So what is the big deal with deer hunting? Why does it need a special section on scope specifications? Let’s check out some best scope for deer hunting.
Deers are one of the most vigilant species. Because they are prey to a wide variety of predators, they tend to be extremely swift in movement and vigilant in terms of odor and movement sensory. Their strength lies in being able to watch and escape, notice, and escape a hit, and this must be the features your scope must target.
Top 5 Best Scopes for Deer Hunting
| Name | Specs | USP | Today's Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nikon Buckmasters II | 3-9x50 | Accurate Hunter's Scope | Click Here |
| Vortex Viper HS | 4-16x50 | Versatile Range Hunter's Scope | Click Here |
| Vortex Diamondback | 4-12x40 | Deer Hunter's Go-To Scope | Click Here |
| Athlon Optics Ares BTR Gen II | 4.5-27x50 | First Focal Plane Hunter's Scope | Click Here |
| NightForce SHV | 5-20x56 | Experienced Hunter's Scope | Click Here |
While bow hunting is the traditional method for deers, rifles, and scopes for hunting have made the task a lot easier. Better optical power to enable clarity being, good magnification for long-range shots and best reticle precision for unmissed shots are three features that best mark the utility of a hunting scope. But it does not stop there. Since dusk and dawn is the best time for hunting down deers, an excellent low light rifle scope would be the right choice. There also comes in the factor of lightweight since it would be difficult to carry around a piece of heavy equipment.
With individual preferences and techniques, the features that deem to be most important for a hunting scope may differ. Nevertheless, some features have proven to be useful to the newbie as well as the veteran. With these in mind, we put forth our very own listicle on the Best Scopes for Deer Hunting.
1. Nikon Buckmasters II 3-9x50mm Rifle Scope
The Nikon Nuckmasters II is a hunter’s dream come true. Combining good optics with accuracy features, the scope has created a niche for itself within the sporting optics market.
Speaking of good optics, the scope has a 50mm objective lens, which is fully multi-coated. This ensures better light transmission and hence better clarity to the image being captured through the eyepiece. The scope has a magnification scale of 3-9x, which makes it suitable for long-range shooting with high clarity shots. Yet, the scope is equally efficient for short-range shooting, all thanks to the Dead-Hold BDC reticle. This reticle placed in the Second Focal Plane gives better magnification accuracy for long-range shooting while the thin crosshairs prove to be equally efficient for short-range shooting. It has a click adjustment system for magnification, and it can be easily reset to zero.
The scope is purged with Nitrogen and is O-ring sealed. This makes it water and fog-resistant.
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2. Vortex Viper HS 4-16×50 Long Range Rifle Scope
This scope is highly versatile and the best pick as a hunter’s scope. The most significant feature is the 4-16x magnification range that makes the scope extendable to any range for shooting. The objective lens of 50mm diameter is a feature that stands equally important. This lens ensures better light transmission. To this fact, add the low-dispersion glass feature, and you get a scope that not only ensures better light transmission but also better image clarity and color retention.
The scope has a Dead-Hold BDC reticle with hashmark designs. This makes it accurate and easy to target. The fast-focus eyepiece and the side focus ensures that nondeer escapes your sight. To make long-range shots all the more precise, the scope has elevation and windage turrets fitted with a Customisable Rotation Stop. This, along with an easy reset to zero option, allows you to make shots of varying ranges at short time intervals. The scope also has a favorable eye box and eye relief.
Made of aircraft-grade aluminum, the scope is water, fog, and shock-resistant.
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3. Vortex Diamondback 4-12×40 Rifle Scope
What makes this scope a hunter’s go-to equipment? It’s reliable optical prowess and performance. The Vortex Diamondback has a 40mm objective lens that ushers in more light into the scope. The fully multi-coated lens adds to this optical quality. Then comes the magnification range of 4-12x, which is suitable for medium and long-range shots.
The reticles placed in the Second Focal Plane allows for good magnification. It is further assisted by a fast-focus eyepiece. The elevation and windage turrets are also easy to adjust with the Precision Glider Erector System. The scope is made of Aircraft Grade Aluminium and has an anodized matte finish. It is water, fog, and shock-resistant.
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4. Athlon Optics Ares BTR Gen II 4.5-27x50mm MRAD Rifle Scope
Athlons is the new guy in the optics market. Though not as popular as the other established brands, Athlons has proved to be worthy of notice due to its innovative techniques. What makes this scope interesting is its overall scope for performance.
The scope has an objective lens of 50mm and a magnification range of 4.5 – 27x. This magnification range is really rare and highly efficient for long as well as short-range shots. It has a fully multi-coated lens with an additional feature of XPL coating, which protects the exterior lens from damage. In hindsight, it has an overall good optical quality.
The First Focal Plane Illuminated reticle ensures two things. One, the magnification changes in accordance with the image. So at a long-range, this can take over any holdover corrections, and at a short-range, it can ensure better target precision. Two, the illuminated reticle makes the scope usable even in low light conditions.
The elevation and windage adjustments are made easy to alter wit the help of the Exposed Tactical Direct Dial System. Furthermore, the High Precision Erector System manages precision and smooth magnification adjustments. This, coupled with the easy reset to zero option, makes the scope usable for varying ranges at short intervals of time.
Made of 6061 T6 ALuminium, the scope will not get damaged even after a fall. The ARgon purged tube ensures thermal stability and fog reduction. The scope is also shockproof.
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5. NightForce SHV5-20x56mm Rife Scope
If you are looking for high-quality hunter scopes that will last a lifetime, then the NighForce SHV is your go-to guy. It has a bulky lens of 56mm, which makes it apt for light absorption. The magnification range of 5-20x makes it well suited for long-distance shooting while making short distance also viable.
The MOAR Reticle further helps in locating small targets at long ranges. The zero set feature makes it all the easier to reset the elevation adjustments and helps it quick alterations in measurements. The scope is made of aircraft-grade aluminum and is sturdy and robust. It is water, fog and shockproof.
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Things to Look for When Purchasing a Scope for Deer Hunting
The factors that you look for while purchasing a scope may differ in comparison with scope for deer hunting. The former one is generic, while deer hunting is as specific as it can get. Here are some things to keep in mind.
Lens Size
The larger the lens size, the better the light transmission. Light is very important for a long-range shot because better light conditions provide better clarity to the image. This makes the process of target acquisition easier.
Magnification
Magnification power is essential to determine the range for shooting. The more the magnification power, the better it will be suited for all ranges. Magnification makes it easier for you to spot a target. For deer hunting, this becomes all the more essential as you cannot go anywhere near its sight.
Reticle
Mere spotting will not do. You need to be able to target it accordingly. This is where the reticle feature comes into prominence. Fine illuminated crosshairs are the best kind since it combines precision with visibility. An illuminated reticle would work winders since the light conditions are dawn and dusk are unfavorable for shooting.
Fast Focus
Do you think that the deer will not smell you out and run away? A moving target, especially a fast one, requires a fast-focus eyepiece. This keeps track of the altering targets and adjusts the reticles accordingly.
Easy Adjustments
Elevation and Windage adjustments are equally important for good accuracy. Because a long-range moving target hunting will require you to alter these measurements constantly, it is essential that these adjustments be easy to change.
Weight
How would it feel to run around or hide with a heavy scope? Too much work, huh? Impractical too. By the time you walk around with the heavy scope, the deer would have run away with its life! So don’t ever doubt as to why you need weightless scopes.
Easy Mounting
The same logic goes for mounting. You need to be as quick and quiet as you can while mounting a scope. Else, the deer will just vanish away.
Durability
Most hunting scopes, barring a very few, are expensive. As a hunter, you would not just want the quality worth of your money but also longevity from the scope. Hence durability factors like material structure, protective coatings, etc. are to be looked into.
Conclusion:
What are you waiting for now? Grab the best deal and buy the scope fo your dreams. Quietly and steadily hunt down that deer and then thank us as much as you want to. Deer hunting does require skill and experience. But if you do or don’t have both, a good scope will always come handy. So wobble away to that deep, dense forest and bring upon me that naughty little deer. Happy Hunting.