Thread: What binos are you using?

Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

Problem with all this thermal tech etc is you pay big boy money for it and it is completely obsolete 3 years later, if not sooner. I've only just convinced myself to use a rangefinder bino and I have a half decent thermal spotter but not really a fan of it to be honest as it takes away some of the magic in a way and I just leave it in my pack most of the time.

I tend to agree with you. When out culling animals or harvesting for community food bank, as Tahr and others do, I’ll use whatever gear I’ve got to get animals on the ground day or night. But when out for a ‘recreational sporting’ hunt the thermal/night vision gear stays at home. This’ll ruffle a few feathers but to my mind using thermals/night vision while hunting recreationally is for lazy fuckers with no ‘hunting’ skills or motivation to learn these skills. The excuse of ‘being time poor’ and wanting quick/easy results doesn’t wash with me either. Thermal/Night vision use isn’t hunting as such but shooting. Might get flamed for putting that out there but bring it on.

I use my thermal hand held most of the time while recreationally hunting during the day. Without a doubt, I find more game with it, but this doesn't necessarily mean I shoot more, or it makes the hunting of the animal any easier. I will generally only take one animal per hunt (that's all I can carry) and with the thermal I might see 5 animals, and shoot one, as opposed to seeing one animal and shooting it. When the hunting is hard it can make the difference between getting something or not.
Over the last few years some of the most challenging and enjoyable stalks I have had have been due to the fact that I have spotted and animal with the thermal that I otherwise would not have known was there.
Back on topic. My binos are 10x30s and now I think I could happily go smaller. Maybe 10x25s. In a lot of situations I just use them to identify and assess animals but sometimes it's nice just to sit on the side of a hill and look.

Yep, back on topic. I currently use a pair of Minox 10x25. Hardly ever go hunting without them. If I know I’m going to do a lot of glassing I’ll take my Canon 8?x42 or Pentax 7x50 which I’ve found to be exceptional for extended periods of glassing, bulky though.

I've got a very old set of Nikon 8x25 mountaineer 2 all terrain bino's (approx 30 yrs old) - built like a brick s__house with a metal body and also with very good optics.

Originally Posted by woods223

I tend to agree with you. When out culling animals or harvesting for community food bank, as Tahr and others do, I’ll use whatever gear I’ve got to get animals on the ground day or night. But when out for a ‘recreational sporting’ hunt the thermal/night vision gear stays at home. This’ll ruffle a few feathers but to my mind using thermals/night vision while hunting recreationally is for lazy fuckers with no ‘hunting’ skills or motivation to learn these skills. The excuse of ‘being time poor’ and wanting quick/easy results doesn’t wash with me either. Thermal/Night vision use isn’t hunting as such but shooting. Might get flamed for putting that out there but bring it on.

Nah. You dont really think that. You are just feeding into the old macho pub talk bullshit there. It's just the right thing to say. @Shearer will answer any questions you have or further statements you wish to make.

No expert that’s for sure, but when is enough, enough?

How much of an advantage using equipment do you want?

Will the use of a bazooka still be hunting?

Currently hunters have access to an incredible array of equipment to help them score that trophy or put meat on the table. Here is a short list.*

Rifles that shoot waaay beyond 300 yards.*You don’t need to get close anymore.
Scopes
Bino’s
Spotting scopes
Trail camera’s
Spot lights of various types.
Range finders
Drones
*Various calls
Motor bikes
4x4s
Quad bikes
Google maps.
Blinds
Tree climbing blinds
Sometimes even helicopters.
The internet

And now thermal’s!

I’m sure they have their place, but please don’t call it hunting. Do the leg work.

My cap goes off to the bow hunters. Now they are hunters.

I'm sure I've missed a few. What have I forgotten?

My 2c
OB

P.S. I'm sure Ill piss off a few but that's the way I look at it.

Had conquest 10x42 then tried Friwi Swaro 8.5x42 and had to upgrade/blame him
For it

Bino's allow you to see more deer. Thermals allow you to see more deer. I like seeing more deer.

Originally Posted by Oldbloke

No expert that’s for sure, but when is enough, enough?

How much of an advantage using equipment do you want?

Will the use of a bazooka still be hunting?

Currently hunters have access to an incredible array of equipment to help them score that trophy or put meat on the table. Here is a short list.*

Rifles that shoot waaay beyond 300 yards.*You don’t need to get close anymore.
Scopes
Bino’s
Spotting scopes
Trail camera’s
Spot lights of various types.
Range finders
Drones
*Various calls
Motor bikes
4x4s
Quad bikes
Google maps.
Blinds
Tree climbing blinds
Sometimes even helicopters.
The internet

And now thermal’s!

I’m sure they have their place, but please don’t call it hunting. Do the leg work.

My cap goes off to the bow hunters. Now they are hunters.

I'm sure I've missed a few. What have I forgotten?

My 2c
OB

P.S. I'm sure Ill piss off a few but that's the way I look at it.

The irony is theres more deer about now than ever before, the tech might be getting better but perhaps the hunting isnt

Sent from my SM-S936B using Tapatalk

Originally Posted by earplay

Bino's allow you to see more deer. Thermals allow you to see more deer. I like seeing more deer.

Yes. And just because you see them doesn't mean you have to shoot them.

Ive had 4 straight hunts without shooting a deer. Seen plenty. Missed one badly sitting at about 80 yards. Have spotted several each time mainly through the thermal and some through binos but things just haven't come together. Spotting them is really the least of the battle. The wind has been terrible and getting a humane shot really difficult. All this inspite of my incredible array of equipment - even with it all the deer can still actually win.

Originally Posted by Tahr

Nah. You dont really think that. You are just feeding into the old macho pub talk bullshit there. It's just the right thing to say. @Shearer will answer any questions you have or further statements you wish to make.

Yes, and aerial assist is just another tool to some. But not for others.

Binoculars should be chosen for the job you require them for.
There was a time when my only binoculars were a little set of Tasco 8x21which I got from Cabelas for about fifty bucks(still got them too) and they were perfect for my needs.
If I was hunting deer I had a Weaver K4 which doubled as my spotter/binos.
If I was pig hunting, which was most of my spare time, I would either have a gun with open sights, or just a knife.
The Tasco's are about the size of a pack of smokes so took up no room. They were only used for looking at things to clarify what I already thought. Such as, is it a pig, is it pig rooting on the next ridge. I never sat for any period of time glassing.
A set of 10x40 Swaro would have been a complete pain in the arse. And a waste of money.

Originally Posted by Tahr

Nah. You dont really think that. You are just feeding into the old macho pub talk bullshit there. It's just the right thing to say. @Shearer will answer any questions you have or further statements you wish to make.

I have my opinions which I stand by. “I March to my own drum beat” is how the old saying goes. You have your opinions, which I don’t always agree with. Shearer has his, like everyone else. That’s how society works, along with the ‘ideal’ of free speech. I believe that’s a couple of reasons why this forum exists.

Originally Posted by Shearer

Yes. And just because you see them doesn't mean you have to shoot them.

I agree with you on this. When out and about on a recreational hunt I am often content with watching them and observing how they behave. On public hunting land that sees other hunters I don’t have a problem leaving animals for the next guy, or sharing info. with other hunters. Same applies on private land if I’ve been instructed to leave certain animals. However, if my instructions are to shoot every animal I see that’s what I aim to do. That’s when I use every aid I have access to if needed. It’s not what I call hunting though, it’s culling/extermination, a subtle difference.