Hunting is the act of pitting your skills against the senses of an animal. In nearly every case, animals have better senses than hunters. Antelope have exceptional vision; deer have a sense of smell 60 times greater than ours. To add to their advantage, game animals know the terrain. Game can slip into ravines, perch on bluffs overlooking our approach, or recognize the silhouette as something other than usual. With all game animals' assets, hunters need any advantage they can find. A good pair of binoculars is one of the best pieces of equipment for a hunter looking to improve their chances of harvesting an animal.
Binoculars provide hunters with a substantial increase in vision while adding very little to the overall weight of your hunting gear. Hunters can quickly survey areas to locate animals and determine if they can be hunted. A great example of when to use binoculars for hunting is deer hunting. Many states require deer or similar antlered animals to have a minimum antler length or number of points. Observing the animal for a greater distance will allow a hunter to make the determination to hunt that animal or let it be. Without a pair of binoculars, a hunter could spend hours stalking an animal that doesn't meet the requirements to harvest. In the best of cases, this means a few unproductive hours. The worst case of a hunter mistakingly killing an undersized animal could mean serious punishment for violations.
Observing the area safely is a significant reason to use binoculars. Using the optic attached to your firearm can be tempting to observe an entire area. Doing so violates a major tenet of firearm safety ”never point a gun at an object you don't wish to destroy." Observing animals that are not huntable, looking over a hillside that may have another hunter, frankly, it is irrelevant what the reason is. Using your firearm optic to scan an area is dangerous. Luckily binoculars don't have triggers. Also, from a comfort perspective, the two eyepieces cause less strain than looking through a single opening like on a rifle scope.
Understanding Binoculars
Highpower binoculars have a lot of different terms surrounding them, from magnification to objective lens size to lens coatings. It is easy to become overwhelmed with the sea of options for your next pair of hunting binoculars; we will use some of Eyeskey’s binocular models to help illustrate the different ratings and values.
Magnification and lens diameter are two of the most important values to consider on a pair of binoculars. Magnification is the number of times larger an object appears. So a 10x is ten times larger than it would be with the naked eye. 8x, 10x, and 12x are the most common magnification for binoculars. Lens diameter measures how large the objective or forward lens is in millimeters. The larger lens can gather more light, creating a brighter and sharper image. Image sharpness is critical, especially when dealing with larger magnifications. Light gathering and sharpness are why you won't see 12x binoculars with lenses under 42mm. This number is expressed after the "X" on a pair of binoculars. A 10X50 for example would be a pair of binoculars with a ten magnification and an objective lens of 50 millimeters, like on the Eyeskey Captor ED 10x50.
Glass coatings are also an important part of the binoculars to consider. Lens coatings can greatly aid in light gathering and clarity of the image. ED glass is an example of a useful feature for hunting binoculars. ED or Extra Low Dispersion glass helps sharpen the image by filtering light more evenly than uncoated glass. ED lens binoculars are a top choice for hunting because they create a more defined image even in low light.
Selecting Your Binoculars
After understanding the basic terminology around hunting binoculars, the next step is comparing models for personal use. While all hunters want a rugged, reliable pair of binoculars, some differences favor one style over another. Regardless of hunting style and location, all hunters want great value. Eyeskey Optics offers excellent binoculars at a price point attainable for any hunter, with most models under $200. How rugged you need your binoculars to be is relative. However, all of Eyeskey’s binoculars are waterproof and come with a rubberized coating to increase grip and reduce damage if dropped.
Weight is a consideration when hunting. Hunters who spend their time in one spot or utilize a vehicle to move around in the field can carry a heavier pair of binoculars, whereas backpack hunters want the lightest pair of binoculars. Weight often comes with a trade-off for magnification. For a hunter who is on foot and hunts in relatively dense areas, the Eyeskey Dreamer is an ideal choice. The Dreamer is a pair of compact binoculars weighing less than a pound. Hunters still get a good amount of magnification with an 8x magnification while not sacrificing space or carrying capacity.
For hunters in an open country where larger magnification is needed, hunting binoculars like the Captor ED 12x50 Binoculars are an excellent choice. The Captor ED is available in multiple magnifications, but for hunters looking to extract the maximum view from the field, the 12x is the best choice. The 50mm objective lens provides plenty of light gathering for clear pictures at long range. While the full-sized Captor ED is heavier than many smaller pairs, the total weight of 1.79 pounds is just a bit heavier than a box of rifle ammunition.
Conclusion
In summary, the best binoculars for hunting will differ based on the hunter's needs. With a firm understanding of lens coatings, magnification, and quality features, hunters can compare the trade-offs that come with different pairs of binoculars. Eyeskey has made it simple to start your search by delivering high-quality optics loaded with the industry's most sought-after features. While this article may not have provided the specific best model of hunting binoculars, it provides the best place to start your search: Eyeskey Optics.