Do I Really Need Binoculars?

[BeeMaa]

My wife and I will each carry binos, but they are usually different. One will have the Leica Geovid 10x42 HD-B with rangefinder capabilities while the other has the more compact and lightweight Leica Ultravid 8x32 HD-Plus.

Having the different sizes gives us the option for the hunter to use the best set for the job and the observer to assist in anyway possible.

The first reason is is because my wife is an eagle eye when it comes to spotting game. Often seeing animals before the PH and tracker. If everyone has their own set, we can all look without having to get the rifle to the ready. It doesn’t take long to bring it to bear.

Second is that we are not always hunting and just want to get a better look at things. Birds, scenery, animals we are not actively hunting but are still interested in…etc. Asking to borrow our PH’s binos would be annoying to both parties.

Lastly, we aren’t giving these binos away. I’ve done it before, but it was with the understanding that I was going to upgrade when I got home.

 

[Sabre]

Instead of giving my opinion based on how much I use them, I would offer my opinion based on what you said about how much you used yours. If you didn't use them the last 8 safaris, I would quit taking them in your case. You clearly aren't using them, you are still having a great time based on your posts and reports. So, you aren't missing anything by not having them.

 

[Challer]

My wife and I will each carry binos, but they are usually different. One will have the

Second is that we are not always hunting and just want to get a better look at things. Birds, scenery, animals we are not actively hunting but are still interested in…etc. Asking to borrow our PH’s binos would be annoying to both

There is just too much to see in camp and in transit to that days site. You’re missing a lot without good binos. As said elsewhere, a good pair of minis will go a long way towards the neck anchor issue. And you still need a pair in “normal size.”

 

[VertigoBE]

I could not imagine going hunting without binoculars. Shooting is the smallest part of going hunting, observing animals, terrain and vegetation are all big parts of a hunt. As they say in German: “Nichts geschossen ist auch gejagt” (not shooting is still hunting)

 

[uplander01]

I enjoy looking at a lot of different stuff while on safari, can't imagine not having my little Leica 8x32 with me, but if you don't do that, take them off the list

 

[mdwest]

I’ve never needed binos on a safari… but I enjoy having them and use them regularly…

Currently I use a set of leupold BX4 Pro Guide 10x42…

I’d really like to get a small, good quality pocket binos.. maybe an 8x30 of some sort and start taking them…

 

[Hogpatrol]

I used mine extensively in Africa, mainly to learn more about my quarry, differences between the sexes, what determines a trophy, conditions for the shot such as which way the wind is blowing, plus as other have posted, bird watching and identifying. In the states, they stay in my backpack.

 

[The Gamshunter]

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?

At least in Europe, I can assure you that a good Binos is as important, as having a gun with you. For us, in Europe, it is part of hunting to first judge if the animal is a "fit". I think it is not only for ethical reasons (also crucial in Europe) but as well for yourself. It would be a pitty to not see up close the trophy alive that you are going to put in your crosshair. On top, for myself, being a real hunter means also putting the work to spot for hours or days. Someone who doesn´t is called here a "shooter" but not a "hunter". Leaving it to your PH would spoil that. For myself, on my estate in Europe, my Binos are my primary tools and second my gun. Even in Africa, I would enjoy spotting the surrounding game and the trophy, I am about to shoot. However, I understand everyone has different hunting culture and backgrounds or even physical condition. I could understand for example if you don´t want to carry additional weight. However, I would still first sacrifice the rest and keep my binos. Maybe, you could carry a 8X, as it is relatively light weight but still efficient enough for medium range. Have fun on the safari!

 

[skydiver386]

Even though I've had some great Guides, I've still spotted game that they didn't, mainly because they can only look in one direction. The more eyes you have looking for game, the better your odds of spotting it and planning a stalk BEFORE bumping it. Being an old Eastern Whitetail hunter, every swish of a tail, or flick of an ear gets my attention.

On a Pronghorn hunt in Wyoming and on a PG hunt in the Kalahari, my guides had good Swaro binos, but no range finder. Several times they quietly asked me to range something for them, and they felt their next big purchase would be high quality range finding binoculars.

I'd never be without them on a PG type hunt, but I can clearly see how they would get in the way on a DG hunt.

Quite a few PH's carry a small pair of high quality binoculars on a piece of paracord over their right shoulder so the binoculars sit just above the left hip.

This struck a spark in my imagination and on future hunts where large rangefinder binoculars are to much, I think a monocular or small pair of binoculars on a strap might be the better option. I've thought for some time, a rangefinder size monocular with a rangefinder AND quality optics would be perfect. Most rangefinders have garbage for optical quality, but if they actually had decent glass, I might leave the big binoculars in the Bakke.

Hawke Sport Optics Endurance ED 10x42mm Monocular 36321 Color: Green, Magnification: 10 x, $14.01 Off — Free 2 Day Shipping w/ code 2DAYAIR

Shop Hawke Sport Optics Endurance ED 10x42mm Monocular | $14.01 Off 4.8 Star Rating on 4 Reviews for Hawke Sport Optics Endurance ED 10x42mm Monocular Free 2 Day Shipping + Free Shipping over...

www.opticsplanet.com

No, this Hawke monocular isn't a Swaro or Leica, but might be perfect when you don't need the big glass.

 

[Ridge Runner]

I use my binoculars to help spot game, to judge the animal for myself, to learn what to look for in the differences between a non shooter and shooter animal, and for looking for specific tell tale markings of the "target" animal so I know I'm not shooting the wrong animal; especially on a followup of a wounded or injured animal.

The PH is judging the animal for horn or tusks length and age. And perhaps if an animal is moving oddly checking to see how bad the animal is injured.

By glassing the animal one's self the hunter may find something to make a trophy out of a lesser animal, ie a warthog's tusks may not be long but its body size may be large. Or the hunter may want to pass on an particular animal for something better, ie the hunter likes wide horns vs narrow horns, or wanting semetrical horns vs horns of noticeably different size, length, and/or shape.

And as mentioned, Better to have more eyes studying smaller areas for game vs one or two sets of eyes panning over an area.

Once the animal has been identified and the stalk starts my binos go down. The next time I put glass on the animal it is my scope.

 

[Green Chile]

It's hard to imagine a hunt where I wouldn't use binos. I've used them in thick stuff to figure out which direction something was facing...is that the back or the front end...is that the group of bulls or is that the cows back in the trees...I also enjoy seeing the birds and small animals scattered around. In low light, they can be particularly helpful in identifying things...is that a 2nd animal just behind the target animal...it looks like that buff has extra legs or is that a tree behind it? I also don't want to be dependent on the PH finding everything. The tracker is going to see almost everything first BUT they aren't trained to judge trophy quality...they know an animal is older, etc but I want to participate in some of those decisions as a team with the tracker and PH.

I use higher magnification in western hunts in the US but in Africa, I've learned that I like the 8x30 companion model by Swaro. They are easily slung under the arm and out of the way or quickly up into use. Lightweight and very useful. @mdwest you should check out that model. I also strongly prefer having a rangefinder in some of my binos. It helps a lot in stalking also to say that bush ahead of us gets us 40 yards closer and that's good enough for a shot.

 

[Red Leg]

I can not imagine hunting big game on any continent without a quality set of binos. In the Americas and Europe I use Leica 10x42 range finding HD 3000's. I would not hunt without them. In Africa I use Leica HD Ultravid 8x42's. It is a very light weight option and rides my hip on an over the shoulder strap. They add immensely to my enjoyment of the hunt.

 

[BeeMaa]

I think a monocular or small pair of binoculars on a strap might be the better option. I've thought for some time, a rangefinder size monocular with a rangefinder AND quality optics would be perfect. Most rangefinders have garbage for optical quality, but if they actually had decent glass, I might leave the big binoculars in the Bakke.

I actually do this with my Leica Rangemaster 3500.com when I goose hunt with IGS. Binos are just too big to carry in a kayak with all the other gear. I loop them around my neck and stick them in the top center pocket of my waders.

I thought about doing this for our upcoming trip to Africa for buffalo, but the ease of using binocular vision outweighed the compactness and portability of the RF.

 

[dchum]

Even Hemingway brought his Zeiss binos on safari in 1934! And he used them!

I guess if you’re just uber focused solely on shooting sure you don’t need them. But any curious person would be kicking themselves if something cool arises.

Last safari I was in Namibia, truck stops, a pair of bat eared fox stand 70 yards off in some grass, look like black spots in a bush.
The memory I have of those amazing creatures is through the lens of my binos where I was finally able to make out there faces and see them in great detail thanks to my 10x30 swaros. Cool critters

Sounds like you don’t have much use for them so just leave em!

 

[rookhawk]

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 can't live without mine. Specifically, in a chest rig. Mine are also my rangefinders and they are a piece of gear I cannot live without.

1.) I may see an animal the PH does not
2.) I may notice a defect in the animal the PH does not
3.) I may want to look at something and don't want to beg the PH for his pair
4.) My eyes are different than others, it would be annoying to share mine or use theirs
5.) I want to know with absolute certainty how far an animal is from me prior to taking the shot
6.) When building blinds, I'd always range find to the bait and try to adjust the blind location to perfectly line up with a point-and-click shot. (e.g. 50 yards or 150 yards)
7.) We've ran into poachers many times in Africa, I sure as hell want my own binos to judge for myself that there is safety, we aren't walking into an ambush, and to see how many poachers are fleeing in total.

My son feels the same way, he's carried rangefinding binos with him on every hunt he's taken since he was 7 years old. Ultimately, he needs to be proud of the animal and determine its trophy quality so it makes perfect sense he has his own pair rather than relying on my advice alone.

So yeah, I'd be much more upset if I forgot to pack binos than if I forgot to pack underwear or a jacket.