Hunting in the rain with scope

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During m/l season this year the deer were moving good so I stayed on my stand while it was raining even thought I didn't have any raingear.

My scope kept fogging up on the outside. Is there anyway to prevent this?
 
If you cover the lenses after they get wet they will fog...for example if your wet scope lens is against your clothes while you sit and wait for a deer. When you bring the gun back up...fogged.

Also, if you have the scope to your eye and breath out normally through your mouth you can fog the scope (warm air rises and fogs it . I always exhale out to the side like a smoker might when in this situation. If it's cold and wet you might just have to tweak a few things you're doing to keep if from happening.

See through scope covers might work too. Plastic doesn't seem to fog like glass does.
 
If you use the Butler Creek caps, simply close them before you step out into the weather and open them when you are presented with a shot.

Also, gspn is spot on about breath. Exhale out the side opposite your gun hand.
 
Bushnell Elite Scopes with Rainguard. It works so well I have three of them.

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I also have Leupold, Burris, Redfield, Weaver, etc. Bushnell's Rainguard Coating works.
 
I think hunters buy too many gadgets and attach too many gadgets to everything. I just wear a pair of soft acrylic gloves and if I want to shoot I do a quick wipe of both lenses with a glove. It only takes a second and never fails to work. And if my eye glasses get wet I handle them the same way.
 
Gloves are likely to have small abrasive debris on them...which will scratch lenses.
 
I think hunters buy too many gadgets and attach too many gadgets to everything. I just wear a pair of soft acrylic gloves and if I want to shoot I do a quick wipe of both lenses with a glove. It only takes a second and never fails to work. And if my eye glasses get wet I handle them the same way.
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If I gave you my true thoughts about this, I'd be kicked off the High Road. I can tell you that you'd never touch my stuff. Ever. I trust you buy cheap crap scopes so that when the lenses are ruined you're not out much.

You can buy lens cleaner that is also anti-fog. I always use Butler Creek Caps. Always. Works great and keeps dust, snow, and rain off. As noted, just flip them open for a shot.
 
i have the butler creek caps on several of my scopes but they break all the time and i really truly hate them. on more than one occasion i've had to use a field improvised solution, and one thing that seems to work pretty well is simply carrying the rifle muzzle down so that rain doesn't get on the objective and taking a plastic water bottle and cutting it in half with your knife, then slipping the bottom half over the ocular lens housing. viola!

there are many products out there designed to cover and protect scopes and glass, but none of them ever worked well for me. they are always too heavy, or bulky, or slow to don and doff, etc. so some other things to try

sheet of saran wrap over the objective
ziploc or sammich bag and rubber band
one of your gloves over the ocular

also, i keep a can of compressed air in my vehicle which is a pretty good way of removing stuff from the lens but keep in mind it will cool it off and could cause condensation
 
Redneck2 quote: "If I gave you my true thoughts about this, I'd be kicked off the High Road. I can tell you that you'd never touch my stuff. Ever. I trust you buy cheap crap scopes so that when the lenses are ruined you're not out much."

Several years ago I was sighting in a black powder rifle at the range and a guy shooting downwind from me was complaining about me getting smoke on his rifle. I never saw him again. He probably stayed home to watch TV.
 
getting smoke on his rifle?? seriously? ok that's a new one
 
The rear cover on my Weaver 2x10 busted, so I taped it. It still locks down and flips up, but don't look as cool. :D I've had that set on that rifle for about 15 years, need to get another.

I've used those scope rain coats, too. They're slower, but don't matter if you're hunting from a blind or stand. Still hunting, the B&C just flip up instantly.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Leup...=scope+cover&WTz_l=Header;Search-All+Products
 
I put the Leupold flip up caps on my Leupold scope. They were expensive and it was hard to shell out the money for them, but I love them now. I also just carry a little scope cloth too. I also have that cover that MCGunner posted, but it comes off when I head into the field. If I were heading into some good rain, I might leave that on.
 
Those butler creek caps always seem to wear out too fast for me then don't want to open all the way.
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The guy I hunt with breaks his the first day. Me, I've have some of the same ones for over fifteen years, hunting about every day of deer season. Guess I'm just more careful with my stuff.

Wal-Mart sells disposable Zeiss cleaning wipes that come in a sealed packet. I carry some of those. Cheap and don't grind into your lens
 
Last edited:
sage5907 said:
Redneck2 quote: "If I gave you my true thoughts about this, I'd be kicked off the High Road. I can tell you that you'd never touch my stuff. Ever. I trust you buy cheap crap scopes so that when the lenses are ruined you're not out much."

Several years ago I was sighting in a black powder rifle at the range and a guy shooting downwind from me was complaining about me getting smoke on his rifle. I never saw him again. He probably stayed home to watch TV.
Click to expand...

Love it, and the message.
 
For quick shots, they used to sell "Storm Queen" scope covers. They were made in Oregon, I think. I haven't seen them advertised in several years now.
They were a series of rubber bands with a scope cover at each end. When installed correctly , you just flipped the rear one with your thumb and the whole thing snapped forward and to the side. they worked great.
 
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