Looking for the best binoculars for hunting/observation for under 300$

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you should take a look at the Vortex line, I have a pair of their 6.5x32 Fury's binos and 20-60x60 Nomad spotting scope that are really nice plus they have a VIP warranty that covers the them no matter what and its transferable. You didn't say what power you were looking for, but there are some good deals going right now on ebay for Vortex binos since they are getting a new line up and cleared out some of their old stock.
 
I own two pair of bino's that I use for hunting. The first is a pair of 8x42 Nikon Monarchs price $299 the Other pair are Leupold Cascade 10x42 price I think is $349 but got on sale for $299 from Cabelas.

I bought the Nikons because I forgot my binos on a out of state hunt. Both a very very good quality optics and worth the money.
 
You might be interested in these

http://www.cameralandny.com/optics2/kruger.pl?page=kruger_malheur10x42

http://www.cameralandny.com/optics2/kruger.pl?page=kruger_timberline10x42

Camera Land Bought an Optics Close-Out
In our quest to bring you super deals we have hit a home run. Kruger Optical made some binoculars and spotting scopes for Columbia Sportswear. Evidently, Columbia are not an optics retailer and decided to stick with clothing. I checked out the optics and they are nice. We worked a most favorable deal so we can bring these Columbia, by Kruger Optics to you at a greatly discounted price. These are from Kruger Opticals regular line, just packaged in Columbia Sportswear boxes. This is a wonderful opportunity to get some good optics super cheap (limited quantities).

I do not work for them nor am I affiliated in any way. I have purchased scopes and binos from this vendor before and was 100% satisfied with the deals and customer service
 
Knowing nothing about binoculars and optics I recently went into Sportsman's Warehouse and picked up just about everything they had under $400. To my untrained and uneducated eye, the Alpen Shasta 10X42 was the clearest pair of anything I picked up. The next closest pair was over twice the price. I came home, ran a few searches and found some reviews that agreed with my analysis. I went back and bought them. About $165 in the non-camo. I chose non-camo because I wanted to be able to find them if I dropped them.
 
If you can find 'em, army surplus binos with the ruby lens coating and the rubber bodies are great. One side usually has a ranging reticle though, this may or may not be a problem for you. They run around $700 new, but I bet you can get them for much less if you look. There are a few makers, all are excellent though from what I remember.
 
I checked out the Vortex and being a die hard Leupold I have to honestly say they as good a product so far as the clarity is concerned. I don't know anything about how well they hold up what kind of product service they deliver though. And in that respect I have yet to find anyone with service that compares to Leupold.
 
Now days optics are all getting better in optical quality, which is good and bad. Nokon and Vortex are making some clear glasses but both of those left me with a bad taste in my mouth years ago so I can't bring myself to try them again. I've been buying Leupold for a long, long, time and the quality is everything anyone else has out there except that the quality of Leupold has been time tested and proven. I've never had a problem with Leupold's products, but have accidentally driven over a pair back in the 1980's, and Leupold took care of me with no charge or questions asked!
Spend the money for a pair of 10x42's and you'll be really pleased. They are so well sealed that even a pair I bought back in the early 1980's I submerge them in the sink to clean them, and they have never leaked. When I'm in the field and they should get inadvertantly dirty, I'll either rinse them off with water or acetone.
 
I have two, but my preferred binoculars are the Leupold Yoseimite 6x30 for field use. I hunt mostly woods and I keep them in my pickup for general use. These ran around $100. I also have Nikon Monarch 8x42 that I like for use where I am more likely to be looking at things at longer distances (about $300).
 
I have done a little research and the Bushnell Excursion looks like a great pair. Any ideas?
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A couple of things...

Are you going to be using these strictly for daytime viewing?

Will you be wearing them around your neck as you wander through the wilderness?

If your answers to both questions are yes, then here's my recommendation:

http://www.opticsplanet.net/bushnell-elite-7x26-binoculars-620726.html

I'm real picky about optics and I own a dozen binos, all of them good quality. I'm into stargazing and that hobby requires VERY good optics. I can say that for the purpose you've stated, these Bushnell Custom Elite 7x26 are outstanding. The optics are amazingly clear. They're compact and lightweight, so they won't be a consideration if you're walking long distances over rough ground. A larger heavier pair will have you quickly wishing for something smaller and lighter. BTDT, repeatedly. The birdwatching community (another bunch of optics fuddy-duddies) LOVES these Bushnells. A BW acquaintance introduced me to them, as a matter of fact.

One more thing - about magnification.

Lots of users tend to want high magnification along the lines of 10x or 12x. But there's a BIG problem when you get above 8x. Very few folks can hold a high magnification bino steady enough to use that higher magnification effectively. I've found that for handheld viewing, 7x and 8x work much better. Plus they have a wider field of view, which is a plus.

(steps down off soapbox)
 
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