How Far Away...

[sscoyote]

...can you see elk with a set of quality Big Eyes like some Highlanders maybe?

 

[std7mag]

While i don't know what the Bigeyes. Or Highlanders are, i can see that there is elk from about 2-3 miles with a pair of 8X32 binos.
No details. But they are there.

With my Celestron C70 Mini Mak, i can get details at about 1 mile.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

If you are talking 20-30x off tripods, 2+ miles. If good viewing conditions.

 

[sscoyote]

Thanks guys--just a very general question. Darrell Cassell put together a pair of big 22X Bushnells for me long ago, and I have a set of 32X Highlanders. I know he used to hunt here in CO, and they would setup in a huge overlooking position and just glass and glass until the elk moved in, and then snipe them at very long ranges. The Point Blank From Long Range guys also used that system in PA for deer sniping. Have often thought of doing that only more portably. My Highlanders actually do fit in a pack and i can carry them some distance. Thought that studying maps for high ridges accessible by vehicle to glass big drainages out here in CO, then move in to reasonable ranges would be a good way to approach it maybe for late meat cow seasons. Just need to get out and try it I suppose. Again thanks!

 

[sscoyote]

Interestingly there is a small bench a couple miles off a highway in Southern CO mtns. that often holds elk, and we've seen them with spotting scopes "hiding" on that bench several times in the past from at least a couple miles.

 

[NV_Dmax]

Atmospheric conditions will be your limiting factor with those heavy hitters, especially mirage and fog. My Kowa Prominar spotting scope can resolve wild horses from many miles away as long as the mirage doesn't interfere. I'm in northern Nevada so I have vast distances to travel/hunt and spotting is a big part of the tactic.