5 Best Scopes for Running Deer

Outdoor Moran is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn More

Looking for the Best Scopes for Running Deer? Read on to discover the best on the market.

The market is flooded with deer hunting scopes and you might find it difficult to choose the best especially if you have no prior experience. However, we are here to help.

Below are the best scopes for running deer as well as the important factors you should consider when shopping for a deer scope. Let’s have a look.

 

Best Scopes for Running Deer-Our Top Picks

 

Vortex Optics Crossfire II 12×44 SFP Riflescope

Vortex Optics Crossfire II 12x44 SFP Riflescope

 

Check Best Price

 

This Vortex Optics Crossfire II 12×44 SFP Riflescope is one of the best low light riflescopes for whitetail deer hunting that takes pride in its functionality. It features a single-piece tube built from aircraft-grade aluminum to enhance strength and shockproof reliability. Its anti-reflective and fully multicoated lenses enhance light transmission which provides bright and clear deer images.

Its long eye relief and ultra-forgiving eye box as well ensure that you quickly get a sight picture and acquire your target faster making it one of the best scopes for running deer.

A hard-anodized finish provides low glare which is an anti-reflective advantage when hunting deer. The Dead-Hold BDC reticle found in this scope is ideal for shooting at varying distances where estimation holder is a concern. The Crossfire optics also feature a zero-reset turret which ensures that whether in use or not, it stays capped for protection.

Features

  • Single-piece tube for scope integrity and adjustment precision.
  • Capped reset turret for weather protection.
  • Fully waterproof and fog proof.
  • Hard anodized finish for low glare, an anti-reflective advantage when hunting deer.
  • Long eye relief and an ultra-forgiving eye box.
  • Fast focus eyepiece which allows quick and easy reticle focusing.
  • Dead-Hold BDC reticle is ideal for hunting at varying ranges.

 

Athlon Optics, Argos BTR 6-24 x 50 (FFP) Riflescope

Athlon Optics, Argos BTR 6-24 x 50 (FFP) Riflescope

 

Check Best Price

 

This Athlon Optics, Argos BTR 6-24 x 50 (FFP) Riflescope is the ideal riflescope for anyone who wants to venture in deer hunting for the first time. It has a 4x magnification that makes it versatile for different shooting disciplines. Its lenses are XPL coated to protect them from dirt, grease, and harsh weather conditions.

The lenses are also fully multi-coated to enhance light transmission delivering bright and clear images even under low light conditions such as dusk or dawn. This scope also features a parallax adjustment knob on the side to enable you to adjust to any ranged right at your fingertips.

An illuminated reticle provides better visibility at dusk or dawn, which most hunters prefer to go hunting. It also features a single-piece tube built from aircraft-grade aluminum to enhance strength and shockproof reliability.

When it comes to weather reliability, this scope is argon purged for total waterproof properties and nitrogen sealed to avoid moisture damage, fogging as well as clouding. Its robust mechanical construction ensures that this scope is completely shockproof.

Features

  • First focal plane reticle.
  • Heat-treated one-piece tube construction.
  • Completely waterproof and fog proof.
  • Etched glass reticle offers great durability and higher recoil resistance.
  • The illuminated reticle provides better visibility during low light conditions.
  • Fully multi-coated lenses enhance light transmission to deliver bright and clear target images.
  • Aircraft-grade aluminum body construction has exceptional strength and durability.
  • Lightweight and portable.

 

Leopold VX-R Patrol Riflescope

Leopold VX-R Patrol Riflescope

 

Check Best Price

 

Expect relentless performance when hunting deer with this Leopold VX-R Patrol Riflescope. Its illuminated FireDot reticle with 8 different settings will get you on target quickly, even under the harshest weather conditions making it one of the best scopes for running deer.

Its lightweight construction enhances portability when moving from one point to the other while its unparalleled low light performance is made possible by the illuminated reticle and makes it suitable for hunting at dusk or at dawn.

Rugged reliability in all weather conditions is enhanced by gas blend and seals which makes this riflescope fully waterproof and fog proof as well. Its single 30mm tube construction offers incredible strength and increases the range of windage and elevation adjustments.

This scope is also made with 6061-T6 aircraft grade aluminum which enhances its durability and guarantees great performance even under the harshest recoil. A motion sensor technology extends battery life by deactivating illumination after every 5 minutes of inactivity enabling the hunter to hunt for more hours.

Features

  • Completely waterproof, fog proof, and shockproof.
  • Built with aircraft-grade aluminum which enhances durability and great performance.
  • Illuminated reticle ideal for hunting at dusk or at dawn.
  • Motion sensor technology extends battery life.
  • FireDot reticle ensures fast target acquisition.
  • Lightweight and rugged performance.
  • 30mm main tube offers incredible strength and increases windage and elevation range.

 

Simmons Truplex 3-9X40 Riflescope

Simmons Truplex 3-9X40 Riflescope

 

Check Best Price

 

This Simmons Truplex 3-9X40 Riflescope as one of the best scopes for running deer is quite easy on the wallet as compared with others in its class. Its high-quality features ensure that target acquisition becomes easy as it is easy on the eye of the user.

All of its optics are multi-coated to enhance light transmission which provides bright and clear images.

Its reticle features 8 different settings which will get you on target quickly, even under the harshest weather conditions. When it comes to weather reliability, this scope is argon purged for total waterproof properties and nitrogen sealed to avoid moisture damage, fogging as well as clouding. Its robust mechanical construction ensures that this scope is completely shockproof.

The ¼ MOA sure-grip audible click windage and elevation adjustments allow for easy adjustment. Its long eye relief guarantees eye safety when using high recoil riflescope while its mount rings ensure that it becomes easy to mount on different riflescopes as well.

Features

  • Completely waterproof, fog proof, and shockproof.
  • Fully multi-coated optics to provide bright and crisp clear target images.
  • 8-point basic riflescope.
  • Adequate eye relief.
  • Truplex reticle.
  • ¼ MOA sure-grip audible click windage and elevation adjustments.
  • Easy to mount rings.

 

Vortex Optics Diamondback SFP Riflescope

Vortex Optics Diamondback SFP Riflescope

 

Check Best Price

 

This Vortex Optics Diamondback SFP Riflescope is another classic go-to-hunting scope from Vortex. It features a high image quality and a fast-focus eyepiece. Its metal-on metal precision turrets enable you to zero reset after sighting in while a precision glide erector system guarantees precise tracking and repeatability.

With a 50mm objective lens, you are guaranteed adequate light getting into the scope while a 3-10x magnification will bring the deer closer to your eyes.

All of its optics are multi-coated to enhance light transmission for bright and clear images even at dusk or at dawn. Its lenses are also coated to prevent cuts, scratches, stains, and fingerprints.

The Dead-Hold BDC reticle found in this scope is ideal for shooting at varying distances where estimation holder is a concern. It also features a single-piece tube built from aircraft-grade aluminum to enhance strength and shockproof reliability. When it comes to weather reliability, this scope is argon purged for total waterproof properties and nitrogen sealed to avoid moisture damage, fogging as well as clouding.

Features

  • Fully waterproof and fog proof.
  • Hard anodized finish for low glare, an anti-reflective advantage when hunting deer.
  • Fast focus eyepiece which allows quick and easy reticle focusing.
  • Impressive 50mm objective lens.
  • Dead-Hold BDC reticle is ideal for hunting at varying ranges.
  • The second focal plane reticle has the advantage of always maintain the same appearance.
  • Fully multi-coated lenses for bright and clear images even in low light conditions.

 

Criteria for Choosing the Best Scopes for Running Deer

Magnification-Since deer are animals that are always weary and extremely fast, having a crisp clear sight and locking in your target accurately will be made easier and achieved with the right magnification ideal for deer hunting.

Magnification range will definitely affect the setting of where you will hunt. For close-range hunting and daylight shooting, a 3-9×40 scope will be good enough for deer hunting in places where you are not expected to shoot under 100-200 yards.

On the other hand, a 6-18×50 deer hunting scope is capable of giving you a powerful zoom ideal for long-range hunting without compromising the clarity of the target image. Overall, ensure that your deer hunting scope doesn’t go less than 9x for magnification.

Weight-Always remember that you will have to carry the hunting scope around with you while in the field. Therefore, a lightweight scope will be simpler to carry through the fields and easier to keep on target when firing offhand.

However, heavy scopes might be more durable and contain more in-built features, therefore you will need to consider what is important to you as a hunter as well as how you intend to you the thermal scope.

Multi-coated lenses-A great riflescope for hunting should be able to perform well even under low light conditions such as at dusk or at dawn. You should not stop hunting when darkness starts to fall in therefore you will need one that will always provide you with bright and crystal clear images regardless of the light conditions.

Construction-Hunting at dawn or dusk can be delicate. Your hunting deer scope should, therefore, be able to withstand several bumps and falls along the way without getting damaged.

The body of the best deer hunting scope should be built from durable quality materials and aircraft-grade aluminum is the most commonly used material. The scope should also be built of materials that are completely water-resistant, fog-resistant, shockproof, and dustproof to ensure all-weather use.

Eye relief-When out in the woods hunting, one of the worst things that can happen to any hunter is to get hit in the eye when shooting. It is therefore important to have a rifle scope with adequate eye relief especially if you are using a high caliber rifle. The ideal rifle scope should have an eye relief of 4 inches.

Reticle-For long-range shooting, your scope should compensate for the bullet drop over the long distance. It will help if you have holdover positions and a bullet trajectory prediction system as well. An illuminated reticle is also important especially while hunting under low light conditions.

FAQs

  • Do I need a fixed or variable magnification scope?

The two have their own benefits however, a fixed power scope will be of a higher quality and more durable than the variable scope of a similar cost. Go for the fixed scope as it tends to be more reliable and consistent.

  • What size of objective lens do I need for my hunting riflescope?

The objective lens should be matched to the magnification of a scope. Always ensure that you look through a scope before buying it to ensure that it is clear and has a bright view.

  • Which riflescope reticle should I choose?

Any hunter is recommended to go with a plain reticle with minimal or no internal markings.

  • What is parallax?

Parallax is the apparent reticle movement. It occurs as a result of improper alignment of the scope with the eye or too much distance between the ocular lens and your eye. If you slide your head back and forth, you should find a place where there is no black around the edges of the scope view. You are then parallax free.

 Advantages

  1. These scopes are not only ideal for deer hunting but also for hunting other animals and target shooting as well.
  2. Most are made of aircraft-grade aluminum which is sturdy and lasts long.
  3. All-Weather reliability. These scopes are O-ring sealed and nitrogen purged to make them fully waterproof and fog proof.
  4. Lightweight and easy to carry from one point to the other.

Conclusion

Each deer hunting scope works uniquely for every user and with so many options to choose from, it is important to go through other customer reviews in order to get a scope that suitably meets your needs.

It’s our hope that this review helps you find the ideal scope for your next hunting activity.