Spotting Scopes Explored:
Best Spotting Scopes for Hunting in 2023

When you need serious magnification to find your next target, a spotting scope becomes your best friend. Spotting scopes help you determine the stats on a faraway target – and then choose whether it’s worth pursuing. Having the right spotting scope can save you lots of time chasing after prey that isn’t worth your time!

When I’m choosing a spotting scope, I know I’m changing the game for how I’ll be moving through the field. That’s why I always consider magnification, eyepiece design, versatility, size, overall quality, durability, and how the scope will fit with my tripod before I make a purchase.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the basic spotting scope features you need to understand before making a purchase, and then provide examples of some of the best spotting scopes for hunting on the market. These include:

• Best Overall:  
  Swarovski ATX 65mm
• Best Big Game:  
  Leupold SX-4
• Best Price-to-Performance:  
  Vortex Razor HD 20-60x85mm
• Best Entry Level:  
  Vanguard Vesta 350A
• Best Handheld Scope:  
  Sig Sauer Oscar 3 10-20x30

What to Consider When Choosing a Spotting Scope

When I’m planning my next big hunting expedition, I put just as much effort into finding my targets as I do into eventually taking them. These are the primary features I’m considering when I’m choosing a spotting scope.

Magnification

The first thing I ask myself is how far away I want to see. Unlike binoculars, spotting scopes often come with zoom lenses. This means that they provide a range of magnifications. So for example, if you see a spotting scope that’s described as 20-60x60mm, that means it offers 20-60x magnification. (We’ll explain that second number in a minute.)

Most hunters will need the higher end of magnification, usually somewhere in the 20-60x range. The higher end of the magnification is particularly useful if you’ll be searching for elk or other herds in open country or Western hunts. Keep in mind that higher magnification can mean more bulk and less light.

Objective Lens

Remember that second number in the 20-60x60mm equation? Well, the “60mm” refers to the objective lens diameter. A bigger objective lens is, well, bigger – meaning the whole spotting scope is going to be bulkier. But, it also lets in more light, making it easier to see at longer-distance magnifications.

When I don’t need that extra functionality at lower light, you better believe I’m taking the lighter scope with me over all those miles! But if I know I’ll be hunting at dawn and dusk, it’s worth every ounce to have the bigger scope.

Angled vs Straight-Body

Our next big decision is what we want the scope to look like: straight or angled? But it isn’t just looks here – this also impacts the scope’s best functionality.

Straight-body spotting scopes are best for viewing from a truck or downhill. It’s easy to pack, and lines up with your sightlines and your rifle, which means you can go from spotting to shooting more easily.

An angled spotting scope gives more options for how to get your eye onto the scope, which makes it more comfortable if you’re going to be spending a lot of time searching for targets. The angle also makes it easier for people of different heights to peek into the eyepiece without having to adjust the setup.

Usable Features

I’m not just getting a spotting scope for my own backyard. I’m picking one out that’s going to be trekking serious miles with me. That means it needs to have a few key features that make it usable in the field.

My final checkpoints are:

• Quality glass. This almost goes without saying, but the scope is the glass. Extra-low dispersion glass (ED) is the cream of the crop, if your budget allows.
• Durability. My spotter is coming with me in my pack into the elements. Will it stand up to my gloves, dust, rain, and everything else that’s in my pack?
• Tripod compatibility. How does the scope mount onto a tripod? If you already own a tripod that you’ll want to use, make sure they’re compatible.
• Removable eyepieces. Sometimes I want a scope that I can use for a wider range of purposes. Having a removable eyepiece that I can swap out for a wide angle can make my scope that much more useful.

Best Spotting Scopes for Hunting

We’ve assembled a collection of excellent spotting scopes that will help you identify targets in the backcountry. Each serves a distinct purpose – so the best spotting scope for you will depend on your goals, your environment, and everything we’ve covered so far. I hope this guide helps you get what you need!

Scope	Magnification & Objective Lens	Straight Body or Angled	Weight
Swarovski ATX	20-60x65	Angled	56 oz
Leupold SX-4	15-45x65	Angled	62 oz
Vortex Razor HD	20-60x85	Angled	65.7 oz
Vanguard Vesta 350A	12-45x50	Angled	21.2 oz
Sig Sauer Oscar 3	10-20x30	Straight	16 oz

Swarovski ATX Magnification & Objective Lens: 20-60x65 Straight Body or Angled: Angled Weight: 56 oz

Leupold SX-4 Magnification & Objective Lens: 15-45x65 Straight Body or Angled: Angled Weight: 62 oz

Vortex Razor HD Magnification & Objective Lens: 20-60x85 Straight Body or Angled: Angled Weight: 65.7 oz

Vanguard Vesta 350A Magnification & Objective Lens: 12-45x50 Straight Body or Angled: Angled Weight: 21.2 oz

Sig Sauer Oscar 3 Magnification & Objective Lens: 10-20x30 Straight Body or Angled: Straight Weight: 16 oz

Best Overall: Swarovski ATX 65mm

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The Swarovski ATX is one of my favorite scopes. With excellent image quality, strong-low light performance, and a smooth eyepiece, I feel prepared for just about anything with this scope by my side. Swarovski has long set industry standards in optical performance, and the ATX is no different.

Swarovski doesn’t just excel at glass: it’s also an ergonomic build. Its compact size and weight make it more portable than similar options, which makes a big difference when I’m plodding through the field. If you prefer a straight-body scope, look no further than the similar Swarovski STX.

The Swarovski ATX is also sold as a modular system, meaning the eyepiece and body are sold separately. This makes it possible to swap out a larger objective lens for applications where the extra light might be worth the extra pounds.

REFERENCE: Best Spotting Scope for Hunting

Pros	Cons
Excellent image clarity Very strong in low-light Smooth eyepiece	More expensive

Pros Excellent image clarity Very strong in low-light Smooth eyepiece

Cons More expensive

Best Big Game: Leupold SX-4

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When I’m heading out in search of big game, I need a spotting scope that can handle it. The Leupold SX-4 is an extremely durable scope with a fully waterproof and fogproof magnesium body.

The Leupold Twilight Max HD Light Management System reduces glare and improves light transmission in low-light situations. The eyepiece is oversized, which I find far more comfortable over long days of spotting.

Pros	Cons
Durable Meant for long-term comfort Good light transmission system Clear image	Larger lens caps can be difficult for quick on/off

Pros Durable Meant for long-term comfort Good light transmission system Clear image

Cons Larger lens caps can be difficult for quick on/off

Best Price-to-Performance: Vortex Razor HD 20-60x85mm

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If you’re looking for the most bang for your buck, the Vortex Razor HD provides excellent performance without crossing over into premium pricing. While it’s still certainly not cheap, it can get you into top-tier optics without shelling out as much as Swarovski will ask of you.

It has a clear image edge to edge, though not quite as great as its top-tier competitors. It also has a grayish tone that can work against it in low-light settings. With a great warranty, the Vortex Razor HD can help you on many future hunts to come over the years.

Pros	Cons
Crisp image Smooth zoom Excellent warranty	Grayish tone decreases light performance Looser eyepieces

Pros Crisp image Smooth zoom Excellent warranty

Cons Grayish tone decreases light performance Looser eyepieces

Best Entry Level: Vanguard Vesta 350A

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If you’re just starting out, finding the right spotting scope can be overwhelming. How do you know exactly what you need in the field if you’ve never gone out into the field? The Vanguard Vesta spotting scope kit can get you started with everything you need at a ridiculously low price point, so you can make these discoveries for yourself.

Now, at under $200 for a spotting scope, tripod, and carrying case, it’s no shock that our optics take a bit of a nosedive in quality. But the Vesta 350A gives a clear enough image with a stable tripod and easy use.

I am by no means a beginner, but I’ve also found this a great kit just to keep in my car. It’s not the high-quality glass that would be a huge loss in a break-in, but it’s enough to help me explore a new area that I just happen to be passing through.

Pros	Cons
Very inexpensive Compact Sturdy tripod	Lower overall optical quality

Pros Very inexpensive Compact Sturdy tripod

Cons Lower overall optical quality

Best Handheld Scope: Sig Sauer Oscar 3 10-20x30 Spotting Scope

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When I’m hunting in the big woods, I don’t need a big chunk of glass that can help me reach 60x magnification on some tree bark. I just need a little bit of optical backup in case there’s a gap in the forest that I’d like to see through. This is when I bring along the Sig Sauer Oscar 3.

This handheld scope takes up very little space in my pack, but is a lifesaver when I need it. It only magnifies to 10-20x, so it’s not what I would bring for big game hunting with long spotting sessions across vast terrains. But it offers quality optics in a very compact package, weighing in at just 16 ounces with a length of just 6.7”.

It’s intended only as a handheld scope, so it doesn’t include a tripod mount. The smaller objective lens on this compact scope also gets you a narrower field of view. But when the mini scope is exactly what you need, Sig delivers.

Pros	Cons
Mini handheld scope Highly portable Good optics Good for backpacking, tree standing, big woods	Much lower magnification than others on this list No tripod mount Narrower field of view

Pros Mini handheld scope Highly portable Good optics Good for backpacking, tree standing, big woods

Cons Much lower magnification than others on this list No tripod mount Narrower field of view