krp

In the 50mm class, the bruntons are the best. I can't use big objective roofs because my eyes are to close together, probably a joke in there about my intelligence. I've been using heavy porros and decided to try a smaller objective roof for backpacking hunts and as a loner pair. The bruntons are alot better than the vortex and as sharp as the zuess. This last month I've spent 14 days behind them scouting elk and archery antelope hunting. My buddy had his swaros during 4 of those days, one day we stood in the rain for hours watching antelope, 2 miles away, this is what we decided after different light conditions. The brunton had 90% light gathering compared to the swaros, more just a light washout effect, colors not quite as bright during low light. Sharpness great even in low light and rain, he was suprised at how close to the swaros they were, he said he couldn't tell enough difference between them but really wanted too. I'm not saying they are as good as the high end stuff, but there are reasons guys have for not being able to spend $2000.00 on optics or unable to use the big roofs. There are decent alternatives out there that work. I love my 10X52 Minox HG and really wanted to have the new 13's work for me, no go, probably the best buy going. Anyway, the Bruntons are best in the 50mm class and at $313.00 are a steal, at half their original price I have a feeling they're being closed out. The Minox is your best choice in the bigger objective for your price range. The pentax are not very good as a total package, about 80% optically and not comfortable to use. Yet somethings better than nothing and I have a set of 16X60's that I bought years ago and actually glassed up coues deer with at long range, the one hunt I used them on. I will send them to you or anyone else that needs something to get them started for free. For myself I'm going to have to bite the bullet and get the 10+15 X 50 duovids someday. Kent

4B, I've had about all the scouting I can take. I'm ready to hunt. Kent

Rumors are rumors, even coming out of the horses mouth. I do know for a fact that the G&F officer had a frustrating 8 hrs in court that fri, and was happy to be out checking bears till late sat. Kent

This is true, wasn't there someone else that didn't want them killing this bull, and actively trying to keep the bull in the subdivision so it could be killed later? Pressure to produce in the hunting industry today can make good people make stupid decisions. Stuff like this is why I backpack hunt whenever possible. Kent

Malik paid $10,000 for the info, the guy got his guide license to legally collect. He also said he could get the surrounding neighbor's permission to shoot around their property, he couldn't or didn't fullfill that promise. Now for the juicy rumors going on up there. Malik offered $1,000,000 to G&F for all of this to go away and get his elk back with no citations. What a tangled web we weave. Kent

Went up sat and sun. I'm having no problem finding lopes out of the otc elk area, any time of day. It rained hard fri night and I found an area north of Hutch rd that had a ton of fresh elk and lope sign, but I never saw an animal. I walked a lot of that area and think I have an idea what they're doing. I'm headed back up wed thru sun and we'll see what happens. It's just funny how the antelope are acting so different from the non otc elk area. Hutch rd looked like a dove hunt, I didn't see anyone where I was at and only a few vehicle tracks. Kent

My buddy has the same elk hunt, he's waited a lot of years for this. I will be calling for him. Will be a great year with all the rain. Some of my other friends have the archery deer tag and I have a 4B archery lope tag and will be camping with them off the Black Canyon Lake road. Let me know if I can help in any way. Kent

I saw an elk hanging in Rusty's butcher shop in Springerville, killed in 4B. Maybe it was your Grandpa's. Heard that 2 were killed but can't comfirm. I have a 4B archery lope tag. This weekend I am scouting the northern portion of the unit and can shoot an elk if I see one. Good luck. Kent

I know of 4 males killed in units 1 and 3B as of saturday night. These are what the warden acually checked by then. No females reported at that time. Kent