Finding the best monocular for hunting can be complicated. There are various things to keep in mind while shopping, so we prepared this article to help you choose the one that will suit your hunting style. Keep reading to discover what you need to know.
The Best Monocular for Hunting
When you're out in the field looking for your next prey, you need a quality optical device to help you spot and track it effectively. You'll be on the move and carrying your equipment, including the optical device of your choice.
However, not every optical device is the same. Binoculars, for example, are great. However, they can be pretty heavy, considering you'll need to hold them to your eyes for at least several minutes before your spot the good animal.
That's when monoculars come in pretty handy. And the best ones will offer you more than just compactness, although that's a significant factor to consider when buying a hunting monocular.
One of the essential elements shaping your hunting experience is the magnification power, so you'll want to be extra attentive to that. Next, there are weatherproofing, prism construction, the size of the objective lens, and lens coating. All these factors impact the quality of the image you will see through your monocular. Explore the details below.
The Best Magnification Power for Hunting Monoculars
Magnification measures how much larger the object will appear when viewing it through a monocular lens. If the monocular provides 10x magnification, what you view through it will look ten times bigger or appear ten times closer.
Monoculars come in a variety of magnification power. If you’re viewing very distant objects, you’ll need higher magnification, and if you need it for closer objects, you’ll want less power. Base this decision on your hunting style.
So, if you prefer hunting from larger distances, go for a higher magnification power, for example, 10-12x. On the other hand, if you like hunting from less remoteness, 8-10x magnification will do.
Note that the higher the magnification, the narrower the field of view. Although higher power means you can see better and more, it’s only effective if your hand is steady. However, monoculars with magnification less than 8x can sometimes reduce overall brightness, which typically isn’t favorable for hunting activities.
Consider Compactness
The best monocular for hunting will be inherently compact, as you need to carry it around with you the entire time during your activity. That way, you can easily fit it into your pocket or backpack.
Apart from the monocular size, monocular weight is also something to consider when using it mainly for hunting. Again, you’ll have to carry it around with you and hold it to your eye while preying on good creatures. So, ideally, you’ll choose a lightweight monocular for such endeavors.
Some monoculars for hunting weigh around one pound, while others are below half a pound in weight. While that doesn’t seem like a significant difference at first glance, after holding it and watching through it for several minutes, you’ll feel that extra weight and wish you got a lighter monocular.
The Best Monocular for Hunting is Weatherproof
Hunting is an outdoor activity, meaning your monocular will be susceptible to changing weather conditions. That can lead to contamination by water, fog, dust, and other things.
Fortunately, many monocular manufacturers understand these issues and how problematic they can be. That's why they are doing their best to prevent them by producing and offering weatherproof monoculars to all of you hunters out there. You only need to ensure you get a reliable, high-quality weatherproofing device.
For example, nitrogen and argon purged weatherproofing is generally a safe bet. With such monocular, you won’t have to worry about the sudden rain destroying it while you're deep in the woods waiting for that cute deer to jump out from its hideout so you can kill it and eat it for supper.
In addition, it would be wise to have a monocular armored with rubbers when out in the woods. You never know when a bear might pop up and try to steal it away. When they lose their temper, they can accidentally throw it and cause damage.
That’s where rubber saves the day - it ensures shock absorption. That way you’ll know your monocular is safe from harm when you aren’t. It gives a man peace of mind.
Monocular Prism Construction Is Essential
Considering prism construction is essential if you want to get the best monocular for hunting and enjoy your experience to the fullest. A quality prism will help you see images clearly when you look through your hunting monocular.
There are two prisms - Roof and Porro prism. It’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with how they work. The Roof prism offers a brighter color image clarity and is more expensive. On the other hand, Porro prisms provide a better 3D sharpness and cost less. In the end, the choice is yours. Base it on your hunting needs.
Consider the Size of the Objective Lens
The size of the objective lens of a monocular can significantly impact your hunting performance, as it denotes how wide you can see through the monocular. So, pay attention to the numbers and learn what they mean when shopping for a hunting monocular.
For example, if a monocular comes with 8x45, that means it can magnify the object eight times, and forty-five determines the size of the objective lens, the field of view, and how much light it can gather.
The larger the second number, the wider the field of view, and, naturally, the smaller the number, the narrower the field of view. Generally, monoculars that provide a wider field of view are better for hunting activities. They will allow you to see the environment and your prey more clearly, whether it’s moving or not. That’s especially true if you’re hunting early in the morning or late in the evening.
For instance, 10x50 would be the best monocular for hunting activities, and you won’t have to worry about darkness getting in the way. However, if you plan to hunt exclusively at night, you might want to try a night vision monocular.
Night Vision Monocular
The best night vision monocular for hunting uses small amounts of light to provide an optimal view in dim light and night conditions. Some even offer vision in daylight too. However, they perform best in darkness. It’s no wonder why night hunters love them so much.
The infrared monocular is a type of night vision monocular that engages the infrared wavelength to provide night vision. And, the best part is - you can disable this feature and use it in the daylight too.
Another type of night vision monocular is thermal imaging monocular. As you can imagine, they feature technology that enables them to read the heat waves radiating off the target and provide images. That allows you to spot prey in the darkness and even behind thin surfaces. Not surprisingly, these are some of the hunters’ favorites.
Lens Coating Is Important for Hunting Monocular
How the lens is made is another vital thing to look out for in monoculars for hunting. The ambient light transmission in many monoculars is lost through reflection. That results in poor contrast and glare. To prevent that, look only for hunting monoculars that come with the coated optical lens system.
These increase light transmission, reduce the loss of light, and glares on images, resulting in brighter and more vivid images. That way, you won’t get an eye strain or a headache when using your monocular in the field.
The best monoculars for hunting will have ED/HD elements, specialized prism, and external coatings. Moreover, they will have nothing less than fully multi-coated optics, which should be considered standard quality.
The Image Quality Matters
The image quality is vital when using a monocular for hunting. The purpose of a monocular is to boost your viewing ability. That’s why image quality is one of the most crucial elements you will want to compare between monoculars when shopping.
As we mentioned, essential things to look out for are viewing range, clarity, and brightness. The viewing range denotes how far the monocular will let you see and is significantly affected by magnification power. Clarity determines how sharp your image looks - you don’t want the blurry edges. Moreover, if the picture isn’t bright enough, you won't have a favorable viewing experience in any light condition, especially not in darkness.
Choose the Best Monocular for Hunting for You
Having read this guide, you know by now what to look for when buying a monocular for hunting. Following the advice described above will allow you to find what you need and improve your hunting experience. Good luck in your hunting endeavors, and don't kill more than you can eat.
