Do I Really Need Binoculars?

[Tbitty]

I honestly can't imagine not having binos with me in a chest harness while hunting. The chest harness keeps them at hand for glassing and watching, but can be quickly stored (or even just let go of them) to switch to rifle when its shooting time. I'd be much more apt to leave the rangefinder at home (or buy myself binos with rangefinder built in).

 

[migrabill]

I haven't used them on animals I've shot. I have used them on animals I didn't shoot. Giraffes, hippos, anything I want to get a good look at. Plus we went to a Park (Pilannesburg) and I used them all day there.

 

[skydiver386]

I haven't used them on animals I've shot. I have used them on animals I didn't shoot. Giraffes, hippos, anything I want to get a good look at. Plus we went to a Park (Pilannesburg) and I used them all day there.

Same when I went to Pilannesburg. I actually spotted a Rhino with calf before my PH did while we were driving close to one of the lakes.

It was a lot of fun viewing the wildlife there through the binoculars, and I'd have missed some of the smaller animals like Klipspringer if I'd left them at home.

 

[Andrew62]

You ask a really great question. Of my African hunts I have only taken binos maybe 5 times. On a SA safari I learned to like having a pair of binos, this past elephant hunt and my hunt next month for buffalo/elephant, I do not plan on carrying binos, I don’t need the distraction. Also, on this next hunt I’ll be wearing a GoPro on a chest mount.

For the times I’ve carried binos I do what @ActionBob suggests, I carry a pair of Swarovski CL 8x30 and use an Andrew Young string style carrying strap.

 

[Tbitty]

In my most recent hunt, I spotted a trophy bushbuck that we were able to make a stalk on and get a shot. May not have got him had I not pointed it out to PH, and I would have never seen him without my binos.

 

[SplitHoof]

My advice is don't spend big money on binos for african safaris. A $250 pair of bushnells will work great on safari, we don't have the experience to judge african game so we don't need super high quality glass or a range finder for that matter. As a guided hunter our job is to spot game, its the PH's job to judge them, he needs the expensive glass not you.

I will admit I do really like the Leica 8x32 and for just under a grand they are tempting, but until I have a real need for high quality glass I'll stick with my bushnells.

Up front I’ll say that I’ve only been to Africa once (ten days ago), but the Meopta that I carried and the SIG range-finding model my daughter carried helped greatly. We had numerous occasions to glass for a few hours, looking for Kudu and other PG from a hilltop situated well above the bush. The clarity of the glass and sharp image resolution helped us spot animals that were bedding down in the late morning, and to help us when communicating with the guide and tracker regarding what we were all looking at.
For my eyes, the cheaper Bushnell, Tasso, Simmons, etc. just give me headaches, and lack the optical quality of better brands. About the only use I have for those is emergency use on highways to spot vehicle hazardous cargo.
I’ve got too much $$ invested on another African safari trip already to use cheap binos; I like to learn as much as possible about game we may see, and that for us entails time watching. YMMV.

 

[Green Chile]

It's interesting to see how vastly different the opinions are on using binos. I will bring out (again) my old saying on optics...if you figure out they are really important to you, then you should sell something and get the best you can afford. You hunt with your eyes and your feet. Your boots and your optics should be very good. Once I realized that, my success went way up. Showing up with cheap binos or a cheap rifle scope...or cheap boots...isn't a good start. Anyone serious about their hunting can find a way to get quality boots or optics. Quality gear isn't a sign of wealth...it's a sign of maturity, wisdom and priorities. These hunts are expensive so do whatever you can to ensure your success. Footwear and optics go a long ways to that success.

 

[coreydb]

Buy some binos then keep them. You should be glassing as well as your PH, him looking one way, you the other.....more eyes on target.

 

[wesheltonj]

I’ve take my Geovid’s each time. Mainly because the rest of the work uses Meters and the USA uses yards. My last trip the PH used his Geovid’s and called out the distance in yards, but I still used mine for the number of clicks, but I really did not need them other then to look at all the animals.

 

[festuscat]

My binoculars are more important than my scope ( obviously hold zero)
I have 2 pr - Leica 8x32 BN and 10x32 BN

 

[Rare Breed]

It's interesting to see how vastly different the opinions are on using binos. I will bring out (again) my old saying on optics...if you figure out they are really important to you, then you should sell something and get the best you can afford. You hunt with your eyes and your feet. Your boots and your optics should be very good. Once I realized that, my success went way up. Showing up with cheap binos or a cheap rifle scope...or cheap boots...isn't a good start. Anyone serious about their hunting can find a way to get quality boots or optics. Quality gear isn't a sign of wealth...it's a sign of maturity, wisdom and priorities. These hunts are expensive so do whatever you can to ensure your success. Footwear and optics go a long ways to that success.

Fair points my friend! I have my top guns and now my elephant skin Courtney’s which I love…I so appreciate all my friends feedback. I do think I land somewhere between @Tanks and @Red Leg. I can see needing them for PG and if I buy another pair they will be the Leica 8x42 HDs

 

[rookhawk]

Don't really need them for DG. That's what the PH is for. For PG a range finding binoculars does help.

I'd politely disagree in at least three scenarios. 1.) I have enough relationship and trust with my PH that if I swore on my life I saw nuts on a cat, he would believe me, imperil his license, and permit me to shoot. Otherwise, my hunt is solely in the hands of his vision. 2.) When we are bantering about which elephant is the lead bull we sure as heck like to debate ivory together. One or the other of us will notice the biggest tusker might only be one-side tusked. Having a good relationship with your PH allows friendly debate about what each are seeing as you determine which ele may be best. A good PH doesn't take offense to this, they know they have the best judgment vs client but they like to hear what others are seeing so they can advise with maximum data. 3.) It sure does help when others are scanning for Askari, or worse yet cow elephant with calves in the distance before we run rip-shod on final approach. For me, elephant and zebra are the world's most camoflagued animals. I greatly appreciate as many eyes scanning as possible, you never know what you overlooked.

I'd add that anytime I go to Africa, I'm always bringing mission of mercy supplies for the rangers, scouts, and trackers. Even if they are cheap hand-me-down binos, the more eyes in the bush, the better the intelligence you receive. I'm just the dumbest, least experienced guy with binos on my hunt but I make a measurable difference in aggregate with the rest of the group scanning.

 

[rookhawk]

Fair points my friend! I have my top guns and now my elephant skin Courtney’s which I love…I so appreciate all my friends feedback. I do think I land somewhere between @Tanks and @Red Leg. I can see needing them for PG and if I buy another pair they will be the Leica 8x42 HDs

If I had to do it all over again, I would buy the newer Leica ranging 10x32s. They are smaller, so you can have a chest rig and still draw a bow or belly crawl without the interference that comes from the 42s I presently own. My 10x42 HD-B 3300s (3000s?) will bump my bowstring if I'm not sucking in my chest on the shot, better to have a smaller chest rig and a smaller set if I could do it over.

P.S. - This thread reminds me of "should I carry a Knife on safari?" threads. Its clear that people are divided on both points. I lean into the yes and yes group.

 

[HookMeUpII]

Everyone told me I didn't need binos before going to RSA. I brought them and honestly, can't imagine going back without them. Most of it was from the enjoyment factor of being able to watch different wildlife when things got slow at the blind and truck. During one sit for warthog, I actually used them heavily to see if there were any shooters hiding out on the edge of the water hole clearing.

If you're someone who is a more knowledgeable hunter and veteran of Africa hunting, I would think they're even more important. They give you the ability to really determine whether an animal is what you're looking for. For DG, I'd absolutely want them.

I honestly cannot imagine going back without them.

 

[Hunt anything]

A quick story why I will never leave my binoculars behind (again)
On my very first stalk on my very first day in Africa we had seen a herd of buffalo out on the flood plains from the Argo. We covered the first mile with good cover but ran out around 150yds from the herd. We had been glassing for about an hour when my PH saw a good hard bossed bull in the herd, we had no more cover and I didn’t want to shoot a buffalo at 150yds. So my PH and I decided to crawl as far as we could, I took my binoculars off and let the trackers hold the while we finished the stalk.
After the bull was down the herd took off and that wonderful death bellow was heard, the herd came bolting back and surrounded the dying bull, I would have given just about anything for my binoculars and camera at that moment. Being 60yds from 200 buffalo lined up abreast is the most awesome sight I have ever seen but I would have loved to look into their eyes with binoculars and then taken some pictures with my 300mm lens.

Never again will I leave my binoculars in the truck, Argo or with a tracker.

 

[One Day...]

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?

An ocean of perplexity...

This is the king of post that plunges me into an ocean of perplexity.

We all know Rare Breed, he is no fool and no fake. Seeing a question like that come from him truly makes me wonder...

Because I would sooner go hunting without a rifle rather than without binoculars...

This would probably be an evening-long campfire discussion, but I will try to summarize:

• The binoculars are for hunting.
• The rifle is for shooting.

Whether it be at 500 yards on the opposite ridge to decide whether the animal is worth a stalk, or at 150 yards to decide whether the trophy is what you want, or at 10 yards to sort out which exact part of the animal you are looking at through the bush, binoculars are CRITICAL.

I cannot even conceive of not being part of these decisions, and my interaction with the PH is a constant dialog about these decisions as we are both glued to our binoculars.

Without this, I would think that I am not hunting, just strolling around and shooting on command. In addition, I cannot tell you how much I have learned from these whispered dialogs........

Other threads deal with what binoculars to use, but Rule #1 is "the highest quality you can afford", and although the 10x40 pioneered by Zeiss' truly revolutionary 10x40 BGA approaches "universal binocular" status, specialized glass can be really useful:
-- Light 7x or 8x is great on DG in dense Jesse where measuring distance is irrelevant.
-- Best quality 15x is worth its weight in gold resolving a Klipspringer or Vaal Rhebuck on the next ridge of the Karoo.
-- Integrated laser rangefinder 10x is perfect for typical plains game from the Moyowosi plain of Tanzania to the high plateaus of Eastern Cape.

Rare Breed, Friend, start glassing the instant your PH does, and make any and all decisions with him, it will change your African hunting life

Top row: today (2020's). From the left, Swarovski SLC 15x56, best-in-class for long range glassing. Leica Geovid 10x42 HD-B3000, best-in-class modern "universal" with integrated laser range finder. Leica Trinovid 8x32 HD, ideal for DG hunts on a long strap over the hip.

Bottom row: yesterday (1980's). From the left Zeiss 10x40 BGA, the penultimate, to this day, light and small "universal" binoculars. Zeiss 8x30B "mini", better than nothing but limited ... but they fit in the shirt pocket! Steiner 20x80, too much of a good thing as binoculars, but great as a binocular spotting scope.

My own idea of ideal binoculars would be today's Leica Geovid 10x42 HD-B3000 glass and functions in the size and weight of the old (1980's) Zeiss 10x40 BGA

 

[Doug Hamilton]

An ocean of perplexity...

This is the king of post that plunges me into an ocean of perplexity.

We all know Rare Breed, he is no fool and no fake. Seeing a question like that come from him truly makes me wonder...

Because I would sooner go hunting without a rifle rather than without binoculars...

This would probably be an evening long campfire discussion, but I will try to summarize:

• The binoculars are for hunting.
• The rifle is for shooting.

Whether it be at 500 yards on the opposite ridge to decide whether the animal is worth a stalk, or at 150 yards to decide whether the trophy is what you want, or at 10 yards to sort out which exact part of the animal you are looking at through the bush, binoculars are CRITICAL.

I cannot even conceive of not being part of these decisions, and my interaction with the PH is a constant dialog about these decisions as are both glued to our binoculars. Without this, I would think that I am not hunting, just strolling around and shooting on command. In addition, I cannot tell you how much I have learned from these whispered dialogs.

Other threads deal with what binoculars to use, but Rule #1 is "the highest quality you can afford" and although the 10x40 pioneered by Zeiss' truly revolutionary 10x40 BGA approaches "universal binocular" status, specialized glass can be really useful. Light 7x or 8x is great on DG in dense Jesse where measuring distance is irrelevant. Best quality 15x is worth its weight in gold resolving a Klipspringer or Vaal Rhebuck on the next ridge of the Karoo. Integrated laser rangefinder 10x is perfect for typical plains game from the Moyowosi plain of Tanzania to the high plateaus of Eastern Cape.

Rare Breed, Friend, start glassing the instant your PH does, and make any and all decisions with him, it will change your African hunting life

Like you, I have no doubt that Rare Breed knows what a scope is for and what binoculars are for. Your post does remind me of one of my petwas That is using a scope (which is an aiming device) instead of binoculars. One time while hunting on public land I came across a young guy with a light lever action rifle, see through scope mounts, and a gigantic scope, 4-16 x 56 if I remember right. His logic was that he didn't need to carry binos because he could check things out with the scope and shoot if it was good or use the open sights if a buck was close. I pointed out to him that if I found him aiming his rifle at me because he didn't know what I was, we would have a problem. At a sports man's show I saw a salesman trying to sell a big scope to a guy using the same logic. It wasn't my business but I interrupted anyway to explain to both the problem with that thinking. Even my son - in - law told me that he didn't have binos because he had a 6 to 20 scope and didn't need them. I quickly explained why that was a bad idea and insisted that he use a spare pair of mine. I bought him a pair of his own for Christmas.

As you said, binoculars are for hunting and a scope is for shooting. I couldn't agree more.

 

[Goose Cracker]

I can't imagine *not* having binos when I'm hunting. I sling them over my right shoulder so they ride above my left hip in Africa on a Rick Young bino harness. I love his stuff.

I've had a pair of Meopta Meopros 10x32 forever. They've been to Africa five times. They are lightweight, surprisingly clear for their price point, and I love them.

I've used my PHs Swaro 10x42 rangefinding binos, and I get why folks love them. However, they were heavy and didn't do as good a job ranging a blue wildebeest in the shadow of a tree as did my Vortex Razor rangefinder. So, I haven't really considered upgrading to great glass.

But then Leica introduced the 10x32 Geovid Pro, and I got a great deal on a pair at DSC this year. So they'll go to Zim next year on a Rick Young harness. They aren't light, but they are much lighter than the 10x42 rangefinding binos and the glass really is outstanding.

I also have an older pair of Nikon 12x42s that ride in my truck, just in case, and a pair of Leupold BX4 10x32s as a backup.

 

[One Day...]

... Quality gear isn't a sign of wealth...it's a sign of maturity, wisdom and priorities.

Bryan, my friend, this may be one of the most profound statements I ever read on AH.com. I will quote it for ever

 

[rjacobherman]

I was in Africa for 3 months and used mine every day unless we were in town. There is so much to lookk at. In the Eastern Cape we were properly glassing for hours. Hell we sat and watched the buffulo through glass and drank beers. I guess if you are hunting small high fence areas and are hopping from the truck to shoot at 50 yards then bino arent needed.