up close under an extra large cap brim before removing the cover.  I put the cover back on the binos before it gets lowered into rain from under the cap brim.  Shot a little buck in heavy rain a few days ago. The covers came off of the scope a few seconds before the shot, and the rain drops on the objective lens etc. had not built up enough yet to bother sighting.

[Griiz]

So what works for you guys to keep your optics clear for hunting all day in crappy weather? The cheap bikini style rubber one piece caps are the only thing I have found to keep the water out, but even they are only good until the first time I take them off. Seems like my nicer scopes (VX 5) do best with nothing at all but my cheaper scopes (diamondback) fog up as soon as the rain starts.
I don’t care as much about protecting the finish on the scope itself just need the glass to work even in the pouring rain. Maybe top end glass Is the only answer but I am curious to what guys have had luck with.

I use the bikini style you mentioned and don't take it off until I need to shoot. Once off, no point putting back on. Always have a dry cloth in my breast pocket for a quick fog wipe and on my Leupold VX5 I use the expensive leupold caps and they work well at keeping weather out. I don't know if there is a perfect fix for this situation.