I have been searching for some time for a pair of binoculars for turkey and squirrel hunting. I wanted them light, small, unobtrusive, with good glass and 7 to 8X. I was at a LGS today and found them. They are vintage and used but just the ticket IMO. Made in the 1990's, Leupold Gold Ring Compact( Green Armored) 7 x 20mm. They were made for Leupold by Leica in their factory in Portugal. Crystal clear! Amazing optics considering their small size and age. I bought them!! They will be around my neck or in my vest this spring. Anybody else care to disclose your favorite binoculars for turkey hunting?
I carry Vortex 10 x 28 compact ...
I have an original pair of Swarovski 10x25 compact pocket Binos. Fantastic, light. Best pair I own....
Zeiss Terra 10x28 compacts. Nice find on the vintage Leupolds btw, the new Leupy's definitely leave a lot to be desired compared to the old ones.
I use 8x30 Swarovski work great
For around $200 the Maven 7x28 are exactly that, I got mine for 180 and I haven't come across anything in that price range to be nearly as good in that small lightweight package. Good enough I'll carry them over my $650 glass for the compact size on about 90% of spring hunts.
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I have some Swarovski 10x30 SLC, found them at a GREAT price and couldn't pass them up! I would have bought an 8x32 EL by choice otherwise.
MK M GOBL
Kowa 6x30
https://www.amazon.com/Kowa-YF-II-6x30-Binocular/dp/B08C7YKXDD
I wear Pentax DCF SP 8x32 on a binoculars harness; no reaching in pocket
Seems to be a common theme here and it is just what I thought it would be. Turkey hunters to include myself like to carry quality binoculars but want them light and small. IMO compacts and pocket size are perfect. I do not like to be weighted down with anything unnecessary. Running and gunning I will take lighter weight every time. Good luck to you fellows this spring and thanks for your input.
Using small compact 12x25 Cabela's intensity, great glass for the money...
Kowa 6.5x32 BD Wide Angle. Was looking to get away from carrying a big pair of 10x42s that were too much in the woods and these have fit the bill perfectly the last couple of seasons. So much so, I rarely use my 10x42s for deer hunting anymore.
https://www.kowaoptic.com/kowa-bdii32-6-5xd-binocular-6-5x32-wide-angle
Quote from: J-Shaped on March 11, 2022, 09:48:43 PM
Kowa 6.5x32 BD Wide Angle. Was looking to get away from carrying a big pair of 10x42s that were too much in the woods and these have fit the bill perfectly the last couple of seasons. So much so, I rarely use my 10x42s for deer hunting anymore.
https://www.kowaoptic.com/kowa-bdii32-6-5xd-binocular-6-5x32-wide-angle
Too many people focus on magnification and not clarity, color, field of view, and brightness. Should be alot more 6-7 power binos on the market when talking about eastern hunting very few need 8 let alone 10x.
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Quote from: WildTigerTrout on March 04, 2022, 01:37:20 PM
I have been searching for some time for a pair of binoculars for turkey and squirrel hunting. I wanted them light, small, unobtrusive, with good glass and 7 to 8X. I was at a LGS today and found them. They are vintage and used but just the ticket IMO. Made in the 1990's, Leupold Gold Ring Compact( Green Armored) 7 x 20mm. They were made for Leupold by Leica in their factory in Portugal. Crystal clear! Amazing optics considering their small size and age. I bought them!! They will be around my neck or in my vest this spring. Anybody else care to disclose your favorite binoculars for turkey hunting?
I have a vintage pair of made in Japan Leupold Wind River 10x42's bino's and have bought them around 1994 and have used them more than ANY other piece of hunting equipment I own. I will not even entetain going hunting or scouting without them.
Got a GREAT deal on two pair of made in Japan Pentax DCF WP one in 8x40 and one in 10x42 glass and eye cups are better than my LWR glass not by a great degree, but the eye cups are awesome.
Quote from: WildTigerTrout on March 07, 2022, 01:49:12 PM
Seems to be a common theme here and it is just what I thought it would be. Turkey hunters to include myself like to carry quality binoculars but want them light and small. IMO compacts and pocket size are perfect. I do not like to be weighted down with anything unnecessary. Running and gunning I will take lighter weight every time. Good luck to you fellows this spring and thanks for your input.
For what it's worth... my Vortex rangefinder has 6X magnification that I've found to do a fine job when needing to look closer at something. And since I like to range when I set up it's a great double duty item that helps keep 'stuff' to a minimum, which is important to me as a run-and-gunner out West.
My steiner 10x28s are great
I've been trying to figure out the same thing. I've got a pair of Swarovski 8x42's but I find them much too bulky and heavy for turkey hunting. As mentioned earlier I'm looking real hard at picking up a pair of Kowa BD II XD 6.5x32mm or a pair of Swaro 8x30 CL's. I know the Swaro's would probably be better glass but I like the idea of the Kowa's just to leave in the truck during the off-season.
Leupold bx4 pro 8x32's have been great for me.
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Same glasses I use for archery deer.
Nikon Pro 7 10x42's on a Crooked Horn Bino System.
I spend more time looking at songbirds and other things with them than anything else. But I like the 10X for picking out an Eastern's red head poking from behind the side of a tree 100 yards through the woods or a piece of a Merriam's in a meadow 800 yards away through some Ponderosa pine.
The glasses are what some might find bulky. But I've never once wished for something smaller.
I'm using a Nikon 10x36 Drury Outdoors Monarch in Mossy Oak Obsession using a Crooked Horn Bino System.
They work well for me
That's what I do . In the southern woods , I just use my rangefinder . When I hunt more open areas where I absolutely know i need binos . I put my harness on with my 10x42 Leica trinovids that I actually won lol. I shot 2 turkeys this year with the harness on and my best. It does make swinging to the left difficult. But not impossible .
I use Vortex Diamonback HD 8X32 for both turkey and deer. I had 10x42 but sold them because I wanted to lighten the load. 8X32 is perfect for the eastern woods I hunt.
Quote from: lunghit on May 10, 2022, 05:13:02 PM
I use Vortex Diamonback HD 8X32 for both turkey and deer. I had 10x42 but sold them because I wanted to lighten the load. 8X32 is perfect for the eastern woods I hunt.
That's the pair I'm getting. I have a pair of Bushnell 7x50, but I want something more compact. The 8x32 Diamondbacks looked great at Bass Pro.
Nikon 7x28 for me.
Quote from: kayl on May 10, 2022, 11:15:03 PM
Quote from: lunghit on May 10, 2022, 05:13:02 PM
I use Vortex Diamonback HD 8X32 for both turkey and deer. I had 10x42 but sold them because I wanted to lighten the load. 8X32 is perfect for the eastern woods I hunt.
That's the pair I'm getting. I have a pair of Bushnell 7x50, but I want something more compact. The 8x32 Diamondbacks looked great at Bass Pro.
Another option may be the Vortex Solo monocular. I've already ordered the 8x32 binos, but I've got half a mind to get the 10x35 monocular too...
Steiner Predator AF 8x30 #2045 Binoculars work great for me.
I tried smaller compact binoculars but couldn't see the details like I wanted.
The optical design keeps everything in focus, near and far. Lightweight and compact, the 8x30 the Steiners have great optics and work great with eyeglasses.
hawk58
I carry some Cabelas Intensity HD 8x25 in a Marsupial rangefinder pouch and I absolutely love that set up.
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Quote from: kayl on May 10, 2022, 11:15:03 PM
Quote from: lunghit on May 10, 2022, 05:13:02 PM
I use Vortex Diamonback HD 8X32 for both turkey and deer. I had 10x42 but sold them because I wanted to lighten the load. 8X32 is perfect for the eastern woods I hunt.
That's the pair I'm getting. I have a pair of Bushnell 7x50, but I want something more compact. The 8x32 Diamondbacks looked great at Bass Pro.
I love them and I'm sure you will too. Very clear picture and perfect to carry around all day.
Quote from: lunghit on May 21, 2022, 05:45:19 AM
Quote from: kayl on May 10, 2022, 11:15:03 PM
Quote from: lunghit on May 10, 2022, 05:13:02 PM
I use Vortex Diamonback HD 8X32 for both turkey and deer. I had 10x42 but sold them because I wanted to lighten the load. 8X32 is perfect for the eastern woods I hunt.
That's the pair I'm getting. I have a pair of Bushnell 7x50, but I want something more compact. The 8x32 Diamondbacks looked great at Bass Pro.
I love them and I'm sure you will too. Very clear picture and perfect to carry around all day.
They are great. Ended up picking up a set of Diamondback HD 10x42s for a trip to Yellowstone too...I'm set for binos for a while! Lol
Maven 8x32 monocular. They fit in my bib pocket which is handy since I don't wear a vest.
zeiss is coming out w/ a 8x40 SFL that has the specs of a 8x32.. pricey but should be something to consider if ur a glass snob like me :wave:
I use a vortex monocular and love it. It has a lanyard for it so I wear it around my neck. A lot lighter than binoculars
Quote from: ragin-cajun on June 14, 2022, 07:36:13 AM
zeiss is coming out w/ a 8x40 SFL that has the specs of a 8x32.. pricey but should be something to consider if ur a glass snob like me :wave:
Those look real nice. I'd love to get the 10x32 but can't justify them for the eastern woods I hunt. The Vortex 8x32 I have are really nice but I'm sure the Zeiss are no comparison
Quote from: TauntoHawk on March 13, 2022, 11:44:46 AM
Quote from: J-Shaped on March 11, 2022, 09:48:43 PM
Kowa 6.5x32 BD Wide Angle. Was looking to get away from carrying a big pair of 10x42s that were too much in the woods and these have fit the bill perfectly the last couple of seasons. So much so, I rarely use my 10x42s for deer hunting anymore.
https://www.kowaoptic.com/kowa-bdii32-6-5xd-binocular-6-5x32-wide-angle
Too many people focus on magnification and not clarity, color, field of view, and brightness. Should be alot more 6-7 power binos on the market when talking about eastern hunting very few need 8 let alone 10x.
:z-winnersmiley:
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