If mule deer are in your crosshairs, these are the optics you should be using.
Perhaps more so than any other medium-sized game, mule deer are a testament to the need for excellent optics.
With seasons arriving across the west, it's worth taking a look at what's in your kit. Here is a selection of offerings from Leupold that should help get the job done in 2018.
Scope - VX-5HD 3-15x44mm Riflescope
Designed to deliver unparalleled value within its category, the VX-5HD is jam-packed with all the features that hunters need and none of the ones they don't.
It includes high-definition lenses and extended low-light hunting performance, a two-turn elevation adjustment for more accurate shooting at longer distances, ZeroLock windage adjustments, a selection of illuminated reticles, Guard-ion lens coatings to shed water, dirt, and fingerprints, and a product lineup that was built for the relentless hunter.
Get behind a VX-5HD and you'll see the difference. Every scope in the line offers superior edge-to-edge clarity and extreme low-light performance.
Leupold's Twilight Max HD Light Management System delivers the perfect balance of image color and contrast, light transmission, and glare management, so you'll be able to see more in less light.
Like every riflescope Leupold makes, it's backed by the company's legendary Full Lifetime Guarantee.
Rangefinder - RX-1600i TBR/W
The RX-1600i TBR/W with DNA is a workhorse ready for any hunt. It delivers the farthest, most accurate ranging in its class—out to 1,600 yards—and uses True Ballistic Range/Wind for greater first-shot success.
It features an impact-resistant polymer armor outside and a lightweight, aluminum housing inside. It's 100 percent waterproof and built to meet Leupold's legendary standard for ruggedness.
The rangefinder comes fitted with a 6x monocular and a fully multicoated lens system to ensure a bright, crisp image. A fold-down rubber eyecup is included to accommodate hunters with or without eyeglasses.
Mule deer hunters will have no shortage of options when it comes to color schemes: The RX-1600 is available in Gray/Black, Mossy Oak Break-Up Country and Mossy Oak Blaze Orange.
Binocular - BX-4 Pro Guide HD 10x42mm Binocular
You don't want anything too cumbersome hanging from your neck as you put the stalk on that trophy muley. That's where our 10x42mm BX-4 Pro Guide HD binoculars come in.
The BX-4 Pro Guide HD delivers the premium brightness, clarity, contrast, and reach to speak to mule deer hunters across the country. A rugged, ergonomic design ensures your BX-4 will survive any conditions and remain slim and lightweight while doing so.
The Twilight Max HD Light Management System helps you see more in less light. It combines exceptional light transmission and glare management to provide vivid, bright, high-contrast images that will deliver relentless optical performance under any conditions.
When you'll really see a huge difference is during the first and last 15 minutes of shooting light, when animals are moving the most. And, of course, if you want a little more power, you can always check out the 12x50 model.
Thermal - LTO-Quest HD Thermal Imager
Are you ready to experience relentless recovery? The LTO-Quest HD delivers a powerful handheld thermal device, a camera, and a dual-mode 300-lumen flashlight, all in a single piece of gear.
The advanced thermal sensor detects heat out to 750 yards, while its internal storage can hold up to 3,000 images. The 320x240 pixel display has been ruggedized with Gorilla Glass, and the unit features four hours of continuous use.
Get on a blood trail—and find your trophy—faster than ever before with the Quest HD, and you'll soon be adding it to your collection of essential gear.
NEXT: THE STORY OF THE FOGGY SCOPE, THE MISSED DEER, AND THE BEGINNING OF A LEGENDARY OPTICS BRAND
