How To Select The Right Binoculars

Quality binoculars are essential for effective duck and goose scouting. Too many hunters have the habit of only looking through binoculars for a closer look at waterfowl they already see. But they should be using their binoculars to see if the ducks or geese are using an area in the distance where the roads don't go.

The requirements of quality binoculars are magnification, a good field of vision, brightness, ability to focus quickly, fit your hands, durability, and at a minimum be able to withstand some rain or fog.

On any pair of binoculars or sales description will be a pair of numbers separated by a small X, such as 7x35 or 8x32. The first number is the magnification or power of the binoculars. If this first number is a 7, then the birds you are looking at will appear 7 times closer than if you were just looking at it without the binoculars.

Greater magnification is not always better! The lower the magnification, the brighter the image and the wider area you can see. As you magnify more, less light comes through and the area is narrower that you see. You will also notice more wobble if viewing birds from a moving car or boat. Less magnification also means a wider field of view. Greater magnification will also increase the size and weight of the binocular. We use binoculars with a magnification of 7 or 8.

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