If you’re the average elk hunter, you don’t have enough coin to buy the best of everything. Doing so would likely mean a second mortgage. But if you’re going to buy one thing that will truly make your elk hunting more productive and enjoyable, it’s high-quality binoculars. Good (typically expensive) glass gathers more light at dawn and dusk than a less expensive pair. Images are crisp and clean. It only takes one hunt using your buddy’s fancy binos to make you a believer. We hope the following will help you get the most out of your next pair of binoculars.
4-steps to Glassing Elk Country
- Scan the area with your naked eye.
Sometimes you don’t even need binoculars to see the elk in front of you; don’t let the obvious slip into the timber. - Scan from near to far
The theory here is that you’re most likely to spook the elk close to you as opposed to the elk a mile away. - Glass the fringes
Hunted elk don’t like to be in the open after sunrise. Typically, they will graze just where meadow meets the timber. - Use the grid system
To cover a large area, imagine a grid inside your binoculars. Methodically scan left to right, up and down. No elk? Wait 15 minutes and repeat. Still no elk? Time to move on.