Best Binoculars For Elk Hunting

When you’re out hunting, you need to pick a spot to shoot from based on where the elk are gathering. But to do that, you need to be able to see where the elk are in the first place.

If you were to use binoculars that aren’t powerful enough, then you will have to get much closer to the elk to see them. And the closer you are to them, the greater the chance that they will hear or see you, and get scared away. And you’ll have had a wasted journey.

The solution of course is to get yourself a good pair of binoculars that will enable you to spot the elk from a far more sensible distance.

Lucky for you, we’ve been checking out some of the best hunting binoculars out on the market today. And after much deliberation we compiled a shortlist of our top 5 favorites to show you, which is coming up very shortly.

But we get that choosing a pair of binoculars can be tricky, so we’ve also put together a buying guide for you that walks you through all the key things to think about before you buy.

And without further ado…

Best Binoculars For Elk Hunting

Vortex Optics Fury HD 5000 10×42 Laser Rangefinding Binoculars

As we discuss in our buying guide a little later on, one of the best kinds of binoculars you can get for hunting are rangefinder binoculars such as this one…

Not only does it give you the distance to your target, but it also provides the angle too. So, it’s the perfect option if you want to shoot the elk with a bow and arrow, because you’ll have all the data you need to get that shot. It even gives you an angle compensated distance – and it can be used on moving targets too!

It offers a 10 times magnification, which is several times greater than the minimum of 6 times that we laid out in our buying guide. And the objective lens is very large at 42 mm, which means that you get a wide field of view to help you spot any elk you want to hunt. 

It has a top quality build and comes from one of THE best brands in the business. It uses fully-coated high definition lenses, so you get a crystal clear image through the binoculars, even in low light conditions such as at dawn or dusk when the elk are at their most active.

The lens is fully protected from the likes of scratches and dirt, and the armored housing can really stand up to the elements, including extreme weather conditions.

It has also been very well-received by customers, having earned a full 5 stars average Amazon customer rating, even after well over 100 individual customer ratings.

It’s worth noting at this point that this is a particularly expensive pair of binoculars, and could very likely be out of your budget. But if it is, don’t worry, we got some far more affordable binoculars coming up in the rest of our shortlist.

But if you do decide to go for this one, we recommend taking out the accompanying protection plan for accidental damage.

Pros:

• Rangefinder functionality!
• 10 x magnification power
• Provides wide field of view
• Works very well in low light
• Stands up to the elements

Cons:

• Premium product at a premium price (not kidding!)

Vortex Optics Diamondback HD Binoculars

We should have been blown away when we saw the customer ratings for these binoculars. After well over 3,700 individual customer ratings, the average customer rating still comes out at a whopping 5 stars out of 5.

But this is what we have come to expect from the top brand Vortex. They’re simply the best brand out there for hunting binoculars and rifle scopes.

You can buy it at different amounts of magnification power, starting at 8 times and going up to 12 times. But even at the lowest available magnification, it falls above the minimum we would recommend for hunting elk with.

And the objective lens comes in various sizes too, starting at 28 mm and going up to 50 mm. So you can get one with a really good, wide field of view, and be able to see elk scampering off in the distance.

But these specs don’t tell the full story. With these binoculars, you get unsurpassed resolution, amazing color fidelity and excellent sharpness. And they perform great in low light conditions.

The lenses are fully-multicoated, which means you get excellent light transmission through each binocular. And, these lenses feature Vortex’s own Armortek coating to project them from dirt and scratches.

You can adjust the eye cups by turning the dials to provide more comfortable viewing, and there’s also a center focus wheel which will adjust the focus of the two barrels in unison.

The tough housing provides a good strong grip, and it’s also both fog proof and water resistant, so you don’t need to worry about it getting damaged by the elements.

It comes with its own carry case with adjustable strap for easy portability. And they can be placed on a car window mount, which could be handy.

But what we really love about it is the lifetime warranty – so reassuring.

Pros:

• Phenomenal customer ratings
• Unsurpassed image resolution
• Lenses protected from scratches 
• Comes with its own carry case
• Backed by a lifetime warranty

Cons:

• It weighs a little more than cheaper counterparts

Vortex Optics Crossfire HD Binoculars

Again, another pair of binoculars from top brand Vortex has made our shortlist of top 5 hunting binoculars. And again it has superb customer ratings – a full 5 stars out of 5 based on well over 3,400 individual customer ratings.

To be honest, it has quite a lot in common with the Vortex Optics Diamondback HD Binoculars, but it’s available at a much more affordable price point. So if you want to buy top quality binoculars from a top brand but only have a moderate budget, then this should be the one for you to go for.

It’s available to buy in 4 different set-ups, which are as follows: 8 x 42, 10 x 42, 10 x 50, and 12 x 50. Whichever one of these takes your fancy, you will have more than the 6 times magnification that we recommend for elk hunting.

And since the objective lens is large, you should also get a really good, wide field of view, so you can spot the elk running in the distance.

But these specs don’t tell the full story. With these binoculars, you get unsurpassed resolution, amazing color fidelity and excellent sharpness. And they perform great in low light conditions.

The lenses are fully-multicoated, which means you get excellent light transmission through each binocular. And, these lenses feature Vortex’s own Armortek coating to project them from dirt and scratches.

You can adjust the eye cups by turning the dials to provide more comfortable viewing, and there’s also a center focus wheel which will adjust the focus of the two barrels in unison.

The tough housing provides a good strong grip, and it’s also both fog proof and water resistant, so you don’t need to worry about it getting damaged by the elements.

It comes with its own carry case with adjustable strap for easy portability. And they can be placed on a car window mount, which could be handy.

But what we really love about it is the lifetime warranty – so reassuring.

Pros:

• Bargain affordable price point
• Phenomenal customer ratings
• Excellent resolution of images
• Lenses protected from scratches 
• Backed by a lifetime warranty

Cons:

• There have been occasional complaints that the larger binoculars barely fit in the carry case

Bushnell PowerView 10 x 50mm Porro Prism Instafocus Binoculars

The other big name in binoculars is Bushnell, possibly the only brand to truly rival Vortex.

We just love their camouflage pattern that makes them perfect for keeping stealthy as you look around for the unsuspecting elk.

They have excellent specs, with a magnification power of 10 times, and a large objective lens which is a whopping 50 mm in diameter. 

Better yet, with the high quality BK-7 prism multi-coated optics, you get great light transmission and very efficient reflectivity. And this in turn means that you get stunning high definition clarity, with bright, clear and crisp imagery.

The binoculars have been made with top quality materials and components, and have undergone considerable and rigorous testing before going out to market.

It has also been met with a very positive customer response, with an average Amazon customer rating of 4 and a half stars out of 5. Even after well over 1,300 individual ratings.

These lenses are protected by a tough, rugged housing, that’s built to really last. And also included in the box, you also get lens covers to protect the lenses against fog and dust particles, lens cleaning cloths, a handy little carry case, and of course an in-depth product manual.

Amazon occasionally has deals on this particular pair of binoculars, simply click on “check price” to be taken to the product page, so you can see if there’s a deal on now. But even if you don’t manage to catch a deal, you still get really good value for money.

Pros:

• Brand to rival Vortex
• Great value for money
• Camouflage housing
• High definition clarity
• Specs: 10 x 50 mm

Cons:

• There have been complaints about the quality of the accompanying carry case

Occer 12×25 Compact Binoculars with Clear Low Light Vision

Now, this particular pair of binoculars has been awarded the title of Amazon’s Choice in the category of “binoculars for hunting”. Such a title is only given to products that are not only of excellent quality, but are also available at a good and reasonable price. We would go one step further and say that these binoculars are an absolute bargain!

It’s stand out quality has to be just how compact they are – you can hold them in one hand, keeping your other hand free. Unlike most other binoculars, it’s small enough to fit in a fanny pack. Or, if you are taking a backpack, it will take up minimal room there. Perfect for easy portability.

It has plenty of magnification power, coming in at 12 times the diameter of the objective lens, and you get an excellent field of view, coming in at 273 feet per 1000 yards, so you can look further and see wider than with regular binoculars.

It uses fully coated lenses and premium BAK4 prism, so you get excellent light transmission and crisp and clear images.

They work great in low light conditions, which is just what you need when you’re hunting elk at dawn or dusk when they are at their most active. 

They can be used together with glasses if you’re a glasses’ wearer, thanks to the adjustable eye cups. 

Amazon occasionally has deals on this particular pair of binoculars, simply click on “check price” to be taken to the product page, so you can see if there’s a deal on now. But even if you don’t manage to catch a deal, you still get really good value for money.

Pros:

• Bargain affordable price point
• Powerful 12 x magnification
• Excellent large field of view
• Very compact and portable
• Work great in low light 

Cons:

• The objective lens is a little on the small side, which may adversely affect your field of view

Buying Guide

As promised, here’s your buying guide. Let’s walk you through some of the key things to consider.

Magnification

Your first concern should be to get a pair of binoculars that have sufficient magnification power. The magnification of binoculars is usually described as the number of times greater the resulting image is compared to the radius of the objective lens, the lens furthest from your eye.

We would argue that you will need binoculars with a magnification of at least 6 times for hunting elk.

Field of View

The field of view is basically the width of the image that you can see through the lenses of the binoculars. And the larger your field of view, the greater the chance that you will spot some elk to hunt. 

Moreover, since elk are among the fastest of land animals that can run at speeds of up to 45 miles per hour, then the larger your field of view is the easier it will be to spot them and where they seem to be running to.

There’s an issue, however. In order to have a good field of view through the binoculars, you may have to sacrifice some magnification power, since higher magnification narrows the field of view. 

Most binoculars will have a field of view of 1000 yards as standard. But because you’re specifically looking for binoculars for hunting elk, you may be better off with a larger field of view to see where they are gathering, because when you need to view them up close, you’ll likely switch to using the scope on your rifle.

Quality of Materials

Here’s what to look for when it comes to the quality of materials:

• Fully multi-coated lenses – this decreases surface reflectivity to enhance both definition and color
• An anti-shock and anti-slip outer shell – to protect the binoculars from drops
• Fog proof and water resistant – so that you’re prepared for a little light rain or fog
• BAK4 glass in the prisms – this will give you a perfectly round image without any shading or blurry edges

Portability

Assuming that you’re on foot for some of your hunting expeditions, you will need binoculars that are easily portable. Preferably lightweight, and with their own carry case.

If, however, you don’t want your binoculars bouncing around in their own carry case, then might prefer a pair of binoculars that are so small and compact that you could fit them in your fanny pack or backpack.  

Vision in Low Light

Elk tend to be at their most active at dawn and at dusk, when light is rather low. So if this is when you intend to hunt, you’ll need binoculars that can perform well in low light conditions. This will also help you if the weather is overcast with clouds, or if you are in an area with dense tree cover.

In order to perform well in low light conditions, the binoculars will need a large exit pupil diameter of at least 5 mm. For those who don’t know, the exit pupil is the optical length of the binoculars divided by its magnification. So binoculars that are more compact, can often provide a better view in low light conditions.

Rangefinder Binoculars

Rangefinders are a special type of binoculars that can tell you exactly how far away the prey is, and the vertical and horizontal distance and angle. This is an excellent advantage to have if you are shooting with a bow and arrow rather than with a rifle.

The issue, however, is that rangefinders usually use a lower magnification than regular binoculars, so it makes it harder to prepare your shot from a long distance. But again, if you are using a rifle and scope to line up your shot, then you may not need rangefinder binoculars.

Value for Money

If there’s anything that varies in price, it’s binoculars. You can pick up a pair of kids binoculars for about $15, but at the higher end you can expect to pay up to a whopping $600 or more. So it’s imperative that you check the prices as you go along.