As they say, the West is a place full of big game, full of promise and potential trophies. As such, hunting in the West is a dream of most sportsmen and women in this nation.
Because of this reason, many hunters consider this trip a huge investment that requires many resources including choosing the best binoculars for western hunting to pull off a successful trip. Whether you’re there to pursue Antelope, Sheep, Deer or Moose, you have to do careful planning.
For a western big game, optics, and glassing are essentially inseparable. Western hunting is full of scenarios from the huge Rocky Mountains full of dark timber and aspens, to wide-open and vast vistas, to massive juniper flats, rolling oak brush. the games are often highly scattered across rough, often trackless terrain.
Depending on the game you are pursuing, the time of season will dictate your hunting style. Without binoculars, you’ll wander aimlessly, depending on luck instead of skill. This, almost all sportsmen and women know. so they always go with a pair of high-quality binoculars.
Here, you will find the top-rated binoculars for Western hunting. Before I go into detailed reviews of these binoculars, let us first look at what to consider when deciding to get some binoculars for your West hunt.
Tips to consider before Choosing Binoculars for a Western Hunt
Quality
They always say choose quality over quantity. I tell you, binos can be some of those devices that are confusing to shop for. there are so many brands and models in the market and with almost everyone having an option on which one is the best, that even makes it more harder. But chill!. It depends on your budget. There are options ranging from a couple of hundred dollars to thousands.
The West offers more challenging circumstances therefore, you need some that can help you see thousands of yards away. West Hunters need something that is ruggedly dependable and steady that does not induce eyestrain or nausea after a couple hours of use. In general, they need binoculars that gather more light, penetrate shadow, and are brighter and clearer in general.
Size and Power
When choosing binoculars for Western hunting, you need to select something which is versatile enough for other adventures. but you will also need to strike a balance between portability and sufficient power. Higher power requires bigger objective lenses which results in a heavier and bulkier bino. Most hunters usually go for 8×30 to 10×40 range.
This range is considered lightweight and compact enough to carry around on a mountain hunt jet they offer enough power and field of view for your hunting success. Though high powered binoculars might offer a longer range view, they are bulky and don’t produce clear images when you are moving because of the handshakes.
Consider durability and warranty
The last but not least you have to remember that your binos might get wet because of rain, shoved in backpacks and get abused many times. Be sure whatever you settle on is going to be able to withstand these conditions. Also, check for a warranty to ensure you are covered for some time. In case of any defect, you can return it.
1. Bushnell Legend L-Series 8×42 Binoculars
This Bushnell Legend is built with a lightweight magnesium chassis and fully multi-coated optics that transmit up to 92% of the light. Its ED prime extra-low dispersion fluorite glass delivers amazing color resolution and contrast.
It enables you to view more details even in low light conditions. It is the least affordable of all. RainGuard HD technology is a patent by Bushnell that is water repellent coating which causes moisture from rain, snow, sleet or condensation to scatter less light, so you are able to get a clear, bright view of objects. With this pair, your field of view is as far as 426ft.
Pros
- Very bright and clear images
- Lightweight and portable
- Affordably priced
- Eye relief is good enough for those wearing glasses
- Weatherproof
Cons
- Some users said they would have preferred the mechanical part to be more solid.
2. Vortex Optics Fury HD 10×42 Laser Rangefinding Binoculars
If you’re going to climb or go long distances with a heavy pack, you want optics that are light and small. Choose multi-purpose optics like a binocular or riflescope with an integrated rangefinder.
Such designs gather more light, penetrate shadow, and are brighter and clearer in general.
A great option if you’re looking to save some weight and have an optic that is a combo of a rangefinder and a binocular. the Vortex Fury laser rangefinding binocular is your best choice for efficient dual purpose binoculars. It combines high-quality optics and long-distance ranging capabilities.
The primary HCD mode displays an angle-compensated distance that is ideal for the majority of hunters and shooters with either rifle or bow. The Vortex is nitrogen purged to be water and fog-resistant making it withstand extreme weather conditions and its rubber-armored housing provides you with a solid grip.
Additionally, the lenses are XR fully multi-coated and the prism is phase-corrected to give you a clear and great view from dawn to dusk.
Pros
- valuable dual-purpose functionality
- long-distance ranging capability
- Fully weatherproof
Cons
- The price is on the high end.
3. Nikon Monarch 7 8×42 Binoculars
The Nikon 7548 Monarch 7 8×42 Binoculars are all-terrain, waterproof, fog-proof and have extra-low dispersion (ED) glass elements to enhance brightness and color. It provides an exceptionally wide field of view that makes it easy to find your object.
All its lenses are dielectric high-reflective multi-coated and the Prism coatings provide great image quality. The housing is made of durable armored coating and is water and fog proof which makes it rugged enough for harsh weather conditions.
Pros
- All-terrain, waterproof and fog-proof
- Impressive image quality and ergonomics
- Exceptionally wide field of view
- Durable rubber-armored coating housing
Cons
- No major complaints at the time of writing this review
4. Zeiss Terra ED 10×42 Binoculars
Every hunter needs a pair of 10x binoculars that hang around the neck. The 10x magnification is ideal for the open spaces you’ll be glassing because of their wider field of view (FOV) than higher levels of magnification.
This Zeiss is one of those recommended because of its high-quality optical precision and hydrophobic multi-coating which will guarantee great images.
With a wide field of view at 1000m – 110m, you can get a view of your game far away to make a calculated decision. these binoculars are all-purpose. their compact design and the large lens diameter are optimal for hunting in fields and forests. Also suitable for bird watching, traveling, nature observation, and other outdoor activities.
Pros
- Wide field of view
- Compact and easy to handle
- Bright and crisp images
- Weatherproof
- Optimal visual comfort
Cons
- some customers said the bag that comes with it is worthless and you probably don’t even need it.
Final Thoughts
Whether you are hunting in the densely forested areas of Washington, Montana, Oregon or Idaho or not, you will need a pair of binoculars that is powerful and still be easily handheld for long glassing periods.
If you choose the Best Binoculars for Western Hunting, they will last a lifetime if you take good care of them. The above-featured binoculars are of different prices and power. It will all depend on your budget. If you opt for something bigger too, you might need small compact binoculars to accompany them. Any of these above-mentioned binoculars works just fine on their own.
For many hunters, venturing in the Western side happens once or twice a lifetime, so it is worth to plan and get the right optics to identify your targeted species.