Thread: Binos for bush stalking - do you need em? Why and how?

G'day, I have a crap pair of binos. Just wondering if I actually need to carry any at all when bush stalking as that's mostly what I do. If you recommend them, please explain why. My eyesight is at 100%, surely that's good enough?

I've struggled with this too. Bush could be 5 metres visibility, could be 50 metres. Obviously, if it's the lower end of that range, binoculars are less useful. At the upper end, I think they are useful for scanning ahead. Combined with a quiet, slow walking technique, you will see the animal that you would either have walked past or spooked. I can only speak for goats.

They are good for scanning the bush but also keep you still. Definitely good for Sika Hunting.

I'll be watching this with interest, I've never used them bush stalking, although you raise a good point MB the other side of that, with deer anyway, would be if you're within 50m of a deer the chances are it may well be aware of you already and your peripheral vision might be more useful for spotting movement than being focused through binos. While binos are good for clarifying colour definition in dark bush, I've always found a quick gander through the scope will often be all that's needed.

I generally carry a small pair of 7x when bush hunting. Usefull for scanning ahead in the more open stuff. Even in tight bush you can often distinguish a part of an animal that would otherwise be missed. You tend to stop and look more and hear/sight more animals instead of floundering away through vegetation.
As a side note. Try wearing a pair of amplified ear muffs, you don't need them turned up too much, you'll hear how noisey you are to an animals sensitive hearing even though you think you're moving quietly.
Another good reason to use bino's is it stops you from being one of those muppets who use their rifle-scope for gazing around from time to time, which isn't a good look.

I carry a wee pair of 6x leupolds round my neck when Bush stalking. Have done for about 15 years now. This was on the recommendation of a colleague who was very successful, especially in the Blueys. In that 15 years I've never spotted a deer in the bush with them! Handy for clearings, slips etc though.

Originally Posted by Steelo

I'll be watching this with interest, I've never used them bush stalking, although you raise a good point MB the other side of that, with deer anyway, would be if you're within 50m of a deer the chances are it may well be aware of you already and your peripheral vision might be more useful for spotting movement than being focused through binos. While binos are good for clarifying colour definition in dark bush, I've always found a quick gander through the scope will often be all that's needed.

I'm not super pro-binos. I don't carry them most of the time in the bush (it's very thick up here), but they have found me an animal or two in other places.

no use to me-reasons unecessary weight,something else around your neck or in pocket annoying me,no periphery when using them which very often movement is spotted in periphery,if a closer look is required the scope is better as rifle is already shouldered if a quick shot required.

I'm just learning the dark arts of bush hunting, so take it with a grain of salt... but always carry a pair - only cos they sit on top of my PLB in my bino harness (next to my compass, poo tickets and car key). Figured chest rig was least likely to come off in a tumble, so a good place for PLB, therefore I'm wearing it anyway, binos add feck all weight (397gms), so why not keep binos in there. Have used them more than I expected, mostly to look into the thicker edges when the bush opens up a bit (is that bracken or Bambi?), or to scan the odd slip/scree face that you come across, or for some areas I go where there's a mix of bush and open stuff. But yeah, when you can't see more than 15-20m, ears and schnoz are much more helpful (my eyes aren't as good as yours...)

Yep, max 8 power
You can focus through the bush
If you are glassing you're not moving which is a good thing
You're not using your scope to check out movement or sound and pointing your rifle at a non identified target which is also a good thing.

Just my thoughts

I find them useful ish for scanning ahead but annoying to carry. In and out of a bino biv is loud and cumbersome and hanging around my neck is annoying when navigating deadfall etc. I've ditched using them in the Bush for that reason.

I have second pair of the small Leica's, carry them a lot when Im fishing or bush hunting. Amazing what you can pick out if you just see something that dont quite fit, like a hock, or leg, or an ear. Cos theyre small they fit in my pocket and easy to carry. Seen heaps that i would have never seen otherwise. And as indicated above, often the advantage is the quiet time you spend looking through them rather than trying to sneak through the bush and bump something.

Using the riflescope to have a look see is a big no for me. I also like having binos because there's always intending stuff in the bush, whether it's birds, weather, other hunters... And in a push, you can use them to light a fire.

Originally Posted by imaca

Yep, max 8 power
You can focus through the bush
If you are glassing you're not moving which is a good thing
You're not using your scope to check out movement or sound and pointing your rifle at a non identified target which is also a good thing.

Just my thoughts

Yeah you don’t want to be ‘that guy’ that uses his rifle scope to check ‘something’ only to discover it’s another hunter - who can see what you’re doing!

If there some open areas I use a 6x range finder as a monocular. Light weight and compact. Useless in low light tho.