{"id":1092,"date":"2024-08-23T01:30:12","date_gmt":"2024-08-23T01:30:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/blog\/?p=1092"},"modified":"2026-05-21T10:47:18","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T10:47:18","slug":"the-beginners-guide-to-using-a-spotting-scope","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/the-beginners-guide-to-using-a-spotting-scope\/","title":{"rendered":"Spotting Scope The Beginner\u2019s Guide to Use"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_83 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\"><div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\"><p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p><span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/the-beginners-guide-to-using-a-spotting-scope\/#Spotting_Scope_The_Beginners_Guide_to_Use\" >Spotting Scope The Beginner\u2019s Guide to Use ?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/the-beginners-guide-to-using-a-spotting-scope\/#The_TORIC_27-55x80_Spotting_Scope\" >The TORIC 27-55x80 Spotting Scope<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/the-beginners-guide-to-using-a-spotting-scope\/#Setting_Up_the_Scope_-_Spotting_Scope\" >Setting Up the Scope - Spotting Scope<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/the-beginners-guide-to-using-a-spotting-scope\/#Carbon_Fiber_Tripod_-_Spotting_Scope\" >Carbon Fiber Tripod - Spotting Scope<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/the-beginners-guide-to-using-a-spotting-scope\/#Into_the_Mountains_-_Spotting_Scope\" >Into the Mountains - Spotting Scope<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/the-beginners-guide-to-using-a-spotting-scope\/#Field_of_View\" >Field of View<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/the-beginners-guide-to-using-a-spotting-scope\/#Easy_Adjustments_-_Spotting_Scope\" >Easy Adjustments - Spotting Scope<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/the-beginners-guide-to-using-a-spotting-scope\/#The_Phone_Adapter_-_Spotting_Scope\" >The Phone Adapter - Spotting Scope<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/the-beginners-guide-to-using-a-spotting-scope\/#When_Where_to_Use_a_Spotting_Scope\" >When &amp; Where to Use a Spotting Scope<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div><h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Spotting_Scope_The_Beginners_Guide_to_Use\"><\/span>Spotting Scope The Beginner\u2019s Guide to Use ?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><strong>My experience using a spotting <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" title=\"scope\" href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/riflescopes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"264\">scope<\/a> had been practically nil. After half a day with the <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/spotting-scopes-tripods-western-hunting\/\">TORIC Spotting Scope<\/a>, I feel comfortable enough to use it on a hunt.<\/strong><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The idea of using a <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/spotting-scopes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" title=\"spotting scope\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"998\">spotting scope<\/a> has always been slightly intimidating to me. I assumed they are only for serious western, big-game hunters. So, when I received the new <a title=\"Illuminated Reticle battery installation on your TRACT TORIC 34MM 4-25X50\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/videosview\/illuminated-reticle-battery-installation-2\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"466\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">TORIC Spotting Scope from TRACT<\/a>, I was apprehensive. Not so much about figuring out its inner workings; that I would figure out. The apprehension boiled up from a place that told me I\u2019d find no viable use for the scope. And when it came to write about it, I\u2019d have little to say.<\/span><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">I\u2019ve looked through a <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/big-bore-builds\/\">spotting scope<\/a> exactly once in my life. That time I didn\u2019t have to make any adjustments to see the elk my guide wanted to show me. I simply looked. Through the years both before and after that experience the thought of owning a spotting scope has not crossed my mind once. I spend my time <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/avoiding-ticks-while-hunting\/\">outdoors<\/a> <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" title=\"hunting deer\" href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"272\">hunting deer<\/a> a little and birds a lot and fly fishing in between.<\/span><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">So when it came time to take this souped up monocular for a test drive, you may start to see why I was apprehensive. From everything I\u2019ve read over the years, I was practically told by various outdoor writers that a spotting scope shouldn\u2019t belong to a guy like me, who isn\u2019t chasing elk in the mountains and antelope on the plains. It would be an unnecessary piece of equipment that might collect dust in a closet.<\/span><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">They were wrong. And I was wrong for approaching this with such a narrow-minded attitude. Even though you won\u2019t find me at the range <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/5-reasons-why-i-enjoy-shooting-prs-competitions\/\">shooting<\/a> 1,000 yard targets, I can tell you with full sincerity that owning a spotting scope makes sense for someone like me.<\/span><\/p><h2 style=\"text-align: justify\"><b>The TORIC 27-55&#215;80 Spotting Scope<\/b><\/h2><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The first thing you will notice about any TRACT product is the unboxing experience. The packaging is heavy duty and well designed. There is a note from Jon and Jon just inside the box, thanking you for choosing TRACT, providing their contact information, and telling you where to go on the website to become proficient with whatever product you\u2019ve ordered. TRACT has reduced their carbon footprint by omitting unnecessary plastic and paper in the packaging. A direct to consumer (D2C) company is slimmed down and streamlined so that they\u2019re able to manufacture awesome products at reasonable prices. Everything they do reflects this.<\/span><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><p style=\"text-align: justify\">Check out the unboxing of the <a href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/spotting-scopes\/toric-spotting-scopes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">TORIC UHD 27-55&#215;80 Spotting Scope<\/a><\/p><h3 style=\"text-align: justify\"><b>Setting Up the Scope &#8211; Spotting Scope<\/b><\/h3><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Setting up the spotting scope is pretty straightforward, having run into just one difficulty. The tripod adapter plate comes with two bolts. One is threaded through a slide rail and the other in a single fixed hole. The former, which is the smaller of the two, screws right into the base of the scope. The second, at first appearance, serves no purpose.<\/span><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">After a quick call to Jon and Jon (again, their phone number is right inside the box and these guys always answer the phone or call you right back), I learned that the scope\u2019s mounting plate is actually able to receive either screw. The smaller one as mentioned, or the larger by removing a bracket from the female part of the scope\u2019s base plate. All you need is a common household flathead screwdriver.<\/span><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Easily thread the bolt you choose not to use out of the tripod adapter plate. I chose to use the bigger bolt for more stability. Bigger is not always better but when it comes to the strength of joints it certainly is. I have no doubt the scope would sit firmly on the tripod with the smaller of the two bolts but if both options are at your fingertips, why take the chance. After this one little hold up it was smooth sailing and quite fun at that.<\/span><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><figure id=\"attachment_1106\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1106\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" Spotting Scope wp-image-1106\" title=\"The Beginner\u2019s Guide to Using a Spotting Scope\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/BasePlateOption.jpg\" alt=\" Spotting Scope\" width=\"720\" height=\"240\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/12\/BasePlateOption.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/12\/BasePlateOption-300x100.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/12\/BasePlateOption-768x256.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/12\/BasePlateOption-600x200.jpg 600w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/12\/BasePlateOption-150x50.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1106\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Spotting Scope<\/figcaption><\/figure><h2 style=\"text-align: justify\"><b>Carbon Fiber Tripod &#8211; Spotting Scope<\/b><\/h2><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Before I jump right into my experience using the spotting scope, I want to mention an important <a title=\"accessories\" href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/blog\/category\/rifle-scope\/accessories\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">accessory<\/a>. The <a href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/accessories\/carbon-fiber-tripod-with-pan-head-1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">carbon fiber spotting scope tripod<\/a> that was sent along with the scope has helped make the experience much more enjoyable. It\u2019s lightweight and sturdy. The legs slide in and out like silk. The head pans left and right and up and down very smoothly. Plus, I can remove the <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/best-spotting-scope-for-long-range-shooting\/\" title=\"Finding the Best Spotting Scope For Long Range Shooting\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1555\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">spotting scope and attach my DSLR camera to shoot<\/a> photos or video. Better yet, I can attach my iPhone to the scope with the phone adapter and make photos and videos that way. More on that shortly.<\/span><\/p><h2 style=\"text-align: justify\"><b>Into the Mountains &#8211; Spotting Scope<\/b><\/h2><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">I first tested out the <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/videosview\/toric-1-3-15x42-review-ronspomer\/\" title=\"TORIC 3-15X42 1&#8243; Rifle Scope Review by Ron Spomer\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1289\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">TORIC Spotting Scope<\/a> in my kitchen. Someone had stapled an inconspicuous piece of paper to a telephone pole down the street and my natural curiosity begged to know what it said. Within minutes I was able to discern the when and where of a local yard sale that I did not attend.<\/span><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The second time was a bit different. I left my house before dawn on a cold morning and headed out into the rugged southern San Juan Mountains to give this scope a real run for its money. (Yes, I live in Colorado, but only for a short time, hence my delay on elk hunting). On a high ridge overlooking a river valley I watched two bald eagles. They were perched in a cottonwood tree above a deep hole in the river.<\/span><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1110\" title=\"The Beginner\u2019s Guide to Using a Spotting Scope\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/IMG_0995.jpg\" alt=\"The Beginner\u2019s Guide to Using a Spotting Scope\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/12\/IMG_0995.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/12\/IMG_0995-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/12\/IMG_0995-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/12\/IMG_0995-960x640.jpg 960w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/12\/IMG_0995-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/12\/IMG_0995-150x100.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/p><p>&nbsp;<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It was dark. The sun had not risen above the horizon. Down in the valley it was even darker. I first spotted the eagles with my naked eye. The white heads against a shapeless background was easy enough to see despite them being several hundred yards away. It was the spotting scope that allowed me to see such subtle movements as a head twitch or the thermals catching and slightly moving a tail feather. Such unbelievable luck that I was able to stand there for about ten minutes watching these magnificent birds until they took flight and disappeared around the bend.<\/span><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">For the next hour I glassed the canyon floor below me and the peaks above me as the sun peeled back the shadows. I glassed standing, the tripod\u2019s handle allowing me to easily pan from one place to the next. I glassed sitting, the smooth legs of <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/scope-sighting-made-simple\/\" title=\"Scope Sighting Made Simple\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1395\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the tripod made it easy<\/a> to quickly adjust the height of the scope. Any intimidation I\u2019d previously felt about using a <a title=\"5 Reasons to Own a Spotting Scope\" href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/blog\/5-reasons-to-own-a-spotting-scope\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">spotting scope<\/a> dissipated like the fog.<\/span><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">I imagined myself elk hunting. What it would be like to spot a nice bull a half mile away and pursue him on foot. If, by this time next year, I am able to report that I\u2019ve spent ample time in the elk woods, it will be because using this spotting scope literally helped put me in that place.<\/span><\/p><h3 style=\"text-align: justify\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Field_of_View\"><\/span><b>Field of View<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">My first spotting <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/choosing-the-best-riflescope-for-deer-hunting\/\" title=\"Choosing the Best Rifle Scope for Deer Hunting\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1256\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">scope experience while elk hunting<\/a> several years ago was brief indeed. My time behind the scope was only extended by my inability to pick up the bull the <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/5-reasons-to-own-a-spotting-scope\/\" title=\"5 Reasons to Own a Spotting Scope\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1181\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">guide<\/a> had spotted. He\u2019d be gone by the time I looked through the scope because he was slowly ambling along and each time the guide would hone in on his position.<\/span><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">What\u2019s readily apparent in the <a href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/spotting-scopes\/toric-uhd-27-55x80-angled-spotting-scope\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">TORIC Spotting Scope<\/a> is the wide field of view. Sitting up on that high ridge I watched a magpie several hundred yards away in the river valley below. He was creating caches for food ahead of the winter storm that was heading our way. I had zero problem staying on the bird as it skipped around the meadow. Even when the scope was cranked up to 55x.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><h3 style=\"text-align: justify\"><b>Easy Adjustments &#8211; Spotting Scope<\/b><\/h3><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The multi-position quick stop eye piece allowed me to quickly maximize my eye relief, which I\u2019d guess was in the three-inch range. The focus dial was super smooth and I was able to quickly and easily focus on distant animals and landscapes. Plus, it is positioned perfectly where I\u2019d naturally rest my hand. In fact, when I was increasing the magnification with my right hand, being right eye dominant, I was able to slightly adjust the focus as the image got nearer. In terms of ease of use, the <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/videosview\/toric-34mm-4-25x50-long-range-rifle-scope-features-and-benefits\/\" title=\"TORIC 34MM 4-25X50 Long Range rifle scope features and benefits\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"1634\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">TORIC Spotting Scope<\/a> is an A+.<\/span><\/p><h3 style=\"text-align: justify\"><b>The Phone Adapter &#8211; Spotting Scope<\/b><\/h3><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This thing is, put simply, fun. I was a hardcore skeptic at first. The <a href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/accessories\/digiscoping-attachments\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">nova grade phone adapter<\/a> to me seemed like another gimmick to draw users to a product. For many of us, our cell phones are a centerpiece in our daily lives, so why encourage its use in the outdoors.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">But then on a Friday evening I noticed a nice mule deer buck chasing does in my backyard (wildlife in my little town are as prevalent as people). By the time I put on my shoes and got outside, he was taking a little break. He&#8217;d bedded near a cottonwood tree about a 100 yards away. I wanted to show my friends back east this beautiful muley buck. All they\u2019re used to seeing in large part is raghorn whitetails.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>&nbsp;<\/p><p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1107\" title=\"The Beginner\u2019s Guide to Using a Spotting Scope\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/PhonePhotos.jpg\" alt=\"The Beginner\u2019s Guide to Using a Spotting Scope\" width=\"720\" height=\"320\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/12\/PhonePhotos.jpg 999w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/12\/PhonePhotos-300x133.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/12\/PhonePhotos-768x341.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/12\/PhonePhotos-600x267.jpg 600w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/12\/PhonePhotos-150x67.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/p><p>&nbsp;<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">I did a quick once-over on the Phone Adapter\u2019s instructions, set my phone in the vice, and connected the adapter to the scope within minutes. I watched and made numerous photos and videos of this buck and several other deer near my house.<\/span><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Darkness closed in without my realizing it. The temperature dropped into the low 30s and I was in a tee shirt, but didn\u2019t care. I had more fun getting visually close and capturing my experience with these animals than I could have imagined just a short while earlier. In fact, my plan is to create a one- to two-minute video that I make exclusively with the Spotting Scope.<\/span><\/p><h2 style=\"text-align: justify\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"When_Where_to_Use_a_Spotting_Scope\"><\/span><b>When &amp; Where to Use a Spotting Scope<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">I don\u2019t know if you can say that this Spotting Scope can and only should be used in specific locales. Sure, you most often see them in the expansive west where high-powered optics are a must to spot game from long distances. Yet, if you want to set up on your back porch and be able to see a warbler blink, who\u2019s to tell you otherwise.<\/span><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The older I\u2019ve become the more I absolutely love watching wildlife. Birds interrupt me multiple times throughout the day simply by landing on a tree outside my office window. I find myself spending way too much time combing birding websites learning everything I can about our feathered friends that make up the avian world. It\u2019s even worse when deer walk into the field behind my house.<\/span><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">I guess I mention these things to reiterate the fact that there\u2019s no wrong answer to where or when the use of a spotting scope is appropriate. Take it from a former skeptic: using a spotting scope can truly get you closer to nature and wildlife in degrees that wouldn\u2019t be possible otherwise. If you love the outdoors like I do, then I see no wrong in that!<\/span><\/p><p>&nbsp;<\/p><figure id=\"attachment_1335\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1335\" style=\"width: 728px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/tractoptics.com\/spotting-scopes\/toric-spotting-scopes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1335 size-full\" title=\"The Best Coyote Hunting Cartridges\" src=\"http:\/\/blog.tractoptics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/TRACT_Spotting_Scope_728x90.jpg\" alt=\"The Best Coyote Hunting Cartridges\" width=\"728\" height=\"90\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/01\/TRACT_Spotting_Scope_728x90.jpg 728w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/01\/TRACT_Spotting_Scope_728x90-300x37.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/01\/TRACT_Spotting_Scope_728x90-600x74.jpg 600w, https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/01\/TRACT_Spotting_Scope_728x90-150x19.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 728px) 100vw, 728px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1335\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Spotting Scope<\/figcaption><\/figure>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Beginner\u2019s Guide to Using a Spotting Scope | TRACT design and engineer performance-grade optics without the added retail costs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1109,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2275,2268],"tags":[2325,2460,2897,2958,3240,3243,3244,3246,3247,3249,3253,3254,3255,3256,3257,3261,3262,3263],"class_list":["post-1092","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-accessories","category-spotting-scope","tag-accessories","tag-big-game-hunting","tag-long-range-optics","tag-optics","tag-sporting-life-yeti","tag-spoting-scope","tag-spotter-scope","tag-spotting-monocular","tag-spotting-scope","tag-spotting-scope-cell-phone-mount","tag-spotting-scope-reviews","tag-spotting-scope-sale","tag-spotting-scope-tripod","tag-spotting-scope-vs-rangefinder","tag-spotting-scope-window-mount","tag-spotting-scopes","tag-spotting-scopes-canada","tag-spotting-scopes-reviews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1092","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1092"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1092\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12759,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1092\/revisions\/12759"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1109"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1092"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1092"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tract-optics.co.za\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1092"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}