What's everyone's go to binoculars for turkey hunting?
My vortex crossfire 10x42s are too big and bulky to run and gun turkey, in my opinion.
Looking to get something smaller and lighter this year.
Thanks.
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I have a set of vortex diamondback 10x28 I keep in my vest. I really like them.
I run same binos you already use. They are big. But good for glassing
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Quote from: MossyOak92 on December 21, 2024, 07:27:07 PMI have a set of vortex diamondback 10x28 I keep in my vest. I really like them.
same
I use some Zeis 10x25 compacts and absolutely love them. I've had them for about 20 yrs. Last I looked they had over doubled in price since I bought them. They are very good binoculars though.
I need a smaller pair, I am using 10X42 Stieners. Nice but heavy.
Was going to buy a pair of Swarovski in SD this spring but they didn't have what I thought I wanted.
I should have bought what they had. 8X32 I believe.
I prefer to hunt the timber so I use my 2x range finder. Serves a double purpose and I'm always amazed at what 2 power will do in the woods.
I have a pair of Vortex 10x32 that I use for deer hunting. They are a nice compromise. Better field of view than the 25/28's and not as bulky as a set of 42's.
I carry Nikon 10x42s on a harness. Can't say I've ever once found them too bulky or in the way. I do know I'd feel handicapped without them.
Burris has some good glass and I love mine
Vortex 10 x 28
Obviously, the need for binoculars of a certain type depends on what and where you are hunting. I normally carry 10X42's, 10X50's, or even 12X50's at times, because I want the higher magnification and wider field of view. For where I hunt, both are important...and the weight and bulk difference in carrying those rather than something smaller is more than made up for by the ability to see things farther and more easily than with anything smaller.
Then again, for a lot of my turkey hunting, I really don't need to carry binoculars at all MOST of the time. I have gone on many a turkey hunt where I never lifted those binoculars at all. For those other times when I really needed them, I was also really glad that I had them with me. Just because of that, I will continue to carry them.
Will there come a time where I am feeble enough that I need to resort to something with less weight and bulk than those heavyweights I carry? Maybe,...but I ain't there yet! :D ;D
I've started carrying a vortex monocular and really like it. Easily storable in my vest and solid view out of it
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Quote from: GobbleNut on December 22, 2024, 09:39:18 AMObviously, the need for binoculars of a certain type depends on what and where you are hunting. I normally carry 10X42's, 10X50's, or even 12X50's at times, because I want the higher magnification and wider field of view. For where I hunt, both are important...and the weight and bulk difference in carrying those rather than something smaller is more than made up for by the ability to see things farther and more easily than with anything smaller.
Then again, for a lot of my turkey hunting, I really don't need to carry binoculars at all MOST of the time. I have gone on many a turkey hunt where I never lifted those binoculars at all. For those other times when I really needed them, I was also really glad that I had them with me. Just because of that, I will continue to carry them.
Will there come a time where I am feeble enough that I need to resort to something with less weight and bulk than those heavyweights I carry? Maybe,...but I ain't there yet! :D ;D
I have binos for scouting, but I never carry binos when hunting... Sometimes I wish I had them... But it passes and I resolve myself to saying that it's not that necessary for hunting purpuses... I always say to myself, I should start carrying some... Maybe next season... Or the one after ;D
I also carry the Zeiss 10/25 binoculars and love them as was mentioned. The binoculars are very light and usually do not even notice I have them on. The magnification is great for the area I hunt which is oak tree covered rolling hills.
I carry Swarovski 10x25 compacts. Very compact and light-weight. Pretty much use them for everything I hunt. Very clear optics.
Vortex Viper 10X42's with Vortex harness right in the middle of my chest for Quick access. Never leave the truck without them.
A buddy suggested using a rangefinder. Mine is lighter than the lightest small binos I could find. 6x monocular and of course you have rangefinder capabilities. All in about 5 oz.
Vortex Diamondback 10x42 as well.
Swarovski EL 10X42
I might add in hindsight I wish I would have gotten the 8.5x42.
I have a pair Swarovski SLC 8x30 that are excellent glass, they are my spring turkey/fall bow hunt binos. I went with a compact pair as they easily fit in my Turkey Hip Hunt Pack
MK M GOBL
Kahles 8-32. Compact and clear. Got a super deal on them 10 years ago and they are still working great.
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Since I started shooting photos from inside the blind where I hunt I use the screen on the back of the camera to see distance and don't even touch my binocs unless I am trying to see the spurs and beard and in most cases the camera works for that too.
Swarovski 10X32 EL Range are what I carry
Guys understand the amount you spend if you go super high glass becomes less relative to the quality comparatively. A $2000 pair is not twice as good as a $1000 pair for instance. Prob barely noticeably better if at all.
That being said cheap glass gives you a headache, is less clear and crispy, rougher low light and often made in china, an enemy of the United States so please don't buy from them.
That being said I use Zeiss conquest 8-40 for roosting, Conquest 8-32 for hunts. The bigger glass is better for light gathering. Realize higher magnification will hurt you here and these are woodlot use so I go no higher than 8.
You can prob find conquests open box with lifetime warranty for 600 bucks if you look.
Understand any 20-25mm glass is gonna be really hard to impossible to see low light or in the dark. Often walking in, roosted bird or not I'll glass treetops to look for or find birds. I'm a guy if I can gets fairly close. My daughters and I when they were young climbed cattle fences as birds slept under 40 yards away watching with binoculars for them to stir. If so we stopped and let them tuck their head before continuing.
I'd def never hunt without em.
I'd say any of the non super small Zeiss, Swarovski, Leica are good bets.
I use a pair of Maven B.3 10X30.
Don't carry binos too often, normally just a rangefinder. But I do have some Maven C2 10x28 that I bought just for turkey hunting. Can get them for ~$250 and they function exactly as I want. I use the Rick Young ultralight bino harness with them.
https://rickyoungoutdoors.com/safety-ultra-light-bino-harness/
8x32 from Vortex work well for me here in the South.
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...A little information about bino's for those possibly having less experience with them.
A lot of the binoculars mentioned are the more expensive brands. Someone shopping for binoculars might take a look at a $1,000 pair, then look through a $100 pair...and think, "these look pretty much the same, so why should I pay for the more expensive bino's"?
Here's are (some of) the reasons:
>> Cheap bino's are much less durable and are much more likely to get knocked out of alignment over time, and often rather quickly when getting banged around in a lot of hunting situations.
>> Dust infiltration into the inner lenses...which can significantly impact viewing clarity...is much more likely and will much more quickly occur with the cheapo brands.
>> Less expensive brands generally have no long-term warrantee on refurbishment/replacement like the expensive brands...and if you put your bino's through the ringer like some of us do, that long-term warrantee is good to have.
>> As has been mentioned, low-light use through quality glass can be significantly better than the cheap stuff.
Having stated the above, I also think there are "serviceable" bino's for most "average" applications that can be purchased in the $200-$300 range...but generally speaking, avoid the really cheap, off-brand stuff.
I carry 10x42 when I carry them, but that is not every day. Totally depends on where I am.
My old Steiner are small for a 10x42.
Maven B.7 8x25
I have a pair of smaller Zeiss binos that are ~40 years old and still crystal clear, outstanding glass.
So our local sporting goods store. Scotts outdoors in jay florida is having a huge sale. Lotta vortex binos are marked 50% off. Some spotting scopes and cheaper rifle scopes are buy on get on free. Some of the 8x42 I'm pretty sure are $150. Worth looking into and seeing if they will ship to you. Store is only 30 minutes from me. So if they won't ship to you. Venmo me money and I can pick up what yall need and ship to you on your dime.
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I run swarovski binos in a marsupial chest rig. I do not do anything hunting related without binos on my chest. I have 8x32 el and 10x42 el models and choose which according to the terrain I'm hunting. I keep a set of 15x56 slcs in the truck that I only use on a tripod. I can glass turkeys at several miles with these. This is a little unconventional but really works for me.
I use a vintage 1988 rubber-armored compact Leupold Gold Ring 7x20mm. They were made by Leica for Leupold. They are very lightweight, handy, clear and unobtrusive. Don't even notice you are carrying them. See no need to get anything new.
I have a pair of Swarovski 8x30 SLC that are perfect.