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Message: <blockquote data-quote="cycleguy" data-source="post: 3229687" data-attributes="member: 112086">Hi,I've hunted elk in Colorado for about 20 years.  Open sage valleys and scrub oak hillsides as well as pine forest.  Distances less than, equal to, and beyond what you reference.  I don't stand hunt or hunt from a vehicle.  I'm out in the dark on foot and I'm moving and stopping all day until dark.My recommendation is 8x or 7x and a spotting scope for the long distance close in work.  I don't believe 10x gives any advantage and believe it to be more a disadvantage.  However, from what I see in the sportsmen's outlets here in Colorado, 10x is king.The Nikon 50mm fieldscope and a quality 8x or 7x will work very well. (The 50mm objective at higher magnification and last light doesn't work so well, but likely not an animal you would be able to get to during legal hunting hours anyways). Holding 10x steady is difficult... and is more difficult with age, strenuous activity, cold weather and shivers, wind and gusty wind, and caffeine intake.  It has been pointed out to me that some hunters spend the day sitting and can prop a binocular against a wood framed structure or vehicle which will keep it steady enough to benefit from.  I'd have to reply if this is the case, why not more magnification.. like 15x????I have not found a magical range of distance where 10x performs better than 8x or 7x.  It seems that the three of them will do the job up to a point and then it takes noticeably more magnification to do the job.  The 7x and 8x just do it easier, and better than 10x if you can't hold 10x steady.I'd give more attention to optic quality and field of view and low light performance than magnification.  Focus speed doesn't matter, just be familiar and comfortable with what you have.I could go on but I'll stop unless you care to hear more.Best of luck on the hunt,CG</blockquote>

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