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Hunting in the mountains is very different than hunting in flat forests. You need to build up endurance and be ready for hiking through tough terrain. Packing the right essentials and wearing the right clothing gets you half-way there but knowing what optics to bring along brings you to the finish line. So, what type of optics do you need for a mountain hunt?

Rangefinding Binoculars

A pair of rangefinding binoculars is a must on any mountain hunt. They can see farther than a general rangefinder, and can range farther than a normal rangefinder, too. Combining two pieces of optics into one saves on space and means you get to carry less, too. Rangefinding binoculars are easy to quickly pull out if you need to take a look at a sudden object in the distance or look over a ridge. These types of binoculars such as X-Vision Optics’ RB1042 rangefinding binoculars provide unmatched clarity. Knowing how far away an object is from you can help you take a better shot.

Riflescopes

Using a riflescope while out in the mountains can help you acquire your target faster and easier. If you purchase a riflescope with decent magnification capabilities, you can help take the guesswork out of your shots.

Spotting Scopes

Spotting scopes give you even more magnification capabilities than rangefinding binoculars. You can get up to 45-60x magnification on certain spotting scopes. You’ll be able to see animals up close and track down the elk you’ve been watching all day.

Purchasing a tripod to put your optics on, such as your spotting scope, can save the trouble of holding the device for hours on end. Make sure to purchase a tripod that will be the height you want it at. If you prefer standing while glassing, make sure the tripod is tall enough to comfortably use. Make sure to invest in quality equipment, so it will last longer and help you out better in the field.

You might have heard the term “eye relief” before, but not everyone knows what it means. Just imagine this—you see a large elk in the distance, you aim to shoot at it, and look through your scope. But your view is blurry, so you keep adjusting it and adjust it some more, and by now the elk is gone. This happens more often than you think. That’s why knowing what eye relief means can help you get that elk you’ve been waiting for all season.

What is It?

Eye relief is the distance from your eye to the lens of your scope or binoculars. If you look through your optics and it’s fuzzy, it means you are viewing with incorrect eye relief distance. It’s important to know what the eye relief distance is of any optics you are using so you can see things clearly and accurately. Typically, the calculation of finding eye relief is complicated. But as a general rule, the higher the magnification, the shorter the eye relief.

Why is it Important?

This is especially important if you commonly use a scope. If you don’t get your measurement right, you might get too close to your scope when looking through it. If you are shooting with a powerful gun, the recoil could cause the scope to hit your eye. Consequently, you could come back from the range or from hunting with a black ring around your eye. Getting the correct measurement will help you avoid this problem!

How Much is Enough?

It’s always fun looking for new optics, but just don’t forget about the eye relief. As a starting point, purchasing a scope with at least 3.5 inches of eye relief should be good. However, if you know your gun has a heavy recoil, go for an even higher relief. Also, if you wear glasses, purchasing optics with a longer measurement will help you, too.

If you are new to hunting or want to get into the sport, hunting with a guide can be extremely beneficial. Even if you’ve been hunting all your life, paying for a guide can be worth it. There are guides out there for almost any kind of hunting imaginable. From hogs to deer to elk and more, there are hunts for everyone. So, why should you hunt with a guide?

New Territory

Say you’re in a new location you’ve never hunted in before. Whether that be a completely different state, different terrain, or hunting for an animal you’ve never hunted for before. Hiring a guide will be very helpful. They will know the terrain like the back of their hand. Most guides help people on hunts for a living. So, if you’re hunting an animal you’ve never hunted before, they most likely hunt for them every day during the hunting season. A guide can make sure you stay out of harms way in unfamiliar terrain. They can help steer clear of unwanted predators, as well.

Learn New Tactics

If you’ve always been interested in learning a new hunting tactic, you should hire a guide. For example, say you’ve always wanted to learn how to go bowhunting. Hiring a guide that bow hunts allows you to learn from the best. And they can give you tips and tricks on how to acquire your target. You can learn how to approach certain situations correctly. The way you might approach an animal when rifle hunting may be different than the way you approach an animal when bow hunting.

Beginner

This one may be more obvious, but if you’ve never hunted before, hiring a guide can be super helpful. They can teach you the basics on what you need to know. Not only that, but they can offer good tips and tricks on how to hunt correctly and safely.

There will always be opportunities in which you can hire a guide. So, why not take it?

Black bear hunting season will come around again before we know it. Whether you’ve ever hunted for bear or not, there are always opportunities to step up your game. Going out prepared and knowing what you are doing will help you catch your target. It will also help you to stay safe. Bear are challenging to hunt, so here are some tips that may help you out.

Scout Early

If you can go out and scout some areas early in the season that are likely to have bears, you’ll be in good shape. It’s difficult to find an area without knowing whether it is likely to have bears or not and end up actually getting one. Putting in the work beforehand will help you once the season is in full swing. Look for areas that bears can find food or potential denning areas. Then, find a place that you can plan to set up and glass from.

Mask Your Smell

Bears have excellent smelling abilities. Try masking your smell by using scent-free soap and detergents. Be cautious of which direction the wind is blowing, too. If you can stay downwind, a bear has less likely of a chance of smelling you.

Hunt at the Right Times of Day

Bears are the most active right away in the morning and right before nightfall. Even though bears can be found during the day, it’s less likely. They will be trying to stay away from any human activity or trying to find shade from the sun. So, spend the early mornings hunting, and then take a break as the day goes on. Rest up and get back out there before nightfall.

Do the Research

There is a lot to know when it comes to bear hunting. How to properly harvest the meat, what equipment works well to help find them, what areas they are known to be at, etc. The more you prepare and do research before the season starts, the better chances you will have.

With fall coming in full force, we know winter is just around the corner. If you’re planning on heading out for a hunt in cold weather or using your optics in the cold, this guide can help make sure you get the most out of your optics.

Watch the Battery Life

If you plan on using an optics device in cold weather, pay attention to the battery life. Cold weather affects battery life by draining power much faster than normal. It may be a good idea to bring along extra batteries (but keeping them in a warm place) or being diligent about when and where you use your optics. Knowing that the battery life may not last as long as normal will help you prepare and not get caught off-guard.

Don’t Leave on the Ground/Snow

If you are using an optic such as a binocular or rangefinder and want to put it down to aim for your target, don’t put it down on the cold ground or on top of snow. This can cause the battery life to decrease even faster. Or, if you get snow on the device and water gets in between cracks, it could cause damage. Use a neck strap or wrist strap on your device. This way, you don’t have to put it down on the ground after usage.

Carry in Your Pants Pocket or Jacket

Try to keep your optics out of the cold as much as possible. If you can put it in the pocket of your pants to help keep it warm, do it. Or if you can keep it in the pocket of your winter jacket, do that as well. Keeping your optics as warm as much as possible will help keep it operating to the best of its ability.

Always Read the Manual

Even though reading manuals aren’t fun, you should do so to see if there are any tips on keeping your optics performing to the best of its ability. This includes using the correct type of batteries. There may be sections on how the device performs in different conditions. Knowing how to properly care for your device will help it last as long as possible.

Store Unused Devices in Room Temperature

If you aren’t planning on taking your optics out in the winter, store it in a place that is room temperature. You should also take the batteries out of the device, as well.

Deer hunting season is upon us. Whether you’re a beginner or need a refresher, we’ve got some deer hunting tips to help you have a successful hunt.

Be Quiet

It can be difficult to be quiet when out in the woods where there are branches and brush in every direction. Make sure to try and move at a steady pace. If you make a loud noise, stop moving for a while to let any deer close to you settle back down. Deer can hear much better than humans, so being quiet is extremely important.

Know the Area & Hunt Prepared

If you want to try out a new area to hunt this season, make sure to go out before your first hunt to get a feel of the terrain. This way you can figure out where you’d like to set up a tree stand, what location might be the best to walk, etc. You should also bring along food, water, and necessary equipment for your hunt. Being prepared also means wearing the right clothing and letting someone close to you know that you are heading out for a hunt. Bring along a first-aid kit as well in case of any emergencies.

Mask Your Smell

Deer have phenomenal smelling abilities. They can easily tell a human is nearby by the way we smell. Even when you think you’ve done a good job covering up your smell, it probably isn’t good enough. Get rid of your smell by using scent-free soap and detergent when you wash your clothes. There are also cover-up deer scents you can buy to help mask your smell as well.

Hunt At the Correct Time

Hunting at the right time is essential. Deer typically come out during dusk, dawn, and at night. This means you must plan to hunt at these times, too. If you head into the woods while it is still daylight and set up camp, you can catch them coming out as it turns to nighttime. Also, make sure to know how to hunt safely if you are on public lands.

Know When to Approach a Deer When Shot

If you spot a deer and have a clear shot, take it! If you end up hitting the deer, make sure you know where you hit it. Deer often times run a little way away after it is shot. Knowing where you originally hit it will help you find it afterward. Additionally, once you shoot it, don’t chase after it. If you chase after it, it could end up running farther than it would have originally if you just let it be. Once you find the deer you shot, you should throw a rock or a stick near it before you approach it. Even though it could appear dead, it might not be.

If you follow along with these helpful tips, you will be in a good spot this deer hunting season.

If you’re new to trail cameras and don’t know how you should set one up, we’ve got you. Setting up a trail camera is are easy to do, but there are key factors to keep in mind. Follow along so you can up your game this fall hunting season.

How High Up to Put Your Camera

Where you place your camera can vary depending on whether you are on public or private land. On private land, place your camera three to four feet off the ground. You don’t want the camera at the same height as you—you want it at the height of a deer. Placing your camera at this height could mean it’s easy to find and someone could potentially take it. That’s why if you are on public land, you should place your camera about ten feet high. Then, angle it down so you can see when deer walk past. Passerby won’t notice it as easily.

Clear Away Brush & Branches

You don’t want to trigger your camera from stray brush or branches. When setting up a trail camera, check the surrounding area for anything that could cause an unnecessary trigger. It’s also important to know whether you are aiming to take pictures or videos. Of course, videos will take up more space on an SD card than photos, but maybe that is what you want. Knowing your plan before putting up your camera can help figure out the right spot for it.

Know When to Check Your Camera

It’s always hard not to run out and check your camera whenever a deer crosses its path. But in reality, checking your camera and switching out SD cards should not happen that often. If you go at the wrong time, it could ruin your spot completely because you leave your scent behind. Checking your camera when it’s raining or extremely hot out are the perfect opportunities. So, plan accordingly.

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again—elk season is right around the corner. You probably have all your hunting gear set and ready to go. But do you have the proper attire? Since elk hunting brings you into the mountains, you must be prepared for constant weather changes. The type of clothing you wear is one of the most important aspects of your hunt. It could be the difference-maker on whether you have a successful hunt or not. So, what is the best clothing for an elk hunt?

Wear Camo

Camouflage clothing is the best clothing for an elk hunt. It allows you to blend in easier with your surroundings so elk have a harder time spotting you. There are hundreds of patterns and colors out there. Typically, it doesn’t matter what you get, it’s all based on personal preference. But it is important to consider the type of terrain you will be hunting on. This can help you better choose what type of camouflage will help you blend in better with your surroundings.

Bring Layers

We can’t say this one enough. Bring layers! When you’re hunting in colder weather AND in the mountains, weather can be inconsistent. It’s better to pack too much clothing than not enough. You can always take layers off as you get hot. Breathable clothes are beneficial in helping you to not overheat. Make sure every piece of clothing you put on is comfortable and allows you to move around. You’ll likely be on the move and also sitting for long periods of time.

Pack a Hat and Gloves

Hat and gloves seem to be the items that are most easily forgotten. They may not seem important in the moment, but you’ll be glad you brought them along when you’re deep in a forest. It’s also the easiest way to shed a layer if you start getting hot.

Remember, clothing is just as important as your optics on a hunt. Be prepared for this elk hunting season.