Hunting and Fishing Thread - With Poll

[Carl Keller]

I am definitely getting psyched for Monday.

How a grown man can be so excited by the thought of standing on a 2 foot by 4 foot platform, 30 feet up in a tree for 10 hours in 20 degree weather is something only those of us that have done it can understand.

I can't wait

Edit- Any of you folks use high quality binoculars? I am contemplating getting a new pair and wondered what you have found to be a good value.

Criteria:
Waterproof
Compact (but not necessarily ultra compact)
8 or 10 power (haven't decided which)

Carl-

 

[Mike S.]

db,

Either your son is excellent at hiding his excitement or getting a deer just doesn't mean much to him. After over 20 years chasing them and some success, my heart still goes into my throat when I see one when I'm hunting. This year what I thought was only a 4-point played hide and seek with me for about 5 minutes and my heart was beating so hard it was banging in my ears! He finally made the right (wrong for him) move and I ended up with a nice 8-point (eastern count -- all points counted) from public land.

Carl,

Just from what I have read, Leupold Wind River series is supposed to be a good value, and Nikon as well. Of course if you have loads of $$$ there are lots of choices. Cabelas has a wide assortment.

 

[Carl Keller]

Mike,

Yes, I checked Cabelas as well as Sportsmans guide and Gander Mountain. There are also several online options. Normally I am pretty good at researching what I want, but there are SO MANY binocular manufacturers and different lines within manufacturers, it is proving difficult.

I don't need to plunk down $1,500 on a pair of Swarovskis, but I do want something decent. I thought someone might be using a pair they like and would recommend

Carl-

 

[Mike S.]

Carl,

One or more of the hunting magazines have done reviews of various binos in the last year. Try an on-line search of American Hunter, Outdoor Life, Peterson's Hunting, Field and Stream if you have time. Perhaps Consumer Reports as well. Sorry, mine are cheapos and I cannot recommend them -- someday....

 

[Carl Keller]

Thanks Mike,

Sounds like a good idea, I'll give it a shot.

Carl-

 

[Craig H.]

Carl:

I have recently read an article on just this subject (American Hunter, maybe?). It said that they key to binocular quality is the coating on the optics. Some have no coating, some only one side, and the really nice ones are fully coated - all surfaces are coated, in other words. With what, I don't know.

My main deer rifle now has a Leaupold (sp?) variax-III (sorry about spelling, but hopefully you get the idea). I looked through a friend's new Ziess and could not believe the difference. Using mine was like walking around without my glasses on.

I have heard that some guides say to buy the best binocs you can afford, and to never, ever, ask to borrow a guide's pair. They are essential for them to make a living.

FWIW

 

[Carl Keller]

Craig,
yes, I beleive the most common coating is Magnesium Flouride, but Zeiss, Steiner etc. obviously have some rare, proprietary concotion.

I can't afford to hire a guide, but I bet my buddy would lend me his because they are omly worth about $ 8 and have a cracked lens. hahaha!

I think I have settled on a pair of Bruntons that go for a little over $200. Waterproof and fully coated, roof prism, 10 power. I will let you guys know how good they are after I use them in the pouring rain at 38 degrees trying to see what is moving 1/2 hour before sunrise (Best test I could come up with and I always seem to encounter those conditions by way of luck)

I'm hunting Monday and Tuesday, see ya'all on Wednesday.

Thanks for all your input.

Carl-

 

[Mike S.]

Well, I'll trade ya my Tasco scope for your Leupold VX-III Craig!!!! Optics to me are like stereo systems -- you don't know how bad yours are until you see/hear something better, then you want the better stuff. I know my scope is nowhere near as bright and clear as better ones, but I also realize optics are like stereo systems (and many other things) in that the difference between the middle or modest price grade stuff and the high-end stuff is often a factor of 5x or 10x the price but rarely is the performance 5x or 10 x better. Considering my pocketbook probably the best I'll do is the middle level in almost everything, so I look forward to affording a new Leupold or Nikon scope.

 

[Craig H.]

Well, I'll trade ya my Tasco scope for your Leupold VX-III Craig!!!! Optics to me are like stereo systems -- you don't know how bad yours are until you see/hear something better, then you want the better stuff. I know my scope is nowhere near as bright and clear as better ones, but I also realize optics are like stereo systems (and many other things) in that the difference between the middle or modest price grade stuff and the high-end stuff is often a factor of 5x or 10x the price but rarely is the performance 5x or 10 x better. Considering my pocketbook probably the best I'll do is the middle level in almost everything, so I look forward to affording a new Leupold or Nikon scope.

Mike, I know what you mean. I used to have a Whitetail scope, which was pretty good, until I looked through a Nikon. I opted instead for the Leupold. Now, I guess the next one is going to be even more expensive.

I ought to know better than to shoot someone else's rifle

 

[Craig H.]

Well, someone voted on the poll and "bumped" the thread, so I guess this is a good time to ask: How was your deer season?

In this part of GA, we had a bumper acorn crop, lots of warm weather, and just enough rain to keep the potholes moist. Even during the rut it was hard to see deer. I took a shot at one doe with my crossbow. The bolt went right where I aimed, but by the time it got there, the deer had moved. I also passed up shots on a couple of other does during gun season. I wish now that I had shot.

A friend of mine was hunting in a white oak. He had a 6-point come in and bed down right in front of him. All the deer had to do to feed was move his head from one side to the other, which he did for quite some time. In places it is still impossible to walk without crushing acorns.

Oh, well, years like this just make the good ones that much better. How was your hunting?