Picture this: it’s daybreak on opening morning of rifle season. The air is cool, and you are happy to be back in the woods. Your eyes are starting to adjust as the sun begins to peep a little light. You’ve been straining to see through the trees trying to catch a glimpse of that monster whitetail when you hear twigs breaking nearby. Instantly your heart begins to beat a little harder. You hear it again. It’s coming from behind you (of course) so you remain completely still, listening to every twig snap as what sounds like an elephant works its way through the woods around you. Then, you catch movement out of the corner of your eye. You can’t make out what it is. You realize your throat is completely dry and you can hear your heart pounding in your ears. This could be what we call in our camp the elusive “Wopdogger;” That one buck who shows up once or twice throughout the year in the cameras and brings a tear to your eye. The sound makes its way around to where you can slowly reach for your binoculars and take a better look…
Binoculars have been around arguably since the early 1600’s, but credit for inventing the modern design goes to J.P. Lemiere in 1825. Early versions were used by statesmen and aristocrats to view operas and ballets from their box seats, but the outdoor crowd quickly saw the advantages. Now they are used in everything from land surveying to bird watching to my personal favorite, hunting. Here are a few binoculars ready for hunting season and on every budget level.
EuroOptic: $96.99
My first recommendation is my most economical choice, but my personal favorite. I was gifted a set of these more than 20 years ago and they are still used today. The “H20” in the name refers to their resilience to the elements. They feature twist up eyecups, a rubberized no-slip external armor and a giant easy-to-use even-in-gloves focus wheel. For the money, this little waterproof powerhouse is hard to beat.
Optics Planet: $249.99
Sig Sauer entered the optics world with dots and scopes a few years ago and they have been expanding the line ever since. I have use a few of their products over the years and always been more than satisfied with the results.
Their Canyon line of binoculars offers things like HD coated glass and better than average low light performance for their price range. They are quickly becoming a standard in the optics world and the Canyon would be a worthy addition to your gear this fall.
Optics Planet: $999.99 ON SALE!
Knowing the range of your target is a very valuable piece of information. Whether you are bowhunting or hunting elk hundreds of yards away, ranging your target is imperative to the success of most hunts. We’ve carried rangefinders and binos in the same backpack or pouch for years. Thanks to designs like the Vortex Fury HD 5000, it’s all wrapped up in one easy to use package.
The Fury HD 5000 is a mid-level entry into the range-finding binocular market. It features Vortex’s HD Nitrogen gas purged glass to give the user a crystal-clear view of that big elk. The one-touch range button is ergonomically placed on top so with a quick push of a button, you know the range of a deer out to 1600 yards and a reflective surface out to 5000 yards. The Fury HD also features a shock and weather resistant coating to ensure your grip doesn’t slip in harsh conditions. I added these to my hunting gear last year and have been using them ever since. I’m very happy with the clarification of the glass as well as the ease of use.
Scheels: $3,499.99
When comparing glass, you must put Swarovski at the top. The gold standard for decades, Swarovski binoculars are where you can truly see “you get what you pay for.” My father-in-law bought a pair of the 10x42s years ago and it still amazes me how much clearer they are than everything else I’ve ever used even to this day. Am I saying all other binos are crap? Absolutely not. Anything is better than your naked eye when you need a little extra clarity and even the lowest grade binoculars have something to offer. Swarovski products are the crème de la crème and have very few competitors that come close to producing the quality of optics they can. The biggest difference I have seen over the years is not only the amazing clarity, but the ability to take in light in low light situations. The EL Range is no different and integrates not only a rangefinder but also an angle indicator and the ability to use their ballistic app for tracking your shots, finding your animals, and other very useful tasks.
Binoculars are a quick way to see what’s just out of your normal vision with clarity. Whether you are bird watching, hunting, or gathering intel, the market has quality offerings to fit every budget. Just remember this: no matter which set you choose; they will all help you identify that giant squirrel-buck making all that noise. Happy hunting.
-Nick
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