Cow-spotting

[Fill]

I'd like to buy my step-dad some optics for reading the herd's ear tags, ~ 400 yds away. He has Bushnell 20X50 binoculars at the house, and needs another set to keep at the barn. Or this one will go in the house and the Bushnell will move. I have $100 to spend, what should I be considering?

[308Mike]

Have you considered getting a spotting scope on sale, perhaps one of the ones at Big-5 Sporting Goods?

BARSKA 20-60 POWER ZOOM SPOTTING SCOPE
View Larger Image

$69.99
( reg. $189.99)
thru Jul 5

Granted, it doesn't have an angled eyepiece, but for what he's doing, it might not matter since he can set it on the hood of the truck to view them. That power magnification *should* be enough to be able to read the tags from a decent distance (as long as the cows aren't flapping their ears too much or moving around to where he can't see the tags.

[DwightG]

Have you considered larger ear tags or closer fences?

[308Mike]

or closer fences?

Is that kinda' like standing closer to your razor when you shave?

[Fill]

thought about a spotting scope, but I don't really know the trade-offs of binoculars vs spotting scopes. I think the most important parameter would be FOV, and maybe light transmission, so he can get as many numbers as possible without having to move from cow to cow - and can observe at dawn and dusk.

[308Mike]

With a spotting scope, once he see which one he wants, he can increase his magnification (decreasing his FOV) to read the tag numbers.

At that low a cost, you could simply spend the money to experiment and see if he likes it. Binos might be a little hard to hold while trying to write the numbers down.

[Aglifter]

We used to use a spotting scope - had a clamp that could attach to a rolled-down window. For what you're doing, you really want a spotting scope - much better optics for the money, and you can get much more light gathering, etc.

[Old Grafton]

Oh. I thought this was about something else.

http://fupahunter.blogspot.com/

[Termite]

Optics Planet is selling the Bushnell Legacy WP 10-22x50 zoom binos for $127, and free shipping. That's probably one of the best deals you're going to get in the $100 range.

LINKY

I grew up on a cattle farm in northwestern Louisiana. I understand what your stepfather is doing. I would not use a spotting scope. Poor field of view for viewing ear tags on cattle; they move their heads too much.

[Fill]

I was all set to go buy the spotting scope tomorrow, now I'm back on the fence. Is there a set of binos for < $100 that's close, or is there a serious quality drop below $125?