Big Game Logic is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Whether you are a professional hunter or have been hunting elk for a long time, you will agree that better elk hunting opportunities come with a good scope.
It not only helps you cover various ranges but also increases good hunting opportunities. Elk are fast animals with a brilliant sense of smell, sight, and hearing. Therefore, the best scopes for elk hunting are essential to enhance your hunting experience.
Read ahead to find out the different types and also to learn about the best units available on the market.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Elk Hunting Scopes
- OUR TOP PICK: Vortex Optics Crossfire II
- BEST BUDGET OPTION: Simmons Truplex .22 Mag Riflescope
- Leupold VX-6HD 2-12x42mm
Comparison of the Best Scopes for Elk Hunting
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | |
|---|---|---|
Our Top Pick  |
| View Latest Price → |
Best Budget Option  |
| View Latest Price → |
 |
| View Latest Price → |
 |
| View Latest Price → |
 |
| View Latest Price → |
 |
| View Latest Price → |
 |
| View Latest Price → |
Scopes 101 - Various Types Explained
There are several kinds of scopes you will come across on the market. Therefore, it can get really confusing and become a hectic task to choose the most appropriate kind for elk hunting. Here are some most commonly found units that you can consider buying.
Fixed Scopes
Scopes work based on their magnification level. The greater the magnification power, the closer it will make the object/animal look. In fixed scopes, there is a certain, fixed magnification level. You cannot change this magnification power, and therefore, you need to select such units very carefully.
Variable Scopes
However, variable scopes allow you to adjust the magnification according to your need at the moment. This makes such units a better choice for most hunters, especially those who hunt on various occasions and have varying needs.
Night Vision Scopes
Night vision scopes use highly advanced technology that allows the hunter to find and target animals in the dark, as well. This type, of course, is great for night-time hunters.
How to Choose a Scope for Elk Hunting
Here are important considerations you should make before buying a scope for elk hunting.
Manufacturer and Brand
The brand or the manufacturer of any product is very important. This is true for almost all products. You should make sure the brand you are purchasing from is reliable and has been in the business for a decent amount of time. You can also check customer feedback and reviews on the same brand for more reliability and credibility. Furthermore, it's also important to make sure that the seller or retailer you are buying from is an authorized seller and not a scammer.
Lens Coating or Protection
Lens coating and protection are the utmost important factors. They will determine the quality of the image the scope will produce and will also determine the unit’s durability. Anti-reflective coating and anti-scratch protection are some features you can look for. Coatings protect your lens from dirt and debris and also ensure clearer images.
Magnification
To choose a good scope for yourself, make sure you know which magnification level you need. For example, when covering almost all kinds of distances and bases, you can go for a 3-18x power unit. Another common and inexpensive alternative is to buy a 4-12x or 3-9x magnification power unit.
Lens Quality and Features
Lens quality and features refer to the size of the lens, its build quality, and so on. For longer ranges, you should go for a larger objective lens. You can also see if the lens is good enough or has adequate functions to allow you to view objects at nighttime, as well. Lenses larger in size can usually gather more light to form images, which makes them suitable for night-time hunting.
Key Terms to Know
To help compare products in this review, we have included a few key specifications for each. Here is a quick summary of what they mean.
- Magnification: This is the minimum and maximum amount of magnification the scope provides 4x means the image is magnified four times larger than its actual size.
- Type of Reticle: The reticle is the central aiming point, also known as the crosshair, when viewed through the scope. (BDC, Firedot, and MilDot, Illuminated, and Duplex are common types).
- Parallax: The amount of visual shift that is noticeable when viewing through various angles. This occurs when the image appears behind or in front of the reticle.
- Objective Lens: This is the component used for gathering light. Larger diameters let in more light for dim lighting conditions.
- Focal Plane: This refers to whether the reticle changes size as you zoom or not. FFP (First Focal Plane) reticles change size as you zoom while SFP (Second Focal Plane) reticles are always the same size regardless of zoom.
- Eye Relief: This is the distance between your eye and the outermost lens of the scope that enables full view of the image without distortion or a black circle around the edge.
- Field of View: This refers to the width of the area you can view through the lens of the scope.
- Adjustment Type and Click Value: This is measured in MOA (Minutes Of Angle) or MRAD/MIL (Mill Radians) and both refer to the amount of correction being applied to the height and width to accurately hit your target. MOA is based on degrees and angles while MRAD is based on radial lines (units of an angle). The click value refers to how much change in the measurement occurs with each “click”.
- Length and Weight: The length of the scope and carrying weight of the scope.
Review of the Best Elk Hunting Scopes
This is the most important section of the article. Here, we'll discuss some of the best, most popular, and most reliable scopes for elk hunting. The reviews are based on authentic customer feedback and contain all the essential details and descriptions regarding the products. Read ahead to discover the best product for yourself!
Best Overall:
Vortex Optics Crossfire II
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Recent buyers have specifically commented on the image quality the lens of this riflescope produces. They have found the images to be very clear and bright and have also reported clarity in fog or darker environments. The only negative feedback seemed to be that the scope is not made for scout-style rifles, but was great otherwise. Customers also reported that it is great for medium ranges.
Why it Stands Out to Us
It stands out to us for a number of reasons. It’s our top pick from the market which is clearly because of the versatile lens features. It has an adjustable objective and a multilayered, anti-reflective lens that works great for everyone. Therefore, it is highly versatile and impressive, considering its durable aircraft-grade build quality.
Who Will Use This Most
We highly recommend this unit for use by people who hunt in rainy environments. This is because the lens is multi-coated, won’t be damaged by water, and gives excellent images. Moreover, it is also the best choice for anyone hunting in medium ranges.
Bottom Line
To sum it up, this is our top pick from the market due to its versatile features which make it so reliable. With a strong, durable build and an adjustable lens that is protected by multiple layers, this is a great option for anyone and everyone.
Product Specs
Magnification:
4 - 12 x
Type of Reticle:
Dead-Hold BDC
Parallax:
10 yds to infinity
Objective Lens:
40 mm
Focal Plane:
Second Focal Plane
Eye Relief:
3.9 - 4.4 in
Field of View:
8.4 - 24.7 ft at 100 yds
Adjustment Type and Click Value:
0.25 MOA
Length and Weight:
13.6 in; 19.2 oz
Best for the Money:
Simmons Truplex .22 Mag Riflescope
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Even though the scope is affordable and adds value to your money, there were still some disappointing comments from users. Many customers were delivered defective products, which wasted both their money and time . Other than that, users had lots of issues with the adjustments of the scope, and it didn’t zero for many users. However, there were happy customers who loved the lightweight design of the product.
Why it Stands Out to Us
It is difficult to find an affordable scope, such as this, at such a great price. It has all the features and functions you will find in any other high-end unit. Therefore, it stood out to us and we added it to our list of best scopes for elk hunting.
Who Will Use This Most
We recommend this scope for use by beginners. This is because it’s an inexpensive option, and still has great features to work with. However, we do not recommend this for harsh environments, rough use, and professionals.
Bottom Line
Other than some complaints from users, the scope seems like a good option for someone looking for something cheap. However, you can also explore other options and decide to make a one-time investment, rather than spending less on a less durable unit.
Product Specs
Magnification:
4x
Type of Reticle:
Truplex
Parallax:
50 yards
Objective Lens:
32 mm
Focal Plane:
Second Focal Plane
Eye Relief:
4 in
Field of View:
21 ft at 100 yards
Adjustment Type and Click Value:
0.25 in at 100 yds
Length and Weight:
12 in; 8.6 oz
3. Leupold VX-6HD 2-12x42mm
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Recent buyers love the scope for its versatility. They are highly satisfied with its night vision capability. Users who wanted to hunt in damp environments also found it to be truly useful and waterproof.
Why it Stands Out to Us
We absolutely love the versatility of this product. It has all basic, and even some extra, features that you might need or want. From a shockproof build to weather resistance, this scope will be any hunter's best friend. It is not common to find weather-resistant units that allow you to go and hunt in absolutely any place. Therefore, it stood out to us and we added it to our list.
Who Will Use This Most
The scope is lightweight and strongly built with shockproof and weather restart features, which means that it can be used by hunters who are on the go. It is great for all hunters, whether professionals or beginners.
Bottom Line
In brief, this is the most reliable Leupold scope you can find on the market. It comes from a renowned brand and a reliable manufacturer, which further makes it a great choice.
Product Specs
Magnification:
2 - 12 x
Type of Reticle:
FireDot Duplex
Parallax:
100 yds
Objective Lens:
42 mm
Focal Plane:
Second Focal Plane
Eye Relief:
3.8 in
Field of View:
57.5 - 10.2 ft at 100 yds
Adjustment Type and Click Value:
0.25 MOA
Length and Weight:
12.5 in; 16.8 oz
4. Bushnell Engage 4-16x44mm
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Recent buyers have shown high levels of satisfaction. They love its lightweight design and have also appreciated its black matte finish. There were not many cons found and rarely any negative customer reports were present for this unit.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The reason this scope stands out to us is its highly strategic design and build. It has a strong, average-sized objective lens that is great for longer ranges and nighttime hunting too. It is nothing less than any other highly-priced scope, which is why it will add great value to your money. Therefore, we have added this to our list.
Who Will Use This Most
The scope is slightly pricier than other models, which is why we recommend this for use by professionals. People with greater budgets can also opt for this, since it will add great value to your money with all the versatile features. It's also great for hunters who hunt in nighttime or low lighting environments.
Bottom Line
To sum it up, this is a higher-end unit that will not disappoint you. While saving money might be your priority, let's not forget that scopes such as this make hunting a lot easier and a lot more fun too. Therefore, we highly recommend this for professionals and on-the-go hunters.
Product Specs
Magnification:
4 - 16x
Type of Reticle:
Deploy MOA
Parallax:
10 yards
Objective Lens:
44 mm
Focal Plane:
Second Focal Plane
Eye Relief:
3.6 in
Field of View:
28 - 7 ft at 100 yds
Adjustment Type and Click Value:
0.25 MOA
Length and Weight:
14 in; 20.1 oz
5. Vortex Optics Diamondback 4-12x40 SFP
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Surprisingly, there were many complaints from customers that said they had to pay for the supposedly free hat. Plus, the hat proved to be highly dysfunctional for most of the people. On the other hand, customers loved the quality of the scope itself. Some customers also initially felt unsafe ordering from this brand but it turned out well for them. Other than the issue with the hat, we did not come across any negative feedback about it.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The scope stands out to us for its highly user-friendly functions. Its zeroing function, along with the fast focus functionality, make it not only versatile but also very user-centric. It also makes it a great choice for beginners. Therefore, this versatile and easy-to-use unit stood out to us.
Who Will Use This Most
It is highly recommended for hunters who are on the go. This is because it is very lightweight, along with sturdy and durable features such as the fog-proof and waterproof qualities. Moreover, it is also for use by professionals, as well as beginners, considering the easy-to-use features.
Bottom Line
To sum it up, the scope is great considering its price and its highly advanced features. It has an intelligent design and quality build that make it appropriate for everyone. Don't go firearm hunting without a scope as excellent as this one!
Product Specs
Magnification:
4 - 12 x
Type of Reticle:
Dead-Hold BDC
Parallax:
100 yards
Objective Lens:
40 mm
Focal Plane:
Second Focal Plane
Eye Relief:
3.1 - 3.4 in
Field of View:
11.3 - 32.4 ft at 100 yds
Adjustment Type and Click Value:
0.25 MOA
Length and Weight:
9.1; 22.4 oz
Best Scope for 30-06 Elk Hunting:
Athlon Optics Argos BTR
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
People have found this Athlon Scope a compact and lightweight unit compared to other products that they used. They also were able to hunt elks with this scope due to its great functionality with longer ranges and distances, even more than 600 yards.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The construction quality of this scope is definitely remarkable. It has a waterproof construction, featuring an argon-purged design that pushes out and prevents any moisture or water droplets from entering the unit. It is also resistant to shock, guaranteeing that it will last for a long time.
Bottom Line
Summing it up, the Athlon scope overall is outstanding on the market for its high-grade aluminum construction. It also is rugged and made for use in tough conditions. For elk hunting, a 30mm scope such as this makes up to be a great choice.
Product Specs
Magnification:
6 - 24 x
Type of Reticle:
APMR FFP IR MIL, Glass Etched
Parallax:
10 yds to infinity
Objective Lens:
50 mm
Focal Plane:
First Focal Plane
Eye Relief:
3.3 in
Field of View:
16.7 - 4.5 ft at 100 yds
Adjustment Type and Click Value:
Variable
Length and Weight:
14.1 in; 29.6 oz
Best Spotting Scope for Elk Hunting:
Celestron Ultima 80 Angled Spotting Scope
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Buyers of this unit were able to use it from a distance and still received bright and clear images. This was also used for birding, and the results were satisfactory. Other reports suggest that the scope has a sturdy and solid build. People also used it for astronomical purposes.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The zooming feature in scopes is essential and important for all hunters and shooters. However, this particular scope has an extraordinary zooming capability, which is smooth and fast. The razor-sharp zooming optical guarantees ease of use. We also find the warranty supporting this unit impressive.
Bottom Line
In conclusion, this Celestron scope is great for elk hunting with its 80mm magnification. It is also supported by a warranty, ensuring that you get full value for your money. Lastly, it has anti-reflective advanced lenses and also a carrying bag!
Product Specs
Magnification:
20x - 60x
Objective Lens:
80 mm
Eye Relief:
18 mm
Field of View:
105 ft at 20x | 53 ft at 60x
Length and Weight:
19.3 in; 57 oz
8. Leupold VX-3i 3.5x10x40mm
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Many customers said that the description of the product was somewhat misleading and did not match the actual product. There were also issues reported with the delivery of the product being not right and unreliable, too. However, other than these few complaints, we saw some highly satisfied users. Users found the scope to be highly reliable and were given an activated warranty for their convenience. Many users also said that it's durable and is actually resistant to any kind of harsh use.
Why it Stands Out to Us
It’s hard to find an all-in-one scope so easily. However, this Leupold scope is the answer to all your questions. It is a waterproof, shock-proof, and fog-proof scope. This makes it highly versatile and has impressed us enough to add to the list.
Who Will Use This Most
We highly recommend this scope for use by hunters who are on the go. It is a strongly built, versatile unit with a waterproof, shock-proof build. This makes it appropriate for various kinds of environments and, therefore, can be used by hunters who don’t have a permanent hunting spot.
Bottom Line
To sum it up, we would recommend this lightweight, durable scope for every hunter. It’s good for covering all kinds of ranges and hunting in all types of environments, too. It’s also good for nighttime hunting.
Product Specs
Magnification:
3.5 - 10 x
Type of Reticle:
Duplex
Parallax:
Fixed
Objective Lens:
40 mm
Focal Plane:
Second Focal Plane
Eye Relief:
4.4 - 3.6 in
Field of View:
11 - 29.9 ft at 100 yds
Adjustment Type and Click Value:
0.25 MOA
Length and Weight:
12.6 in; 12.6 oz
What Size and Type of Scope Do I Need for Elk Hunting?
The smaller the animals are, the more the magnification will be needed. For animals like elks, long-distance viewing is necessary as you do not want to go near them and scare them away. There are a few features you might want to look into before choosing the right type of scope for elk hunting.
So, if you are elk hunting in daylight and closer ranges, a 3-9x40 magnification scope works fine. A 6-18x50 scope is recommended for far-range deer and elk hunting.
In short, the main factors that you must consider before choosing a scope include the distance or range you will be shooting at, the situation or conditions of the environment such as the climate, daylight or night time and also if you are deep into the wilds or just in the countryside.
30mm vs. 1-Inch Scope
You will find the 30mm lenses in more higher-end scopes, normally. However, for beginners, or people who are more about ease of use and convenience, should definitely go for one-inch scopes. The benefit 30mm scopes have over one-inch scopes is that it has more adjustment options. This makes them more suitable for professional usage.
40mm vs. 50mm Scope
For those people who will be shooting in longer ranges and daylight, 30 to 40mm scopes are a better choice. Meanwhile, 50 mm scopes are more relevant for low-light situations as it transmits more light into the lens. Compared to 40mm, 50mm is also lightweight and relatively affordable.
1-6 vs. 1-8 Scope
1-6 scope is cheaper than 1-8 scope, so if budget is a problem, 1-6 is your answer.
The 1-8 scope is lighter, brighter, and more suitable for low-light conditions. This scope is also great for up to 400-450 yards.
FFP vs. SFP Scope
FFP and SFP are two different configurations for optical lenses. The major difference between the two is that with FFP scopes, the size of the reticle changes (shrinks or extends) as you zoom in or out. Meanwhile, with SFP, the size remains the same regardless.
SFP is found in more precise scopes with higher magnification power. Therefore, they are most suitable for long-range and big game shooting, such as for elk.
Benefits of Investing in a Quality Scope
Now that we've looked at some of the best scopes for elk hunting, you must be wondering whether you should really invest in them. So, to help you, here's a list of the benefits of investing in one. These might be enough to convince you to buy one of the best units on the market.
Cover Longer Ranges
Elk are smart and dangerous animals. Unlike deer, they don't run away from fear and instead, choose to fight back. Therefore, it is important to maintain a good distance from them. However, it is also difficult to properly hunt from a distance. And this is the primary reason you need to invest in a good quality scope for elk hunting; so you can cover longer ranges and distances.
Better Hunt
Scopes magnify the animal and help you identify targets more accurately. They also help spot the animals when they are hiding or are not visible to the naked eye. Therefore, scopes increase your hunting opportunities.
Upgrade to Pro-Level
The first step of upgrading is to move to firearms from a bow. Now that you have started using a firearm, you must realize that a scope is essential for you to consider yourself a professional. All hunting enthusiasts think that riflescopes are a must-have for anyone hunting with a firearm.
Conclusion
Clearly enough, to qualify as a professional hunter, you need to invest in a good quality scope. A firearm hunter is incomplete without a good unit. Improve your accuracy and make better use of hunting opportunities by investing in a good product. Elk hunting will be made much easier if you choose a scope wisely!
