Heat Mirage??

Califelkslayer · Jun 25, 2008

I've got a NV antelope tag this year. When I had this tag 16 years ago, I had 10X50 Redfields and a 15X40 Busnell spotter. Couldn't use the spotter over 20 power because of the heat.

Now that i own 15X56 Swaros, is this all the glass I need???

I have a Vortex 20-60X80 spotter. Too much magnification for the heat????

I'll probably figure this out on my scouting trips but wanted input.

300MIKE · Jun 30, 2008

I have the 15x56 swaros and the 20-60 swaro spotter. The 15's should hold up well in the sun/heat. They wont show the waves nearly as bad as the spotter. The 20-60 distorts when it gets warm, not even hot. What tag to u have for NV?

BPKHunter · Jul 1, 2008

I'm not a technical expert, but it surely seems that Mirage is purely a factor of magnification and heat. The more of either the more problems you will have.

I was just looking through my 15x Swaro's at a ridge about a half mile the other day when it was 105 here and the heat waves where very strong, but I certainly could have found antelope at up to a mile and tell if they had horns. I couldn't judge them, but I could now to get closer.

I must correct myself. Last year hunting in late Nov for elk when it was 5 degree's out, the heat waves where very noticable as the morning sun radiated the ground and the warm air started to rise. So it is heat radiation, not just temp.

Califelkslayer · Jul 8, 2008

Mike, I drew 032, 034 035.

BPK, so on your therory, once the temps top out at say 98 degrees, the mirage stops????

I guess the better glass is gonna have less mirage anyways.

AWHOLELOTTABULL · Jul 8, 2008

The statements above are right on. Even with good glass you can't get away from the heat waves. You can reduce it with high end glass but I think a lot of people have the misconception of getting better glass to eliminate the mid day problems. Good luck on the goat hunt. That is actually a good tag.

It's always an adventure!!!
www.awholelottabull.com