CoElkHunter
AH ambassador
I have always carried a pair of older Bushnell (mid '70s made by Bushnell) 7x35 binocs for hunting elk, deer and pronghorn here, mainly DIY public land hunting. They are quite clear and enough magnification for the distances I have hunted. For my first African PG hunt this past June, I bought a pair of lower end 10x40 Leupold BX-1 binocs as I figured the distances for spotting African game would be much further and the increased magnification would be helpful. On both accounts, this proved correct. HOWEVER, I found both the PH and tracker spotting the game at great distances in the rocks and brush WAY before I could see anything! Not only could they see the game, they could tell me if "it was a good bull or ram", etc. The PH had a ragged pair of Vortex 8x32s and the tracker 8x32 Athlon binocs. After the first two days, I left my binocs in the truck and never used them again. I had never hunted with a guide before and in this circumstance, having my own binocs wasn't necessary at least for spotting a potential game animal to subsequently make a stalk on. At the end of the hunt, I gave my binocs to the PH. Next time I'll just bring my Bushnells for surveying the landscape. LOL