Do I Really Need Binoculars?

[Rare Breed]

Twice now I have bought nice Binos only to not use them on my 8 safaris ending up giving them to my PHs along with a nice cash tip
Please tell me what I am missing. My PH always uses his to both judge the animal and position me. Given I lean on long walking DG animals I just don’t see the need
Your thoughts?

 

[eyedok]

I have used mine on all of my hunts, i want to be as much of a part of it as i can, in the states most of my hunts are unguided where i do it all and those are the most enjoyable to me, i wouldnt do Africa if i just leaned out and pulled the trigger, i have been allowed to glass on all my hunts in Africa including leopard, lion, elephant…..just let my PH know up front that i want to be a part of the hunt, not just follow along and pull the trigger, pretty sure i’ve never left the truck without my binocs, i usually glass just as much as the PH

 

[Hunt anything]

It makes me feel like more of the team. I take it as a challenge to spot game before the PH and trackers as well, sometimes I do and sometimes not.
Plus I’m an avid bird watcher (geek) so I spend a lot of time just looking at birds.

 

[ActionBob]

Get a high quality light weight pair and stop giving them away

The last thing a PH wants is for a client to have his rifle slung on his shoulder, looking through binos when the PH says shoot.

As you well know, the PH will be judging the animal and wants you on the sticks in the scope ready to pull the trigger.

However there are lots of times when a hunter should be looking through his binos and every PH I've hunted with has at times told me to just look at the animal through my binos.

 

[eyedok]

Great response, several of my PHs are into birds and we learn alot them pointing out certain birds as we all look at them in binocs, sure makes the grueling days go by while looking for a track or checking baits

 

[eyedok]

Quick switch to the gun when its gametime, only takes a second, not rocket science

 

[375Fox]

The only hunt I’ve used my binoculars away from the truck has been eastern cape because we actually properly glassed and the terrain was suited to it. All other hunts they have stayed in the truck. They are just something to hang up on brush to me. If the PH is only using his binoculars to judge the trophy after spotting I’d rather be on sticks ready to shoot than fumbling with binoculars. The scope works for what I need to see. I’ve taken many animals where 1 second was the difference of getting a shot or not having a shot that day.

 

[JimP]

I want to be as much of the hunt as possible. Quite often while looking at a game animal I'll be discussing the animal with my PH. I have even spotted a few before my PH and tracker did, it does happen.

But while I won't take my high end binoculars to Africa I will take a quality pair to use.

 

[samson7x]

I’ve used them on both my hunts. I actually spotted my gemsbok before the PH on my most recent hunt. I did switch to smaller maven 8x30 which are very light and handy. First safari I took swaro 10x42 which was overkill for the terrain.

 

[Wooster]

Love a good tracking hunt, but also enjoy glassing from a good vantage point and doing spot and stalk. Successful glassing is one part good glass and two parts good technique. You can get a lot better at it if you make it a priority. I like swaro 15's on a tripod for general glassing, and rangefinding 8's or 10's around the neck for pursuit (swaro EL's or Zeiss Victory RF's my favorites). And, lately, experimenting with the image stabilizing Sig Zulu6's, which were amazing on a recent buff and ele hunt in thick bush where ranging was unnecessary. @WoodFire and I always have friendly competitions with the PH's and trackers on spotting game. Keeps everyone on their toes and engaged. And there is an added degree of satisfaction when you end up spotting your own game.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

It makes me feel like more of the team. I take it as a challenge to spot game before the PH and trackers as well, sometimes I do and sometimes not.
Plus I’m an avid bird watcher (geek) so I spend a lot of time just looking at birds.

If you're not using them don't take them. I used mine a lot on both trips. I'd feel naked not hunting with binos. And I too am an avid bird watcher.

 

[BryceM]

I can't imagine hunting without them, but I guess it depends a bit on the terrain you're hunting. For a jungle hunt, probably not useful. For a hunt in the Kalahari or up in the mountains, what are you going to do while everyone else is glassing for 10 minutes?

 

[DLSJR]

I’ve brought binoculars on each trip, ranging from 8x32 Zeiss compacts to 10x 42 Leica Geovids to 15x56 Swarovskis. The more I hunt in Africa, especially when hunting buffalo or other DG, the more I realize that a quality pair of compact or at least smaller binoculars is all I need for the majority of my African hunting. I’m thinking I’ll get a pair of Leica 8x32 Trinovids and they’ll be perfect for 90% of my future African hunts. They’re fairly small, light and excellent quality.

 

[grand veneur]

Twice now I have bought nice Binos only to not use them on my 8 safaris ending up giving them to my PHs along with a nice cash tip
Please tell me what I am missing. My PH always uses his to both judge the animal and position me. Given I lean on long walking DG animals I just don’t see the need
Your thoughts?

I assume that the majority of us, in all cases those who live outside of Africa, also hunt somewhere else. Hunting without binoculars is hard to imagine, unless you are guided like a tourist and takes photos on the command of the touring guide, in our case shoot with your rifle on command of a PH. Also if you are not hunting alone, you should still be somewhat active during the action and that includes observing the game before shooting it. If you don't just want to be guided all the time like a tourist, you will gain some experience in approaching the species by regularly observing it with a binocular, in some countries even with a spotting scope with great magnification .

 

[grand veneur]

I can't imagine hunting without them, but I guess it depends a bit on the terrain you're hunting. For a jungle hunt, probably not useful. For a hunt in the Kalahari or up in the mountains, what are you going to do while everyone else is glassing for 10 minutes?

Binoculars are also useful in the jungle. Certainly not binoculars with very high magnification, but the classic 8x30 binoculars, that we all used in the past, are perfect for everything, even in dense vegetation if you want to observe something behind it.

 

[baxterb]

I couldn't imagine hunting anything without binos - there is a lot to see out there.

Also agree with binos in dense-ish cover. If you are looking into the brush and focus on the closest foliage then slowly 'push' your focus into/through the brush you would be surprised what you can see. I learned this on whitetails.

 

[CBH Australia]

My first thoughts reflect what @ActionBob says, the PH is judging the game.

We played with an older set in Africa while the PH had Lieca range finding binoculars that I believe he used to full effect. The image was excellent

I would like some top tier binoculars but can’t justify the price. Maybe someday but I feel I don’t use them enough.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

I carry a pair of Swarovski 7x21 mini binos in my pocket and since they are so easy to carry and readily at hand I use them a fair bit on the stalk. They are perfectly adequate for DG.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I made a holster for my 10x42 "Nikon knockoffs." Absolutely do not want straps or chest harness gizmo. I will use them from time to time in Africa but not much. Never when hunting buffalo. Then I'm wearing an ammo slide and that's enough crap on my belt. My left eye is messed up from retina surgeries and doesn't line up with right one so it's not easy making binoculars work. Too much fiddling. PH and the tracker know what they're looking for. I'll let them do their job.

When hunting deer/elk/moose (typically solo) I never carry binoculars. Just added weight I don't need. 3-9x scope is almost as good as 10x42 binoculars. Zero chance of me scoping another hunter unless he's standing next to an animal.

 

[DieJager]

To be fair I've been only on two safaris to Africa yet but used my binos on both occasions. Sometimes spotting game before my PH ( rarely )

I like to spot game, take the time to look at it myself. If it is truly a shooter is up to the PH but I never hunt without my binos. But that's me.