July 18, 2018
By Game & Fish Online Staff
These deer hunting scopes and other optics will help you find a perfectly clear shot this season.
Game and Fish contributors Gary Lewis and M.D. Johnson review the best deer hunting optics for 2018.
RIFLE SCOPES Black FX 1000 6-24x50SF Illuminated High-speed turrets for windage and elevation, clearly marked, white-on-black, for fast adjustment behind an illuminated FX-MRAD first focal plane reticle. Return-to-zero stop. Eyepiece adjusts with an aluminum ring. Parallax adjusts from a side turret. : the for quick (with practice) holdover and windage corrections. 50mm objective diameter. Weight: 24.5 ounces. NikonSportOptics.com $799.95
For shots at medium distance to long-range. Choose from MOA milling hunter, Hellfire quadplex or triplex reticles, all delivered in the second focal plane. 1-inch tube adds 21.7 ounces to the rifle. A CR2032 battery required. SigSauer.com $1,199.99
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The single-piece, 30mm aluminum tube is finished in hard-anodized low-glare black. 44mm objective.. Low-profile turrets, and the EBR-4 reticle (second focal plane) is illuminated, and designed for long-distance shots, compensating for wind and elevation. Weight: 23.9 ounces. VortexOptics.com $599.99
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BINOCULARS/SPOTTING SCOPES 20x to 60x magnification. HD lenses and an apochromatic system deliver color rendition and edge-to-edge resolution. Adjustable eyecup for use with or without glasses. FastFire attachment is a red-dot sight mounted on the body of the scope to aid in target acquisition. BurrisOptics.com $1,895
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Spotting scopes (and binoculars) in models for chest- or shoulder harness and mounting on a tripod. Extra-low dispersion glass for clarity and enhanced contrast Nitrogen purge and sealed. Guaranteed fog-proof. Options: 8x32, 10x32, 10x42, 12x50, 15x56. Cabelas.com $900 to $1,700
Tri-pod mounted, these spotting binoculars offer the promise of longer glassing with less eyestrain. What they lack in ability to zoom in, they make up for in optical performance over many hours of long range reconnaissance. The twist-up eyecups are a nice touch for added comfort. Field of view: 194 feet at 1,000 yards. Weight: 43.5 ounces plus the tripod. VortexOptics.com $1,299
Ideal for any deer hunting situation, Burris Optics' Droptine Series binoculars are the perfect choice for hunters searching for full-size performance from lightweight glass. Multi-coated lenses, rubber armor coating, nitrogen-purged water- and fog-proofing, and optimal user-friendliness are all trademarks of Burris optics. BurrisOptics.com $185
Offering not only a wider field of view, Nikon's HG Monarch features the Field Flattener Lens System, which assures viewers a sharp, clear view from lens edge to edge. Multilayer coatings on all lenses and prisms, lead- and arsenic-free glass, and a lightweight magnesium alloy body combine to make the Monarch the clear choice. NikonSportOptics.com $980
RANGEFINDERS Two modes: first-target priority or distant-target priority. Range: 4,000 yards from this 6x monocular. Menu displays in high-vis red for contrast, displayable in meters or yards. NikonSportOptics.com $449.95
ABS stands for "applied ballistics calculator" that's embedded in this 7x range-finding monocular. Range: 1,400 yards on deer, 1,800 yards on a tree and beyond 2,000 yards on reflective steel. Downloadable SIG ballistic application for iOS or Android. Aerodynamic jump, spin drift and Coriollis effect are all calculated. Temperature, pressure and humidity sensors provide real-time inputs. Windmeter and tripod adapter included. SigSauer.com $1,799.99
The effective range on deer out to 900 yards reaches farther on boulders, trees and reflective steel. Light and small, clip it on a belt or hang around your neck. Primary mode displays an angle-compensated distance reading. 6x monocular provides a field of view of 315 feet at 1,000 yards. VortexOptics.com $579.99
