Do you love deer hunting? Well, c’mon who doesn’t? Whether you are bow hunting or gun hunting, this sport demands precision, thus you need to have a good scope. Since there are so many scopes and manufacturers to choose from, it’s often a tough task to break them all down in any type of short order. Hopefully, we can help!
Here are 8 quality deer rifle scopes that will fit your hunting style and budget.
1. Leupold VX-2 Scope
The Leupold VX-2 Scope is a great choice for deer hunting because it has the right optics, starting with a 3-9x magnification range. This allows you to see precise details rendered at a short to medium distance, which makes this scope very versatile.
We also love the large 40 mm lens diameter which is great for dusk or dawn, precisely when the deer come out to play. The windage and elevation adjustments are ¼ MOA, so they’re very precise. And don’t forget its waterproof and fog proof capabilities, as well as the crisp image through the glass.
Price: $249 on Amazon
2. Nikon ProStaff 3-9×40 Riflescope
The Nikon ProStaff Riflescope has the same dimensions as the Leupold, so the magnification range is deer hunting-appropriate, and the 40mm objective diameter is terrific for low light conditions. In addition to the size, the nitrogen filling and O-ring sealing ensure bright images even in rainy, foggy weather.
The 3.6 inches of eye relief is great for deer hunting rifles, and we love the full multicoating which accounts for increased image clarity. The BDC reticle is another valuable feature since it can account for variations in elevation. All in all, this is a solid deer hunting scope.
Price: $175 on Amazon
3. Vortex Crossfire II Rifle Scope
The Vortex Crossfire II Rifle Scope screams durability through every pore since it has a 1-inch tube that’s made of anodized aluminum. This tube size fits most rifles. The versatile magnification range of 2-7x is great for still hunting in the brush.
With a large 32 mm diameter and a very comfortable 3.9 inches eye relief, this scope has fully multi-coated lens for increased light transmission. The field of view is pretty decent too, between 12.6 and 42 feet at 100 yards.
Price: $129 on Amazon
4. Sightron SIII SS Rifle Scope
The Sightron SIII SS Rifle Scope is some serious glass made for long range shooting, but it displays a crisp image at shorter ranges too. As you could guess, it has a huge magnification range between 10 and 50x.
The lens is amazing, it has a huge 60 mm objective, it’s fully multi-coated and a very comfortable eye relief of 3.8- 4.5 inches.
Price: $1,020 on Amazon
5. Ledsniper Aoe Riflescope
The Ledsniper Aoe Riflescope is perfect if you want a bargain scope that’s ready for hunting right out of the box. The complete scope package comes with the scope, protective caps, mounting rings, and a sunshade.
This is another versatile optic, as its magnification varies between 6x and 24x, making it great for mid to long range shooting. The 50mm lens diameter is great for low light situations. The Mil-dot reticle is probably its best feature with 10 brightness intensity levels and two lights – red and green. With its low price point, this scope is a decent option to keep on hand as a backup.
Price: $50 on Amazon
6. Vortex Optics Viper HS Riflescope
The Vortex Optics Viper HS Riflescope is an awesome scope that can render precise details at various distances. Its 4-16x magnification range offers a lot of versatility and pretty much covers any deer hunting scenario from close encounters to long range shots. Also, the dead-hold BDC reticle is extremely precise.
The extra-low dispersion glass may be its best feature because it’s responsible for image brightness, color fidelity, and a perfect resolution. The 30mm diameter is great for low light, while the long eye relief helps for quick target acquisition.
Price: $500 on Amazon
7. Simmons 8-Point Rifle Scope
The Simmons 8-Point Rifle Scope fits the bill perfectly, both literally and figuratively. With a very low retail price, you’ll get fully coated optics with a 3-9x magnification range for versatile shooting. The 50mm objective lens is great for low light, and the 3.75 inches of eye relief is very comfortable.
Though you won’t get extremely bright images in all conditions, this scope does a terrific job. It’s very durable too, with water, fog and recoil proofing. The 8-point delivers outstanding precision in a basic riflescope.
Price: $50 on Amazon
8. ATN X-Sight II Riflescope
The ATN X-Sight II Riflescope is a new age type of Smart scope that has every feature you can dream of. The 3-14x magnification range is very generous, making it ideal for various pursuits ranging from whitetails to predators. The 50mm lens diameter is obviously great for dim light, but there’s also a night mode that makes it perfect for predator hunting, as well.
The Smart options include video recording capabilities, a built-in ballistic calculator for precise angle compensation, a rangefinder for distances, as well as the barometer and GPS for studying the weather and terrain.
Price: $599 at atncorp.com
About the author: Mike is a passionate hunter and his favorite grounds are Alaska and British Columbia. He’s also an expert in hunting gear and he is one of the most reliable resources when it comes to choosing the right tools for the job. He also writes for OpticGearLab.com
