Glassing Tactics for Mountain Hunts

[@moewells100]

Cliff, just wanted to say thank you. Your videos are quite helpful and they are sincerely appreciated

[@robinworkman3621]

Man, I could sit in a class with you all day. This was well done,you sir are a good teacher.

[@CliffGray]

Wow, thanks man!

[@toddconnelly4299]

Thank you! This is excellent, and the digiscope footage that you put in does a wonderful job of demonstrating the teaching points.

[@CliffGray]

Thanks man! glad it was helpful.

[@ram_bam]

I've been binging your content for a few hours and you're a diamond in the rough of KZbin hunting channels. I'll be moving to Colorado Springs in March and am 100% taking your mountain courses.

[@CliffGray]

Good deal! have a good move!

[@Alberta_MTN_Bear]

Incredibly detailed and descriptive. These techniques are extremely useful. This past season I watched your video and found my black bear in very lush green. Needless to say. It led to success. Thank you

[@CliffGray]

Awesome! great to hear it was useful

[@nmelkhunter1]

Great video as you have covered the most important aspects of successful glassing. One of the best phrases I’ve ever read is in Mike Eastman’s book, Hunting High Country Mule Deer, is to glass with grain of the terrain. An example is glassing so that you are looking up a draw not across a draw.

[@CliffGray]

For sure, in my other glassing video I try to discuss the grain of the land more. It’s fairly difficult to depict in video, but important to understand. Thanks

[@nmelkhunter1]

@@CliffGray You bet and take care.

[@curtisgore1611]

Great info for people that didn't grow up in the west

[@NinJoeOutside]

Gold brother! I always do this but it’s a great reminder.

[@808Gamble808]

A very critical skill which you’ve broken down Barney style. I appreciate the help brother, very very good video

[@CliffGray]

Thanks man!

[@28Coves]

Ty cliff excellent tutorial ill be implementing this week👍🏼

[@micahtron5000]

I just hiked in many miles to scout deer. I glassed this basin as early and as late as I could see. I saw 0 deer. Should I give up on this basin?

[@Colorado4x4]

I liked, subscribed and tapped that bell! I’ve been listening to you on Jay Scott podcasts and it’s great stuff. Keep it up brother and thank you for sharing the knowledge!!! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@CliffGray]

Thanks man!

[@Colorado4x4]

True Hunts keep up the good work. It will help a lot of folks and a bunch of people will start watching!

[@dargie12317]

Thank you for your videos cliff, do you work for outfitters or you own an outfitters? And what is the name of your outfitters? Thank you and be safe

[@CliffGray]

Hi Tom, I have worked for many different outfitters over the years, and owned an outfitting business, Flat Tops Wilderness Guides, for about a decade.

[@terryhemmes6210]

Just curious thinking on weight I'll be carrying. Is an 80 or 85 mm objective key or does dropping to a 60 mm make sense?

[@CliffGray]

Just depends on hunt type… I found that for 80%+ of the hunts I guided, I was willing to take the weight penalty in order to carry a 85mm

[@tcondie36]

Great advice and footage, thanks!

[@CliffGray]

appreciate the feedback! thanks

[@southernhood5145]

im definitely going to try and glass in September. looking for places to glass in the unit I'm hunting

[@CliffGray]

good deal!

[@southernhood5145]

@CliffGray going to focus on watching the saddles between the units I told you about

[@christophertaylor4095]

Thank you for the great info man. Much appreciated!

[@CliffGray]

You bet!

[@whiteyfisk9769]

If im still-hunting deer or for whatever reason glassing quickly standing and not fully setting up, ill grab the brim of my hat with the my 4 fingers and use my thumbs underneath the binoculars. Helps Alot and is way better than just off hand glassing for quick looks

[@CliffGray]

Love it! I’m going to try that. Anything to limit some movement is key.

[@whiteyfisk9769]

@@CliffGray Its obviously not as good as sitting down, but if you can do that with the hat and also brace your elbow or elbows on your chest as well, it makes a quite a big difference for quick peaks at critter shaped objects while hiking/still-hunting.

[@hr2513]

Man I can’t get enough. What magnification on vinos do you use? Probably been asked but I didn’t see it…

[@CliffGray]

I use 8x42s as my chest Binos. 10x42 are best for most folks. I’m colorblind (really shade blind) so the lower magnification vs light in the optic let’s me see colors a bit better. The bigger Binos on the tripod are 15x56s. Thanks 👍

[@hr2513]

@@CliffGray Thank you, I am going to pick up a pair 0f 10-42. Been watching and re-watching your videos, you completely put it all together. Thank you! Getting into this later in life, I have a steep learning curve but none the less it gives me goals and a reason to stay fit and get after it.

[@sheerwillsurvival2064]

You got some good videos I’ll be checking out 👊🏻

[@CliffGray]

Thanks man!

[@bhbvgh4487]

Any tips on hunting where glassing is just not possible

[@gregmurphy5014]

excellent video! learned a lot! 👍

[@TheDreadedRaider]

Born and raised Idahoan. I got a question. How do you hunt in a blind on flat land? Like is it fun to you? It sounds boring and unproductive. But I guess meat is meat lol

[@cademorris3304]

Live out west you think 12x or 15xs are better

[@CliffGray]

15s for most people, on a tripod. If you can get away with handholding a pair of 12s… they don’t make you motion sick, they are awesome as they can be both your chest and tripod binos. I personally can’t hand hold a 12-15x bino.

[@johnoltrogge6333]

Wonderful advice and excellent video.

[@CliffGray]

Glad it was helpful!

[@wadesoutdoors1914]

Could you use the same practice for hill country like Ohio and West Virginia?

[@CliffGray]

If the country was open enough, I can't imagine why it would be much difference. Should work!

[@mattbenson2497]

Thanks for the tips! I have one for you as well those aren't cedars they are junipers.

[@CliffGray]

Thanks for the tip! Lots of folks use the terms interchangeably... junipers and "true cedars" have a similar needle/leaf... but I'm sure you are technically correct.

[@pikanation]

What magnification do you recommend?

[@CliffGray]

For chest binoculars - a 10x42 for almost everyone. If you are color blind (something like 5% of the male population is) get a 8x42. The larger exit pupil helps pickup color tones and shades.

[@sctowey5]

What chair are you using?

[@CliffGray]

a crazy creek

[@ColoradoStreaming]

Egg crate folding sleeping pads work really well too. They pack up easily and you have different options on how much you want to fold it for more cushion or more surface area etc. Thermarest makes some good ones.

[@squatch2461]

🍻