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The big riflescopes all the rage
nowadays are overkill in sheep country.
Before considering magnification, reti-
cle, etc., the operative spec is 15 ounces
and I want mine to weigh less. Few
30mm-tube models are that slender.
Equally important, if harder to quan-
tify, is the scope’s ability to hold zero.
Sheep hunters’ gear takes abuse, espe-
cially given the likelihood of a fall or two.
Luckily an optic doesn’t have to be built
like a tank to be super-rugged.
And if it meets those criteria, a crisp
sight picture earns bonus points.
While there are many worthy scopes,
most are simply too big, leaving two
brands to satsify my tastes: Leupold and
Trijicon. Both still make 1-inch 3x9's that
laugh at punishment without budging
on point of impact. My Kimber sports a
Trijicon AccuPoint 3x-9X-40mm weigh-
ing 13.4 ounces, and its tritium-powered
lighted reticle makes for fast target acqui-
sition without adding battery weight.
That thing will be ready to go sheep hunt-
ing long after I’ve given up.
There's no need to bring a spotting
scope to a guided hunt. The pro will
carry his and let you look as much as you
like. But if you are on your own, a light-
weight unit (4 pounds max plus tripod)that zooms up to 60X and has super reso-
lution is a must, since the ability to judge
a ram’s horns from miles away will define
your better days. The ones I like best,
from Swarovski and Leica, happen to be
the costliest—go figure. Guide Jordan
Wallace used a Vortex on our hunt and
definitely did a great job with it.
I also dote on European binoculars
as much as the next optics snob, espe-
cially Swarovski ELs and Leica Noctivids
(the kind I used). At about 30 ounces theyA key to guide Jordan Wallace's success
is pacing hunts to his clients' speed. Be-
low right: High-end, lightweight binos
are best, but short of seeking rams in tim-
ber sheep aren't especially hard to spot.americanhunter.org ❘ 53 ❘ august 2019
Photo: Karen Mehall Phillips