This is true even with Lew’s superior spinning rods and reels and Strike King’s premium Tour Grade fishing lines.
String the reel wrong and you’ll be plagued with line twist, short casts and poor sensitivity. Do it right and you’ll get the superior performance you expect from every Lew’s reel.
SHOP FISHING LINE
Fluorocarbon and Monofilament Lines
Spinning reels perform at their best with fluorocarbon and monofilament lines no heavier than 8-pound test. A heavier line doesn’t flow through the guides as smoothly, which reduces casting distance and efficiency.
First run the fishing line from its spool through the first guide above the reel. Then open the reel’s bail and tie the line to its spool with an Arbor knot. After tying the knot, close the bail and you are set to begin winding.
The Flat Spool Method
Lay the line’s spool on whichever side allows the line to come off of it counterclockwise. If the line comes off clockwise it will twist. As you wind the reel, run the line through your fingers below the guide and apply firm pressure.
Stop after 15 cranks or so and release the line in your fingers. If the line is limp and without twist, continue winding. If the line twists around itself, the wrong side of the spool is facing up. Flip the spool over and resume cranking. Double check the line for twist after another 15 cranks.
The Upright Spool Method
Another option is to set the line spool in some type of holder so that it sits upright on edge, or use the Strike King Sidewinder tool that comes in every package of Tour Grade Line. The line should come off the top of the spool and straight through the guide. Here again, apply finger pressure to the line as you wind.
When to Stop Winding
The reel is full when the line comes to within about 1/8-inch of the spool’s outer edge. Stopping short of this will reduce casting distance and the reel’s speed. If you fill the reel to the very edge of the spool, bird’s nests are inevitable.
Spooling Braided Line
Because braided line has no memory, it will not twist if you lay the spool flat on either side or use the upright spool method. However, braided line is so slick that it will slip on the reel’s spool regardless of the knot you use. You must first attach a length of monofilament or fluorocarbon to the reel’s spool and knot it to the braid.
Braid is so much thinner at the same diameter than monofilament or fluorocarbon that it takes up less room on the spool. Consider backing the spool with a less expensive monofilament so you don’t use more braid than you need.
The advantages of braided line are so numerous that top pros, including Oklahoma’s Andrew Upshaw, use it almost exclusively.
“Since braided line doesn’t stretch, it is super sensitive and delivers much better hook sets,” Upshaw said. “I love Strike King’s Tour Grade yellow braid because I can see it so well.”
A gossamer braid never becomes springy, so it allows for longer casts, especially with light finesse lures. You can also use a stronger line if you wish. Many pros opt for 15-pound braid.
Once you’ve got your spinning reel spooled up and have taken it fishing a few times, make sure you know how to clean and maintain it!
“Encountering a deer walking on two legs while strolling through the forest raises curiosity and intrigue. In such a rare and peculiar moment, one cannot help but wonder how to react and what actions should be taken. Let’s explore the possibilities of this extraordinary encounter.”
Encountering a Bizarre Sight: A Deer Walking on Two Legs in the Forest
A Strange Observation
One day, while spending time in the forest, I came across a truly bizarre sight. I noticed a deer walking on two legs instead of its usual four. It was an unexpected and peculiar sight that immediately caught my attention.
As I stood there, observing the deer, I couldn’t help but wonder if there were other deer nearby. Typically, deer travel in groups, so it seemed unusual for this particular deer to be alone. If no other deer appeared, it would suggest that this one was practicing its unique way of walking independently.
The Unusual Behavior of Fighting Does
Interestingly, this encounter reminded me of another strange behavior exhibited by does when they fight each other. When engaged in combat, does will stand on their hind legs and charge at each other, attempting to knock down their opponent. This behavior is quite fascinating and not commonly known.
I recall witnessing such a fight late one night during my time living in the wild Northern Coast Range of California many years ago. A group of does gathered in a meadow and arranged themselves in a large circle with an empty space within. They would then take turns charging into that space and trying to knock over any other doe doing the same thing.
The scene became even more peculiar when I shined a light towards them, causing their eyes to glow in the darkness as they continued their unique dance. While I never discovered why they exhibited such behavior, it felt like an exclusive event from which I was excluded.
Deer’s Quirks and Comparisons
Deer have always been known for their eccentricities; however, witnessing one walking on two legs did not surprise me enough to consider it impossible or shocking. The idea of deer walking upright is reminiscent of the European concept of a wendigo, a malevolent forest spirit in Native American legend. According to folklore, wendigos could possess individuals and turn them into cannibals.
If I were to encounter such a creature, I admit that I would be taken aback. Nevertheless, deer’s peculiar behaviors have made me realize that they can indeed exhibit oddities beyond what we typically expect from them.
In conclusion, my encounter with the deer walking on two legs was an unusual sight but not entirely surprising considering the quirks and behaviors exhibited by these creatures. While it may seem strange at first glance, it is important to remember that nature often surprises us with its diversity and unique characteristics.
Unexpected Discovery: Witnessing a Deer Walking Upright in the Woods
A Strange Encounter
One day while walking through the woods, I stumbled upon a peculiar sight. As I stood still and observed, I noticed a lone deer standing on its hind legs. It was an unusual sight to behold, as deer are known for their graceful movements on all fours. Curiosity piqued, I decided to watch and see if any other deer would join this strange behavior.
The Lone Practitioner
To my surprise, no other deer appeared. It seemed that this particular deer was practicing its upright stance alone. Did you know that when deer, particularly does, engage in fights with each other, they rise up on their hind legs and charge at each other? This behavior is an attempt to knock down their opponent and establish dominance.
A Nighttime Spectacle
Recalling a similar incident from years ago when I lived in the wilds of Northern Coast Range in California, the memory of a group of does fighting in a meadow resurfaced. On that night, they formed a large group with an empty space within it. These does would take turns charging into that space on their hind legs, attempting to topple any fellow deer doing the same.
Eyes Glowing in the Dark
Intrigued by this bizarre display, I shined a light towards them. The darkness made it even more surreal as their eyes lit up like beacons. However, despite my curiosity about their unusual behavior, it remained unclear why they were engaging in such actions. It felt like an exclusive party to which I was not invited or privy to its purpose.
Deer Can Be Unpredictable
While witnessing these odd behaviors among deer may seem strange enough, it is not enough to surprise me to see them walking on two legs. Such a notion aligns more with the European concept of a wendigo, a malevolent forest spirit from Native American legend. Wendigos were believed to possess men and turn them into cannibals. However, deer, even in their peculiar ways, are unlikely to exhibit such extraordinary behavior.
In conclusion, encountering a deer walking upright in the woods was an unexpected discovery that left me fascinated and puzzled. Deer’s behaviors can be strange at times, but not to the extent of walking on two legs like mythical creatures. This encounter served as a reminder of the mysteries and wonders that nature holds, even within familiar surroundings.
An Unusual Encounter: Observing a Deer Walking on Two Legs in the Forest
A Strange Sight in the Meadow
One evening, while living in a remote area of the Northern Coast Range of California, I witnessed an extraordinary sight in the meadow. A group of does was engaged in a peculiar behavior – they were fighting each other. It was unusual to see deer engaging in such aggressive behavior, especially at night. The does were arranged in a large group with an empty space within, and they would get up on their hind legs and charge into that space, attempting to knock down any other deer doing the same. It was a mesmerizing and perplexing sight, as their eyes lit up in the darkness during their intense dance.
The Mysterious Behavior of Deer
The behavior exhibited by these fighting does left me puzzled. I couldn’t comprehend why they were engaging in such activities or what purpose it served for them. It seemed like a private party to which I was not invited. Deer can be strange creatures, but this behavior surpassed my expectations. However, despite their odd actions, it did not surprise me enough to believe that deer could walk on two legs like humans or mythical forest spirits.
Deer’s Quirks and Comparisons
While observing these unique behaviors of deer, I couldn’t help but recall some interesting facts about them. Did you know that when female deer (does) fight each other, they stand on their hind legs and run towards each other? Their goal is to knock down their opponent who is likely to lose the fight. This information added another layer of curiosity to my observation that night.
In conclusion, witnessing these fighting does provided an unforgettable experience for me in the wilds of California’s Northern Coast Range. Although their behavior remained mysterious and unexplained, it deepened my appreciation for the quirks and peculiarities of nature’s creatures.
Intriguing Wildlife Encounter: Spotting a Deer Walking on Its Hind Legs
A Strange Sight in the Meadow
One night, while living in a wild place in the Northern Coast Range of California, I had a captivating wildlife encounter. As I looked out into the meadow, I noticed a group of does engaged in an unusual activity – they were fighting. It was an intriguing sight to witness these deer standing on their hind legs and charging at each other, attempting to knock down their opponents. The scene was both mesmerizing and puzzling as they formed a large group with an empty space within it. These deer would take turns charging into that empty space, trying to topple any other deer doing the same. To add to the mystique, when I shined a light towards them, their eyes illuminated in the darkness. Although I couldn’t comprehend why they were behaving this way, it felt like an exclusive event from which I was excluded.
Deer’s Quirky Behaviors
Deer can exhibit peculiar behaviors that often surprise us. However, witnessing them walking on two legs is highly unlikely and more aligned with European folklore surrounding forest spirits known as wendigos. These malevolent spirits were believed to possess individuals and turn them into cannibals. If such a creature were ever encountered, it would undoubtedly be a shocking and terrifying experience.
Curiosity and Bewilderment: Coming Across a Deer Walking Upright in the Woods
A Strange Sight in the Wild
One day, while exploring the woods, I came across a peculiar sight that left me both curious and bewildered. A deer was walking upright on its hind legs, something I had never seen before. It stood tall and moved with an unusual grace, almost as if it were imitating a human. I couldn’t help but be captivated by this unexpected behavior.
Searching for Answers
As I observed the deer, I couldn’t help but wonder why it was walking on two legs. Was it injured or simply practicing a unique skill? I scanned the surroundings, hoping to spot other deer nearby that could shed light on this strange occurrence. If no other deer showed up, it seemed likely that this particular deer was practicing alone.
The Unusual Behavior of Fighting Does
In my experience living in a wild place in the Northern Coast Range of California many years ago, I witnessed another intriguing behavior among does. When they engaged in fights with each other, they would get up on their hind legs and charge at one another, attempting to knock down their opponent. This sight was both fascinating and bizarre.
A Private Party I Was Not Invited To
The deer’s behavior reminded me of Native American legends about malevolent forest spirits known as wendigos. These spirits were believed to possess humans and turn them into cannibals. While the thought of encountering such a creature made me uneasy, I knew that deer were capable of strange behaviors. However, this particular sighting left me with more questions than answers.
Overall, witnessing a deer walking upright in the woods was an extraordinary experience that sparked my curiosity and bewilderment. The natural world never ceases to amaze and surprise, reminding us that there is still much we have yet to understand.
A Surprising Sight: Finding a Deer Walking on Two Legs During a Forest Stroll
Introduction
During a peaceful stroll through the forest, I witnessed an astonishing sight that left me in awe. As I quietly observed the surroundings, I noticed a lone deer walking on its hind legs. This unexpected behavior immediately caught my attention and piqued my curiosity.
The Strange Behavior of Deer
Deer are known for their graceful movements and elegant presence in the wild. However, witnessing a deer walking on two legs was truly unusual. It made me wonder if this particular deer was practicing some sort of solitary activity or if there were other deer nearby engaging in similar behavior.
Interestingly, when female deer (does) engage in fights with each other, they have been observed getting up on their hind legs and charging at one another. Their goal is to knock down their opponent and establish dominance. This unique fighting style adds another layer of intrigue to the already fascinating world of deer behavior.
An Uninvited Observer
Living in a wild place surrounded by nature allowed me to witness many remarkable sights. One night, while residing in the Northern Coast Range of California, I stumbled upon a group of does engaged in an intense fight out in the meadow. The scene was surreal as they formed a large group with an empty space within it.
These does would take turns getting up on their hind legs and charging into that empty space, attempting to knock down any other deer doing the same thing. The sight became even more peculiar as I shined a light towards them, revealing their eyes glowing in the darkness.
Although I couldn’t decipher the reason behind their behavior or why they were partaking in this peculiar dance, it felt like an exclusive gathering to which I wasn’t invited. The world of deer never ceases to amaze with its peculiarities and unexpected behaviors.
A Comparison to Wendigos
The idea of deer walking on two legs may remind some of the European folklore surrounding wendigos, malevolent forest spirits from Native American legends. These spirits were believed to possess individuals and turn them into cannibals.
While deer can exhibit strange behaviors, such as fighting on their hind legs, the notion of them fully walking on two legs seems far-fetched. It is more likely a product of myth and imagination rather than reality. Nonetheless, the world of nature continues to surprise us with its mysteries and wonders.
In conclusion, witnessing a deer walking on two legs during my forest stroll was an unforgettable experience. The strange behavior of deer, their unique fighting style, and the captivating sight of does engaging in a bizarre dance all contribute to the enigmatic nature of these creatures. While they may not walk entirely on two legs like humans, their behavior remains fascinating and worthy of exploration.
If you encounter a deer walking on two legs while walking in a forest, it is important to prioritize safety and maintain a respectful distance. Observing the deer from afar without causing any harm or disturbance is the best course of action.
If you’re anything like me, I want to get the best of what my money can buy.
I set a criteria for the best binoculars under $100 from Vortex, Celestron, and Bushnell.
But I also recommend a couple cheap binos that are worth it – real glass, decent focus, and a good build.
To provide some real input, I also field-tested some of my very own personal cheap binoculars!
8 Best Binoculars Under $100 In 2024
Nikon Aculon A211 8X42 – Editors Choice
Celestron Outland X 10X42 – Best All-Round
Bushnell H20 10X42
Vortex Raptor 8.5×32
Bushnell PowerView 10×50
Celestron SkyMaster 25×70
Binoteck 10×42 – Best Under $50
Tasco Essentials 10X25
The Best Cheap Binoculars Under $100
Not all binoculars cost several hundred dollars. But not all binoculars will be a one-time, lifetime pair. However, you can still get something that’s worth it for daily use for less than $100.
You don’t have to compromise for plastic “glass” or generic no-name brands. Vortex, Bushnell, Nikon, and Celestron have quality binoculars in this cost-conscious price range.
Though these budget binoculars don’t have industry-level resolution or military-grade toughness, they can get the job done.
For the money, they’ll perform for recreational applications, some hunting, and definitely neighborhood spying – oops, I meant, “observation.”
With decent to above-average glass and performance, my top 8 binocular picks, including a couple of my own field-tested models, meet my criteria.
Our 8 Top Binoculars Less Than $100
1. Nikon Aculon A211 8×42 – Editors Choice
The Aculon is always priced below $100, no matter what!
With this Nikon hanging from your shoulder, you’ll have an extremely wide field of view, fully multi-coated lenses, and aspherical glass elements to help you get the best image quality possible from a cheap binocular.
Even with only 8X power, you can still mount this baby to a tripod. Nikon knows how to jam in quality for the lowest prices possible. It’s probably why it’s such a popular buy among the hunting community. Are you ready to join the “in” crowd?
2. Celestron Outland X 10×42
Unlike most binoculars in this price range, you’re getting a lightweight roof prism bino from the Celestron Outland unit. For under 100 bucks, you’ll be set to go without the added weight holding you back.
Pros:
BaK4 glass
Waterproof
Fogproof
Better quality strap
Cons:
Multi-coated
I’ve had my hands on the Outland X and they were an extremely convenient pair to have for quick glassing and some occasional birding. It’s light weight at 23.6 oz – not the lightest out there, but still good for today’s standard.
The strap is better quality than what comes with most cheap binoculars – the case is better too. I think its real value will be from its clear glass performance. Though it has only multi-coated lenses versus FMC, it’s not unlike similar alternatives from known manufacturers in this price range.
The entire body is fully protected by a rubber armor, and as is typical with roof prisms, it’s fully waterproof and has been nitrogen-purged. This is a big deal because most budget binoculars will be weather-resistant at best.
If you’re looking for a slimmer binocular versus the bulky builds of the Porros, the Outland is your pick!
3. Bushnell H2O 10X42 Roof
Bushnell knows how to appeal to the cost-conscious buyer. They have a wide inventory of binos priced just right and the H2O is a winning optic among them all.
Pros:
Eye relief
Lightweight
BaK4 glass
Roof prism
Waterproof
Cons:
Multi-coated
For under 100 bucks, having multi-coated optics is the standard. However, this “standard” paired with roof prisms without the addition of phase or prism-specific coatings does result in a slightly darker image than what you’d expect. It may not be as clear a picture compared to a Porro prism bino with multi-coated optics, but on a good day for being outside, you likely won’t notice the difference.
For recreational purposes like observing wildlife while at the lake, casual bird watching, or on a hike, the H2O binos should be just what you need. Because of its roof prism design, it can be made waterproof which it is. It’s also lightweight at 25 ounces that is around the standard for a 10×42 bino these days.
Keep your glasses on with this small pair because it has decent eye relief of 17 mm and twist-up eyecups which is a step up from the fold-up or winged kind often seen in this price range. The compact bino comes with the usual: neck strap, nylon carry case with belt loop, looped rubber lens caps, and a hinged eyepiece cover.
As an entry-level bino that has been bought, used, and put through the ringer by several hundred buyers, it’s a solid buy.
4. Vortex Raptor 8.5×32
You read this right! There’s a Vortex in this price range. It’s no gimmick. The Raptor is a high quality binocular that smokes many other Vortex units when it comes to the ratings.
It’s extremely popular with the masses, and us, for its wide field of view, fully multi-coated lenses, and weatherproof-ability. Even better, it’s more compact and lightweight than its Porro prism bino competitors!
Plus, the warranty on it is practically unbeatable. Technically, this Vortex doesn’t belong in this price range, so if you’re going to spend less than 100 bucks, you better get it while it’s on sale!
5. Bushnell Powerview 10×50
If you’re looking for that Mossy Oak finish that compliments every hunters’ gear, the Powerview 10X50 more than gets the job done.
It’s extremely popular, and it’s been built to impress. With large objectives and the InstaFocus system, you’ll be glassing past sundown.
It’s an impressive, all-purpose binocular that has basic features, but the price can’t be beat for the 10X50 platform with the stylish finish. Thanks to the PowerView, you’ll have max power for max hunting success!
6. Celestron SkyMaster 25X70
For long-distance viewing in the skies or on the ground, you’ll need the long reach of the SkyMaster 25×70 binoculars. With high power and low cost – we’d say Celestron has found the perfect balance in this SkyMaster model.
Pros:
Price
High power
70 mm aperture
BaK4 glass
Porro prism
Cons:
Short eye relief
A SkyMaster is no small binocular. It has big expectations to fill and so its large frame is a direct reflection of its capabilities. Weighing a heavy 52 ounces and measuring 8.7 x 4.3 x 11 inches in size, this bino is not meant to be handheld by any means. It’s intended to be mounted to a tripod that you’ll have to purchase separately, but it does come with an included tripod adapter that’ll save you a few bucks.
The large objective lenses that are 70 mm in diameter are directly related to the overall weight of the bino. With those large peepers, it’ll allow in as much light as possible to provide a bright, clear picture of celestial bodies or that far-away herd of caribou in the distance.
As a Porro prism bino, it doesn’t need any fancy prism coatings – good thing because it doesn’t have any. All air-to-glass surfaces are multi-coated, it’s water-resistant and not waterproof, and it lacks gas-purged chambers for fog-proof protection – all of which is standard for an optic under 100 bucks.
However, the downer is the short eye relief. For those who don’t wear spectacles or sunglasses while using binoculars, the 13 mm should be fine. For everyone else – it may be uncomfortable to use.
This SkyMaster giant is for adventurers on a budget who enjoy seeing stars or wildlife. It’s not a professional-grade optic, but it is a fun one the entire family can get hours of enjoyment from.
Best Binoculars Under $50
Yes, I have a couple suggestions for this very low price range. You really can’t go cheaper than this if you plan on taking your binoculars seriously. So, here is my recommendation if you have less than $50 to spend.
(By the way, the Bushnell PowerView 10X50 mentioned above is just barely over the $50 price tag. It’s also worth considering if you want a full-size binocular and can stretch your budget by just a few dollars more).
7. Binoteck 10X42 – Best Under $50
The Binoteck 10×42 binoculars are surprisingly very good considering its very low price point. With BaK4 glass, fully multi-coated lenses, and a 305 ft FOV, the Binotecks do ‘cheap’ very, very well.
Pros:
FMC coatings
BaK4 glass
Adjustable eyecups
Good focusing
Tripod adaptable
Cons:
Not waterproof
Adjustable eyecupsWater-testingObjective lensesImages by Tina Fa’apoi (Own Work) for Target Tamers
The Binotecks are water and dust-resistant with an IP55 rating, so heavy rain and even accidental submersion must be avoided – you do not want water in the eyepieces. Yes, I did it and they survived, but do as I say not as I do. Though not fog-proof, they did fantastic with moving from a warm truck to freezing temperatures outside.
I really don’t have any serious complaints about them. I took them on a December elk hunt in mountain timber a couple years ago. To my surprise, they did well for around 20-100 yards. When I had longer glassing terrain, I couldn’t get the sharp resolution I wanted. Though they won’t be going for another hunt, the clarity was beyond what I expected for under $50. Don’t let the digiscoping fool you – the image quality is much better in person.
The Binotecks have adjustable eyecups, a diopter, and a tripod receiver. I don’t think you’ll need to mount it since it’s exceptionally lightweight at 16 oz. I’m accustomed to 10x42s weighing in over 21 oz and I can feel the difference. Though it has a good rubber armor, the weak points are at the objective and eyepiece bells. I suggest resisting the temptation to peel it back.
I’m happy to report that I could acquire collimation (no double vision) with these cheap Binotecks. I adjusted with the diopter for my vision thus avoiding the need to wear my glasses. I’d say the eye relief is around 15mm. With my glasses on, it’s tight – doable but uncomfortable.
Overall, my box only came with the rainguard (eyepiece cap), lens caps, neck strap, and lens cloth. I’ve been impressed enough with the Binotecks to keep and recommend them as a recreational and convenient pair for quick glassing.
Available at: Amazon
8. Tasco Essential 10X25
Spending bare minimum doesn’t mean you have to settle. What it does mean is you can have the Tasco Essentials 10X25 binoculars with the roof prism design, fully multi-coated optics, and a plethora of available color finishes.
They are compact, foldable, and lightweight. Are you landing a quality binocular for a song – oh yeah!
In fact, this Tasco has a surprising number of reviews online, and a very impressive customer satisfaction score considering they will put you back a mere $25. They might not be your lifetime buy, but at this price they will make a great starter binocular.
What to Look for in a Cheap Binocular
Making the most of every penny when you’re spending in this price range comes down to knowing a bit about binoculars. Keep it simple by maintaining your sights on quality glass and durability.
Glass Quality
While you’re not going to get Zeiss or Swarovski glass in this price range, you can still look for the best coatings of what this price category has to offer and that would be fully multi-coated lenses.
Since special coatings for roof prisms are rare on binoculars under $100. You may want to put your money into a Porro prism binocular if you want the best glass performance in this price range. If you don’t mind glassing with something a little bulky and heavy, it’s likely to be your best buy here.
You’ll see a lot of standard configurations, examples: 8×42 and 10×42, in this price range. Going higher in magnification with the glass expected at this price point may result in degraded image quality.
Magnification Power, Prism & Glass Comparisons
Eye Relief
The eye relief is the distance from your eyes to the eyepiece in which you can acquire a full field of view free of aberrations.
The lower the number, the tighter the eye relief. Physically, this means it brings the lenses closer to your eyes and they can can dig into your brows and the bridge of your nose. The higher the number, the longer and more comfortable it is – especially for those who wear glasses.
Eye Relief & Exit Pupil Comparisons
*Not disclosed: best guesstimate from personal hands-on experience
Durability
Not all binoculars in this price range will be weatherproof – if it is, excellent! Most will be water-resistant at best, but it’s common sense to avoid heavy rain and submersion with budget binoculars.
The very best in this price range will not only be waterproof but fogproof too. The barrels are purged of oxygen with an inert dry gas like nitrogen. This keeps mold and fungi from growing on the inside and from internal condensation from fogging up the lenses. Body armor will also help your binoculars last longer.
Waterproof & Fogproof Comparisons
*Water-resistant – not waterproof
Cheap VS Junk: The Difference
There’s a difference to buyer satisfaction when buying low budget binoculars when you’re informed. When you don’t know what to look for, you are at risk of buying junk – plastic lenses and the lot.
Look for the type of glass the prisms have been made with, what level of coatings they have, if they have a wide FOV, are tripod adaptable for mounting, or if they’re water and fogproof. When you know to look for at least a few of these things, you’ll know how to make the most of your hard-earned money.
Not all cheap binoculars are bad. These are the gems that are worth the money!
When Browning released the X-Bolt Max Long Range back in 2019, precision rifle shooters and long-range hunters rejoiced. By combining Browning’s highly-adjustable Composite Max stock with the proven X-Bolt action, long-range enthusiasts can obtain the custom fit necessary for nearly any optic. Add in 6.5 mm Creedmoor chambering—along with old stalwarts such as .300 Win. Mag. and newer calibers such as 6.8 Western—and many shooters were lining up to get one for themselves.
I decided to pair the Browning X-Bolt Max Long Range 6.5 mm Creedmoor with Swarovski’s ds Smart Optic. Although optimized for hunting, I love the clarity this riflescope provides, along with the built-in laser rangefinder. Effective out to 700 yards and some change, the rangefinding scope was perfect for shooting that day, and most importantly—it was already mounted on the X-Bolt Max Long Range 6.5 mm Creedmoor. Of course, you don’t need a fancy optic to have a good time at the range, but Swarovski’s dS was certainly a crowd pleaser during this outing.
Repeatability, thanks to customization
Whether sitting, kneeling or prone, the foundation of any well-placed long-range rifle shot begins with a well-built “house.” A stock such as the one with the Max Long Range comes in handy here. The Composite Max stock has an adjustable comb for setting eye-to-scope alignment. An ambidextrous adjustment knob and height markings makes adjusting the comb height quick and simple. Switching between two shooters, adjusting the height to find the “sweet spot” again only takes a few seconds. Three spacers are included to customize the length-of-pull. I especially like the textured gripping surfaces, along with the vertical pistol grip and thumb rest.
With a stock that sports a target-style palm swell and a flat-bottomed fore-end, the design of this rifle can help you build a stable shooting platform using a hunting pack in the field, in a similar manner to using range bags.
The X-Bolt Long-Range’s short, 60-degree throw bolt handle is extended a bit, which is helpful for when you don’t want to get off the scope. I found it to be quite repeatable, but must admit that after the first live-fire shot, I had trouble finding it again. This was more user error than design flaw. (Note: The 2021 X-Bolt Max Long Range model has an extended bolt knob.) After that initial misstep, though, it became second-nature, and soon I was ringing steel plates at 200 and 300 yards without skipping a beat. And while punching out further, up to 600 yards (700 yards is the Swarovski dS Smart Optic’s maximum effective range), I was smacking 18-inch round plates at assorted distances with ease.
The 26-inch, stainless-steel, heavy sporter contour barrel is fluted, and includes a removable muzzle brake along with a thread protector. Disregarding my neighbors on the firing line, I kept the muzzle brake on and it performed admirably. The barrel, although hefty, gives the rifle excellent balance while standing as well. Button-rifled and fluted, with a 1:7-inch right-hand twist, this fast barrel is ideal for the high-BC bullets used in precision rifle shooting and long-range hunting.
Browning’s signature gold-plated Feather Trigger is set at the factory to approximately three-and-a-half pounds. Adjustable from three to five pounds, the trigger itself has a nice feel on the fingertip, and the amount of engineering the company put in to creating it is noticeable and appreciated.
Something to note about my gear combination—it was heavy. The Swarovski dS Smart Optic is one tank of a scope, coming in at 38.4 ounces, and the X-Bolt Max Long Range rifle itself weighs more than eight pounds without a loaded magazine. Pair the X-Bolt with a smaller scope, perhaps something with a large objective lens, such as a Leupold VX-5HD 4-20X 52 mm optic, and you will enjoy the benefits of a lighter rig.
For a rifle that offers it all, such as the Browning X-Bolt Max Long Range 6.5 mm Creedmoor, a MSRP price under $1,400 certainly makes it a best buy. In addition to 6.5 mm Creedmoor, there are 10 more calibers available, including 6.8 Western, .300 PRC and 6.5 PRC. Best of all, you know you are getting a quality rifle with Browning’s solid reputation for quality. Visit Browning.com.
Gear
Browning X-Bolt Max Long Range 6.5 mm Creedmoor. $1,379.99, Browning.com
It’s impossible to pick up the Beretta A400 Xtreme Plus shotgun and not immediately feel the quality and see the precision of this gas-driven auto-loader. Then you bring the gun to your shoulder, fire it, and realize that it’s one of the softest 3½-inch, 12 gauge shotguns you have ever shot. You must pay a higher price for that experience of course (MSRP is $1,749), but Beretta has been making some of the best semi-autos the hunting world has seen since the A300 series shotguns were introduced in the early 1980s. When you buy a Beretta, you’re investing in gun that will likely last generations.
The Beretta A400 Xtreme Plus is the the pinnacle in Beretta’s long-running history of building a semi-auto shotgun that just about every waterfowler wants in their gun closet…probably right next to workhorses like their 3-inch shotgun the A390 and Xtrema2. Here’s a closer look at what makes the A400 Xtreme Plus our Editor’s Choice of the best duck hunting shotguns.
Beretta A400 Xtreme Plus Specifications and Features
These are the standard options that are included in the Beretta A400 Xtreme Plus shotgun:
The KickOff Mega is a three-spring hydraulic system housed in the stock of the A400. Joe Genzel
The lack of recoil that shooters experience is what sets the Beretta A400 apart from competitors like Benelli, Browning, and Winchester. Beretta calls it the Kick-Off Mega, which is a three-spring hydraulic system inside the stock that softens the blow of recoil. Part of the Kick-Off3 system is a long spring-loaded steel rod contained in the pistol grip of the stock, which acts as a buffer as the bolt moves reward. There’s also a rubber recoil pad on the buttstock and another rubber pad where your cheek meets the stock. That rubber pad will lessen any recoil you may feel, but it also acts as a good cheek weld, to keep you “in the gun” when ducks are swinging through the decoys.
I’ve shot light target loads, 1 1/8-ounce duck and goose shells, and 2-ounce lead turkey ammo through the Beretta A400 Xtreme Plus shotgun, and it’s never thumped me. You can certainly tell the difference when you’re shooting those different charge weights, but it only feels like deeper pressure on your shoulder. It’s kind of like the difference in getting a light massage versus a deep tissue.
The A400 Was Built For a Specific Purpose
You won’t see many duck guides carrying the A400 Xtreme Plus. That’s not a strike against this gun. It’s just heavier than most modern auto-loaders, and guides are tasked with carrying more gear than their clients, so they will often trade a bit more recoil for a lighter gun. Plus, they don’t shoot as much as the clients. It’s definitely a blind hunter’s gun; built for folks that boat in or don’t have to make long walks down a levee to a public stake. You certainly can tote this gun into the marsh—I have and so do many others—but it is much more cumbersome than a Benelli or Browning auto. While it may not be a joy to carry, once you get to your hunting spot there are few guns that can compete with the accuracy and soft recoil of this Beretta.
It’s definitely not meant to be an upland shotgun. It will kill a flushing rooster just fine, and if you pheasant hunt occasionally, the A400 will serve your purpose. But if you’re a dyed-in-the-wool bird hunter, who loves hunting behind pointers every weekend, there are better guns in the Beretta stable, like the A400 Action 20-gauge, or Beretta’s high-end double guns.
Throw a sling and red-dot optic (the receiver is drilled and tapped for one) on the A400 and it makes a fine, albeit weighty turkey gun. And it’s a hell of a clays gun, cycling 2 3/4-inch, 1-ounce target loads with ease. You won’t see a diehard skeet shooter pick this model of A400 (there is a clays version), but again, if you’re an occasional target shooter, this gun can do the job. It’s length, weight, and balance point, which is perfectly centered, make it easier to swing on clays than light autos that are easy to get moving but tougher keep in front of the bird.
Beretta’s A400 Has Superior Ergonomics
When you first hold the A400 in hand, it feels like a heavy gun, even though it’s only 7.8 pounds. But by today’s duck gun standards, that’s heavy (the A400 Xtreme Plus was only outweighed by the Remington 1100 and an old Browning BPS, that were part of our Texas gun test). It’s also a long shotgun at 49½ inches with a fat fore-end that folks with smaller hands might have trouble getting a good grip on.
But, as mentioned previously, long, heavy guns are often easier to shoot than shotguns that are a full pound (or more) lighter, which many modern auto-loaders are. It was advantageous to shoot the A400 on flittering bluewing teal that couldn’t decide if they would splash down in the decoys or rocket through them at 40 mph. With a big gun, your firearm is more apt to be in motion because it’s harder to stop and that’s a good thing when you’re shooting at ducks with unpredictable flight patterns. Field & Stream Shooting Editor Phil Bourjaliy has told me many times, that the bigger and clunkier a gun looks and feels, the easier it is to shoot, and that’s certainly true of the Beretta A400 Xtreme Plus.
It doesn’t have the pointy feel of a Benelli when you first start shooting the A400, but most hunters do shoot it well. The four of us certainly did in Texas, and anyone we handed the gun off to at the clays range shot it as good as their own personal guns, or close to it. That’s a staple of Berettas—they fit just about anyone.
The A400 Xtreme Plus Has Plenty of Extras
The A400 comes standard with an oversized bolt handle, bolt release button, load port, and trigger guard. Joe Genzel
Like most of today’s duck guns, the Beretta A400 features an enlarged loading port and trigger guard, which makes it easier to load shells and pull the trigger with gloved hands. I performed both operations with a thick set of gloves on and had no issues. There’s also an extended charging handle for better grip when you’re unloading the gun, and a large lever-like bolt release button.
Once you open the bolt by depressing the button under the carrier, do be careful of accidently touching off the bolt-release button. It’s so large and sensitive that when I was walking an unloaded A400 out of the marsh on my shoulder I hit the bolt-release and it closed the bolt, pinching my shirt into the action. I also caught my fingers in the receiver on an accidental closure—it does not feel good.
There is no cut-off lever on the left side of the A400 Xtrem Plus. The first generation of the gun had one. It allows the bolt to remain open and keep the remaining shells in the magazine without entering the carrier and being lifted into battery. This is a feature some hunters use if they’re duck hunting and a big, greasy 12-pound resident honker starts winging its way towards the decoys. Press the lever, eject your 3-inch, No. 4 duck shotshell and you could slide in a load of BBs. But you won’t have that convenience with the new model.
The fore-end cap is easy to take off, requiring just a half-turn to remove it. That’s handy if you need to perform a quick field strip of the gun. The cap is also neon green on the inside rim, so if you drop it in the bottom of the pit blind at 5 a.m., it should be a little easier to find under the glare of your headlamp.
A Look Inside the A400
If you’ve ever cleaned a Beretta A390, you know that there are multiple pieces to remove and clean once the fore-end comes off. Beretta has made it much easier to perform maintenance on its guns with the A400 line. Once the fore-end is removed, the barrel slides out of the receiver. The gas piston is located inside a metal cylinder under the barrel and simply slides out for cleaning. To remove the bolt assembly, you depress the rotating bolt head, take out the bolt handle, and the bolt, bolt carrier, piston stock, and recoil spring all come out in one piece. Removing the bolt handle can be tricky. You have to push the bolt head back into the receiver until it starts to rotate, then the handle should come free.
The trigger assembly is held in place by a single trigger pin, which makes removing and re-insertion fast.
Testing the Beretta A400 Xtreme Plus
We had no cycling issues with the Beretta A400. Stephen Maturen
The A400 Xtreme Plus we shot had no issues cycling. A team of four editors—myself included—from Outdoor Life and Field & Stream tested the gun—along with 16 others—on sporting clays and bluewing teal for three days in Sept. 2021, at Pintail Hunting Club in Garwood, Texas. We put the gun through as much hell as we could find, dropping it in the water and muddy marsh, running hundreds of rounds through it, and letting it sit in the back of the truck with a bunch of other dirty guns, never cleaning it. The A400 didn’t hiccup once. It also was one of the fastest-cycling guns in our test, thanks to the Blink system, which Beretta touts as 36 percent faster than other shotguns. We couldn’t put an actual percentage to it, but it was a damn fast gun.
You may recall, the first version of the A400 did have some trouble ejecting 3- and 3½-inch shotshells. It wasn’t every gun, mind you, and I never experienced that issue with any A400 Xtreme I shot, but did witness others have a problem. I saw it struggle most with 3½-inch Remington Hypersonic and during snow goose shoots when the gun had to rapidly cycle an extension magazine full of 3-inch ammo. I asked different Beretta sales reps and engineers at the time what was going on with the gun, but the answers were always murky.
This gun doesn’t seem to have the same cycling issues. I’ve only seen the A400 Xtreme Plus fail to eject a spent shell on one hunt. It was an extremely cold day in February and my buddy was shooting a brand of shotshell that flared at the business end of the hull after ignition. And those “petals” would hang on in the action. I can’t say whether it was the gun’s fault or the shotshell’s; it’s just what I observed. And my friend has shot the same brand before and experienced clean ejection. So it could have been a bad batch of ammo.
The same friend that had the malfunction in February shot his A400 on snow geese a few weeks later after a good cleaning in warmer weather, with a different brand of ammo, and it ran through 10 rounds (he had an extension magazine on it) in multiple volleys, no problem. Another hunter also was shooting the A400 Xtreme Plus on that trip, and had no issues with his gun, which was also equipped with an extension mag.
How the A400 Patterned
Since we tested so many guns (17) in Texas, we picked one distance (35 yards) to pattern each gun from. The industry standard is 40 yards, but we wanted to showcase the patterns at a more realistic yardage for duck hunters. Plus, your average hunter should keep shooting distances inside 35 yards. Once you get out to 40 it takes more skill, and the likelihood of crippling birds goes up.
We patterned each gun with Federal Speed Shok 3-inch, No. 2s with a muzzle velocity of 1,550 fps and a charge weight of 1 1/8 ounces.
The A400’s best pattern put 109 pellets inside the 30-inch cirle. Stephen Maturen
The Beretta A400 shot 60 percent above and 40 percent below point-of-impact. It’s a gun that shoots where you point it. Its best pattern put 109 of 140 (78 percent) pellets inside the 30-inch circle. That wasn’t the best overall pattern of the shotgun test, but it was one of the most even. It filled the target with no holes that a duck could fly through. Some guns like to shoot right, left, high or low, but the A400 was dead on. You cover a mallard with this gun and it will kill it.
Final Thoughts on the Beretta A400 Xtreme Plus
If you’re a gas gun stalwart and have the financial means, there is no better auto-loading duck hunting gun than the Beretta A400. Anything Beretta got wrong with the first generation of this gun, it fixed with the new model. Yes, it’s a little clunky and heavy, but you can’t argue with its accuracy, reliability, and light recoil. Plus, this shotgun is going to be in your family far past your lifetime. When you take that into consideration, $1,800 isn’t such an exorbitant price tag for gun that could someday belong to your grandchildren.
The stock has dual raised cheekpieces (dual-comb), which are located on both the left side and right side of the stock.
A dual-comb is helpful if you are a left-handed shooter.
Also, this gun has deep grooves on the grip and forearm that add friction to your hands when shooting, prevent slippage from the shooter’s sweat and improve stability in aiming.
What makes the stock stand out in the market is its special forearm.
The foregrip is designed in a beaver-tail style to promote the artillery hold shooting position.
The wider surface area of the forearm is designed to rest on the palm of your hand .
And let it “float” naturally so you can let the gun recoil in any way it wants and achieve improved accuracy.
Ammo
Crosman Nitro Venom Dusk uses a .22 pellet as its only source of ammunition.
While the .177 pellet is lighter and often doesn’t have enough knockdown power to take out an animal in 1 shot,
.22 is heavier, more stable on its trajectory, and hits the target with serious authority so it’s a go-to pellet of field hunters and pest eliminators.
Alaskan moose is one of the largest moose among the deer family. Their height often exceeds 7 feet. The largest recorded moose height is about 7 feet 7 inches high which is an inch taller than the world’s tallest NBA players.
Did you know that the average height of a human male is about 1.77 m tall, while the average height for moose ranges from 1.4 to 2.1 m?
This article covers the size of moose compared to humans and much more!
How Big Is a Full-Grown Moose?
From hoof to shoulder, moose have an average height of six feet, i.e. 1.8 meters. The height range is from 5 to 6.5 feet at the shoulders.
The size of the head and the body of a moose ranges from 7 feet 10 inches to 10 feet 2 inches. Their vestigial tail is between 5 to 12 cm long.
Male moose are larger than female moose, with a weight of 380 to 700 kg (838 to 1,543 lbs). On the other hand, the weight of females ranges from 200 to 490 kg (441 to 1,080 lbs). ~ Source
How Big Is the Largest Moose in the World?
As we already know that the Alaskan moose are the largest subspecies of moose. So, the largest moose ever recorded was also from the Alaskan subspecies.
The largest recorded moose weighed nearly 1808 pounds and was 7 feet 8 inches tall. This moose was shot in September 1897. ~ Source
However, there have been reports of other larger moose, for instance, a male who weighed 2299 lbs and was shot in 2004.
Another male moose that was shot later in the 2000s weighed nearly 2601 lbs.
Note: There are no authentic sources to confirm these records.
Moose Size Comparison According to The Types of Moose
Moose sizes vary depending on the subspecies of the animal. The difference is mainly attributed to adaptation to local conditions. North America is home to four subspecies of moose.
Here is a comparison of the size of moose based on their subspecies:
Alaska Yukon Moose:
This is the biggest subspecies of moose in terms of size. The heaviest weight ever recorded among the moose family is nearly 1808 pounds. ~ A-Z Animals
Even Alaskan moose antlers measure about 80 inches across.
East Siberian Elk
Moose based in Eurasia are among the biggest species of moose on the planet.
There is a very small difference in the sizes between Alaskan moose and East Siberian Elk. these moose weigh more than 1600 pounds.
Yellowstone Moose:
Yellowstone moose inhabit North America. They are the smallest subspecies of moose, weighing just 1000 pounds!
Moose Subspecies in Amur:
Amur is situated near the border of Russia and China. This region is known for being home to the smallest subspecies of moose. These animals are almost 6 feet tall.
How Big Are Moose Compared to Humans?
Moose is the tallest creature compared to other members of the deer family. Fully-grown moose are way taller than the world’s tallest humans.
The average height of a moose is nearly 6.5 feet, while the height of a male human being is just 5 feet 7 inches.
The height of the Alaskan moose crosses 7 feet at the shoulder.
Overall height crosses 10 feet when the antlers and the head of the moose are added. This is massive, even if compared to the world’s tallest human, with a height of 8 feet 11.5 inches.
How Big Are Moose Compared to Horses?
Horses are measured to the ridge located between their shoulder blades. The average height of a horse is 5 feet 4 inches. Considering the height of a moose, it has been observed that a moose is a foot and a half taller than a horse.
The height of horses is also variable just like the heights of different subspecies of moose. The tallest horse ever recorded had a height of 82.75 inches which is just an inch shorter than 7 inches.
So, the world’s tallest horse is about as tall as a male Alaskan moose. Yet, the world’s tallest moose is 9 inches taller than the world’s tallest horse.
Although moose are bigger than horses in size, moose tend to have a lower body weight than horses.
Horses’ weight ranges from 120 to 2200 pounds, while the weight of a full-grown moose is about 1600 pounds.
How Big Is a Moose Compared to a Bison?
Bison is another mighty herbivore that can compete with a moose in terms of size.
This animal measures 6.5 feet tall at the shoulder, which is almost as tall as a cervid found in Yellowstone.
The adult male bison weighs 2000 pounds, meaning it is much heavier than a moose. A bison weighs twice as much as a Yellowstone moose.
How Strong Is a Moose?
Moose are heavy-bodied creatures with a very strong pair of front and hind legs. They use their sharp hooves to stomp people or animals to death.
Did you know? Moose are responsible for nearly 1500 road accidents in Canada, Alaska, and New England. These animals can cause serious injuries and even death which shows how strong they are. ~ A-Z Animals
Bull moose are specially equipped to fight and ward off other moose, especially at the time of mating. They have huge shoulders and their neck muscles double in size during the rut.
Bull moose have very thick forehead skin, which protects their skull from injuries during the rut.
Thanks to their fast-running speed, they can easily knock down a human being and possibly even injure them seriously. They use their strong legs to kick predators and run from them.
What Is the Size of a Baby Moose?
Newborn moose weighs approximately 30 pounds. Baby moose tend to eat a lot.
Estimates have shown that baby moose eat a lot to gain weight. Calves consume more food in summer than in the winter to prepare themselves for the long winter months when food is scarce.
Research has also shown that baby moose gain a pound of weight on a daily basis and might even put on 4 pounds daily in the spring and summer months.
FAQs
What do you call a baby moose?
A baby moose is called a moose, while male moose are known as bulls and female moose are called cows.
How much does a moose weigh at birth?
When calves are born, they weigh 25 to 35 pounds and are reddish brown in color.
Conclusion
Changes in the temperature of the earth affect all creatures living in the Northern hemisphere, including moose. Hunting is also a major life threat to these unique animals.
Action needs to be taken to protect these creatures as their population numbers decline. This article helped answer your question regarding the size of moose.
Today I’m going to show you the best red dot scope for turkey hunting.
In fact:
I’ve hand-tested over a dozen optics alone for this review.
The best part?
I’ve sorted the scopes by use. So whether you’re on a budget or need the best red dot sight, you’ll find it here.
Let’s dive in!
Best Red Dot Scope for Turkey Hunting
Trijicon MRO
$450-750
Aimpoint PRO
Best for Long Range
$463
Best for the Money
$310
Vortex Venom
Best for the Budget
$230
Why use a red dot sight to hunt turkey?
Turkey hunting needs reliable magnification and durability. Red dot sights are known for fast target acquisition, though, and turkey hunters have to move quick.
Red dot sights have unlimited eye relief, so you can use your peripheral vision. They’re a lighter red dot scope for turkey hunting across hard terrain. Basically, turkey hunters should use a red dot.
What qualities should you look for?
Not all red dots are built equally. Some are manufactured with better parts while others are designed for a specific purpose. With that in mind, here are some important factors to consider.
Lens Clarity
When you’re turkey hunting, quickness matters. A big part of being able to sight on your target is the reticle. Some red dots have larger dot reticles that can make it hard to see everything.
Since turkey hunting is outdoors, it also helps to have a green dot option. Red dots are great for certain environments, but green is better for outdoor use. It’s just a little more expensive.
The price is worth it, though. Green dot reticles are better to stand out against tree surroundings.
Design
You never know how long you’ll be turkey hunting, so it’s good to have lighter gear. A red dot sight doesn’t weigh as much as rifle scopes, and they’re usually more mobile.
It’s also important to have durable construction. You might even want a red dot sight that’s small enough to co-witness, so remember your turkey hunting goals.
Battery
Most red dot sights for turkey hunting use batteries that you’ll have to replace when they run out. It’s better to use one that has a common battery. Of course, you also want your battery to last.
Battery life can depend on a number of factors beyond hours of use. The brightness setting you need for turkey hunting, for example, can drain the battery faster.
Versatility
If you’re like me, you have a few guns in your collection. It’s always better if the red dot sight, like something from Vortex, can fit on several, or all, of them. This can save you money and give an accuracy edge to your shooting across the board.
The Best Red Dot Scope for Turkey Hunting
If you’re pressed on time, here’s a quick list of the best red dot scopes for turkey hunting:
Trijicon MRO: Best Overall
Aimpoint PRO: Best for Long Range
Holosun 510c: Best for the Money
Vortex Venom: Best for Budget
1. Trijicon MRO: Best Overall Red Dot Scope
One of the best manufacturers out there is Trijicon, and their MRO has quickly become my favorite red dot. It has an impressive number of features, but you’ll definitely pay for them.
Glass Clarity & Reticle Patterns
Trijicon built the MRO with efficiency in mind. It has a multi-coated lens, so I haven’t had issues with smudges or clarity.
I love how easy it is to use, too. The MRO has 8 ambidextrous settings for brightness, with 4 of them meant for night turkey hunting. The 2 MOA reticle has an intense dot that I can see in countless conditions.
Eye Relief & Eye Box
Unlimited eye relief is a great feature of red dot sights for turkey hunting. However, the Trijicon MRO stands out with one of the best fields of vision I’ve seen, literally.
Durability and Weight
The high-grade aluminum tube is matte black. It only weighs a little over 5 ounces, so it’s easy on my arms for longer turkey hunting. The 2.6-inch length also lets me mount a rifle scope to co-witness.
Once I mounted it, the MRO didn’t shift at all from recoil. Even my shotgun sights didn’t move my zero, so it’s a serious piece of machinery. Trijicon’s optic is waterproof and extremely durable.
Elevation & Windage Knobs
The adjustment knobs on my MRO give me a lot of control over the settings. Each click is ½ MOA with a total range of 70 MOA for elevation and windage.
I don’t have any trouble getting to the knobs, either. The elevation is on top of the red dot sight and windage is controlled on the side.
Parallax & Magnification
The MRO is parallax-free, so the red dot doesn’t move with the sight. I haven’t had any issues with precision or maintaining my target. As with most red dots, the magnification is 1x.
Mounting & Rings
If you need a red dot sight that can mount most of the weapons in your collection, Trijicon has you covered. I’ve been able to put it on every weapon I own, so it works for shotgun sights.
On top of that, the MRO comes with a quick-release mount. If there was a situation where I could co-witness, which hasn’t happened yet, I could swap out scopes easily.
Battery
A highlight of the MRO is the battery. I’ve never had to replace it and it’s supposed to last for 5 continuous years. I also haven’t noticed any issues with the higher brightness levels.
Is the Trijicon MRO worth it?
It’s a little more expensive, but the Trijicon MRO is one of the best red dots I’ve ever used for anything. That means it’s perfect for any turkey hunting needs.
Why? It’s got:
2 MOA red dot
Multi-coated lens
Fantastic brightness settings
5-year battery use
Quality components
For the price you’re paying, Trijicon doesn’t have my favorite warranty. It only lasts 3 years, you need proof of purchase, and it’s non-transferrable. Still, with the durability, I don’t foresee needing to repair or replace my red dot sight anytime soon.
If you want efficiency without the Trijicon price, though, you might like the Burris FastFire III. It’s a little older, but it’s got some great features, like a 3 MOA reticle for improved accuracy.
2. Aimpoint PRO: Best Long Range Red Dot Scope (rewrite)
Another trusted name in sights for turkey hunting is Aimpoint. They offer the ACO and the upgraded Aimpoint PRO, and I always recommend the latter if you can afford it. There’s a reason law enforcement and the military use the PRO.
Glass Clarity & Reticle Patterns
Similar to the Trijicon, the Aimpoint PRO has a 2 MOA reticle and multi-coated lenses. The lens reduces glare, so I’ve never had a problem shooting during the daytime.
Thanks to the red dot picture quality, turkey hunting at 150 yards or farther. With some sights for turkey hunting, night vision makes the image grainy. The PRO retains a clear picture.
Eye Relief & Eye Box
You have the traditional unlimited eye relief with a PRO. I can see everything in my field of view clearly, so I can watch for movement outside of my red dot sight.
Durability and Weight
Aimpoint is one of the best manufacturers in optics. They use quality parts for their red dot scope for turkey hunting, so I’ve never had any issues with durability. The PRO’s tube is made of aircraft-grade aluminum.
The matte-black finish has water wicking and it’s waterproof, so you don’t have to worry about rain. Humidity isn’t even a problem, because the tube is sealed to be fog-proof.
The PRO is shock-proof and scratch-proof. I’ve used mine for a while and it’s survived all of my turkey hunting trips without a scratch. I was surprised at how tough it is, since it’s only 11.6 ounces.
Elevation & Windage Knobs
The elevation and windage knobs on the Aimpoint PRO are covered with aluminum caps. They’re safe, and easy to adjust with the included tool. With ½ MOA clicks, I was able to zero my PRO at 100 yards with ease.
Parallax & Magnification
The Aimpoint PRO is parallax-free with a 1x magnification, which is pretty standard for a red dot sight.
Mounting & Rings
The PRO mounts on a low-profile Picatinny rail. Since I’ve mounted it, I haven’t had to worry about it moving from recoil on any of my firearms.
Plus, the low profile helps with my field of view. The PRO works if you need shotgun sights for turkey hunting.
Battery
The Aimpoint PRO red dot uses a 2L76 battery, which is a little less common. Still, it can run continuously for 30,000 hours, so you won’t be replacing it for at least 3 years.
The highest brightness settings might affect that, but I haven’t had any issues with battery life in the last year. My PRO has 10 brightness options. 6 of them are for daytime shooting.
The back 4 are specifically built for night vision compatibility. That means I don’t have to worry if I’m still turkey hunting when the sun goes down, and the battery hasn’t failed me yet.
Is the Aimpoint PRO worth it?
I’d argue that the Aimpoint ACO and the PRO are both worth it, but the PRO is definitely superior. The ACO has similar features, but they don’t stack up to the PRO for long range.
Here’s why:
Waterproof, fog-proof, shockproof
10 settings for brightness
30,000 hour battery life
Night vision
Aimpoint has a pretty good warranty, depending on your purpose. If you’re using your PRO for competitive or professional shooting, it’s only good for 2 years.
Personal use at the range and turkey hunting, though, comes with a 10-year warranty for defects, repairs, and replacement.
3. Holosun 510c: Best for the Money Red Dot Scope
One of the newer names that impressed me is Holosun. They offer a number of optics for different needs, and the 510c reflex sight is a perfect red dot sight for turkey hunting.
Glass Clarity & Reticle Patterns
The multi-coated lens of my 510c is clear, and the LED reticle helps make the image pop. It comes with a red or green dot reticle, which is perfect for anyone with astigmatism or eye struggles.
One feature that separates the Holosun is that it can switch reticles. While I love the 2 MOA red dot, it can swap to a 65 MOA circle. It can even combine the two for a dot inside a circle.
Eye Relief & Eye Box
Unlimited eye relief and a wide field of view are pretty standard with the 510c. I didn’t notice anything wrong or better.
Durability and Weight
The Holosun 510c weighs just over 8 ounces. The high-grade aluminum tube is also 3.3 inches long, so it easily fits on a rail to co-witness. I love that the sight has a titanium hood, too.
Holosun uses great products for components, so I haven’t put a dent in my 510c. It’s been on many turkey hunting trips without any issues, especially since it’s water- and dust-proof.
Elevation & Windage Knobs
The 510c comes with a T10 L key, which is used to adjust the elevation and windage knobs. It’s easy enough to do on the fly, and the ½ MOA clicks make it easy to zero your red dot sight.
Both elevation and windage adjustments max out at 50 MOA.
Parallax & Magnification
My Holosun 510c is parallax-free past 50 yards with a 1x magnification. However, the anti-reflective coating on my lenses helps with farther shots.
Mounting & Rings
One thing that I’d use as a con is that it doesn’t come with a mount. However, it can be mounted to be a low-profile, absolute co-witness red dot sight. It’s easy to mount with the tool, too. This is great for shotgun sights for turkey hunting.
Battery
Thankfully, the Holosun 510c uses a CR2032 battery, which is very easy to find a replacement for. With 50,000 hours of battery life, though, you won’t need to.
Not only can the battery last for a long time, but Holosun extended that efficiency with two amazing features: Shake Awake and Solar Failsafe.
The former means your 510c will turn on when it senses motion. The latter means that your Holosun red dot sight can use solar power to conserve battery if you’re in the sun.
As for brightness levels, you have 12 settings to choose from. 10 of them are for daylight, and I like to keep mine around 7 or 8, depending. 11 and 12 are perfect for night vision, too, so I’ve gotten a lot of use out of the 510c.
Is the Holosun 510c worth it?
Definitely. Holosun may be newer, but they’ve certainly done their homework. The 510c delivers a premium red dot sight at a premium price.
Why? It’s got…
3 reticle options
Extended battery plus solar options
12 brightness settings
Holosun has a 10-year warranty on their red dot sights. That amount of time is great, because the durability and battery of this sight mean I won’t need to consider a warranty for a lot of years.
4. Vortex Venom: Best Budget Red Dot Scope
If you’re operating on a budget, Vortex is one of the best manufacturers you can look at. The Vortex Venom isn’t necessarily the cheapest, but it’s the best quality for your dollar.
Glass Clarity & Reticle Patterns
For starters, the Venom sticks out because it has a reticle that can switch between 3 MOA and 6 MOA. Different red dot sizes can be better for short- or long-range shots.
Whether you use 6 MOA for long-range shots or not, you still want a clear sight picture. The lenses on the Venom are fully multi-coated for the perfect image.
Eye Relief & Eye Box
As usual, you’re getting unlimited eye relief and you can see everything inside and out of your Vortex Venom.
Durability and Weight
Something that I love about the Venom is how light it is. While none of the red dot sights on this list are heavy, 1.1 ounces takes the cake.
Aluminum is a lightweight material, which is why the Vortex’s tube is made with that. The tube itself is sealed with an o-ring to prevent fog or humidity from affecting the image.
You’ll get a waterproof, fog-proof, scratch-resistant red dot scope thanks to the ArmorTek coat to your Venom. For a red dot sight under $300, Vortex makes a great argument as the best.
Elevation & Windage Knobs
The adjustments on your elevation and windage knobs aren’t quite as precise as some of the more-expensive sights. Still, 1 MOA isn’t bad and they’re not hard to get to.
The max range of elevation and windage is 130 MOA and 100 MOA, respectively. It was easy to zero and I’ve barely had to readjust since.
Parallax & Magnification
Even though it has a 1x magnification with the typical parallax-free nature of red dots, I can easily hit things at 150 yards consistently.
Mounting & Rings
The Venom is also one of the most versatile red dot sights. You can put it on a Weaver or Picatinny rail and it’s adjustable for the height of your cheek weld.
Vortex made an affordable red dot sight for turkey hunters. If you need shotgun sights when you’re turkey hunting, this could be the red dot for you.
Battery
One restriction of the Venom is the 150 hours of battery life, but that’s at the brightest setting. Your CR1632 battery can handle all 10 levels of brightness for a long time.
While the 150 hours for peak brightness may seem low, you’ll get a continuous 30,000 at the lowest. It’s about your purpose and when you plan to go turkey hunting.
Is the Vortex Venom worth it?
One of the best names in optics is Vortex and the Venom has a lot of great features for the cost. It’s the only reflex sight on this list and worth adding to your collection.
Why? It’s got…
3 or 6 MOA reticles
Variable battery life
10 brightness options
Lightweight composition
Another great quality for the cost is the Vortex warranty. It’s transferable with a lifetime warranty to get repairs no-questions-asked. I’ve loved their customer service so far and they work fast.
Still, if you’d rather go even lower, you can get the Vortex StrikeFire II for $50 less. It’s also a great red dot scope for turkey hunting on a budget. The StrikeFire II has similar features for a little less.
Final Verdict
The best red dot scope for turkey hunting comes down to preference and purpose, but my top recommendation would be the Trijicon MRO. It’s more expensive, but you’re paying for quality and versatility.
You also get both colors of reticle and a long-lasting battery for any situation. If you need a red dot scope for a unique reason, though, you can’t go wrong with the other three.
Now It’s Your Turn
I hope you enjoyed my best red dot scope for turkey hunting guide.
Now I want to turn it over to you:
Which red dot sight will you pick for turkey hunting? Or perhaps you already have one and would like to share your thoughts.
Either way, let me know by leaving a quick comment down below.
The porcupine is willing and able to defend itself against attack, but really just wants to be left alone to live its mostly solitary life.
After his horse tangled with a porcupine and ended up with an ankle full of quills, a friend grumbled, “Porcupines, what good are they?” This is the same question another friend asked years ago when he chided me for “wasting a column writing about porcupines”.
It isn’t an unusual question. Humans tend to judge the value of just about everything by how they are personally benefited or vexed by it. That seems to be particularly true of wildlife. If a personal or even general benefit isn’t obvious, then clearly we don’t need that species.
A porcupine is a mild mannered creature wanting nothing more than to go about its business and be left alone. When a dog, horse or human can’t abide the live-and-let-live attitude of the porcupine, it can and will defend itself. And for some reason, humans are offended by that.
Here is a small animal, weighing less than 20 pounds, and we won’t tolerate an act of self defense? Perhaps it rocks our world a bit much. As the self-proclaimed rulers of this world is it an attack on our sovereignty to have an animal, especially a small non aggressive one, be able to put us in our place?
A complaint about porcupines is that they damage trees. Absolutely true. However, that viewpoint is literally missing the forest for the trees. Porcupines evolved with the forests and are part of a system of forest replenishment. Trees damaged by porcupines provide critical habitat for dozens of other species. These trees then become part of the nutrient cycling essential to forest health. Chewing on trees only becomes a “problem” when that tree happens to be in a human’s backyard or is part of a commercial plantation.
In a greater context, our ancestors probably had greater respect for the lowly porcupine as they were once a staple of many human diets. Today, few humans eat them but they remain an important part of mountain lion fare. Sure, they may only make up a few percent of the average lion’s chow and if a lion went hungry rather than feast on porcupine, it might be character building. But having porcupines available when other food is scarce or difficult to catch may also mean the difference between life and death for a lion, a species humans seem to value.
Aesthetically, porcupines are just as fun to watch as other wildlife. They may not be as flamboyant as an elk, as personable as an otter or as cute as a marten, but fun just the same. And I actually like knowing that I approach a porcupine at my own peril. There is sport in that.
Regardless of these clear values, porcupines are part of the system and as such are worthwhile. What watch repairman or auto mechanic would discard a part just because he doesn’t understand its function? As Aldo Leopold said, “It is the first rule of intelligent tinkering to save all the parts.”
We shouldn’t have to understand porcupines to appreciate them.
Wildlife License Plates
Idaho Wildlife license plates provide essential funding that benefits the great diversity of native plants and wildlife that are not hunted, fished or trapped—over 10,000 species or 98% of Idaho’s species diversity. Game species that share the same habitats (such as elk, deer, antelope, sage-grouse, salmon, trout) also benefit from these specialty plates.
No state tax dollars are provided for wildlife diversity, conservation education and recreation programs. Neither are any revenues from the sale of hunting or fishing licenses spent on nongame species. Instead, these species depend on direct donations, federal grants, fundraising initiatives—and the Idaho Wildlife license plates.
Both my vehicles have Bluebird Plates. I prefer the bluebird because the nongame program gets 70 percent of the money from bluebird plates, but only 60 percent of the money from elk and trout plates – 10 percent of the money from elk plates supports wildlife disease monitoring and testing programs (to benefit the livestock industry) and 10 percent from cutthroat plates supports non-motorized boat access.
Incidentally, in 2014, the Idaho Legislature denied the Department of Fish and Game the ability to add new plates or even to change the name of the elk and cutthroat plates (very specific) to wildlife and fish plates, a move that would have allowed for changing images occasionally and generating more revenue. It would seem that they believe that we Idahoans don’t want a well funded wildlife program. Go figure.
By Valentine’s Day you’ve probably felt the pain: the agony of having coyotes shun your calls. It’s not out of the ordinary for coyote-calling success to dwindle as the days begin to grow longer with spring’s approach. Educated coyotes are top misery makers, and many of the less wary are MIA due to a date with fur-shed destiny. Dr. Phil consultation won’t help this pain, but tweaking your coyote strategy could assist you in landing one more fawn-eater in your truck bed. Here are late-winter tactics from four experts to help you close out the season.
Play Love SongsNineteen-year coyote-hunting veteran and Mossy Oak pro-staffer Heath Wood has hunted coyotes across the Great Plains, but he spends most of his time pursuing Show Me State ’yotes. He understands the tests late-season coyotes pose, but also knows coyotes have a weakness during this period: love.
“One of my favorite calling techniques for late season is adding estrus whimpers, whines and female howls,” says Wood. “I start off the setup with three to four subtle howls on a diaphragm call or an open-reed howler. After the howls I wait four to five minutes then continue with some type of distress sound. I add coyote vocals to the end of the sequence, usually doing this on the last stand of the day after the distress sounds have played for around 30 minutes.”
Wood believes this strategy delivers because instead of giving coyotes just one reason to visit his calls, he piques their interest in everything important to a coyote. However, he stresses it’s the ending vocals, female whimpers and submissive howls that play a major role in late-season success.
Feed Them CrowSteve Criner, host of “Dog Soldier TV” on the Sportsman Channel, realizes late-season coyotes pose a threat to his production schedule. When he hits a wall with other calls, Criner immediately switches to a standby he’s used for years: crows. Crows, magpies, jays and other scavengers of the air provide coyotes with information about kill sites, and they instill coyote confidence through their keen observations from above.
“Like most coyote hunters I hunt ranches that are beat up and shot up by me or other hunters,” admits Criner. “To call in educated coyotes I rely on crow mobs for late-season success.” Criner starts his set with a long, drawn-out, subtle howl. After watching for a few minutes, he introduces the sounds of a crow and hawk quarreling. A few minutes later he adds more crows fighting with a single hawk. As this all heats up he augments the disturbance with one more ingredient: the sound of a rabbit in distress. To mix the sounds he utilizes an electronic caller along with mouth calls.
“You usually call in crows, and they see everything, so you need to be well camouflaged to prevent them from sounding an alarm. If you create a crow mob you’ve created what I call the Dog Soldier smoke signal. It’s a confidence visual that coyotes run to as their territoriality, curiosity and hunger impulses kick in. It creates the perfect situation,” asserts Criner.
Mock the TalkLevi Johnson has 30 years of coyote hunting experience, including decoy-dog adventures that provide content for his popular online video series, “Doggin’ with Levi.” He hunts coyotes the entire year and understands the trials late in the fur season. To make wary coyotes show themselves, Johnson prefers to challenge them—or as he puts it, “irritate the living heck out of them.”
It’s easy to find a challenge howl recording on most electronic callers these days, but Johnson goes beyond that sound. In fact, he often shies from a true challenge howl since it can be too threatening to young or subordinate coyotes. He prefers to return the same message a coyote sends to him.
“I don’t use a lot of challenge howls, but I use a lot of lone howling,” shares Johnson. “During the breeding season and even later I make the howl long and draw it out. When I get a coyote to challenge or howl back I immediately respond with the same howling. I talk the same talk he’s talking to me. It’s the same as two adults talking and one mocking the other by repeating everything. It’s irritating and makes coyotes come in to look.”
In addition to repeating every sound a coyote yips back, Johnson sets up to make a coyote look for his calls. He places his FoxPro caller some distance away from his position and upwind, plus he hides it in brush tall enough to cloak a coyote. If a coyote arrives on scene and can’t see the responding “coyote” in the brush, the irritated canine is forced to come closer for a look.
Stage a FightPredator Quest pro-staff manager Matt Piippo specializes in coyote vocalizations, and few hunters can match the canine realism he produces with a mouth diaphragm. He refers to late-season coyotes as “fool me twice” coyotes and realizes they’ve heard it all. For him a new sound is in order, and his go-to is the ruckus of quarreling coyotes.
“I kick off 90 percent of my stands with a female howl. In the late season I make it pathetic to send a message of a female asking if anyone is out there,” explains Piippo. “If there isn’t a response I answer it with a more aggressive howl and then wrap it with a yip howl.”
All along, Piippo ramps up the aggressiveness of the message. A response from a distant coyote prompts him to possibly send a challenge howl back. Nevertheless, in the middle of his theatrics he initiates the growls of a fight, complete with coyote distress cries.
“These sounds tell coyotes within earshot that a fight has started in their territory,” he notes. “It could be over boundaries or it could be about breeding, but the fighting sounds are central to fooling coyotes late in the season. Stay on stand for up to an hour and be prepared for a coyote to show up anytime.”
Hot Times to HowlBrian R. Mitchell conducted a two-year coyote vocalization study at the Dye Creek Preserve in California for his doctorate degree. During the study Mitchell discovered coyotes have individual voices identified through spectrogram deciphering. He also noted that howls recorded from real coyotes and then played back made radio-collared subjects approach from at least a kilometer away.
“Approaches were most common when playbacks were within the responding animal’s home range, during the first half of the year, and at or before sunrise,” Mitchell documented. “Territorial coyotes were twice as likely to respond as transients.” His study also noted that barks didn’t send the same, attractive information. As you can see from your own canine pal, barks oftentimes send an alarm message. Mitchell included human imitations of coyotes in his study. When compared to recordings of real coyotes, human calls “generated similar levels of approach responses.” This is great news for hunters who don’t rely on electronic callers.
Last March I had a free weekend to give the coyotes one more chance to ride in my truck. Instead of carrying on a lengthy message I simply howled several times and shut up to watch. Forty-five minutes later a coyote walked leisurely out of a brushy draw with a suspicious, yet brave approach. The slap of my Hornady V-Max signaled a successful ending to my coyote season with nothing more than a howl for attraction.
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