| I have written several articles about the importance | | | | down the mountainside, I shadowed them. As they |
| of investing in quality optics for any hunt. This hunting | | | | stepped out of the line of site i would quickly and |
| season, I received more "scientific proof" of my | | | | quietly move from cover to cover to hide my |
| assertion. Just to recap, I am a firm believer that | | | | presence. As I was progressing across a rocky part |
| optics are a prime example of getting what you pay | | | | of the slope, I stepped on some lichen which had |
| for. I literally cringe at the mention of Tasco, BSA, | | | | become slick from the rain and when down like a |
| and any other off brand scope, especially when its | | | | sack of potatoes thrown off a truck. The rifle and |
| destination is the top of a high-powered hunting rifle. | | | | scope which was slung across my back in a shoulder |
| This gag-reflex has caused me to pull all low end | | | | to shoulder manner took the brunt of the fall. The |
| scopes out of my store. I will not offer them nor will | | | | result would have been catastrophic for a lesser |
| allow them to be mounted on merchandise we sell. | | | | grade optic. |
| When I first started High Mountain, I engrained the | | | | After I caught my breath again, I surveyed for |
| motto, "If we won't carry it in the Field, We won't | | | | damage. The deer had obviously spotted me and my |
| carry it in the store". While this might have cost me | | | | acrobatic display of ineptitude and had headed on |
| sales to folks who believe in low end optics, I cannot | | | | down the mountain in a hurried, yet seemingly |
| stand against my principles. | | | | mocking pace. The gun was fine, but the scope had |
| Low end optics continually amaze me. A hunter or | | | | suffered major gouges on the edges of the |
| shooter is willing to spend hundreds of dollars to get | | | | eyepiece, objective, and body. I immediately |
| the finest shooting rifle they can afford and the first | | | | assumed I had broken the optics, but to my surprise |
| thing they want to skimp on is the key to accurate | | | | everything was intact when I look through the body |
| and consistent shooting. Regardless of how well the | | | | tube. |
| gun shoots, if the scope cannot handle the recoil or | | | | I re-shouldered the rifle and limped back to camp |
| the abuse of hunting, the shots will not be well | | | | with a sore butt, dented scope, and injured pride. |
| placed. | | | | The next morning was too rainy for hunting so the |
| This season, I have personal testament to such trials. | | | | group decided to stay in camp until the weather let |
| I have been breaking in a new Tikka T3 in 270 which | | | | up. This was ideal for me as I would not feel |
| I adorned with a Leupold VX-II 3-9x40. It is a very | | | | comfortable going hunting until I had re-zeroed my |
| simple scope and cost less than $300.00. While this | | | | scope. I set a small target up on the hill about 100 |
| may not seem expensive compared to Swarovski, | | | | yards away and took aim. The first shot center |
| Khales, or some of the upper end Leupolds, it is a far | | | | punched the target; the second missed the center |
| cry from the $69.99 Tasco special offered in the | | | | by about quarter of an inch. I shot three more shots |
| Sportsman's Guide. | | | | with all five being within an inch of each other. |
| I chose the VX-II for 2 reasons, simplicity and | | | | OUTSTANDING!!! Not only had the scope withstood |
| durability. The T3 replaced my old deer hunting rifle | | | | the blow but it had held its zero. This is performance |
| and would be filling the same application. Shots would | | | | far beyond the capabilities of Simmons, BSA, or |
| be from 20 yards to 400 in various condition and | | | | Tasco. |
| terrain. Some shots may require fast acquisition while | | | | As hunters, we not only owe it to ourselves but to |
| others would require delicate shot placement. I do | | | | the game we hunt to always use optics and |
| not hunt lightly, covering many miles of terrain either | | | | equipment which will stand up to the demands we |
| on foot or horseback. The gun and the optics would | | | | place on them. Risking loosing an animal or worse |
| have to cope with everything I would dish out to it. | | | | wounding one due to poor equipment is not |
| This year's hunt proved to be the tell tale point. It | | | | something I am willing to endorse, especially when a |
| was late in the evening on the 3rd day of the hunt | | | | quality scope is only $300.00 away. Like I have said in |
| and deer were scarce. It had been lightly raining all | | | | my previous articles, Tasco, Simmons, BSA, and |
| day. The ground was damp and weeds were wet | | | | other lesser quality scopes may have their place, just |
| which made stalking much easier. I was watching a | | | | not on any of my guns or the guns I would sell to |
| big mule deer doe with 2 yearling fawns, hoping they | | | | my customers. |
| would pick up a big buck as night fell. As they moved | | | | |