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Binoculars:
Critical Gear for Hunters
The Many Uses of Binoculars
Binoculars have come a long way since they were
first introduced in the l7th century, History is
unclear exactly who created the first binoculars
but we do know that binoculars evolved in the
l600’s—and the passion continues today. Let’s be
honest, when those inventors where working on
creating the binocular, did they really think it
was going to be one of the most important and
useful tools for hunters? Probably not. Stalking a
whitetail, glassing for goats or patterning elk
wasn't top priority for their new invention. But
For hunters, binoculars have become a critical
piece of gear.
BINOCULAR USES
Whether you hunt deer, coyotes, antelope or elk, a
quality pair of binoculars makes
your hunt more enjoyable and helps you Find
success in the field. Here are several
primary uses of binoculars:
Use #l: Glassing—although
most commonly used in the western states, glassing
is a technique that's effective anywhere there's
wide open country. Binoculars are perfect for
covering ground without walking it yourself.
Simply Find a comfortable position at a higher
elevation, settle in, use a good rest and let your
eyes do the wandering. lt's amazing what you will
see From your vantage point. Glassing is ideal for
patterning herds, learning feed-
ing habits and discovering bedding and escape
routes.
Use #2:
Identifying—binoculars can help determine if that
distant whitetail is a buck or a doe. Whether the
approaching animal is a "shooter" buck or one you
wish to let pass for another year. Binoculars give
hunters the advantage of deciding before shooting.
This is an ethical and responsible way to hunt and
using binoculars for identification makes it
possible. *NOTE: never use your riflescope as a
spotting fool. Always identify your target using
binoculars.
Use #3: Tracking—most
seasoned hunters will use their binoculars to
track an animal after the shot. The idea is to
"get on" your animal and follow it until it either
drops or disappears from sight. This gives you a
good idea of direction and distance it may have
traveled before dying—making tracking and recovery
of your animal much easier.
Use #4: General
Interest—when in the outdoors, don’t forget to
enjoy the beauty that surrounds you. Whether it's
the blue jay in a nearby tree, a covey of quail
strutting below your tree stand or the scenic
vistas, binoculars bring the joy of nature closer
to you.
THE RIGHT GLASS
Just as there are many uses for binoculars, there
are also specific binoculars for these
jobs. Not every binocular serves all these uses so
it’s important to select a pair (or two) that best
fits your needs.
Glassing
The best models typically have a larger objective
(front lens) that gather a lot of light, provide
excellent magnification and a wide field of view (F.O.V.).
Look for any binocular that has a objective lens
of 40mm or larger. However, at this high
magnification, binoculars need a steady hand so
choose a comfortable spot, get anchored and start
covering ground.
Identifying
Just about any pair of binoculars will help you
get a better look at incoming critters. From
compact 25mm up to 42mm models, choose o binocular
that fits your hand well and con zoom in and out
quickly with little distortion. Too much
magnification can make hard to find your moving
target.
Trucking
Once the shot is mode, get your binoculars on your
animal as quickly and safely as possible. For this
use, o fast handling, compact 25mm magnification
works well. They are small enough to stay out of
the way during the shot but hove enough
magnification and FOV to get on moving game
quickly.
General Interest
Every binocular has the power to enhance your
outdoor experience. Whatever you hang around your
neck will improve your time afield and help you
get closer to nature. To learn more about Nitrex
Optics, visit
www.nitrexoptics.com.
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