BigGameHunt.net Hunting Forums

waltor1980 · Joined: 09 Apr 2008 Posts: 5 Location: Southern GA

What is the smallest size of binoculars you would take on a CO elk hunt? Also what kind of GPS would be sufficient. We are looking to make this an every other year tradition. But I do not have the money to throw at a $ 500 GPS unit or $300 to throw out at binoculars, though I would like to get the best "bang for the buck" if you know what I am saying. Thanks in advance for any advice.

Bull Buster · Joined: 12 Oct 2007 Posts: 18 Location: Nebraska

my advise would be to buy the best equiptment you can afford. If I were you the first time going to Colorado I would spend most of my money on optics. I'm not sure what area you will be hunting but, quite a bit of the time elk are found in areas with a lot of canopy where a gps can not obtain any signal. So again my advise would be buy a compass and spent the rest of yur money on the best binos you can afford.

rogie · Joined: 13 Aug 2007 Posts: 57 Location: north Idaho, USA

Try the Leupold 10x42 Wind River Cascades, Model# (part #) 53532. I bought mine at Wallmart for around $ 300.00 bucks and I was very happy with them (they were stolen out of my truck in my driveway). Cheap or poor quality optics are worst than no optics and a waste of precious weight because you will carry them and not use them. I tried to cut corners with spotting scopes last year and packed in an inexpensive scope that was worthless in low light or rain (and on clear sunny days for that matter). I carried it for days and used the Luppy Binos because the optics were so much clearer. I would have left the thing under a rock but a friend of mine loaned it to me.
Also try the Nimrod no bounce harness, It makes carrying them and using them much easier then the neck strap they come with.
By the way, I replaced my stolen Leupolds with a pair of Swarovski 10x42 slc's.
Worth every penny.
Rogie

WyoJoe · Joined: 25 Dec 2007 Posts: 86 Location: Laramie, WY

Double ditto on the Leupolds.

tim · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 313 Location: north idaho

I am not smart enough to use a gps. Personaly they aren't needed. good optics are way more important.

tim

Hoss · Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 8:28 pm Post subject:

I've heard alot of rage about Vortex obtics lately. They are supposed to rival the Euro class at a fraction of the cost.

I'm a big fan of bringing a GPS. Ya, it is frustrating when you cant get signal because of canopy but its nice to mark points and it really does help to navagate. I'm going to get a Garmin Summit. They come with a higher definition reciever that is supposed to be better in canopy. I use a garmin vista now and really like all the features.

Hoss · Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 8:29 pm Post subject:

Just saw that there are links to vortex opitics on this site, advertisement things.