I think you need to consider 3 things.

1) Weight. Are you driving to the blind, or hauling the binos up and down a mountain all day? In that same vein, are you also carrying a spotter? Because if so then definitely go with the x42s as you'll have a x65-80mm objective to help you at low light.

2) Field of View. For most x50s you are giving up FOV. Not a problem if you are just looking at a deer you've already spotted, but if you are glassing large expanses of ground trying to find a deer then losing 20-40' FOV is a big deal to me.

3) How important is 5 minutes to you? That's the advantage you'll get going from x42 to x50. Maybe less. But if you're target animal is off the mountain and bedding down in those first-last 3-5 minutes then it may be worth it.

For me the right choice was also x40-42mm, but to each his own. I also walk a long way in/out of the stand, or when mountain hunting and to me ounces are precious, even if they're on a harness.

As a bowhunter I'm 10x42 all day for a few reasons.

They are too handy. I am constantly using them to stalk. My vision essentially becomes 10x42. I'm not sure I could use x50s as quick and easily.

If I can see something w 10x42s that usually means I think it's big enough to shoot.

With some effort I may be able to forget x50s are on me the way I do w 10x42s.

These are all good points.

The only thing I would add is that Caladan mentioned that the FOV in the Swaro 10x50 EL is actually a little larger than the x42. But as Sean stated, that's not usually the case.

A few various answers in one post:

-AgEng06, Yes, we knew the goat was there in the posed picture. It seemed to want to come down the lake but waited patiently for us to quit fishing.

-Sean, the goat pics were at Blue Lake just south of Breckenridge. While I'm very familiar with Breck, I don't hunt there and had never been up to Blue Lake. Apparently, it is very common to see goats there. A couple of German girls were up there specifically to see American Mountain Goats. And yes, these girls were smoking hot.

-I'm hunting mountain goats in BC next year. I refuse to let their stupidity detract from the awesomeness of my first BC mountain hunt. And I'm not going to "count my chickens before they hatch"!

-WaterTurkey, valid question. This is why I seconded Matt Cashel's reviews from rokslide. That guy seems like a legit western hunter and does a great job with his reviews. Caladan is obviously super knowledgeable about various optics companies and has a lot of experience with various brands. He's certainly one of the best posters on texags. I would have to hold the 10x50s and compare FOV specs to decide how much I like them. I never considered them because SLCs aren't offered in 10x50. I've read several reviews stating Swaro EL 10x50s are the pinnacle of binocular views. That said, my 10x42 Swarovski SLCs are simply stunning well past 30 minutes after sunset. This was actually the main deciding factor when I chose the SLC over the Maven B1s and B2s, Vortex Razors, and Meopta Meopros. The image the Swaros provide during twilight is next level. So maybe the 50mm objective is more of a good thing? Again, I would need to hold them in hand, put them on a tripod, and evaluate FOV first.

A bonus for the SLC's is that they are already threaded for Outdoorsman's excellent tripod adapter system. The ELs can be modified by Outdoorsman's. (The Outdoorsman tripod system was the main reason I didn't evaluate Leica in my field test.)

Those are some pretty good answers, basically confirmed what I was thinking but most of you guys have been in the backcountry more than me. Thanks

shaynew1 said:

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As a bowhunter I'm 10x42 all day for a few reasons.

They are too handy. I am constantly using them to stalk. My vision essentially becomes 10x42. I'm not sure I could use x50s as quick and easily.

If I can see something w 10x42s that usually means I think it's big enough to shoot.

With some effort I may be able to forget x50s are on me the way I do w 10x42s.

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This is especially true for elk. Many people will tell you that you don't need a spotter or 12x50s to archery hunt elk but until you experience an elk season or two for yourself, you wont really believe them. It's simply true. You don't need the long range glass for archery elk.

I don't love glassing. It's about as boring to me as hunting out of a tree has become. I spotted both of the shooter bulls I've seen the last 2 seasons without any glass at all.

I think for most mountain animals that depends completely on how "picky" you are. I spotted no less than 5 shooter bulls (to me) last year on my trip with my glasses, but at the distance I couldn't have told you whether they were 5xs or 6xs. With mountain hunting in particular if you're looking for a specific class of animal then it's important to know whether the one you're looking at meets that class before you waste 4-8 hours on a stalk.

Having never killed an elk I had an idea of what I "wanted" and then an idea of what I'd settle for. But with mule deer I'm much more picky in general.

You can shoot 5s or 6s!

I hear ya, but I don't need binos to study an elk at 90 and 50 yards... and those close encounters that happen "just like that" are what get and keep me ELK HORNEY!

I didn't even use binoculars on my first elk hunt. I was fully prepared to kill a cow...I didn't need to judge anything. Now I won't go west now without binoculars. Sitting on a mountain behind good glass is a part of the hunt I look forward to. Spotting scopes are a luxury for archery elk. I do like having them around for mulies and pronghorn though.

Lungblood said:

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...and those close encounters that happen "just like that" are what get and keep me ELK HORNEY!

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Speaking of close encounters. After driving and hiking around Colorado for 4 days I was fully prepared to rule elk extinct. Finally, while hiking down a trail with my two-year-old singing...ELK...just a "top pin" away. Yes, tagless elk horny.

Now that there's some viewership, I'm posting this pic and question again from a couple pages back that got lost in the mix.

This is a cam pic from New Mexico 33. What do you see?

You thinking it's a cat?

I just wanna know what you see.

Some intereting looking shoulders

shaynew1 said:

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Some intereting looking shoulders

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Exactly... power between those blades... not deer like.

I see the top of a deer's back, and the top of a deer's butt.

I didn't reply a couple pages back because honestly I think it could be just about anything. I could make a legit argument that it's a cat, or a deer. But I think it's more likely to be a deer.

arrow said:

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Speaking of close encounters. After driving and hiking around Colorado for 4 days I was fully prepared to rule elk extinct. Finally, while hiking down a trail with my two-year-old singing...ELK...just a "top pin" away. Yes, tagless elk horny.

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I had elk all over me last July. They're not extinct. Just ass holes.

When I first noticed the pic, I immediately assumed it was a bobcat... but I was going through a ton of pics. I realize there are no spots but not all bobcats have them. Based on my intimate knowledge of this camera and where and how it's placed, I think a deer, even a yearling, would stand taller than the topline of this animal. I'm not certain... just a gut feeling and educated guess.

Had to go to the big city to sign some docs and




And I shot bows today.

Well, which one (s)? ... And what did you buy?

I exercised self control and bought nothing...yet.

Shot the new primes and pretty much everything else over 34" ata. I very much liked the centergy hybrid. It was pulling at 75# and a little stiff combing back, but it was rock solid at full draw. Without no stabilizer I still felt like I could shoot pie plate groups at 150 yards (ok hyperbole. Maybe.)

Entirely coincidental I got a phone call from Colorado elk hunt buddy A to update me on the prospects of the aforementioned ranch after he had talked to the manager up there. And the prospects sound good. I had reserved expectations that are slowly creeping to lungblood midnight status.

So I'm going to round up some hunting/hobby stuff to unload and order one tmw when they confirm they can get the colors j want.

For shame.

Refresh my memory... did you lose yours in the lake, or something to that effect?

Quote:

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lungblood midnight status.

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{lip curl}

Lungblood said:

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Quote:

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lungblood midnight status.

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{lip curl}

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Hey, I laughed.

And I think shayne is looking at new bows because he doesn't want to show up to this invite sporting the trad. Didn't want to come across the wrong way.

I think.

...and he's been shooting his Dad's Mathews, but they suck.

(Not really, but they're not my favorite)

A lake of vanity. I decided it were ugly and sold it thinking it'd make me double down on the recurve.

And AgEng is mostly correct. Part of is I like buying crap . But there is a legitimate reason, especially with the way this Colorado hunt might shake up.

Sean98 said:

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...and he's been shooting his Dad's Mathews, but they suck.

(Not really, but they're not my favorite)

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I had figured all along I had that one in my back pocket in case I needed it since he doesn't use it. Took me about 30 min total to decide to do something different.

I reckon I'll use the recurve in TX, OK, and maybe NM.

Who all likes them dang ol micro diameter arrows man

The little teeny ones? No. But Easton's, yes.

I shoot Axis 300s. My finished arrow, with a 125gr broadhead is just over 500gr.

I shoot the Deep 6 FMJ's...330's. Mine weigh just under 500 grains.

I've shot the GT hunter XTS w a brass insert for a long time. Down to only a few so I was contemplating trying something new.

I think you'd really like the Eastons. I shot GoldTip for 10 years and they were fine. I made the switch when I got the new bow and I really like the change. They don't plane as much at long distances and they really pack a wallop downrange.