What is Best Scope for Deer Hunting ?
Deer hunting is one of the favorite hobbies for Americans; it is one of the oldest traditions in this country and will continue to dominate our outdoor activities for many years to come. Over the years, the technology of deer hunting has advanced but the use of the rifle plays a central in deer hunting.
This is not about to change since it’s magical, the feeling of spending time in the woods, stalking deer, aiming and shooting a deer is simply incredible.
Although crossbow deer hunting is increasingly becoming popular, rifle hunting is still the most popular. One of the most commonly asked questions about deer hunting is: What is the best scope for deer hunting?
Well’ today I want to share with you the list of the best deer hunting scopes available in the market today. It’s my hope that this will save you time and you will pick one of these scopes that suits your taste or preference.
Best Deer Hunting Scopes Buying Guide
If you are looking for the best scope for deer hunting, I previously shared the guide for buying best rifle scope for deer hunting. To help you pick the best scope for deer hunting, I want to highlight the top rated scopes in this category, outlining their features, pros, and cons (if any)
#1) Leupold VX-2 3-9x40mm Riflescope – Best Scope for Deer Hunting
Leupold scopes are the most reliable deer hunting scopes you can buy for the money. This specific Leupold scope is high quality and comes with all the features you need in the best deer hunting scope. Let’s outline the features of Leupold VX-2 3-9x40mm rifle scope and point out reasons why it’s the best scope for deer hunting.
Leupold VX-2 3-9x40mm Specifications
- It has an objective lens of 40mm that is large enough to give you a wide field of view when hunting.
- The magnification of Leupold VX-2 3-9x40mm is 3-9X which is the ideal magnification of the best deer hunting scope as I recommended in the deer hunting scope buyer’s guide.
- Comes with fully coated optics and it’s highly durable and you will not need to buy another scope for years. It’s designed with duplex reticle
Pros
- Leupold VX-2 3-9x40mm is not bulky and will easily first in a wide selection of rifles, makes hunting easy and fun no additional weight to your gear.
- It has the ideal magnification for hunting deer – 3-9x
- The large objective lens of 40 mm good for hunting deer
- The matte black finish makes it the best scope for deer hunting since you can stalk the deer without scaring them away with a light flash.
- Fully coated and therefore highly durable and can be used for years of hunting without the need of a new scope.
- Great brand – Leupold is the most reputable brand in making high-end rifle optics and Leupold VX-2 3-9x40mm is the best scope for deer hunting for the money.
Cons
- The price is relatively high compared to the average scope, but this should not be an excuse not to buy a high-quality deer hunting scope since it’s the best value for money.
#2 ) Vortex Viper – Vortex Optics Viper HS 4-16×44 Riflescope
Vortex Viper has a special place in my heart; it’s a great scope for the money. I like it because it’s somewhat multipurpose. This specific version Vortex Optics Viper HS 4-16×44 is ideal for deer hunting. Let us examine the features of Vortex Optics Viper HS 4-16×44 and find out why it’s the second best scope for deer hunting.
Vortex Optics Viper HS 4-16×44 Specifications
- The magnification of this scope is 4-16x which is slightly higher than the mean magnification for deer hunting but this does not make it a bad scope, in fact, it gives you more leverage in spotting targets that are further.
- It has a large objective lens of 44mm which gives you the wide field of view you need for deer hunting.
- Tube of the scope is 30mm and it’s made of aircraft grade aluminum O-ring sealed making it a remarkable scope that can withstand all weather and recoil too.
- It’s equipped with the best lens coatings that ensure your scope has the best light transmission.
- High-performance scope that fits perfectly in a wide range of hunting rifles.
Pros
- This scope comes with the best magnification range that is slightly above the most common range for deer hunting scopes and it’s, therefore, better in magnification.
- High clarity for high magnification
- The large objective lens that gives you a wide field of view
- The high-quality material used to make this scope – aircraft grade aluminum makes this scope durable and light enough to carry for all your deer hunting adventures.
- Vortex is one of the best brands manufacturing rifle optics in the world and therefore you are guaranteed of high standards and the best quality.
Cons
- The scope is not cheap; it’s the best scope for serious hunters looking for a reliable, long range deer hunting scope that will last for
#3) Nikon ProStaff 3-9 x 40 Black Matte Riflescope (BDC)
The third contender for the best scope for deer hunting is the Nikon ProStaff 3-9x 40 riflescope. This is a perfect scope for deer hunters who want a budget hunting rifle scope that still gets the job done. It is one of the best scopes from Nikon that are ideal for hunting large game. Let us briefly look at the features of Nikon ProStaff 3-9x 40 riflescope and what makes it a good scope for deer hunting.
Nikon ProStaff 3-9x 40 riflescope Specifications
- The magnification of this scope is 3-9x and it falls perfectly within the best magnification range for deer hunting.
- The objective lens is large and measures 40mm which is ideal for a good field of view.
- The scope is fully coated and it’s designed to be fog proof, waterproof and shock proof making it highly durable.
- Its designed with spring-loaded turrets for fast and accurate adjustment
Pros
- Good magnification and large objective lens that fit into the ideal range for deer hunting.
- Its light and does not add more weight to your hunting gear.
- It’s designed to transmit up to 98% of the available light making it a good deer hunting scope since you can use it comfortably in low light conditions.
- Nikon brand is known for making high-quality cameras but they have also carved a niche is the development of the best rifle optics.
- Great price and it’s the best low budget rifle scope for deer hunting.
#4) Simmons 8-Point 3-9x50mm Rifle Scope with Truplex reticle
Although the high-end deer hunting scopes are appealing, many people cannot afford the expensive hunting scopes. If you fall into that category, I want to expand your options by sharing with you another option for the best deer hunting scope. If you read my previous guide on choosing the best scope for deer hunting, you will realize that the bottom line is a scope with a good magnification and strong enough to function in all weather. Simmons 8 Point Truplex scope is a budget-friendly scope that comes from a company known for manufacturing high-quality scopes. Let’s look at the features of Simmons 8 Point Truplex scope and reasons why it’s a valuable budget scope for deer hunting.
Simmons 8 Point Truplex scope Specifications
- The scope has a magnification of 3-9x that is perfect for deer hunting
- It is designed with a large objective lens measuring 50mm which gives the deer hunter a large field of view, better than other scopes for deer hunting listed in this post.
- It is designed to be waterproof, shockproof and fog proof making it a good scope for hunting in the woods.
- It’s highly durable and can be used in several rifles.
Pros
- The price is accommodative making it one of the cheapest deer hunting scopes.
- The objective lens is large – 50mm ensuring you have a great field of view and will spot multiple targets
- The magnification of 3-9 is ideal for hunting deer
- The scope is lightweight and it fits nearly on all rifles
- Simmons is a reputable rifle optics manufacturing company and it’s no brainer that Simmons 8 Point Truplex scope is the best budget friendly deer hunting scope.
#5) Ledsnipe Riflescope 6-24×50 Rifle Scope – Deer Hunting Scope
The ledsnipe riflescope is another worthy contender for the best deer hunting scopes since it brings to the table new technology that makes hunting deer easier. The best deer hunting scopes are now adopting the use of technology that was in the past only seen in military rifle scopes. The ledsnipe riflescope is one such rifle scope for deer hunting that is illuminated mil-dot with red, green and blue illuminations. Let’s evaluate the features of Ledsnipe riflescope and find out why it’s a good choice of the best scope for deer hunting.
Ledsnipe Riflescope 6-24×50 Specifications
- This scope comes with a magnification of 6-24x which is way above the median magnification power for deer hunting scopes but that does not hurt.
- Its water, fog, and shockproof since it’s designed with high-quality materials just like other best scopes for deer hunting.
- It comes with mounting rings that may be absent in other scopes and in most cases scopes without mounting rings require that they bought separately.
- It has two different color settings for the illumination and a mil-dot reticle.
Pros
- High powered illumination which improves visibility and makes it a worthy contender for the best deer hunting scopes.
- The high magnification of 6-24x makes it better in spotting targets.
- The large objective lens of 50mm is only comparable to the previously listed deer hunting scope – Simmons 8 Point Truplex scope.
- The multiple color illumination introduces a new concept to deer hunting scopes that brings the accuracy and reliability seen in military scopes that are illuminated and use mil-dot reticles.
Cons
Ledsnipe riflescope is not popular enough and therefore there is certainly some missing information about its reliability. It’s, therefore, a good deer hunting scope for those users who want to try out illuminated hunting scope.
Finally, Do You Need the Best Scope for Deer Hunting?
The best way to end this review is to answer the question above. I think you can answer this question either yes or no. From experience, you can hunt without a deer hunting scope although having one helps you pick on deer that is 100 yards away. It’s important that you get the best shot and you don’t injure the animal or kill it inhumanely. The best bet is that a good deer hunting scope will ensure you get the best shot.
There are dozens of deer hunting scopes in the market today but the list above should be your best picks although the best deer hunting scopes are not limited to only these since the word ‘best’ is personal and may vary depending on a number of things. The scopes above covers all the features and the price range from low- high for the best deer hunting scopes.