[southgaengineer]

I am sure there is a thread somewhere on here. I am new to this forum and been awhile out of archery. Just curious about magnifying lenses and hunting. Obviously longer target shooting it would be a big help but how is distortion/transition on live game? I am thinking a 2 or 4X would be beneficial. Anyone have experience good or bad?

 

[Daddybuck-kilr]

I shoot 2x for hunting, have for years. I don't use anything in the peep. there is a small amount of distortion but you really barely notice. I'll take the magnification and deal with it. I would imagine with 4x you would have to have a clarifier or verifier.

 

[sneak1413]

I personally would not hunt with a lens. You have to deal with glare, dust, rain, moisture, etc. on the lens and can make it extra difficult to see your game clearly. In low light, it makes it even worse. If you are only a fair weather hunter and don't hunt in dark situations where lighting is an issue, it would be great. I personally prefer to shoot 3d shoots without a lens because of this. But if I do, I make sure to pack and umbrella so I can have those in my group hold it and shade the sun for me because it causes so many glare issues. I'm not saying that you will have issues, but there is a substantially increased potential for having glare, dust, or water on your lens making it harder to see, not easier to see. None of those are problems, with the exception of glare if you are shooting basically directly into the sun, without a lens.

 

[tiberiuswade]

Blackgold has lens/Clarifier also can attach scope shade, some even goes out 100yds. So if you are having trouble seeing (need glasses) they can help. They require more maintenance. Also look at Accu-Touch sight, Ax Series as well.

 

[JerseyMiller]

I have dabbled with hunting with a 4x in one of my bows for the past few years. This year I put a 4x in both of my hunting bows. Not a single issue. Dust and whatnot has not been a problem. I don't hunt in heavy rain. The light rain I've encountered was not a problem. The scope on one of my bows is fully enclosed with a sun shade so if there is any chance of rain I use that bow. I also have a cloth scope cover but have not needed it. I took a doe and a buck this year using both bows. The 4x lens gives a relatively small amount of magnification and helps with aiming at a specific spot on the animal.

Most guys that I know that run 4x lenses do not need anything in the peep until they are in their later 50's or thereabout. I do not need anything in the peep in my mid 40s. For some reason 4x is more forgiving with clarity in that way. Over 4x is where it starts to get blurry generally but I have been able to use up to 7x for 3d without a lens in the peep. The higher you go with magnification, the more it blurrs. You just have to keep in mind that a bow is not a rifle and you don't need crystal clarity. With a bow, your just trying to enlarge the target enough to gain some advantage while aiming.

 

[Mossy-Back]

I know that Paige Pearce hunts with a lens (either 4x or 6x) because that's what she uses in competition and she feels she shoots better with it, but I wouldn't due to dust, fog, glare, etc.

 

[INSEASON]

I have 2x with sun shade in mine all the time.
Use it hunting, 3-D any weather an never had a problem, the 2 power makes target look clearer, 4 x gets blurry.

 

[trail_hopper]

I use a 4x lense in my sight. Zero issues with it hunting in rain/sleet/snow/hot/cold. I have a sunshade on it to help keep it protected, but even with water droplets on it I can see out of it just fine. People forget that a lense on a bow is way different then a rifle scope lens- it's a very different viewing point and is no where near close enough to your mouth to get fogged up from heavy breathing.

As for fogging- the only time I ever see fogging is when I first take it out from a hot to cold environment (or vice versa). Even then the fogging fully clears up in about 30 seconds. I've never had it fog up at any other time- and I've hunted with it in all sorts of crazy weather.

 

[Buffalo1]

I've used a 4x on my HHA for years with zero problems. Secret is keeping lens clean of dust/dirt in dry conditions and keep dry/protect lens in wet conditions.

 

[iHunt4Deer]

I Use a 2x lense in my Dialed sight with sun shade. Something that works EXTREMELY WELL is applying Rain X to the lense! Works great!!!!

 

[Dale_B1]

I personally see no need for a lense for hunting. Archery hunting is a very close up sport. The closer the better.

 

[slowen]

I have a 4x that I thought was a game changer UNTIL I experienced my first blinding glare from the sun overhead, in front, off to the side and I had so much glare I was literally blind in my rt eye. Haven’t used it for hunting since and rarely use it for 3d for the same reason.

 

[trail_hopper]

I have a 4x that I thought was a game changer UNTIL I experienced my first blinding glare from the sun overhead, in front, off to the side and I had so much glare I was literally blind in my rt eye. Haven’t used it for hunting since and rarely use it for 3d for the same reason.

Get a sunshade for your sight and you won't have that issue.

 

[V-TRAIN]

I have been using a 2x lense for hunting for at least 5 years and love it, will never not use it.
The bottom line for me is I have gotten old and can't see like I used to and the lens makes me feel 20 years younger (can see normal).
That trumps any issue ever mentioned about glare, or dust, or water, because if I didn't have it I wouldn't be able to shoot past 30 yards. lol
I have never had issues with it hunting, including a all day rain storm while spot and stalking mule deer.
I just keep my pin cover on until I needed to use it in a situation like that.
I say don't listen to the negative Nancy's saying no dice on them for hunting, because I didn't and happy I did not.

 

[slowen]

Get a sunshade for your sight and you won't have that issue.

how bout I invite you on all my hunts and you can carry my camo umbrella?

 

[Moonhead]

Running what ever you can without using a clarifier is the best option. I had to pull my sight in and run a smaller Peep but now my 4x is clear.

 

[solomtnhunter]

What you need to do first is check your state archery hunting regulations. In my state it is illegal to hunt with a clarifier or verifier. Also can't have any electronic devices mounted, no tiny sight lights, no cellphone selfie attachment brackets for recording your hunt. They don't want you to have any sort of advantage. Heck it wasn't until the last few years we were finally able to start using mechanicals and lighted nocks.

 

[Mossy-Back]

What you need to do first is check your state archery hunting regulations. In my state it is illegal to hunt with a clarifier or verifier. Also can't have any electronic devices mounted, no tiny sight lights, no cellphone selfie attachment brackets for recording your hunt. They don't want you to have any sort of advantage. Heck it wasn't until the last few years we were finally able to start using mechanicals and lighted nocks.

Oregon?

 

[KecksArchery717]

Would be tough in bad weather. . .

 

[Primeshooter67]

how bout I invite you on all my hunts and you can carry my camo umbrella?

Be more than happy to, heck I’ll video as well. Would love o see a cat rip apart a black tail.