Spotting Scope for Mountain Hunting

[Rimbaud]

I'm a big fan of the Swarovski spotting scopes, make sure you get a good stable carbon fiber tripod with a solid head. There is nothing more frustrating sitting on a windy ridge with a vibrating scope making it difficult to judge animals. For the mountains weight matters so I wouldn't necessarily go with the BTX and a 115mm objective, but an angled eyepiece like the ATX with an 85mm objective will be worth the extra weight and you can always get a second objective down the road for the truck hunts.

Goat416 - what carbon fiber tripod do you recommend? I'm about to buy the Swaro ATX 85s. Thanks.

 

[Philip Glass]

When I was in Alaska some of the guides had the new compact Swaros. They are very packable and would be good for your hunt. I’m tempted to buy one, of course!

 

[Goat416]

Goat416 - what carbon fiber tripod do you recommend? I'm about to buy the Swaro ATX 85s. Thanks.

No matter where I’m hunting, I bring my Gitzo Series 5, 4-section tripod paired with a Wimberly gimbal head and Arca plate clamp. This setup weighs 7.25 pounds, but it doubles as a solid rifle rest if needed. Some may argue it’s too heavy, but as I mentioned in my earlier post, it’s crucial to invest in a tripod and head that can fully support the weight of your spotting scope plus the leverage. Using a tripod that’s too light will cause vibration, making the image appear shaky and difficult to focus on. The more stable your optics are, the less eye fatigue you will experience. If you are adding the weight of a spotting scope to your pack, you have already decided to bring more than necessary. Be sure you are able to take full advantage of your optics and don’t carry the additional weight for nothing.

If weight is a concern, there are a couple ways to reduce it:

1. Shorten the Overall Height: Dropping one or two sections of the tripod can significantly cut weight. If you’re hunting above the tree line, you will mostly be sitting, you likely won’t need the tripod to extend to full height, find a shorter tripod. However, this might necessitate a second setup for hunts in other environments.
2. Lower Your Center of Gravity: Keeping the tripod low increases stability. Cheat the weight capacity usually cutting a little overall weight. Adding a sling under the tripod with a rock or two will increase stability.

Ultimately, every hunter has their own weight threshold and tripod head preference. For me, Wimberly gimbal heads are unmatched in stability and versatility. They’re incredibly smooth for panning, can be locked down securely, and won’t shift. If you’re considering alternatives, video heads that can lock into position are a decent option. Personally, I’m not a fan of ball heads—they tend to get “floppy,” making it difficult to pan smoothly, stay on target, avoid the frustration. I would stay away from center columns as they have limited stability as well, mount your head directly to the tripod.

Along with Gitzo another excellent brand I’ve used with similar performance is Really Right Stuff which also offers reliable, high-quality options. A great place to see most available options is B&H Photo.

 

[Rimbaud]

No matter where I’m hunting, I bring my Gitzo Series 5, 4-section tripod paired with a Wimberly gimbal head and Arca plate clamp. This setup weighs 7.25 pounds, but it doubles as a solid rifle rest if needed. Some may argue it’s too heavy, but as I mentioned in my earlier post, it’s crucial to invest in a tripod and head that can fully support the weight of your spotting scope plus the leverage. Using a tripod that’s too light will cause vibration, making the image appear shaky and difficult to focus on. The more stable your optics are, the less eye fatigue you will experience. If you are adding the weight of a spotting scope to your pack, you have already decided to bring more than necessary. Be sure you are able to take full advantage of your optics and don’t carry the additional weight for nothing.

If weight is a concern, there are a couple ways to reduce it:

1. Shorten the Overall Height: Dropping one or two sections of the tripod can significantly cut weight. If you’re hunting above the tree line, you will mostly be sitting, you likely won’t need the tripod to extend to full height, find a shorter tripod. However, this might necessitate a second setup for hunts in other environments.
2. Lower Your Center of Gravity: Keeping the tripod low increases stability. Cheat the weight capacity usually cutting a little overall weight. Adding a sling under the tripod with a rock or two will increase stability.

Ultimately, every hunter has their own weight threshold and tripod head preference. For me, Wimberly gimbal heads are unmatched in stability and versatility. They’re incredibly smooth for panning, can be locked down securely, and won’t shift. If you’re considering alternatives, video heads that can lock into position are a decent option. Personally, I’m not a fan of ball heads—they tend to get “floppy,” making it difficult to pan smoothly, stay on target, avoid the frustration. I would stay away from center columns as they have limited stability as well, mount your head directly to the tripod.

Along with Gitzo another excellent brand I’ve used with similar performance is Really Right Stuff which also offers reliable, high-quality options. A great place to see most available options is B&H Photo.

Thank you so much for your response and for sharing your expertise. I will check out your tripod advice. Much appreciated Sir

 

[Goat416]

Thank you so much for your response and for sharing your expertise. I will check out your tripod advice. Much appreciated Sir

You are welcome, as you look if you have any questions let me know.

 

[slam8031]

I contacted Mark Biggerstaff several weeks ago and I decided on a Swarovski ats with 20-40 eyepiece and 65 mm objective. I have it on my tricer tripod. Great combo for sure. I like the smaller swaro spotter but opted for the 65.

 

[Tra3]

I started mountain hunting with a heavier tripod and a vortex 20-60x spotting scope. It was over 8lbs combined. Add a rifle and your pack gets heavy without anything else.
I later bought a smaller vortex 15-45x with a shorter, lighter tripod. Saves a few lbs and is shorter overall.
Now, I primarily use quad sticks and my swaro El Range 10x42. I can stand and glass with the stability of the shooting sticks. It is very comfortable and much lighter. If I want to zoom in, I look through my rifle scope dialed to 18x while on a bipod. That system works for me, but for long sits and glassing, I would follow @WAB

 

[Rimbaud]

I contacted Mark Biggerstaff several weeks ago and I decided on a Swarovski ats with 20-40 eyepiece and 65 mm objective. I have it on my tricer tripod. Great combo for sure. I like the smaller swaro spotter but opted for the 65.

what is the name of Mark Biggerstaff's operation?

 

[V.Veritas]

what is the name of Mark Biggerstaff's operation?

R&M Firearms in El Campo, Texas.
(I believe is away right now from work for personal reasons).

 

[grand veneur]

I don't know what kind of terrain and what species of game you are hunting in order to find the right place and to have the time to position a spotting scope on a tripod in an enough stable manner. I have often hunted in the high mountains and to approach Ibex, for example, is very difficult because this species sees very well and notices every movement in the terrain. Looking through the spotting scope took always place by lying down on the ground with the scope lying on a bench, in the same position from which you often shot. That's why I chose above all a spotting scope with a straight objektiv. I only use the tripod on the shooting range or if I want to quietly observe the landscape somewhere from an armchair.

 

[Rimbaud]

I don't know what kind of terrain and what species of game you are hunting in order to find the right place and to have the time to position a spotting scope on a tripod in an enough stable manner. I have often hunted in the high mountains and to approach Ibex, for example, is very difficult because this species sees very well and notices every movement in the terrain. Looking through the spotting scope took always place by lying down on the ground with the scope lying on a bench, in the same position from which you often shot. That's why I chose above all a spotting scope with a straight objektiv. I only use the tripod on the shooting range or if I want to quietly observe the landscape somewhere from an armchair.

Thank you. Going after chamois in Carpathian Mountains in Romania. Appreciate your insight.

 

[V.Veritas]

You could PM Marius @HUNTROMANIA and ask him what he recommends (if he recommends bringing one at all) and what spotting scopes sees working satisfactory with his clients.

 

[Rimbaud]

You could PM Marius @HUNTROMANIA and ask him what he recommends (if he recommends bringing one at all) and what spotting scopes sees working satisfactory with his clients.

Nice idea. I have a great, experienced guide. I'm sure they will carry spotting scopes, but I've long opted to bring my own gear nonetheless. One fall, on an estate high up in the Scottish Highlands, the guide got lost. I thought we were going for an afternoon hunt and had nothing. The kid was ill equipped for what came afterward. He started to panic and I had to give him a piece of hard candy and sit him down to collect himself. Ever since, I've carried my own gear, regardless of the guide's qualifications. I think the Swaro ATX is hard to beat and will be useful in many pursuits. Best to you, Veritas.

 

[HUNTROMANIA]

Experience can be beaten by technology only in few cases.
I’ve hunted Carpathian chamois in a new area. With me was a very experienced guide who guided most of my chamois hunts. The local guide with no exception spotted all the chamois before us, and indicated the size of the animal. Same in Africa with a local guide, without any binocular or technology they indicate you the details of the animals. For a pasionate and experienced hunter, who is going every year to the same hunt, a spotting scope is useful. For first hunt, I don’t indicate this kind of equipment.