Hunting Gear
Choosing the Right Optic Combination for Your Hunt
Put Your Optics to Work for You on Your Next Hunting Trip
Hunters invest hard work, dedicate valuable time, and go the extra mile to do their part to make a hunt come together. Gear is put to the test, as well as the strength and endurance of a hunter’s body and emotions. It’s critical, when a hunt comes together, to have the best tools and equipment that are right for you and your hunt. Choosing the right optics is a paramount decision for big game hunting, especially hunting big country like the vast expanses of the west.
An investment in quality optics and advanced improvements in optics technology should be considered a critical component of your hunt. Your choice in optics will weigh heavily on methods and opportunities for success. Putting those tools to work in an efficient and dynamic approach makes your hunts more productive and rewarding. The keystone optics aside from your rifle scope on the hunt, include binoculars, range finder, and spotting scope. Consider the synergy between the tools in your kit, how they can efficiently be used in conjunction with one another, and any efficiencies one tool can offer the other, either in pairing or in practice.
Rangefinder and Binocular Combination
For decades, the optics toolkit for almost any big game hunt included a quality pair of binoculars, and a quality range finder. Both of these tools are critical to the hunt, both for finding and targeting game, and for accuracy. Optics companies have played around with the idea of a combined rangefinder / binocular combination unit for years, often resulting in good binoculars that were decent at range finding, or a good range finder with decent binoculars.
Vortex Fury Laser Rangefinding Binoculars
Vortex Optics has found a winner by combining their trusted 10X42 roof prism binoculars with their dependable laser range finder, producing an all in one critical tool for the hunt and the hunter. The Fury optics line by Vortex offers versatility, convenience, speed and efficiency in the field with dual purpose functionality. Vortex Fury range finding binoculars combine the advantages of high definition binocular lenses with an angle compensated laser range finder.
Advantages of Rangefinding Binoculars
Combining Binoculars and Rangefinder Offers Less to Keep Track of
By combining two critical tools into one compact and easy to use package, the hunter is offered a level of ease, and has only one tool to look after. When you’re engaged in the hunt, making considerations and deciding tactics for things like wind, topography, and terrain; having one less tool to worry about being left behind, staying clean, keeping dry, and in kept working order is huge.
Glassing and Ranging Behind a Single Optic
A rangefinder / binocular combination offers hunters the ability to quickly and seamlessly both glass and range during long glassing sessions, on a spot and stalk, or during fast action. Providing the capability to focus on a distant object with quality binoculars and determine the conclusive range to that object without having to lower the binoculars, and find the target again in a new optic is incredible. Glassing distant ridges, canyons, and tree lines behind powerful binoculars with the ability to simply push a button for an accurate range is a game changer for the hunter who lets their optics do the leg work.
Using Rangefinding Binoculars with a Hunting Partner
Hunting fellowship and friendships are a critical part of the outdoor and hunting adventure experience. Whether you share your trips with family or a certain group of exceptional friends who appreciate your passion, learning tactics for hunting together can put you in a fantastic position to fill that tag.
Glassing sessions and spot and stalk hunts with a glassing team will put more eyes on the terrain and on the big game you pursue. Exceptional rangefinding binoculars offer a spotter the ability to track a wide field of view, and range quickly and efficiently, especially moving targets. Putting eyes on a group of moving game animals and your hunting partner on the stalk at the same time with the convenience of push button ranges is a game changer. Communication through hand signals between spotter and shooter with accurate ranges and not having to switch optics from binos to range finder can mean the difference between making the shot happen, and getting busted.
Rangefinding Binoculars Pair Perfectly with a Spotting Scope

Spotting scopes are must have tools for finding big game in big country. Their ability to bring far off objects close, collect light in low light conditions, and focus on details of remote objects is critical. With a quality spotting scope, you can not only find that far off game animal, but examine it in detail without putting miles on your boots. Spotting scopes allow you to scout miles of territory, distant ridges, remote water holes, and far off canyons efficiently and strategically; letting your eyes do the work and saving your legs for the hunt. Use a quality spotting scope like the Vortex Viper lineup to not only identify far off game animals, but to pick out landmarks and plan travel corridors according to the topography and the wind.
While spotting scopes provide a crucial and integral part of your hunting strategy, they inherently have a vulnerability of tunnel vision. The same proficiency that offers magnified detail and the ability to concentrate on small areas of far off geography, also bears the susceptibleness of losing sight of the larger picture. The constricted vision of a spotting scope can be like wearing blinders, even losing relationship to the distance to far off objects. Pairing the wide field of view offered by binoculars with the focus of a spotting scope is an amazingly effective glassing strategy. Through incorporating rangefinding binoculars into the mix, you’ve put together the ultimate toolkit. All the advantages that the rangefinder binoculars bring to bear on the hunt are magnified when paired with a spotting scope.

Choosing the Right Hunting Optics
Big game hunting seasons seem to always be on the edge. Opportunities come and go, and your ability to capitalize on those opportunities when they present themselves can be the difference between a filled tag and going home empty handed. Putting together a glassing strategy that incorporates the right tools and tactics for your hunt is a sure way to get ahead of the curve. Consider advantages in optics technology, scouting and glassing strategies, and the return on your investment when it comes to quality optics for your hunt.

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Hunting
Capturing the Hunt: Using Trail Cameras for Turkey Hunts
In the excitement of a successful hunt, it’s easy to forget to capture the moment with a photo. This can be a missed opportunity, especially for someone who always carries camera gear on hunts. But there’s a simple and effective way to ensure you get those memorable shots: using trail cameras.
The Role of Trail Cameras
Trail cameras have become essential tools for many hunters, not just for scouting but also for capturing the action during the hunt. Setting up a trail camera can provide you with extra memories and a unique perspective on your hunt. If you already own a camera, it’s a cost-effective way to enhance your hunting experience.
Choosing and Setting Up Your Camera
Whether you’re using traditional cameras or cell cameras, most can be set up to function like a traditional trail camera. This means you don’t need to activate your data plan if you’re using cell cameras. The key is in selecting the right settings.
Camera Settings
- Video Duration: Opt for the longest video clip your camera offers. This ensures that even if a hen arrives before the longbeard, you’ll still capture the entire sequence.
- Recovery Time: Set this to the shortest possible duration. You want the camera ready to record a new clip immediately.
- Resolution: Choose the highest video quality available. This will provide the best footage, assuming you use a large-capacity SD card.
- Trigger Sensitivity: Adjust based on your environment. In a windy field, use the lowest sensitivity to avoid endless clips of moving vegetation. On calm days or in confined spaces, increase the sensitivity to ensure the camera captures all movement.
Positioning Your Camera
One common mistake is placing cameras too close to the decoys. Turkeys tend to focus on the jake decoy, so your camera placement should account for this. Positioning the camera 10 to 20 feet away from the decoys is often ideal. This distance allows you to capture the entire bird as it approaches, rather than just its feet.
Consider the Approach Path
- Anticipate Entry Points: Aim your camera in the direction you expect the turkeys to approach from. This ensures a better overall shot.
- Mind the Sun: Position the camera to avoid sun flares on the lens, which can disrupt your footage.
- Camouflage: While turkeys don’t seem to mind trail cameras, it’s wise to reduce the chances of reflection or glare. Pile up some debris around the camera to help it blend in with the environment.
Benefits of Trail Camera Footage
Using a trail camera is a straightforward way to capture high-resolution video of your hunt without investing in additional gear. This method allows you to focus on the hunt itself while the camera takes care of recording the action.
Practical Tips for Use
- Quick Setup: Setting up a trail camera is quick and easy. Even when running and gunning and changing spots frequently, it takes only seconds to set up the camera from your pack.
- Capture Every Moment: The effort pays off when you get high-quality footage of a strutter attacking your decoys. These videos provide lasting memories and a unique view of the hunt.
Incorporating trail cameras into your turkey hunts can enhance your experience and provide invaluable memories. By choosing the right settings, positioning the camera thoughtfully, and blending it into the environment, you can capture the excitement of the hunt without missing a beat. This approach not only adds an extra layer of enjoyment to your hunting trips but also ensures you have a visual record of those special moments.
Do you have any tips for trail cameras? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
Archery
Can You Hunt Enough To Feed Your Family For YEARS?
Hunting
Rangefinders: Advanced Techniques for Enhanced Hunting Success
The utility of rangefinders in hunting extends far beyond their fundamental purpose of determining accurate distances for shooting. While commonly associated with aiding marksmanship, rangefinders can be leveraged in innovative ways to optimize hunting strategies and increase efficiency in the field. For both novice and seasoned hunters alike, mastering advanced techniques with rangefinders can significantly enhance the overall hunting experience. In this comprehensive guide, we delve into two distinct but invaluable techniques for utilizing rangefinders to their fullest potential.
Strategic Stalking: Planning with Precision
One of the most profound realizations among hunters is the strategic value of rangefinders in planning stalks. Beyond mere navigation toward the prey, identifying optimal shooting positions can be a game-changer in hunting success.
Consider a scenario where a hunter spots a deer bedded downhill, with a prominent boulder positioned behind it. Traditional wisdom dictates estimating the distance to the deer and planning a route accordingly. However, the innovative use of a rangefinder elevates this approach to a new level of precision.
By ranging both the deer and the boulder, the hunter gains critical insight into the landscape’s geometry. Suppose the deer is determined to be 500 yards away, while the boulder registers at 547 yards. This data reveals that reaching the boulder would position the hunter approximately 47 yards from the deer. Armed with this knowledge, the hunter can strategize the approach, confident in the understanding of potential shooting distances.
Dynamic Distance Assessment: On-the-Move Tactics
In dynamic hunting scenarios where targets are mobile or their exact locations are uncertain, rangefinders emerge as indispensable tools for real-time distance assessment. Rather than relying on fixed objects for reference, hunters can adopt a proactive approach by utilizing rangefinders while on the move.
Imagine stalking a buck actively rutting in dense woodland. In such scenarios, maintaining situational awareness and adaptability are paramount. Here, the continuous use of a rangefinder proves invaluable.
Equipped with a rangefinder, the hunter can seamlessly integrate distance assessment into their movements. With each step, the hunter periodically scans the terrain ahead, utilizing the rangefinder to gauge distances to potential targets. This streamlined approach minimizes unnecessary movement and ensures readiness for decisive action.
In the dynamic and unpredictable world of hunting, mastery of advanced techniques with rangefinders can be a game-changer. By embracing strategic stalking and dynamic distance assessment, hunters can optimize their hunting strategies and increase their chances of success in the field.
Whether planning meticulous stalks or maintaining situational awareness on the move, the versatility of rangefinders empowers hunters to navigate diverse hunting scenarios with confidence and precision. As hunters continue to explore the boundless possibilities of rangefinder application, the pursuit of the game becomes not just a challenge, but a deeply rewarding adventure fueled by innovation and expertise.
Do you have any tips for using rangefinders? Leave them in the comments below.
