Tip 1: Safety First & Safety Second.
There are several reasons why you should not use your rifle scope to scan the countryside. The first is safety—don’t point your firearm at anything unless you intend to shoot it. The second is safety—see previous. The third is that it is not very comfortable to look through a scope for very long, and the fourth is that binoculars and spotting scopes have specific advantages that make them better for different jobs.

Tip 2: The One That’s Right For You.
Binoculars come in a dizzying array of sizes, powers, fields of view, and other options. I hunt in dense cover with hills close in the background, and use lower-power Alpen binoculars with a wide field of view. A friend hunts in the mountains of the west, and uses higher-power Leupold binos with a narrow field of view. Another friend uses Bushnell binos that are designed to be outstanding in low light, because he loves to hunt as early as he can. We all use rifle scopes that are 3-9 X 40 mm. Tailor your binoculars to your budget and how and where you hunt.

Tip 3: How Far is That?
Get your paws on a laser rangefinder and play the ‘how far is that’ game. Go to your typical hunting terrain and estimate ranges to various objects, and then find out exactly how far they are. When I did it I was shocked, and humbled. I was off on almost everything. If you have a Mil-dot reticle in your rifle scope you can range pretty well to objects of a known size, but it’s useless for a rock, a stump, or a branch. And forget it if you’re bowhunting where accurate range is really critical. If you hunt from a tree stand or on hilly terrain, the new Bushnell ARC series will even tell you the angle of rise or drop, and calculate your bullet drop.

Tip 4: There’s The Spot.
Spotting scopes are normally more powerful than binoculars, and are usually used with a tripod or other secure mount. I use mine at the range so I don’t have to stop shooting to check groups. With Birchwood Casey Shoot•N•C targets I can see where even .22-caliber bullets hit at 100 yards. My friend out west uses his to find game on the side of distant mountains, and then starts to stalk. Like binoculars, spotting scopes are available at a variety of powers and prices, so borrow your friend’s to figure out what features are important for you.

Tip 5: Tailor-Made.
You can spend a lot of money on optics, so look before you leap. Do your research, talk to friends, and try to determine why you missed that shot last year. Never miss a shot? Perhaps you don’t need any help. For the rest of us, particularly as our eyes get older, adding quality optics to your day pack can be the down payment for success.

Tip 6: A Heavy Load.
Toting all this gear in the field can be a chore, so think about what you will need on your hunt. Suspenders-style bino straps take the weight off your neck, and a retractable tether will keep your rangefinder secure. Blackhawk! and Nikon have developed a great optics pack for field use.

Tip 7: One Final Word.
It’s just not safe, or comfortable, to use a scope on a firearm to scan the countryside. Don’t point your rifle at anything until you are ready to shoot. Invest in some help for those tired eyes.

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