Optics in Diverse Terrain

Optics play and important role in all aspects and phases of hunting. I feel the necessity of optics is totally dependent on the hunting area and method of hunting.  Optics are a very useful tool in bow hunting and rifle hunting.  Being able to distinguish certain features and identify game that is being hunted is very important, especially in a management scenarios.  There are various sizes and styles of optics that all have different applications.  Regular binoculars come in different sizes and magnifications for hunting in close range areas and wide open ones.  For really open and long range viewing, there is the spotting scope.  Allowing the hunter to be able to see a very long way with a solid stand base to help eliminate shaking.  On the opposite end of the spectrum there is the laser rangefinder.  Normally they have a low magnification to them and are very well applied in close range situations where binoculars are too magnified.  Laser rangefinders are also compact and lightweight.

Various terrain types require different optic needs.  Lets continue with the close range hunting scenario.  Hunting in thickets and dense foliage limits the need for high magnification.  As previously mentioned, laser range finders work very well in this situation because it allows for a small amount of magnification to be able identify specific characteristics about the game. It also allows for a bow hunter to range (for yardage) the prospective shot location without having a lot of movement by switching from the binoculars to the range finder.  A monocular would also work well if you did not have trouble judging yardage from a tree stand or if you have already made landmark yardages.

As the hunting area begins to open up like a river/creek bottom up to the edge of a food plot or field, binoculars come into play.  The higher magnification gives the hunter the edge in deciding a "shooter" or not before the game gets too close.  Binoculars are very versatile in that they can allow the hunter plenty of time to get ready for a shot well before the opportunity arises.  In a game management system, binoculars can aid the proper game harvesting.  There are different harnesses on the market today that allows for the binoculars to be worn on the chest where they are out of the way to shoot a bow, but are easy to access at a moments notice.

The wide open country of the west offers a variety of terrain that calls for the "big boys" of optics.  Hunting in the plains and mountains out west, having a high powered binoculars or spotting scopes is just as important as your weapon. Spotting scopes can be mounted on the window of a truck or on a tripod stand.  Game species out west are very good at seeing, making it very important to be able to see a long way and see them before they see you. Optics allow you to plan a stalk, so that you are not visible until the shot is taken. 

Game management systems give the hunters great reason to invest in optics.  Making the decision to harvest the animal or not quickly is key. Good optics give you an enhanced view of the animal, allowing for better analysis in harvesting.  Scouting is another area that optics play a large role in.  Walking the hunting property is key when making stand location preparations and finding the deer travel routes.  Binoculars/spotting scopes aid in this process.  They allow you to view the game in route to a bedding area, food plot or just cruising.  Being able to see the travel corridor without interrupting it will gain a great advantage when season rolls around.  Aside from just preseason scouting, early to mid season scouting is crucial.  There is more traffic in the wild and a good set of optics will allow you to study the travel patterns after hunters have invaded the ones mapped preseason without disturbing the animals.  There is a reason that the big bucks are hard to find during season and a large part is the added pressure from hunters causes them to use alternate trails than the ones used out of season.  Spotting these trail from afar will aid the harvesting of a mature whitetail or other game.

Hunting method is another factor in using optics.  Obviously bow hunting is a method that has tremendous gains by the use of optics, but lets look at rifle hunting.  Out west it is still a necessity to use high powered optics other than the scope of the rifle.  In the south and midwest terrains, the type of land is key.  Hunting public land, the use of binoculars is very important.  Using the scope of your gun is very dangerous because you may not know where someone else is at and the last thing to want to see in the cross hairs is another hunter.  Safety is the name of the game when dealing with high powered firearms.  On private land, where you know the location of everyone that is on the property, it is still recommended that binoculars be used; just to be on the safe side.

Magnified optics are an incredible tool that helps to level the playing field between hunters and wild game (when it comes to senses).  Most wild game can hear, see and smell better than humans.  Being able to enhance a hunter's vision so that correct and safe decisions can be made will only help the hunter have more success and fun.  Find the right set of optics for your hunting area and hunting method.  There are hundreds of options available that allow you to be able to get exactly what fits you.