How to Get the Most Out of Your Binocular

How to Get the Most Out of Your Binocular

How to Get the Most Out of Your Binocular. Just a few days ago while hunting in a patch of oak trees, I picked up movement about 50-yards out. A quick look with my binocular confirmed it was a deer and just a few seconds later I could see enough antler to know it was a buck I’d love to shoot. But more importantly, I could tell he was timid in his movements. Not spooked, just timid. Thanks to my binocular I knew I wasn’t dealing with an aggressive buck so I took rattling or snort wheezing at him off the menu. Instead I tried a few soft contact grunts and doe bleats in an effort to keep him interested and hanging around. I was hoping to arouse his curiosity enough to come closer. I even got a couple of grunts back from him letting me know he was still around and likely feeding under one of the oaks. Eventually more deer joined and the action and his attitude picked up. It all came together when he offered me a 6-yard shot.

I have no doubt that without my bino I would have grunted louder and more aggressively at him and likely rattled and tried a snort wheeze, which very likely could have spooked him or just made him keep traveling right out of my life. After all it was that time of the year. Because my bino allowed me a much better look at him and his attitude at the time than I could with just my eyes, I toned down the calling and upped the patience. And it worked perfectly.

How to Get the Most Out of Your Binocular

My binocular is literally just as important to me during a hunt as my bow. And my bow is a recurve and I limit my shooting to 20 and under. So why does a guy who can only shoot 20-yards need a bino?  I need it for a list of reasons:

#1 To See Deer I would not Otherwise See

Before I climb out of a stand or move to a new spot, a bino lets me check out everything in detail and find deer. And of course, if you’re spot and stalking you’ve got to spot something to stalk and a bino is key for that.

#2 To Better See and Understand a Deer’s Body Language.

I’m a big fan of calls (and decoys) for deer and one great way to up your success is reading their body language before you call and seeing how they react when you call. A bino lets you do that from a longer distance. Let’s face it if the deer was walking towards you there is no need to call but when they are passing by at 50, 100 or 200-yards I want to know what their attitude is before I start calling and what calls seem to be working on them best.

#3 To take Inventory

I hunt a lot of mast producing trees (oaks, persimmons, etc) and even when I’m sitting in a stand I want to see how much of a crop the trees I’m hunting near have as well as other trees I pass along the way to and from my stand.

#4 To be Legal

While I do not consider myself a trophy hunter, I do hunt places that have antler restrictions and a bino helps me confirm earlier that an animal is legal. Plus, it can let you identify animals better by seeing more details. You can recognize a buck you’ve already gotten on trail camera much farther away and help build a better pattern on his movements.

#5 To be ready

A bino makes identifying noise makers so much easier…was that a deer or a squirrel? That walking sound might be an armadillo or a buck. With the bino I know sooner and can prepare for a shot or move if need be.

I have been using the TORIC 8X42 for the past few years. This is a great all around binocular for my purposes. The lightweight construction and low light performance are game changers for me.

I always keep my bino on me, either with a harness or a sling or strap. I want it easy to get to and quiet to use. The extra movement of twisting to get it out of a pack or off a limb is too risky. But I do store it inside my pack to limit dust and dirt. And I do my best to baby the lenses and only clean them the right way.

I’ve no doubt my bino has helped me kill more deer than just the buck I mentioned at the beginning. I’m constantly surprised by how many of my hunting buddies don’t carry a bino as I really think having and using one the right way would help them take and see way more deer.