Glassing with binoculars

[BigTines]

Hey guys,

So I know when deer hunting or elk hunting it is extremely important to "glass" with binoculars...especially in open areas. I am always told that it is important to look for antlers, ears, legs etc and not just the whole animal.

It just seems like when I glass for very long at all my arms get tired and I cant hold the binoculars very still. This makes it very challenging to spot such minute animal parts at long distances. (I have a pair of 10x42's btw).

Do you guys that do alot of this out in the field fight this same issue? Do you get a special binocular bi-pod or monopod or just put up with it?? Any advice is greatly appreciated!

[high country]

I use my pack, rifle, a tree.....anything for stability. Get cozy....it will be a while.

[bowpredator]

I will find a sraight clean stick about 3-4 ft long and when I find a comfy spot to sit and glass from , I just sit down with my back against a log,tree,stump and put the stick in the ground between my legs. I set my bino's on top of the stick and let the stick carry all the weight of the bino's while you use your hands to stabilize and focus. can sit for hours and glass with out any problems. When Im done I just lean the stick up aginst the log or stump and that way if I come back that way and do some more glassing then I dont have to look for a new stick.

[Bean Counter]

I sit on my butt and use my knee caps.

[bearpaw]

All good advice, I like to take lots of breaks from the glass, look with my eyes, then back to the glass.

[huntnphool]

Get yourself a good set of bino's to start with, then get a good tripod and bino mount, you can look through them all day, problem solved.

[MikeWalking]

I use a harness from Cabela's

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Hunting/Optics/Optics-Accessories/Optics-Harnesses%7C/pc/104791680/c/104752080/sc/104466780/i/104013180/Cabelas-Pro-Binocular-Harness/748422.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fhunting-optics-optics-accessories-optics-harnesses%2F_%2FN-1100070%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104013180%3FWTz_l%3DSEO%253Bcat104752080%253Bcat104466780&WTz_l=SEO%3Bcat104752080%3Bcat104466780%3Bcat104013180

I find the tension helps hold it steady.  I do have a tripod, 35$? that weighs very little. I don't always pack it. I look eyes only for stuff to put the binos on.   It's one of the things I like to 'play' at when camping on high open spots.  look, spot, get the binos on it quick, quick draw style

[DOUBLELUNG]

I sit on my butt and use my knee caps.

Sit on your butt, bend your knees, elbows to the outside.  As phool noted, quality glass is key. 

[twistiron]

buy some 2.5 or 5 lb weights and when you watching tv, sitting at your desk, relaxing and what have you. hold them in different static positions, try to hold a bit longer each time it will vastly improve your glassing time as well as your standing gun control.

[high country]

I will lay on my did and support my binos with my pack or lay back against my pack and use my knees.......whatever it takes. Think outside the box! I use a tripod for my 15x56 swaros.....they are useless otherwise.

[Bean Counter]

When I learned to hunt with my eyes and not my legs, that's when I became a hunter.

[BigTines]

Great advice guys! I really like bowpredators idea of using a stick...natural monopod that you dont have to pack in. Keep the suggestions coming!

[grizzlyadams]

I use 2 leupold spotting scopes on tripods....one for each eye   

[predator guy]

You need to mount your bino's on a tripod. You will be surprised how much more game you will spot when your body is relaxed versus trying to hold them with your arms and balancing your elbows on your knees, you start to fatigue and you begin to shake. Even more difficult if it is windy out.

[Alan K]

I sit on my butt and use my knee caps.

 

[GoPlayOutside]

Ditto...cozy into a comfortable spot.  Sit down with your elbows squished into your thighs, stomach, whatever.  I can look for hours...sleep....eat....look for hours....sleep....and repeat the cycle.
I've always had way more success in the big open areas sitting and glassing, rather than walking and driving.

[Steve C]

Two things jump out at me.  One is by your description of your arms getting tired.  This says to me you are not using the glass the way you should.  Everybody is right.  Get something for a rest, get comfortable, get steady, glass in a pattern, and use your eyes a lot.  The second thing is that you may be better suited with an 8x glass.  I think far too many people assume that you will see more at distance with 10x than 8x.  Maybe, but just as likely, maybe not.  Magnification increase magnifies everything, including the tremors we transfer through our body and arms, ultimately to the glass. Hence image shake will be worse with 10x than 8x.  A steady clear 8x will show you a lot more than the best 10x image that is jumping around with your pulse rate.

[mtncook]

I'm surprised no one has given this tip already.  When sitting back have your elbows down against your stomache but add this other stable grip.  Grip the bill of your cap with your fingers, it takes away all the stress and shake in your arms.  It is key to put the backs of your arms down your chest.  This was far better before I wore glasses but it still works OK.


mtncook

[jager]

Grip the bill of your cap with your fingers, it takes away all the stress and shake in your arms.  It is key to put the backs of your arms down your chest. 


mtncook

I do this especially if I'm breathing hard and need to steady the glass!