Always take your binos!

[jon lynn]

I was sitting in my blind, and about 60 yards away I saw what I thought was a doe, so BOOM!

When I walked over, it was a young yearling buck (tender meat), but now I have my one and only buck for gun season.

Y'all remember from my postings in Germany, I said I am a meat hunter not trophy, which is still true. But I wanted a tough old buck for jerky. I hate the thought of using a doe for jerky, I like them slow cooking in the smoker next to a brisket, after a good marinading.

Aw well, just remember to take the optics, they do little good sitting on the kitchen table 60 miles away, next to your doe bleat, which is another topic all together.

[toxic111]

I almost did the same thing this morning. I had what I thought was a doe in the scope at 150yrds. Something didn't feel right, and even with the scope on 10x I had to wait till it moved its head. When it did.. sure enough, a little fork buck, the forks were smaller than the ears. I'm glad I didn't pull the trigger, as I don't have a buck or either sex tag for mulies.

[rainydays]

I had a similar experience last Friday only concerning my camera. I always take my telephoto along when I'm out and about. Friday I headed out, left the telephoto lense at home. A few minutes from home, have seven elk standing next to the road. A few minutes later, three bighorns next to the road. All I could do was watch them, which was quite enjoyable. Sure would have liked to get some pics of those bighorns though. Did shoot a nice mulie doe and hour later though.:)

[Rapier]

That is why I always carry my Nikon range finder in the field, actually it is in a cardboard box under my rear seat in the truck with my GPS, it is an 8x monocular and a laser range finder at the same time. It has a belt pouch and sits on the back edge of my hip joint. I found it to be more handy than the binos and it works as two items at once.:)

Do not use your scope for binos. No one, including me, likes to look around and see a dumb ass looking through their scope, at me. That will happen if you use a scope for binos. Plus, this violates the #1 rule of firearms safety; "Never point a gun at anything you are not going to shoot."

Be safe guys, safety is no accident.
Ed

[toxic111]

I never use my scope as binos. In this case it was a deer that looked like a doe, since I was on my target already, the scope made sense. If it had been a doe there would have been no movement to take my shot.

My binos are handy all the time.

[popplecop]

Always try to remember to take my binocs no matter what I hunt. Have a truck pr. along with a spotting scope (bird watcher) and a pack pr. for the field. Besides I have old eyes so need the extra edge.

[PJgunner]

I forgot my binos on my last deer hunt (two years ago) Stopped and the bass pro in Phoenix (AZ) and bought a pair of 10x42 Bruntons. hey're not quite as bright as my 10x50 Leupolds but they're a heck of a lot lighter. I also have a pair of Bushnell 7x26 real lightweights that I've had for years. I also had a pair of Simmons 10x50 AETEC's that some sorry POS stole from behind the seat of my pick up.
I don't remeber how I got turned on to 10X binos but I sure do like them. They do bring stff i up close and personal. :D
Paul B.

[Nulle]

I always carry mine as it never fails the time you don't is when you need them the most.

[skeeter@ccia.com]

I like those harnesses for the binos that keep them on the chest. Speaking of optics, had nice 8pt 75yds walking broadside last day of gun here in Pa. Ready to shoot, seen better opening in scope so waited, he step in , seen another better shot opening, waited..BLAM..off he run..up one hill, over next x posted ground..tracked for long way past that..but..no sign of a hit???..no fur????..no blood in snow???...was clean miss???..well sat back down at tree spot and found this..even though waited for better shot, when pulled trigger, scope picture was clean but only 4' in front of me was the 2" grapevine I had killed clean..this was what tossed round elsewhere..if only I had shot seconds before. But the vine was at a 45 angle and just had to align with the bore at fire..lmao..oh well..but the guys that had kicked him toward me said he was with a doe..I said..not so..was with a 1/2 rack with 2pts so glad nobody shot him by mistake..optics are very important...did come x a 6pt someone had shot in the gamelands and left..sad..we have the 4pt rule to one side here in my area and even if count 3 pts as buck goes past, not all have a brow tine..this had to be what happened..