Best backpack spotting scope? Aoudad hunt.

[RobinBradbery]

Steve and I were drawn for the Caprock Canyon aoudad hunt. I have researched this hunt and come to the conclusion that I need a spotting scope. It would have to be pretty light weight.

In looking at all the optics available I have no idea what I need.
Any suggestions? I'm not rich so an affordable one would be best.

[splitbeam145]

Vortex Viper 15-45x65 or 20-60x80. Make sure and put money into a solid tripod. A solid spotting scope ain't worth a flip without a solid built tripod.($100>)

[Jspradley]

Have you ever tried binos on a tripod? Its amazing what you can see with even a 10x when mounted on a tripod.


Glassing with binos is very effective (if not more effective) for finding animals, spotting scopes are good for judging animals but they suck for glassing for any amount of time

[Shane]

I've hunted there, and I agree with Jspradley. I would recommend some 10x, 12x or 15x binoculars rather than a spotting scope. On the draw hunt, I'm assuming that you are going to be happy to kill any decent aoudad, and you won't be trying to determine if a ram is any specific size before stalking him. Glassing up and down and all over the canyons is much easier with binoculars. A spotting scope comes in handy when you spot something that you really want to take a closer look at, but for general glassing, binoculars will get more use. If you spot a ram that looks decent in your binoculars on that draw hunt, you should go after him - whether he's 30"+ or just 29, 28, 27....

[RobinBradbery]

Thanks for the responses. I have a nice set of binos. I also have several portable camera tripods of various sizes. I think I will go glass our pasture and see how they do.

No need to spend money if I already have what I need. Thanks.

[Shane]

What binos do you have?

[RobinBradbery]

Nikon 10x40.

[Grizz83]

Hunted muleys there last year. You won't gain anything from a spotting scope there. I'd take my 10x42s on a tripod over a spotting scope.

[myway]

Wheat was sewn adjacent to the park a couple weeks ago and there was a couple inches of rain a few days later so I would watch the canyons leading out of the park that direction..as mentioned with binos and save your cash on the spotting scope. I assume this is the late November hunt? The guy in the white truck will help if you see him just let him know.

[Tx Trapper]

This may help.....

http://www.optics4rent.com/products.html

[RobinBradbery]

The hunt is in mid January. LOL I'm just really excited about it and already planning for the trip.

[myway]

The hunt is in mid January. LOL I'm just really excited about it and already planning for the trip.

Even better! Then what I said above is even more important!

[Shane]

Nikon 10x40.

Those will be fine. 12x or 15x would be even better, just heavier. But quality glass 10x would be better than cheap 15x. Take the best glass you can afford. Good luck on the hunt! I grew up hunting the canyons in Briscoe and Swisher counties. It's WAY more fun than guarding corn from a box.

[Jspradley]

Definitely give your binos a shot on a tripod, its a whole different ballgame than freehanding them. You will be shocked once you look through them!

[WyoBull]

Wholeheartedly agree with the binocular suggestions. I have a really nice spotting scope and guess what? Most of the time it is on the window in my truck with me spotting whatever animals I am hunting from the drivers seat. 99% of the time when I am on foot up here in the rockies, I have my 10x42's with me and that is all I need.
And, if it is hot outside, forget about trying to judge an animal anyway because of the heat waves.
Go get yourself a tripod mount for your binos and get out there and get after them. Good luck!