The information contained in this article was obtained from Vortex Optics’ brochure with the same title.

How do binoculars work?

All binoculars, regardless of their size and shape, function in the same, straightforward way:

1. Light comes to and moves through the objective lenses.
2. Light then travels through prisms (which correct the image orientation in all directions; up-down, left-right).
3. Finally, light moves through the eyepieces (which magnify the images) and then on to the user’s eyes.

What determines image quality?

1. Optical glass – The quality of optical glass that is used in binoculars will make a difference in how bright, sharp and colorful the view will be. Quality binoculars use dense optical glass that is painstakingly designed, shaped and polished to eliminate flaws. The more sophisticated the glass and techniques employed in its design, the better the images.
2. Anti-reflection coatings – Binocular lenses are coated with anti-reflection coatings to eliminate internal reflections and light scatterings, reduce glare and produce sharper images with more detail. The type of coatings and the number of coatings applied to the binocular lenses matter tremendously to how brilliant and crisp the view will be.
3. Exit pupil – The exit pupil is the beam of light that exits each eyepiece of the binocular and enters the users’ eyes. The larger the exit pupil, the brighter and more superior the image will appear, especially under low light conditions (when comparing optics of similar quality). The exit pupil is measured in millimeters, and is calculated by dividing the objective lens by the magnification. An 8×42 binocular, for example, has a 5.25mm exit pupil (42/8=5.25).

Binocular Design

Though they may look different on the outside, on the inside binoculars can only be designed in a few ways:

Galilean design: Used almost exclusively in opera glasses, the Galilean design is very primitive and uses only lenses (no prisms).

Porro prism design: Named after their Italian optical designer, Porro prism binoculars are characterized by the objective lenses being spaced wider apart than the eyepieces. The design is reversed in compact binoculars, with the eyepieces spaced wider than objectives.

Roof Prism design: Named for the “roof-like” appearance of the prisms, the more modern roof prism design features a more complicated design, resulting in the objectives and eyepieces being position in a slim, straight line.

What do the numbers mean?

When you look at a pair of binoculars, you’ll notice a few numbers printed on the binoculars, such as 8×42 (read as 8 by 42), or 12×50. What do these numbers mean? What do they refer to?

1. Magnification – With a pair of 8×42 binoculars, as in our example, the first number, 8(often expressed as 8x), refers to the magnification the binoculars provide, or how many times larger an object will appear. Binoculars vary in magnification from 4x up to 12x and even higher, but 8x and 10x are most common.

Higher magnification is not necessarily better. As magnification increase, users may have troubling holding the binoculars steady, causing the image to become blurry. An increase in magnification will also generally cause a decrease in image brightness and clarity. 7x .8x magnification is considered adequate for woodland settings, while 10x is preferred for viewing at greater distances.

1. Objective lens size: The second number in our example binocular 42, refers to the diameter of the objective lens (the lens farthest from your eye) in millimeters. Objective lenses vary in size from 15mm to 50mm and beyond.

The size of the objective lens determines how much light the binoculars can receive and hence how bright and clear the resulting images can be. The size of the objective lens also affects how large or small a pair of binoculars will be. Let your needs and desires help you decide what size objective lenses are right for you. If you use your binoculars only during the brightest times of day or in well-lit areas, then smaller objective lenses (say, under 25mm) will do just fine. If, however, you want the brightest possible image and will be using your binoculars during near-dark conditions (such as at dawn, dusk, or in heavy forest cover), you’ll want to choose larger objective lenses, from 35mm to 56mm.

The greatest factor in determining the weight of a binocular is its objective lens size; the larger the lenses, the heavier the binoculars will be. Again, let your desires dictate what weight is comfortable for you. Compact binoculars can weight between a few ounces to under a pound, while modern full-size binoculars will weight from twenty ounces to around two pounds.

1. Field of view: Another important number to know is the field of view. The field of view is the widest dimension from left to right that you can see when looking through the binoculars. This specification is usually measured either in linear feet at a distance of 1000 yards, or in angular degrees.

A wider field of view is desirable for many reasons, including but not limited to: following fast moving action, and when scanning in denser backgrounds (grasslands, woodlands, etc.) Note that when magnification is increased, the field of view narrows (sometimes considerably).

Other useful specifications

The following specifications and definitions will aid in your understanding of how binoculars can function best fro you and provide you with the maximum benefit out in the field.

Eye relief: The term eye relief refers to the furthest distance behind the binoculars’ eyepieces at which the whole field of view can be attained, and is measured in millimeters.

The eye relief measurement is of great importance to those that must wear eyeglasses/sunglasses while looking through binoculars, but is also important to anyone planning to use binoculars for long stretches of time.

Binoculars with long eye relief will satisfy the above considerations and will have an eye relief measurement of at least 15mm.

Close focus

The minimum distance to which a pair of binoculars can be focused is called its close focus. Some users desire binoculars that will focus down to 10 feet or less.

Weatherproofing

Binoculars that effectively keep out the elements will inevitably last much longer and keep you satisfied.

Waterproof/fogproof binoculars are sealed with O-rings at all open points to inhibit moisture, dust and debris. The inside of the binoculars is then purged of its atmosphere, which is replaced with an inert gas that has no moisture content. This process, called purging, ensures that the binoculars will not fog internally from high humidity or altitude changes. Nitrogen is the most common gas used when purging optics. A more unique gas, Argon is utilized in select optics to provide a higher level of anti-fogging protection that is maintained over a longer time period.

Warranty

A manufacturer’s included warranty ought to be considered a feature of the binoculars, especially if you plan to get a lot of use out of tem in the outdoors where anything can and usually does happen.

Most manufacturer’s offer a warranty limited only to initial defects, which do not protect you if anything accidental happens in the general course of using your optics.

More progressive warranties, such as the Vortex VIP warranty, keeps your covered in literally any situation, regardless of what happened or who is at fault. The VIP warranty is an unconditional, unlimited warranty that offers the ultimate in customer service and protection.

Spotting scopes

How do spotting scopes work?

A spotting scopes functions essentially the same way a binocular does:

1. Light is gathered and moves through the objective lens of the scope.

2. Light moves through the prisms (which correct the image orientation in all directions; up-down, left-right)

3. Light moves through the eyepiece(which magnifies the image) and then on to the user’s eye.

Spotting scope specifications

Spotting scopes are essentially small telescopes designed primarily for land viewing at longer distances. A spotting score features greater magnifications and a larger objective lens than those offered with binoculars, and as such requires a tripod to be use effectively.

Spotting scopes are generally offered in two sizes, relating to the size of their objective lens; 60mm and 90mm.

60mm scopes are fairly portable and compact, and will offer good image quality for a generally lower price.

80mm scopes will be much brighter than a 60mm scope but will also generally be heavier and potentially bulkier. An 80mm scope will deliver very good image quality at up to 60x magnification.

Spotting scopes are often made available in two body styles, a straight-through design (where the eyepiece is in-line with the objective lens) and an angled design (where the eyepiece is set at a 45-degree angle). One design is not better than the other, but each design does offer some distinct advantages.

Straight-through design advantages:

-Works well with a car winder mount

-Provides natural line-of-sight

Angle design advantages:

– Allows for lower mounting height; improves stability, enables for smaller, lighter tripod

– -More comfortable for extended times of viewing

As with binoculars, there are other specifications (such as eye relief, weatherproofing, warranty, etc.) that you may want to think about. Eyeglass wearers should look for scopes with at least 15mm of eye relief. Your spotting scope should be fully waterproof and fogproof. As with binoculars, a scope should carry a progressive warrantee. All Vortex spotting scopes are fully waterproof, fogproof and carry the Vortex VIP unconditional unlimited warranty that will offer more piece of mind when out in the field.

What determines image quality?

Most spotting scopes use a Porro prism design that offers a rich three-dimensional view with good image quality. Similar to binoculars, spotting scope image quality is derived from the types of optical glass and optical coatings that are employed in its design. The better the glass and optical coatings, the better the image quality.

Some spotting scopes are offered in two different versions of glass; a “standard” version, and a “high-grade” version. The standard versions employ regular optical glass in their design and generally offer good to very good image quality. The high-grade versions make use of more exotic (and more expensive) glass types that deliver heightened resolution and color. Consider the high-grade versions (if available) if you desire the best possible image in all lighting conditions.

In-Depth, technical instructions on the design, function, and features of binoculars and spotting scopes.

Advanced Optical Design

Binocular and spotting scope optical design is comprised essentially of three components:

1. Objective lenses
2. Prisms
3. Ocular lenses

1. Objective Lenses:

The Objective lens has one job, to gather light and transmit it to the user’s eyes. In order to gather more light, an objective lens must be made larger. Transmitting more light (which is just a fancy way of saying “delivering” more of the light to the user’s eye) can be achieved by using a higher density optical glass that is carefully cut and polished (and also by applying anti-reflective coatings, which are discussed later). With the relatively small objective lenses in binoculars, high-quality images can be obtained using standard optical glass. Vortex incorporates a XD high-density glass in select binocular models for the absolute highest quality images. In spotting scopes, with their very large objective lenses, Vortex uses the exotic ED glass to achieve the highest possible image resolution, contrast, and color fidelity.

These remarkable ED / XD glass types reduce or eliminate the inherent problems of chromatic aberrations. Chromatic aberrations are the result of a physical reality of color; different colors move at slightly different wavelengths, which means they will have slightly different focal lengths when they pass through optical glass. Chromatic aberrations diminish the resolution and the color fidelity of normal binoculars and spotting scopes. They show up as green and/or purplish ghost images, and are especially apparent under low light conditions.

1. Prisms

The prisms in a binoculars or spotting scope have two jobs:

-They revert the image, which otherwise be presented to the user upside-down and backwards.

-They shorten binocular length (light bounces in the prisms; its path is shorter through the whole of the binocular than it would be without them)

Porro prism or roof prism?

Porro prism have rich depth and wide field of view and usually employ large prism. However, Porro aren’t very rugged and many people feel they handle poorly. Porros are generally heavier than roof prisms due to the prism size and the use of larger prism housings (the housings are larger due to the bigger prisms, but also from the optical design of the binoculars).

Roof prism can achieve image quality similar to porro prisms, but it costs more (and involves phase correction coatings, discussed later). Also, most roof prism generally can’t replicate the 3-D feel of good quality Porros. However, roof prisms are generally more popular because of their ruggedness and superior handling (more streamlined and lighter weight).

What determines prism quality?

The density of prism glass is important in determining its ability to deliver high-quality images. Also important is the care taken in grinding and polishing the prisms. There are two kinds of glass used to make Porro prisms, boro-silicate (more commonly known as BK-7) and barium-crown (know as BaK-4) glass. BK-7 glass is of inferior quality to BaK-4 glass, and is commonly used in the less expensive binoculars.

The type of glass used in roof prisms is of less consequence than with Porro prism. Roof prisms involve more complicated engineering and have stricter tolerances on their design – these factors have a greater determination on quality. Many manufacturers

Use BaK-4 glass in their roof prism, but some manufacturers don’t release any information on the prism glass type used – it’s a trade secret.

Determining prism glass type:

BK-7 glass prism transmit a distinctive light beam shape, seen when you see the exit pupil of a binocular or scope at a distance of about 8 inches from your eye. BK-7 prisms lose some light as it passes through the prisms.

BaK-7 prisms (or other exotic prism types) transmit more of the light through the prisms, and hence feature exit pupils with a clearly defined circle.

Phase correction?

Many modern room prism binoculars advertise “phase-corrected roof prisms” but what are those? This special kind of coating corrects for an inherent flaw in all roof prism designs.

After light passes through the objective lenses, it is reflected off the mirrored surfaces of the roof prism and split into two out-of-phase beams of light. Light reflected from one roof surface is ½ of a wavelength different from the light hitting the other roof surface. This is sometimes referred to as “out of phase” or “phase shift” Although the light waves are subsequently forces back together when they reach the viewer’s eye, there is a slight reduction in image resolution and contrast.

The phase correction coating, which is applied to the mirrored surfaces of the prism, forces the light beams back into phase, thus improving a roof prism’s resolution and contrast. The coating also enhances color fidelity.

1. Ocular lenses

The ocular lenses magnify the images that the objective lenses have transmitted. Ocular lens designs incorporate between three-to-six different lenses, but overall quality is determined mostly by the care in manufacturing and polishing of the glass and also the quality and quantity of anti-reflective coatings employed.

Many of the important optical specifications (such as field of view, eye relief, etc.) are determined primarily by the design of the ocular lenses.

Advanced image quality elements

Exit pupil

The shaft of light that meets your eye when you use a binocular or scope is its exit pupil. The exit pupil is seen by holding the binocular or spotting scope a short distance from your face.

The exit pupil should appear as a clear circle surrounded by a uniformly dark background. Exit pupil is calculated by dividing the objective lens by the magnification and is measured in millimeters. An 8×42 binocular will have an exit pupil of 5.25mm.

Why does exit pupil matter? The human eye pupil (which is controlled by the muscles of the iris) can change in size from roughly 2-8mm in diameter, depending on the lighting situations. The eye pupil dilates to about 2-3mm in regular lighting conditions, dilates out to about 4-5mm in lower light situations, further dilates to 7-8mm in near-dark conditions. A binocular will appear brightest when its exit pupil is equal to or larger than your eye pupils. This is most important when viewing in low-light conditions.

Optical Coatings

When you look at the lenses of a binocular or spotting scope, you’ll notice tints in the glass that are usually purplish/greenish in color. What you are seeing are the anti-reflective coatings that have been put on the lenses. These coatings serve to reduce light reflection and scattering at the air-to-glass surface. When light strikes uncoated glass, a percentage of it (4-5%) is reflected back from the surface, and with 10-16 air-to-glass surfaces in a pair of standard binoculars or a spotting scope, almost 50% of the light passing through uncoated optics would be lost! By applying just one layer of anti-reflection coating, loss due to reflection can be reduced 2-3%, and by applying multiple layers of coatings, light loss can be reduced to a mere .5% per surface.

Optical coatings are made from certain metallic compounds (including the compound magnesium fluoride) that are vaporized and applied to the optical glass in very thin layers (measured in microns; millionths of a meters) inside a vacuum chamber. The quality and quantity of optical coatings maters a great deal in determining how bright and sharp a binocular or spotting scope will be. There are some standardized terms concerning the level of coatings applied to binoculars and scopes. With optical coatings, more is better! With more coatings comes increase resolution, contrast, color fidelity, and increased light transmission.

-fully coated optics – All air-to-glass surfaces are coated with a anti-reflective coating film. Many modestly priced binoculars offer fully coated optics and have good but not great image quality

-multi-coated optics: One or more surfaces are coated with multiple anti-reflective coating films. Image quality with multi-coated optics can be quite good, except perhaps in lower light settings.

-fully multi-coated optics – All air-to-glass surfaces are coated with multiple anti-reflective coating films. Fully multi-coated optics offer the highest image quality.

Important optical terms:

Resolution: The ability of a binocular/spotting scope to separate and distinguish thin lines with clarity. Resolution is essentially the same as image sharpness.

Resolution test: A chart on paper containing a series of sets of lines at progressively smaller spacing and used to ascertain the limiting number of lines per millimeter that a binocular or spotting scope is capable of resolving clearly.

Contrast – The ability to distinguish differences in brightness between light and dark areas of an image. Because we see much of the color spectrum, contrast also refers to the ability to distinguish differences in dimensions of hue, saturation, and brightness or lightness. Optics with superior contrast transmit colors that appear very dense and saturated.

Transmission – The percentage of light that passes through the binocular or spotting scope and reaches the user’s eyes. With expensive optics (those that have more and better optical coatings, better optical designs, and better glass) the light transmission will be higher than it will be higher than it will be in more modestly priced optics. There is currently no universal industry standard for measuring and comparing light transmission.

Chromatic aberrations: Because different colors move at slightly different wavelengths, they will come to focus at slightly different lengths when they pass through optical glass. The resulting false colorations (seen most often as purplish and greenish ghost images) diminishes resolution and color fidelity. Chromatic aberrations will be negligible with binoculars and scopes that use better optical coatings and/or higher quality glass.

Astigmatism – The lenses used in a binocular or spotting scope usually have a curved shape, and thus all light rays passing through will not converge on the same focal plane. If this physical reality isn’t remedied in the overall optical design, a binocular or spotting scope will provide images where either the center image or the edge image is in focus, but not both (without refocusing) Astigmatism cannot be eliminated completely, but it can be kept to a minimum. Users will want to avoid binoculars or spotting scopes that exhibit too much astigmatism, as it cuts into the image quality.

Distortion: The disability of a binocular or spotting scope to deliver an image that is a true-to scale reproduction of an object. There are principally two types of distortion to be concerned with; barrel distortion (where images bow outward and look bulged), and pincushion distortion (where images bend inward). In both cases, the distortion is due to a poor or compromised optical design and any binocular or scope that exhibits distortion should be passed up.

Alignment and collimation: In binocular or spotting scope, the optical components must, for the best performance, be situated as they were initially designed. Poor or rough handling of the equipment can cause any or all of the components to become misaligned, resulting in diminished performance.

In a binocular, the optical components (primarily the prisms) in both barrels must be pointing in the exact same direction, known as collimation. Viewing through binoculars that aren’t perfectly collimated (whether they became miscollimated through poor construction or mishandling) can cause great eye strain and fatigue. Porro prism binoculars are much more susceptible to collimation issue than roof prisms. You can test a binocular for collimation by looking through them at a horizontal line (a door frame at about 15-20 feet works very well) and then slowly and carefully pulling the binocular away from your face so that you can start to see where the two exit pupils intersect. The horizontal lines in each exit pupil should match up correctly. If they do not, they are out of collimation and need repair.

How to use binoculars properly

Adjusting for your interpupillary distance.

In order to see one singular image, you must adjust the two barrels of the binocular to your interpupillary distance (the distance from left pupil to right) To do this, turn the barrels of the binocular on their central hinge until you see one singular field of view with no disturbing shadows.

Using the eyecups.

The eyecups on a binocular or spotting scope aid in maintaining proper eye relief for the user (which allows for the most comfortable and widest view) There are essentially two types of eyecup design: A flexible rubber design and a retractable design which is usually lightly rubber armored.

If you wear eyeglasses/sunglasses, rest the eyecups of the binocular/scope right up against your glasses. Since your glasses sit away from your eye, they generally provide the proper distance for seeing the full field of view comfortably. The rubber eyecup must be folded down to be able to rest on your glasses. The retractable eyecup will stay flush with the eyepiece to accommodate glasses. If the rubber eyecups aren’t folded down or the retractable eyecups are twisted out, it will appear as if you are looking through a tunnel.

If you don’t wear eyeglasses/sunglasses, you will rely on the eyecups to provide the proper distance for seeing the full field of view. The rubber eyecup stays “as is” and it fits right around your eyes, while the retractable eyecup must be twisted or pulled out fully in order to see the full field of view. If the rubber eyecup is folder down or if the retractable eyecups aren’t retracted out you will note disturbing black “crescents” in your field of view.

Many retractable eyecups offer multiple positions or “stops” With these eyecups, experiment to see which position is most comfortable for you.

Using the diopter/Focusing your binoculars.

Most binoculars feature a center focus wheel and also an adjustment ring (either on the right eyepiece or integrated into the center focus wheel) known as the diopter. The diopter adjusts fro differences between your individual eyes (many people have one eye that is “stronger” than the other). The procedure for attaining proper focal balance using the center focus wheel and the diopter is:

1. With your right eye close (or with your hand over the right objective lens), focus your left eye on an object approximately 20 yards away with the center focus wheel unit it is in sharp focus.
2. Now adjust for your right eye. To do this, close your left eye (or, again, place your hand over the left objective lens) and focus your right eye on the same object 20 yards away. Focus using the diopter until the object is sharply focused. Not: Some diopters have a locking feature that you’ll need to unlock before moving the diopter ring.
3. The binoculars are no set for your eyes. Make a note of your diopter setting if you are sharing your binoculars with someone else.

What to disregard and why:

There are a number of specifications and product “features” that are often confusing or misleading which should just be ignored or avoided.

Specifications to ignore:

Twilight factor: This specification gives a measure of viewing efficiency in low lighting. The bigger the number, the more efficient (shaper) the binoculars is in low light. Twilight factor is calculated by taking the square root of the power times the objective lens diameter, so the value is usually between 12 and 25. Twilight factor is a dubious specification because it says nothing about actual optical coatings or glass quality, nor does it take into account the light transmission of the binocular.

Relative brightness: This specification is a measure of overall image brightness, and is calculated by squaring the exit pupil of the binocular. Relative brightness is misleading in that there are different binoculars that can have the same values. A 7×35 binocular and a 10×50 binocular will both have a relative brightness value of 25, but the 10×50 gather much more light than the 7×35 and will often present a bright image. It also doesn’t take into account different light transmissions.

“Features” to avoid:

Focus-free binoculars: Binoculars that offer an “instant-focus”, “permanent-focus” or “focus-free” feature are advertised in many department stores. The main reason to avoid this type of binocular is that optical quality is very poor as a result of its focus-free design. Focus-free binoculars are also often difficult to use it you wear glasses.

Ruby coated lenses: Often advertised in sporting goods stores and department stores, these are seen as bright reddish-orange coatings on the objective lenses of several binocular models. Ruby-coated lenses reflect most red out of the optical system. This skews all colors to the cool end of the spectrum and takes away from the overall brightness of the binocular.

So why use these binoculars? Shortening the color spectrum increases contrast and resolution somewhat. However, better glass and better coatings are capable of excellent contrast and resolution without giving up color and brightness.

Trade-offs

Unfortunately, there is no such thing as the perfect binocular or spotting scope. In the design phase there are many inherent trade-offs that have to be made.

-The main trade off that you have to make involves objective lens size. The larger the objective lenses, the brighter and sharper the binocular/scope, thus the more useful it is, especially under low-light conditions. The larger the objective lens, however, the heavier and bulkier the binocular/scope will be, and unless you plan to hire a porter, remember that you have to carry it!

-Higher quality optical glass is by design heavier, so when it is employed the binocular/scope will weight more. Vortex incorporates lighter housing materials to offset the weight of the glass components rather than not using the heavier glass.

-There are a number of trade-offs with binoculars and scopes regarding higher magnification. With higher magnification binoculars, comes a diminished field of view, a shallower depth of field, and more chance of image shakiness. With higher magnification spotting scopes comes diminished optical quality with magnified heat waves and atmosphere dust and debris

-There are trade-offs inherent to some of the optical specifications as well. There is an inverse relationship between eye relief and field of view and close focus and depth of field. The greater the eye relief, the narrower the field of view (the wider the field of view the shorter the eye relief) Similarly, a binocular with an extreme close focus distance will generally have a shallow depth of field. More expensive scope eyepiece designs can offer good compromises and give the user very good (but not great) specifications.

The final word

For many people, this guide may only be the beginning of the journey into learning about binoculars and spotting scopes. There is a lot more information available; you need only to look for it.

Congratulations to the following winners of the ArcheryTalk blogs and articles writing contest.

We will be contacting the winners via E-mail shortly. If you do not hear from us within a week or two, please email us at admin@archerytalkblog.com.

We really appreciate how much work everyone put into their articles for this contest.

Every winner will receive an ArcheryTalk cap in addition to the other prizes.

• CLB Martin Firecat Bow
• MJKALLAL Martin Firecat Bow
• djohns13 Martin Bengal Bow
• Kelly Johnson Hoyt Montega Bow
• Robert Muncie Diamond Marquis Bow
• nijimasu PSE Diablo Bow

——————-

• spacetechy AT shirt, Binoculars
• Bow AT shirt, Firestar Bow Sight
• Gear Junky WildMan Quiver
• Bowhunter WildMan Quiver
• Mead WildMan Quiver
• Evans 21 Martin KnuckleHead Release, WildMan Cordura Hunting Armguard
• Keep Martin KnuckleHead Release, WildMan Cordura Hunting Armguard
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• DuckBuck Goose Martin KnuckleHead Release, WildMan Cordura Hunting Armguard
• RightWing Martin KnuckleHead Release, AT Shirt
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• Wildwestbows Martin KnuckleHead Release, AT Shirt
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• Soularcher WildMan Stabilizer, WildMan Cordura Hunting Armguard
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After years of trying to get my dad interested in archery hunting, it looks like he’s finally going to make the jump. He hasn’t had any success rifle hunting lately, and he’s tired of the short seasons and the severe hunting pressure. Hopefully he enjoys the experience, and this time next year he’ll purchase his own archery set-up (he’s content to borrow my back-up bow, of course!).

I’d like nothing more than to post a couple of successful hunting stories this fall, with photos attached. Fingers crossed…

Thanks everyone who submitted articles for the contest. A lot of you wrote some really excellent articles. We will announce the winners monday of next week (5/26).

No, this is not Dick Cheney’s chimpanzee. Yes, he’s safer to hunt with.

In the last installment, I recommended a few inexpensive gear upgrades that shouldn’t slip under the radar. Here are three more items that I think you’ll like.

Must-Have Base Layer: Rocky SIQ Atomic Zip Mock T

Lightweight/Compact:9

Durability: 9

Cost-Effectiveness: 7 ($38-45 online)

Usefulness: 10

Innovation: 8

It’s dead and gone. Like the Mariners’ playoff chances, like the social security that someone removes from our paychecks, like Hillary’s campaign – it’s dead and gone, never to be seen again. And I can’t say I’ll miss it. Sure, it’s comfy when you first put it on, and it smells nice out of the dryer, but after an hour or two the smell of dryer sheets is replaced with stinky little bacteria, like wearing a moist body-hugging petrie dish.

Goodbye cotton. You will not be missed.

Scent-blocking, moisture-wicking technology continues to improve year after year, and at this point there really is no excuse for wearing cotton into the field. This new stuff does the job that wool used to do, but without the weight, smell, or itchy texture. Most of us can afford just one or two improvements to our hunting clothes each year, and this is the best place to start. Rocky’s new shirts are outstanding in every regard. They are comfortable, quiet, and scent-free. They are designed with the bowhunter in mind: lightweight for those August and September days, but long-sleeved to keep the brush and bugs off. The half-zipper makes the shirt easy to take on and off, and it’s nice to have the ventilation whenever needed. These shirts are designed to fit snugly against your skin so that moisture is pulled away, so if you’re like me and fit between sizes (L to XL in my case), go with the smaller size. Two of these should get you through hunting season, and when combined with a good fleece and waterproof jacket, you’re ready for whatever weather pattern flies your way.

Rocky’s scent-removal technology is permanent, the micro-suede fabric is soft and tough without attracting burrs, and there’s even a convenient zippered pouch on the left arm for easy storage of your mouth call. With a great camo pattern to boot, this shirt will make you the best looking archer that anyone has never seen.

Must-Have Scent-Prevention System: Dead Down Wind’s ScentPrevent Personal Kit

Lightweight/Compact: 8

Durability: N/A

Cost-Effectiveness: 7 ($17-45 online depending on the kit)

Usefulness: 10

Innovation: 8

Question: What is the most common odor that you have to endure from your co-workers, spouse, or hunting dog? Nope, not that. While flatulence may be the worst odor, it certainly isn’t as common as halitosis. Since we exhale every few seconds, bad breath is public enemy number one for hunters. And at 5am, everyone of us have an odor factory attached to our tracheas (and don’t for a minute think that coffee improves anything).

Everyone has a favorite line of scent-prevention accessories, but does any manufacturer offer more options than Dead Down Wind? Their Personal Hygiene Kit provides deodorant, soap, and yes, breath spray. And with a myriad of other scent-eliminating products, they can neutralize any odor this side of New Jersey. Order their toothpaste for added anonymity.

Also, if (like me) you need a shower every couple of days in the field but don’t find elk wallows to your liking, you’ve probably discovered the value of moist towelettes. Unfortunately, buying scent-controlled towelettes gets spendy fast. So my method of choice is to buy the unscented, generic brand in bulk at any drug store, throw a few into a sealed plastic bag, and wipe away when I ripen in the sun. I use four or five to get cleaner than PETA’s steak knives, then spray down with scent remover afterward. It gets the job done at a fraction of the cost, and man, a towelette bath can hit the spot when your sleeping bag starts smelling like a junior high locker room.

Must-Have Reading Material: Mini-Bible, Appropriately Bookmarked

Lightweight/Compact: 8

Durability: 10

Cost-Effectiveness: 10

Usefulness: 10

Innovation: 10

When you get socked in to a one-man tent or bivy, there’s nothing like having some words of wisdom to make your down time up time. Here are a few of my favorite passages:

Discouraged? Flip to Job, Jeremiah or Lamentations. And realize that no matter how bad your trip is going, people have perservered through much worse. Feeling lonely? Look at the Psalms, and check out numbers 23 (awesome) or 51 (David’s prayer of repentance and restoration). Filled your tag, and feeling thankful? Read the story of Joshua or Psalm 100. Pondering the world’s problems, and wondering if answers actually exist? Try Matthew chapters 5-7…it’s the most comprehensive picture of peace and goodness that has ever been spoken, and teaches me something new every time I read it, which isn’t nearly often enough.

I also pack some hunting magazines and a journal. You never know when you’re going to need some extra motivation, and if you’re anything like me, your time in the mountains is your time for introspection. Reading successful stories from fellow hunters keeps me going on cold, miserable mornings, and I like to journal in the unlikely event that something deep and profound hits me. Three such thoughts from last season’s journal:

9/14/07 When chasing elk across canyon after canyon, bring release.

9/15/07 When chasing elk across canyon after canyon, bring bow.

9/24/07 Invent bow that shoots elk from across canyon.

 

 

 

I tugged at my collar to soften the bite of the cold fog that was rising from the moss-covered slope. Although the weather was mild, the cool November morning’s bite was evident on my bare neck as the sun began to rise along with the mist into a gray-blue heaven. The warmth of the fleece collar brought me back in focus and I once again began to peruse the horizon for the elusive whitetail.

 My longbow lay across my lap as I sit with my back against a fairly large red oak tree. My blind was a cluster of scrub maple and witch hazel bushes that grow in prolific quantity around the small creek that traverses this patch of deer woods. I’m watching a well-worn deer trail that comes from the ridge top above my stand and extends to several distant farm fields. Directly across the little creek a lesser-used path intersects and joins the main trail; this obscure side road is used by several bucks that call this area their home. I don’t really expect to see decent bucks on the main trail but you never know. Pennsylvania deer are always unpredictable.

 I once again drift into a semiconscious state but am quickly brought back to reality by a snapping twig across the creek. It’s a buck, probably eighteen months old and sporting a little four point rack. It is carelessly moseying along paying little attention to the surroundings, or so it seems, as it hits the main trail and heads on toward the fields a quarter mile distant. If it can make it through a season or two the little buck will surely not be so casual in its woods’ demeanor in the future. Like humans, a buck’s youth is a time of learning, however the consequences of failing are much more severe and final. I watch after the deer until it is gone from my sight. Again I’m alone with the creek and the rising mist.

 As I tinker with the rawhide wrapping on my longbow’s handle I am again drawn back to the trail. Another of the woods residents has decided to pass by my vantage point near the creek. It is a red fox and it seems to be noticing the trail of the buck that passed earlier. It could be that it simply is scenting the trail to see what other critters have left their odorous molecules about, kind of an airborne menu if you will from which an alert predator may select its dinner choices. Unlike the buck, the fox notices something in the air that does not suit its tastes. As our gazes meet, reality sets in and the canine swaps ends and bolts back through the brush at breakneck speed. Again I relax and stretch my legs while the woods are still. Nothing is moving except for the water in the small creek twenty yards or so below the brush patch that hides my presence. It’s a little after seven-thirty and the sunbeams are starting to breach the horizon on the east side of the ridge. The rays of the rising sun pull at the creek bank and draw the mist toward the sky.

 With a quiet zip I open up a pocket in my fleece fanny pack and withdraw my bottle of water. A quick drink as I look over my wooded realm sates my thirst for the time being. I slip the bottle back into the pack and again stretch my muscles, now tight from sitting in one position for about one and a half-hours. The air is starting to warm now and I loosen the collar that had to be tightened an hour earlier. Again, I settle in to see what happens next.

 The next two hours pass quickly but uneventfully and I rise from my hiding place and gingerly get my tingling feet back in usable condition. I pick up my longbow, strap my fanny pack onto my waist and walk down to the creek. I run my fingers in the water, back and forth, just to feel the temperature and take in another sense of the area. This creek has a spring feed up the mountain so it is never deplete of water, although many years it’s sparse at best. This year Mother Nature was gracious and it carries a quantity that is sufficient for the local critters to grab a drink and quench their thirst. It also changes the deer’s habits when it has ample flow, since it keeps them from having to travel another quarter mile or so to the main creek, one of the reasons why I chose to sit here this morning.

 I adjust my pack and make a right onto the path the buck followed earlier in the morning. Back-trailing through the brush I walk into a rub line that borders a small meadow. Actually, it’s kind of a staging area where the deer gather before moving on to the fields by the big creek. Perhaps the deer meet here to discuss the day’s ruminations and plan evening entertainment. More than likely they stop here to nibble and rest, to test the wind and listen to what the evening forest has to say to them before traveling on to evening supper. This is the time of the rut, however, so things can happen quickly and without much warning, so I pay particular attention to the sounds of the morning.

 I walk the trail for about forty yards or so, watching for those signs of the rut; fresh rubs, newly thrown dirt from boundary scrapes….any change in the status quo of the woods. As I approach the first field next to the woods I can see a deer near the middle of the pasture. It is a buck and is hastily making its way toward my position. I quickly formulate a plan, test the wind and back off about twenty yards from the trail. Quickly removing my fanny pack, I hunker down within shooting range of the trail. All I can do now is wait and watch.

 I can hear the buck as it approaches my position by the path. The whitetail is in in a bit of a hurry and ignores the red oak acorns that lay all about the leaf litter. I am hunched over onto my knees and have the longbow a quarter drawn as the buck steps into my first window. Still somewhat facing me it is too soon to attempt a shot…about ten more steps would be good. Patience may provide a broadside situation, much more desirable than quartering toward or away; anyway there is no hurry as the buck is unaware of my presence.

 Time seems to stand still as the buck momentarily stops, looking back over its body toward the field. Finally it moves forward several more steps and tests the air for any prevailing scent. As it takes another step my bowstring is at my cheek and I’m frantically trying to pick a spot, both on the deer and through the seam between the scrub. Suddenly the buck stops behind some brush and the hairs rise on the back of its neck. There’s no time for a shot as the buck turns and runs back through the hazel brush in the direction of the ridge top. As quickly as it began, it was over and the woods were again silent.

 I just sit there dumbfounded. There was no vagrant breeze on the back of my neck to warn the deer….no sound or movement to give away my hiding place. Apparently the old sixth sense kicked in and I just got busted. Plain and simple. My emotions at a time such as this run the gamut from exuberance to melancholy; knowing that I came so close to taking one of the most clever animals in the woods with a stick and string, yet feeling kind of a let-down that another chance has passed uneventfully. I’m sure this feeling is a natural one and is shared by many a hunter and I’m also equally sure it’s based solely on a deep respect and admiration for the quarry. When the reality of the situation becomes clear I allow myself a smile and an excuse or two; it was the buck’s day today, maybe tomorrow would be mine.

 As I look around, the last traces of the morning mist have risen above the canopy and the air is clear. There are no cheering crowds nor are there any castigating jeers from other forest critters. Everything that happened here this morning was simply a rerun of happenings of the past, natural occurrences between predator and prey. It is a scene that has been played out for millenniums within the confines of nature’s wild lands. Yet the morning is still young and there is no need to hurry. The longbow is not a burden and my legs are fresh. I loosen my collar and start up the ridge.

 

 

 

Liquor and Beer………………………………………………………….$10.00

Wife’s beer…………………………………………………………………$2.95

Groceries………………………………………………………………….Credit

Life Insurance (wife’s)………………………………………………………75

Cigarettes………………………………………………………………….$4.00

Bingo………………………………………………………………………..$2.00

Lotto Gambling…………………………………………………………..$3.50

Dog Food (Man’s Best Friend)………………………………………..$1.25

Darts…………………………………………………………………………$3.50

—————————————————

TOTAL;   $27.95

This mean gone n’ de hole,

Solution, Eliminate Wife’s Beer

I always thought this one was cute,,  have a good one and be safe out there..bode

 

“Shorty McGraw”

By George D. Stout

 

Just how tall was Shorty McGraw, I wanted so to know

It was said he was but five foot three, yet he shot a hundred pound bow

One day I happened by his house and knocked upon the door

I heard a rustle from inside, and footsteps crossed the floor

 

 

I was greeted by an older man, who asked, “How do you do?”

I said, “I’m fine, my name is George, and I’d like to talk to you.”

He said, “come in.” “What is it son that you would like to know?”

I asked if he would show me that quite famous, hunting bow

 

 

He crossed the floor and opened up a cupboard by the wall

And took from it, a straight-limbed bow, no more than five feet tall

He kept it in a canvas bag , hung from a curved, brass hook

Next to a bamboo fly rod, and a leather-bound, old book

 

 

He turned and came to where I sat, and opened up the bag

And pulled the longbow from inside, and wiped it with a rag

To clear the dust, and all that else that gathered on its limb

Then opened up himself, to say what this bow means to him

 

 

He told me how his bow has grown , with a twinkle in his eyes

And with each tale, it grows some more, in stature and in size

A single piece of wood, it was; backed with a hickory strip

With red oak, and a leather wrap, to make a fitting grip

 

 

I asked him of the hundred pounds, and how he pulled such weight

He laughed and said, “that too, has grown; ‘tis really fifty-eight!

But years ago, a big man asked, how much weight is your bow?

You seem quite small, I’ll bet it’s just a forty pound or so!”

 

 

“I offered him to pull it back, since he hand none of his own,

He grasped the string and gave a heave , and let out with a groan!”

“My God!” He yelled, “ That bow must be the heaviest around!”

“I looked at him and said, Oh no….it’s just a hundred pounds!

 

 

He walked away, and to this day, the legend has grown, and still

There’s talk the bow is really one that was made by Howard Hill

But that’s not so, I made it from an old cut locust rail

And backed it with a pignut strip, I found along the trail”

 

 

I sat all day, and listened to his stories from the past

Then it was time for me to go, and we had to part at last

He put the bow back in the bag and give my hand a pat

And said, “It’s been a pleasure…stop again, so we can chat.”

 

 

I never made it back again, and now it seems a shame

His passing merely brought a mention of his proper name

It brought no clue, for me and you, why Shorty was his call

The man I knew, had surely grew, to be nearly ten feet tall

 

 

A humble, unassuming man, he had led a quiet life

And left his mere possessions to his children and his wife

His bow now lay across the rack that hangs upon his wall

To remind us of a giant man, my friend Shorty McGraw

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                         

 

  I walked down the gravel road in the pre-dawn stillness. The first frost of the year lay sparsely on the layer of leaves that littered the ground along my travel route. I could make out the shapes of feeding deer under an old Southern Pin Oak in a clearing just ahead of the point that the gravel road intersected a logging path that leads to my stand sight. I am certain that these deer saw me enter the woods, but it is early in the season and the hunting pressure had been light, besides it couldn’t be avoided.

  I finally reach my tree and attach my climber. Thoughts start to fill my head as I ascend to my elevated perch. Thoughts of past hunts and seasons gone by, some of which had seen long days spent in this very tree. I placed all my gear in its own location in the adjacent limbs. I caught movement of a fat young doe gracefully walking along the path that in moments will lead her merely twelve yards of my elevated seat. After several minutes the fat, two-year old deer made the final steps placing her squarely into my shooting lane. I placed my site pin tight behind her shoulder and touched the release. The doe bounded a few yards ahead then turned looking back at the noise, totally unaware of what had taken place. The doe steps forward a couple of more strides, then fell to her side almost underneath my tree.

  I spend the next several minutes watching two playful squirrels chase each other around and around a thick-barked limb of an old White Oak tree. Earlier the doe seemed to have been making her way toward that same tree. The doe now lay still on the damp forest floor as I descend from my natural overlook. Reaching the deer, I place my tag onto the sleek, clean, robust animal. Once again thoughts fill my mind about past hunts. I am also thinking about, and looking forward to, the future hunts to come.

  Sure, I have harvested bigger deer and have had more exciting adventures, but today I have provided my family with tender delicious venison. I thanked the good Lord and began the process of gathering my gear. I will be back another day.

 

Keep’em Sharp!

 

Written by Jason Wilborn    Monroe Tennessee