Scopes and Optics

Best Scope For Woods Hunting/ /Deer Hunting In Woods

Best Scope For Woods Hunting

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Best Scope For Woods Hunting/Deer Hunting In Woods

Hunting in the woods is not in any way similar to hunting in open fields. Vast open fields allow you to spot your target from several yards away while in the woods, you only get to see it when it is in close range- 40 to 50 yards away. This means that your reaction time should be super fast or else you lose your target. With this in mind, you definitely have to invest in the best scope for woods hunting.

You might think that a scope is not important since the prey might be soo close but every hunter knows, a scope increases your accuracy and precision.

Here is a quick list of the best scopes for hunting in the woods if you do not have time for a short read

PRODUCT IMAGE PRICE
#1)Monstrum G2 1-4×24 First Focal Plane FFP Monstrum G2 1-4x24 First Focal Plane FFP  

#2) Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn Multi-X Reticle Riflescope Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn Multi-X Reticle Riflescope
#3) Trijicon TR22 AccuPoint 2.5-10x56mm Riflescope Trijicon TR22 AccuPoint 2.5-10x56mm Riflescope
#4) Vortex Optics Crossfire II Adjustable Objective Vortex Optics Crossfire II Adjustable Objective
#5) Primary Arms SLX 1-6×24 SFP Rifle Scope Primary Arms SLX 1-6x24 SFP Rifle Scope
#6) Zeiss Conquest V6 Reticle Zeiss Conquest V6 Reticle

 

Here are a few wood hunting tips.

Bolt-action rifles– These types of rifles are great for hunting but they are not necessarily ideal for woods hunting. The conventional bolt-action rifle can be heavy and they are long. This makes it hard to aim quickly or even shoot fast. This might mean you can easily lose your target. On the other hand, bolt action rifles are great for long-range hunting which makes them ideal for hunting in open fields. Short-barreled and light lever-action rifles are ideal for woods hunting

Scope– Contrary to what some people might think, hunting in the woods does not require high-powered scopes. For example, you might spot deer in the woods less than 100 yards away but when you look through the scope at 6X, you struggle to find it. You need to dial down the scope’s magnification power in order to clearly see the target. The ideal scope for woods hunting comes with 2X or 3x of magnification power. If you want something you can use in the woods as well as in the open fields, a 4X will do.

Scent- As earlier mentioned, hunting in the woods is very different from hunting in the open fields. When hunting in large open fields, you easily spot your target from several hundred yards away which means the prey will probably not catch on to your scent before you ethically put them down. However, in the woods, before you get a clear visual of your target, they are probably under a hundred yards away which means they probably can catch your scent which means they’ll be gone before you even realize what happened. This is why masking sprays are important or pine needles when you do not have money for masking sprays.

Bring a Saw– Bringing with you a saw is a good idea and especially foldable saws. They are easy to carry in yur backpack and will help in clearing out twigs or branches that are obstructing the view.

 

What To Look For in The Best Scope For Woods Hunting

Magnification– As earlier stated, hunting in the woods needs a scope with low magnification power. 2X or 3X is recommended. 

Objective lens– The most popular hunting magnification is 3-9X. Most scopes that come with this power tend to have 40mm to 50mm objective lens diameters. Huge magnification lenses allow in more light through the scope for brighter views, especially in low lighting conditions. However, they tend to make the scope heavier which is not ideal for a hunter who is moving around. You will be using low magnification power in the woods so a small objective lens easily gets the job done. 

Lens Coating and Glass quality– The best scope for woods hunting comes with high-quality glass with lenses fully coated. Scopes that are fitted with HD glass (High Density) or  ED glass (Extra-low Dispersion) deliver crisp clear images. This type of glass coupled with fully multi-coated lenses means the scope does not compromise with clarity or brightness of the images. 

Lenses can either be:

  • Coated- At least the surface of one lens is coated with a single layer.
  • Fully coated- All air to glass surfaces are coated with a single layer
  • Multicoated- At least one lens surface is coated with multiple layers
  • Fully multi-coated- All air to glass surfaces are coated with multiple layers. 

With this in mind, you might find a scope with a “coated lens” beating a “fully multi-coated lens” in quality. Sometimes, quantity is not better than quality. However, a properly built scope with fully multi-coated lenses delivers brighter and clearer images compared to a scope with “coated” lenses. 

Eye relief– This is the distance between your eye and the scope. A scope with a big eye relief means you are less likely to get the “scope eye” from recoil. Your eye is protected from injury. On the flip side, huge eye relief can be quite uncomfortable for your head and eye while in position. 3″-4″ is the standard eye relief. 

If you use rounds with higher recoil like the .30-06, a scope with a big eye relief is recommended, 3.7″ to 4.2″. With lighter rounds, on the other hand, the eye relief shouldn’t be much of a concern. 

Turrets

The best scope for woods hunting comes with low-profile capped turrets. Caps are great for preventing accidental adjustments when out in the woods. Additionally, turrets that are finger adjustable like those found in some Vortex scopes, are great as they make it easy to use the scope. Turrets should also be easy to zero.

Durability

A scope’s lens and glass quality, ability to hold zero, and how the body is built all point to its durability. High-quality scopes deliver shockproof, waterproof, and fog proof performance as they are gas-purged and sealed to ensure water does not enter the scope and moisture does not build up inside it. 

A durable scope is also built with high-quality material like aircraft-grade aluminum that ensures it lasts you longer. 

 

Best Scope For Woods Hunting Reviews

#1)Monstrum G2 1-4×24 First Focal Plane FFP

Monstrum G2 1-4x24 First Focal Plane FFP- Best Scope For Woods Hunting

 

 

 

From the Monstrum G2 line comes the G2 1-4X24 first focal plane scope that is made for high performance with a friendly price tag. It comes with an adjustable 1-4X magnification that is ideal for hunting in the woods. A first focal plane rangefinder reticle is fitted to allow for quicker range estimation and holdover correction. What’s more, the reticle can be seen in black illumination in green or red. This means that the etched reticle is visible even in low light conditions like the woods. 

To enhance durability, the scope is built with 6061 aircraft-grade aluminum with the interiors of the tube nitrogen purged and sealed for water and fog resistance.

We also love the fact that its lenses are fully multi-coated which helps in reducing chromatic aberrations keeping the images are focused and sharp Full Multi-Layer lens coating reduces chromatic aberrations keeping the image sharp and focused

 

Key Features

  • 1/2 MOA/click windage and adjustment knobs that can reset to zero
  • Fully multi-coated lenses
  • 4″-4.5″ inches of eye relief
  • Reticle illumination is dial controlled
  • Rangefinder first focal plane reticle with simple to read ranging information
  • Built with aircraft-grade aluminum with its interiors nitrogen purged for waterproof and fog proof performance.

 

 

 

#2) Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn Multi-X Reticle Riflescope

Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn Multi-X Reticle Riflescope

 

 

 

If you are looking for the best scope for woods hunting this Bushnell Banner is worth your time (and money). It comes with multi-coated optics for the bright and clear views you need in the woods.

Fitted with the DDB technology (Dusk and Dawn Brightness), this scope excels in dawn and dusk lighting conditions delivering unbelievably clear and bright images. A fast-focus eyepiece ensures you can easily focus your reticle to quickly take the shot. 

The one-piece tube is nitrogen charged for water and fog-proof performance. 

Key Features

  • Waterproof and fog proof
  • Fast focus eyepiece
  • Multi-coated lenses
  • 1/4 MOA fingertip resettable windage and elevation adjustments
  • one-piece tube

 

 

 

#3) Trijicon TR22 AccuPoint 2.5-10x56mm Riflescope

Trijicon TR22 AccuPoint 2.5-10x56mm Riflescope

 

 

 

 

The Trijicon Accupoint stands at the intersection of great performance in low light conditions and high transitional speeds. With precise accuracy, this is one of the best if not the best scope for woods hunting. 

With ultra-modern fiber-optic, this scope increases the speed at which you acquire the target all the while extending shooting hours. This fiber-optic technology adjusts the aiming-point brightness automatically to match the current light conditions. A tritium phosphor lamp is fitted to illuminate the reticle when there is little to no light making it the ideal scope for woods hunting. 

Additionally, this scope comes with multi-coated lenses that deliver clear images with no distortion. It is also constructed with aircraft-grade aluminum for protection against tough elements in the field. 

Key Features

  • Fiber optic technology that adjusts contrast and brightness level of the reticle point of aiming to the current light condition
  • Second focal plane reticle
  • Multi-coated lenses
  • Constructed using aircraft-grade aluminum
  • Illuminated reticle

 

 

 

#4) Vortex Optics Crossfire II Adjustable Objective

Vortex Optics Crossfire II Adjustable Objective- Best Scope For Woods Hunting

 

 

 

 

This scope is a perfect example of why Vortex is one of the leaders in the optics sphere. It comes with long eye relief and a forgiving eyebox so you should not be worried about getting an eye injury. The generous eye relief also ensures you swiftly get a picture and easily acquire your target. A fast-focus eyepiece is fitted for easy and quick reticle focusing.

This scope comes with easily resettable capped turrets that are finger adjustable with MOA clicks and can be reset to zero. The lenses are fully multi-coated and anti-reflective for the clearest and brightest images. 

We also love the fact that the one-piece tube is fashioned from aircraft-grade aluminum that gives its strength and durability. It is then nitrogen-charged and o-ring sealed inside for fog proof and waterproof performance.

 

Key Features

  • V-brite reticle 
  • Generous eye relief and a forgiving eye box
  • Fast focus eyepiece
  • Aircraft-grade aluminum
  • Capped turrets
  • Waterproof and fog proof
  • Fully multi-coated, anti-reflective  lenses 

 

 

 

#5) Primary Arms SLX 1-6×24 SFP Rifle Scope

Primary Arms SLX 1-6x24 SFP Rifle Scope

 

 

 

At the corner of innovation and reliability, is the Primary Arms SLX 1-6X24 scope that comes with the proprietary Advanced Combined Sighting System reticle. This uncluttered and intuitive reticle communicates important information to ensure your first shot is the only shot you need. This reticle incorporates range estimation, bullet drop compensation, moving target leads, and windholds into a system that is easy to use. What’s more, the second focal plane reticle design ensures you can quickly acquire your target at low magnification power.

The reticle is partially illuminated and has 11 brightness settings so you can easily adjust depending on the available light conditions. The illumination is powered by batteries and you also get a spare battery.

In addition to this superior reticle, are fully multi-coated lenses housed in an anodized aluminum body. This is the best scope for woods hunting especially where lighting is a concern.

Key Features

  • An incredible ACSS reticle
  • Fully multi-coated lenses
  • Built using high-quality aluminum
  • Second focal plane
  • 1-6x magnification

 

 

 

#6) Zeiss Conquest V6 Reticle

Zeiss Conquest V6 Reticle

 

 

 

 

We understand not everyone can afford to spend this much on a scope, but if you can, this Zeiss V6 scope is worth every cent. As the best scope for woods hunting this scope is ideal for close to long-range hunting.

It comes with fluoride glass and lenses are coated with Lotutec Coatings for excellent image resolution and clarity. This scope also delivers exceptionally bright images. An ultra-forgiving eye box and a wide field of view greatly increase your accuracy with each shot you make. 

This scope is also fitted with an illuminated reticle perfect for hunting in low light conditions like in the woods and it is fog proof and waterproof. 

Key Features

  • Illuminated reticle
  • Lotutec coated lenses
  • Fluoride glass
  • Second focal plane
  • Fogproof and waterproof

 

 

Final Thoughts

It is impossible for us to crown one scope as the best scope for woods hunting for one simple reason, people get scopes for different needs and preferences. We, however, have reviewed our favorites that guarantee you success in your hunting trip to the woods. 

Getting the best scope for woods hunting does not automatically make you a good shooter. Good shooting skills require practice and practice. So practice as much as you can to elevate your skills for a good hunting story!