Haul a big ol spotting scope shed hunting?

[npaden]

Okay,

I'm 90% sure I'm going to be out there shed hunting this weekend.

Question is, do I mess with bringing my new ZenRay 82mm spotting scope and tripod for looking around when I'm taking a break or do I leave it at the house? I'll be carrying my 10x43 ZenRay binoculars for sure but can't decide on the spotting scope.

I'll be hiking some steep loose terrain and that extra 6 or 7 pounds will be noticeable by the end of the day, especially if I end up finding a bunch of sheds. If I leave the spotter and don't find any sheds it will be a pretty light pack at the end of the day.

What do you guys think? I won't have a rifle to carry so the spotter would basically take it's place.

Thanks, Nathan

 

[massey_muley]

I always bring my 80 mm scope and tripod. But I really only ever use it to look at game. I just figure ill be in better shape lugging it than I would be in if I didnt.

JMO

Good luck.

 

[whiteshadow]

I haul mine everywhere and use it to watch game as well, better to have it and not need it than wish you had it and not have it, its good to add the little but of weight, granted I was packing 6 fresh elk the other day cussing myself for bringing it, but I was able to spot more elk and know where to go next time had I not of had it I would of never seen them, bring it

 

[bonepicker]

I just use my spotting scope for scouting, I set up in one place for several hours and look to see where the animals are. I don't take it with me walking, I just use my binos. On Saturday, I just glassed up a shed at 2000+ yards with my Steiner Perigrines (8x42s) and it was a little 3 point deer. The point is if you have a good pair of biniculars (Zeiss, Swaros, etc) you'll probably be able to see anything you need to see. I'm sure in the long run, you can find a few more with a spotter than just with binos but I don't know that it would be worth it for all the extra work it is to carry your spotter around all day. Just my opinion.

The exception might be if you are in an area where you know there are 4-5 great places to set up and spot, it might be worth it.

 

[npaden]

LAST EDITED ON Apr-12-11 AT 11:46AM (MST)[p]Not really anyplace where I'll be where I can set up the scope anywhere near camp or a vehicle and look around. I'll have to hike in at least a mile before I get to where I think I might have some chance at finding anything.

I'll probably bring it and haul it around. I'll be sucking wind anyway the area is so steep it takes me at least an hour to go 1/2 mile. Once I get up there I'll set it up and look around at a few spots I otherwise might not want to put boot tracks on.

I'm pretty happy with the ZenRay binos and the spotting scope. Amazing glass for the price. Don't think I need Swaros to find sheds, but with the power of positive thinking, I may strike out on the sheds and this way I at least can say I gave it my all.

 

[never_catch]

Take it with you!! And take lots of pics or videos through it at different distances and powers. lol jk do what you want but if you happen to take any pics or videos through it, post em up or email em to me...I'd be very interested to see some digiscoping through one!!

Good luck shed huntin'!!

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb37/Feleno/zFix.jpg[/IMG] ~Z~

 

[SHEDSTALKER]

I always take mine when I go through steep terrain because it always seems like I have more glassing opportunities and covering more area by glassing allows you to save your legs from having to directly walk through other areas. Also, like others posted, you can watch other game and check areas you may not have otherwise been able to see.

 

[Dr_Hunter]

I never take mine, but I always bring my binos along. Last year I spotted a decent 6-point elk shed at 1200yds. Granted, the sun helped out a lot by lighting it up in its surroundings. I will post the video one of these days.


"Half of being smart, is knowing what you're dumb about."

 

[npaden]

Took the spotting scope with me the first day and it did help keep me from walking to check out a few sticks that resembled elk antlers from a long way off, but I didn't find any using it.

The 2nd day I left it back at camp and didn't find any sheds at all.

Here's the 2 that I did find at the end of the first day after being on my feet for 10 hours.

A LOT of work for a a couple antlers. At least they were nice ones though!

 

[bonepicker]

Nice! Thanks for the update!

 

[whiteshadow]

Nice eye guard in that one, good looking horns congrats

 

[npaden]

I really like that eye guard. It's 19 1/2" inches plus the corkscrew really make it stand out.

I might have a lead on the other side, but not sure.

 

[HiMtnHntr]

It depends on the country. There's country that lends itself well to spotting antlers at great distances and there nothing quite like spotting a shed a mile away . . . on the other hand, there's country where a spotter would do you very little good. I sometimes pack one, just depends on the type of country and how far I have to pack . . .

 

[npaden]

I put the tape to the 6 point shed tonight and it taped out at 143 4/8". Put a matching left side on him and a 36" spread credit and he would be a bit over 320". The funky G1 tapes out at 19 4/8".

I was suprised when I got home from work today and my wife told me she had decided where she wanted to put the sheds. I was expecting them to be relegated to my upstairs office or maybe worse, but here is where she decided she wanted them. Right in her kitchen! We moved a few deer sheds on top of the cabinets too.

 

[whiteshadow]

makes your food taste better having antlers around while you prepare it.

 

[DRHORNHUNTER]

Those are some good finds. And your interior decorator has good taste.

I almost always have my spotter with me. They are worth their weight in gold if ya ask me

 

[hoop]

hey npaden where are the pictures from? New Mexico where you killed your bull last october?

 

[npaden]

>hey npaden where are the pictures
>from? New Mexico where you
>killed your bull last october?
>

Yep. Sounds like there are plenty of sheds left up high in the mountains for folks willing to get up there after them.

I've contemplated making another trip and making plans to bivy camp up high so I don't have to climb up there each day, but not sure. My blisters are starting to feel better so I'm actually thinking seriously about it though. Lots of work any way you cut it.

 

[hoop]

yes sir there are plenty up there, i have found fifteen whites up there this year and a couple dead heads but not many brown. one particular horn is identical to the big one you have posted here its a last years though looks alot like the same bull with the distance between his 1 and 2 and the tine length check it out in the shed contest under my username hoop. i meant to put it on shed hunters post but i am new at this its the bigger horn in the middle you cant miss it, let me know if you think its the same bull. . .looks alot like it

 

[npaden]

For sure a lot of similarities. It has the same angle sweeping back and the 2 and 3 look pretty close.

Mine had a pretty small base for how big the antler was, only a 7 4/8" circumference measurement for the first mass measurement. The 5 point I found with it was over 10" circumference on the base.

The G1 doesn't have as much of a wiggle as the one I found, but that doesn't mean it couldn't be the same bull.

Not sure what the deal is up there this year, maybe they all moved over to the reservation to shed their antlers this year!

 

[fatrooster]

I like to go shed hunting with someone else who carries a spotter. Heres ELKOHUNTER spotting up a stick that looked like an antler that I spotted with my bino's.

 

[dleonard4]

those are some nice sheds. is it always that green during shed hunting season where your from.

 

[Midnight]

Hardcore fella like you... Spotting scope gives you more options than not to have it. Just that much further to see if you have them than not.

Good looking sheds, congratulations. I like your decorating of the kitchen.

Looks great. I have my favorite deer shed four inches away from my computer. He is tines up in my mind all day long!

Midnight