Binocular use on stand

I never take them. If I have to see something way out there I look through my scope. The way I look at it is if it's not close enough to see without the need for magnification I can't shoot it anyways. The only time I need to see them is if they're close enough to hold on fur and shoot.

Plus the added movement is something I can do without.
 
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I hunt the same terrain as snowman but I use them quite a bit. I dont see well so i need any help i can get. Because it is so thick, they help me see through the junk. I have spotted many cats that otherwise would have gone unseen. I almost feel naked without them.
 
I carry them in the truck, rarely have the ability to carry them when wheeling.
Occaisionally I spot one a mile out coming my way, ok I have the time.
Most interesting viewing I get is seeing a hunter watching another hunter through his riflescope.
 
I rarely day hunt, so their eyes give them away at night, but when I do day hunt it would be nice to have a pair. I've picked out the top of a woodchuck's head at almost 200 yards in high hay, but that was brown against a green back drop. In the winter everything is brown, and I always wonder if one is standing in the distance, tucked into some brush. Binoculars would help confirm that!
 
Always have the binos with me when hunting or scouting in the off season.As far as movement goes.If anything they help in that they slow me down some.I've taken a number of critters simply because I heard them while glassing.
 
After a guy turns 50 or so they really make your stands more enjoyable, just to be able to see things like you use too. Especially on those non productive stands. Rifles are heavier to pick up now, than they use to be.
 
Originally Posted By: McGrawAfter a guy turns 50 or so they really make your stands more enjoyable, just to be able to see things like you use too. Especially on those non productive stands. Rifles are heavier to pick up now, than they use to be.

And after 60 it gets even better, I mean the view through the binos!
 
Weekender & McGraw, you guys are just kids. Been packin' binoculars for >20 years for all those reasons, but I don't have to pack stuff in.

Oh, by the way, I've never figured out how raising a rifle to look at something in the distance results in less movement than lifting a pair of binoculars, but it does result in one less piece of gear to lug around.
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Regards,
hm
 
I don't carry them simply because I call in either really tight spots that wouldn't do me any good or really open spots that I can see them coming from a long ways out. That isn't saying I probably haven't missed coyotes because of it I just never really needed them as far as I know.
 
Always take the binocs. Never had a problem with movement using them after putting camo duct tape on them.

Best reason is safety. Lets you identify people or something you don't want to be shooting and you don't want to be scouting with your rifle scope. Thats an accident ready to happen and your going to be more visible using a scope.

Usually take range finder just to know how far the surroundings are and how far the shot was when I get one.
 
Ochocobull I call mostly in the thick stuff to.Even there they work well.Bobcats and fox more often than not sneak in very slowly.I've taken quite a few deer that were standing still I was able to make out I'd never have spotted thanks to binos.
 
I have binoculars and rangefinder with me on about every stand. If I didn’t have either of them I don’t think it would make much of a difference on most stands. I mostly have them with me because I like having the option to use them. My main strategy for hunting big game is using my binoculars so I have become accustomed to having them strapped to my chest anytime I’m out in mountains or desert. Some stands I won’t every pick them up. Other stands I’ll use them to scan every few minutes. A rangefinder is very nice to have for longer shots but at 200 yards or less is really not needed. It is always good practice to range stuff in the field to keep my estimation of yardage sharp. I’ll often check the range of multiple spots before I start calling for practice but it also helps give me confidence in my yard estimate when a coyote is leaving and I have to make a quick 300 yard shot when he stops to take one last quick look back.
 
I cant imagine being in the field without bino's. I think I would feel naked. But I let the terrain dictate how much I bring them to my face. I usually do a scan of the horizon and distant areas when I first sit down before making any sound. I have on a few occasions found a coyote or two nearby before I started calling. Sometimes I shoot before making a call or if its to far start calling and definitely know where it coming from. After I start calling I don't raise the binos hardly at all.
 
Originally Posted By: hm1996Weekender & McGraw, you guys are just kids. Been packin' binoculars for >20 years for all those reasons, but I don't have to pack stuff in.

Oh, by the way, I've never figured out how raising a rifle to look at something in the distance results in less movement than lifting a pair of binoculars, but it does result in one less piece of gear to lug around.
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Regards,
hm

I keep mine at the ready. Just have to look through the scope. If I'm looking it's usually a bush or something I didn't notice before I started calling.

The issue of safety was brought up. If someone can't tell the difference between a person walking upright and a coyote they have worse problems than needing a pair of binoculars. Keep your finger off the trigger and the safety on and it ain't a safety problem either.lol

Bobcats are the only reason I can see a need for binoculars since they'll sit still a lot longer than a coyote will. If there's something moving at 1,000 yards I don't need to worry about what it is. I'll keep an eye on it until it gets to about 300 yards and looks just like a coyote. If it looks and walks just like a human....they'll hear me cussin.

"You guys aren't gonna believe this. I heard a coyote killin a rabbit today so I went looking for it. Then the coyote called me the F word."
 
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Like it was stated above, I can't imagine being out in the desert without a binocular. I've gotten to the point where I strap my Snuggle Buddy (Alaska Guide Creations chest rig) on for pretty much every hunt, including predator hunts. I keep my 10x42 bino, rangefinder, GPS, camera, wind checker, hand call, spare batteries, mini tripod, and optics wipes in it for easy access.

I almost never use the bino while actually calling, that seems like a sure-fire way to get caught with your pants down when something fuzzy comes streaking in. But, at the end of each stand, I typically glass around to see what's out in the desert, either way out in the flats or in heavy brush nearby.

I suspect I use the bino more for non-predators though. There is a lot to see out in the wilds we hunt. I love to glass for deer, antelope, oryx, and other wildlife. I like getting closeup looks at feeding raptors. I like to glass distant objects and/or people safely (no rifle scoping).

In short, being able to see farther and clearer enhances the hunting and outdoor experience. Heck, I don't even go fishing without a bino these days.
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I think the consensus is most have both with them most of the time. Seems like a given to check the area before calling and before getting up to leave, and the range finder is good to get a couple spots in your head to practice range finding without a range finder and to at least have a general idea of those distances before an animal shows. Some use them at little more, some a little less. I appreciate all the info shared here.
 
Originally Posted By: OKRattler
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If it looks and walks just like a human....they'll hear me cussin.

"You guys aren't gonna believe this. I heard a coyote killin a rabbit today so I went looking for it. Then the coyote called me the F word."

Hehe... reminds me, was calling at a spot had seen bear before. Hearda super loud CRACK! of tree on opposing ridge! I got quiet with the call, snapped the rifle up and pointed it at the decoy (was tuck in a spot where I couldn't see the area the sound emanated from but it was close enough!)

Lil bit of wait... nothing.. so blow some more Double CottonTail... then like 30 seconds later.. some A-hole hiker comes thru... and get this.. has Walkman headphones in his ears! And he's by himself!

I just SMDH. I wait a bit, what I think it would take him to walk significantly far enough away. Start the calling again... maybe two repetitions... then "Aw man.. are you serious?" I hear humans again. This time a guy and girl. For S & G I did the call another time while I heard them approaching, figured I'd show the bear or whatever it was that it really is something besides these [beeep] humans. I overhear her "Oh My God!.. Sounds like a Bird in Distress, like maybe defending her nest!"

So I thought, "Well... at least it's convincing!" and I knew my day in that area was done. Had been there since before the light and it was maybe 3p so time to go 'cause these fools would certainly be in there a while. It is a long loop if they wanted to go out the other way it loops around and I didn't see backpacks so I knew they'd be coming back on this trail. Sigh...
 


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