Optics for Mule and Whitetail in God's Country

What power scope do you recommend for western hunting?

  • 1.5-5

    Votes: 3 4.6%

  • 3.5-10

    Votes: 43 66.2%

  • 4.5-14

    Votes: 15 23.1%

  • 6.5-20

    Votes: 3 4.6%

  • Bigger?

    Votes: 1 1.5%
  • Total voters
    65
C Broad Arrow

C Broad Arrow

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What power scope would you hunters in God's Country recommend for mule and whitetail in the western provinces?

In Ontario we don't often get a shot greater than 100 yards, and most deer are shot between 40-60 yards, so 1.5 - 5 is popular.

What do you use out west?
 
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Taking the shot with a 3-9 isn't the problem, it's counting points before you take the shot thats the problem!

If you have 10x binoculars, it's nice to have either a spotting scope or a rifle scope with more magnification so you can ensure your deer (or moose) has enough (or few enough) points to be taken in season.
 
I use a a spotting scope for sizing up animals, not rifle scope.
and for the racks, all i need to tell is if there are antlers, and how many at minimum, If you do need to know more than that and check these things out with your rifle scope, then higher power is gonna be good.

The 4.5 -14 sounds nice as well. I guess the scope really depends on where you are hunting in the west.
 
I have never felt handicapped using a 3-9 power scope on my rifles and will not hesitate to shoot deer out to the far side of 400 yards. My favorite scope in fact is the straight 6 x 42 Leupold which again is good for some fairly longish distances. The trick - if there is a trick - is to use good quality scopes. A nice clear Leupold 3-9 x 40 will will out-perform a cheaper scope of higher power especially during the "magic" half-hour after sunset.

As mentioned a rifle scope is for aiming not spotting. Once again good quality spotters and binoculars are worth their weight in gold.
 
3-9 on a 270 is pretty hard to beat. It's super easy to pick out a deer-sized target with a good quality 3-9 scope even out at ridiculous distances. At close ranges, say 400 yards and in, a good 4x is perfectly sufficient. Too many people buy ####ty scopes, and think that they need more power to pick out objects out there instead of just getting decent glass in the first place
 
I use 3-9 power scopes, but leave them on 5X for everything except range work. It's plenty of power with good light coming through, plus you have a steadier sight picture. I know a few guys who have higher powered scopes, up to 24X, but you don't need it.
 
pharaoh2 said:
I use 3-9 power scopes, but leave them on 5X for everything except range work. It's plenty of power with good light coming through, plus you have a steadier sight picture. I know a few guys who have higher powered scopes, up to 24X, but you don't need it.
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There is something to be said for that pharaoh......I like the higher magnification to get everything out of my rifle at the range but rarely use anything but 6x when hunting unless I'm doing some long-range shooting. I've seen many people that couldn't hit a thing with the scope on 9x but you turn it down to 5-6X and suddenly they can shoot.
 
sheephunter said:
3-9 Rifle scope

8x32 Binoculars

16-40x60 Spotting Scope

and an 800 yard range finder
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My thoughts as well. The 3x9 scope is plenty but A good range finder where I hunt for mulies is a bigger asset. I use my spotting scope all day long to look at and size up animals, once the stalk is on I want to know if the shot is 275 or 400.
 
3x9x40 Zeiss conquest is fav scope for hunting, that being said I leave it set on 6x all the time. It sits on my general big game rig a 300 win mag. My whitetail only rifle is a kimber 308 which wears a 6x42 nikon monarch. I could hunt just about anything with either scope.
 
I use 10x42 Leica Ultravid binoculars

A 15-45 Ziess Spotting scope

Leica 1200 CRF rangefinder

And my favorite scopes are usually 2.5-8x36 Leupold Vari X III's....:)
 
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