Hunting Trip Number One

I was pleased as punch to have been invited to hunt an exclusive archery hunting lease in Ohio. For many years, the lease members had abided by a simple rule - no one could shoot a buck unless it would score 140 or better. For the several days of my hunt, I battled frustration - my binoculars were simply not good enough in low light. I remain haunted by the dim images of several bucks I believe may have fit the bill.Hunting Trip Number TwoDuring the midday break, the hunting lodge owner in Mississippi polled the hunters to see how many deer they had seen and what those deer had been doing. As the hunter reports traveled around the table, I began to marvel. It seemed that no one had seen any deer….and I'd seen at least ten. Why? After sunrise, I'd seen that my stand was located within a clear cut, and positioned perfectly over a confluence of trails. I hate to be caught off guard when I'm hunting, and I glassed fairly constantly. I saw plenty of deer, all headed in the same direction but not in shooting range. Because of my report, the lodge owner sent a guide out to move the stand.The search for that perfect hunting binocular can be intimidating, with plenty of numbers and definitions to study. But I believe that the features of the perfect hunting binocular, for stand hunting, boils down to three things - they must have low light capability, be completely waterproof, and have a wide field of view.Ah, now the search is easier. As you already know, binoculars are defined by two numbers, say 8 x 40. The first number is the magnification, and the second number is the lens diameter (given in millimeters).The first number determines the magnification, or field of view. Think of the zoom button on your camera. The more you zoom, the tighter you get on the subject - in other words, the smaller the field of view. As that first number gets higher, the field of view gets smaller. I feel 7x or 8x is good for stand hunting.The second number is lens diameter, and the higher the number, the better you'll be able to see in low light. As you search for these features, you may find that the binoculars get heavier and bulkier, but remember, these are for hunting from a stand. Stand binoculars will just be toted in your backpack for a short distance, so weight and bulk aren't as important.Should you choose water resistant or waterproof? Well, if you're planning to hunt even if it's raining or snowing, would you want to wear water resistant or waterproof outerwear and boots? Right. Unless your binoculars are waterproof, you'll fight a losing battle during inclement weather.When you're shopping for binoculars, keep it simple. Shop for the features which are most important when you're hunting - great low light capability, completely waterproof and presenting a wide field of view.