Deer hunting has become a popular game and a favorite challenge among hunters. Deer are exceptionally smart, always guarded, and impressively fast, such that making small mistakes like having slight movements is enough to have them sprint away at extraordinary speed. They are not small animals and hence deer hunting requires large cartridges such as the 6.5 Creedmoor and .308 Winchester, as well as the best riflescopes for deer hunting
Every hunter wants nothing more than to have one of the best riflescopes for deer hunting to attach to these cartridges. The best deer hunting scopes make the hunting experience better for you, by providing a ton of features and good performance.
In this review, we discuss ten of the best hunting scopes in the market.
Best Riflescopes for Deer Hunting Review
1) Vortex Optics Diamondback Second Focal Plane Riflescopes
The Vortex Diamondback 1. 75-5×32 riflescope is one of the configurations in the Diamondback lineup. It is ideal for big game, slug shotgun, and brush hunting applications, thanks to its performance and fast-focus eyepiece.
It has an extra-low dispersion glass that improves resolution maximizing shooting light when shooting in low-light conditions. It features a Dead-hold BDC reticle that is good for any type of shooting at varying ranges where estimating hold-over is a concern.
This Diamondback has fully multi-coated lenses that provide clear and bright images and has a focusing eyepiece for quick and easy reticle focusing. The one-piece tube features an iodized finish for increased durability, while the metal-on-metal precision turrets offer the ability to zero reset after sight-in.
Key features
- Durable and shock-proof
- Solid one-piece aircraft-grade aluminum alloy construction
- Has XR multi-coated lenses to maximize shooting light
- Dead-Hold BDC reticle
- Argon purged and O-ring sealed for fog proof and waterproof performance
- Metal-on-metal precision turrets allow zero reset after sight-in.
- A precision glide erector system ensures accurate tracking and repeatability.
2) Simmons 8-Point 3-9x50mm Rifle Scope
Simmons 8-Point 3-9x50mm Rifle Scope provides bright, high contrast images with fully coated optics and a waterproof, fog proof & recoil-proof performance. It has more high-quality features than any other in its class, such as the 1/4-MOA SureGrip audible-click windage and elevation adjustments which ensure effortless adjustment, and the QTA eyepiece for easy target acquisition.
The proprietary true zero windage and elevation adjustment system stays locked to 0 through strenuous conditions.
The scope has 3- 9X magnification and a 50-millimeter objective lens, with a 31.4-foot field of view at 100 yards at 3X and a 10.5-foot field of view at 100 yards at 9X.
Key features
- Water, fog, and recoil-proof
- Matte black finish
- Has a 60-inch adjustment range of 100 yards
- TrueZero fingertip windage and elevation adjustment system
- Truplex reticle
- Eye relief: 3.75 inch
- Exit pupil: 16.6 to 5.6 millimeters
- Weight: 13.2 ounces
3) Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn Multi-X Reticle AO. Riflescope
Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawnriflescope is made in a beautiful design and durability built to last. It has a waterproof construction whereby it is O-ring sealed to ensure the inside stays dry even when totally immersed in water.
The lenses have multiple layers of anti-reflective coating on all air-to-glass surfaces for bright, high-contrast images, while the argon-filled optics remain stable regardless of ambient temperature for the ultimate fog-proof protection.
This is a low-light riflescope with 6-18x magnification and a 50mm objective lens which make it ideal for long-range varmint, silhouette, and target shooting. The dusk & dawn brightness (DDB) multicoated lenses provide clear and bright images. This scope
Key features
- 100-percent waterproof
- Argon Purged Fog-Proofing
- 3.5 inches of eye relief
- 18x magnification and large 50mm objective
- Multi-X reticle; 1/4 MOA fingertip windage and elevation adjustments
- Fast-focus eyepiece; measures 16 inches long
- Features the Multi-X reticle for a classic sight picture
4) Athlon Optics Talos 4-16×40 SFP. Riflescopes
The Athlon Optics Talos 4-16×40 is designed with fully multi-coated lenses that provide better light transmission to ensure optimum brightness and true color across the entire light Spectrum.
It features a reticle etched on the glass to provide excellent backing support for a complex reticle design. This also offers great durability and much higher shock resistance to recoil.
Key features
- Heat-treated one-piece Aircraft grade aluminum tube
- Nitrogen purged for waterproof and fog proof performance
- Fully multi-coated lenses
- Shock resistant
5) Leupold VX-5HD 3-15x56mm Riflescope
Leupold VX-5HD 3-15x56mm Riflescope is one of the configurations in the Leupold VX-5HD Scopes series. It provides similar flexibility as the 44mm and maximizes as much exit pupil light as the eye can handle.
The scope features an Illum. FireDot Duplex CDS reticle and Matte finish. The side focus adjusts the scope’s parallax, making the reticle clearer and having less perceived movement when shooting at different distances.
The VX-5HD scope features Guard-Ion Lens Coating that ensures water and dirt resistance for clear, crisp images. It comes with the Professional-Grade Optical System for light transmission to ensure bright images in all light conditions.
The scope also features a proprietary Argon/Krypton gas blend which almost eliminates the effects of thermal shock and reduces the diffusion of gases sealed inside the scope.
Key features
- Lightweight, rugged performance
- 100% Waterproof, fog proof and shockproof
- Twilight Max HD Light Management system
- Guard-Ion Lens Coating
- ZeroLock CDS-ZL2 (Custom Dial System)
- 5:1 Zoom Ratio
- Magnification Range: 3x-15x
- Weight: 22.3 oz.
6) SIII Long Range Scope 10-50x 60
This SII long-range scope is made of a 30mm one-piece main tube made from high-quality Aircraft aluminum to ensure strength and durability. The tube is twice as thick as one-inch models for maximum rigidity.
The scope features a Side Parallax focus which can be used easily in prone and bench shooting to focus from 10-40 yards to infinity.
This scope features large oversize target knobs with 1/8 inch adjustments, as well as target knobs that are re-settable to zero. These target knobs are protected by large heavy windage and elevation caps.
Key features
- Fogproof, shockproof, and waterproof
- Fully multi-coated lenses
- Sightron’s unique ExacTrack windage and elevation adjustment system
- Magnification: 10-50X
- Objective Diameter: 60mm
- Tube Diameter: 30mm
- Eye Relief: 3.8-4.5
- Click Value: 1/8 MOA – FOV: 9.6-2.2
- Length: 16.90
- Weight: 28.92
7) NightForce SHV C520 4-14x56mm SFP Hunting Scope
The NightForce SHV C520 4-14x56mm scope is one of the most versatile scopes in the market. It is equally efficient in putting small groups on paper at long ranges or matched with a powerful, flat-shooting gun for big game.
The scope offers 1 MOA elevation and windage markings, .140 MOA lines, more accurate range finding, and possible hold-offs on smaller targets at longer ranges.
The scope also features a floating center crosshair which makes the reticle extremely fast and easy to use in the field. This reticle features center illumination only, and a 30 MOA scale below the center.
For even easier use, the side parallax adjustment knob is marked with approximate numbered distances, whereas a fast-focus eyepiece gives you sharp details instantly.
Key features
- Fully multicoated optics
- Second Focal Plane
- 30mm body tube diameter
- 3.6 in/92 mm eye relief
- Field of view: 4x: 24.9 ft. /8.3 m – 14x: 7.3 ft. /2.2 m at 100 yd. /m
- Overall length: 14.8 in/376 mm
- Mounting length: 5.8 in/147 mm
8) Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn Circle-X Reticle Riflescope
The Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn Circle-X Reticle Riflescope is well designed to provide great performance both in the early morning and late evening light. This is made possible by the Dusk & Dawn Brightness (DDB) multi-coated lenses that offer clear and bright images in low light.
The scope comes in a one-piece tube design and is well known for use in all light conditions. It offers a 3-9x magnification and 40mm objective lens.
Key features
- Durable design
- 100 percent quality materials used and tested extensively
- 100% waterproof/fog proof construction
- Beautiful design and durability built to last
- Fast-focus eyepiece; measures 11.5 inches long
- Circle-X reticle; 1/4 MOA fingertip windage and elevation adjustments
9) Athlon Optics, Argos BTR, Riflescope
This Athlon Argos BTR Riflescope features a 6061 T6 Aluminum construction which ensures exceptional strength and superior mechanical integrity for durability and the ability to withstand tough usage. It is Argon purged to ensure waterproofing and thermal stability.
The scope’s first focal plane reticle stays valid at all power settings allowing you to fully utilize the specially designed reticle that shrinks or grows along with your target as you zoom in or out.
The Argos BTR scope features advanced fully multi-coated lenses that provide great light transmission for optimum brightness and true color across the entire light spectrum.
The reticle etched on the glass provides excellent backing support for complex reticle design and offers great durability and higher shock resistance to recoil.
Key features
- Durable heat-treated one-piece tube construction
- Waterproof
- Etched Glass Reticle offers excellent backing support for complex reticle design
- Illuminated Reticle
- First Focal Plane Reticle allows full utilization of specially designed reticles that shrink or grow along with your target as you zoom in or out
10) Vortex Optics Crossfire II SFP, 1-inch Tube Riflescopes
The Vortex 2-7×32 Crossfire II riflescope is a clear, tough, and bright scope that is specially designed for performance. The single-piece tube is constructed from aircraft-grade aluminum for strength and shockproof performance. It is then O-ring sealed and nitrogen purged to ensure waterproof and fog-proof performance.
The scope features the Dead-Hold BDC reticle which is good for hunting/shooting at varying ranges where estimating holdover is a concern. What’s more is that it offers long eye relief and an ultra-forgiving eye box, allowing you to be able to quickly get a sight picture and acquire your target.
The included fast-focus eyepiece allows quick and easy reticle focusing. The scope is made with anti-reflective, fully multi-coated lenses to provide bright and clear views. The capped reset turrets are finger adjustable with MOA clicks that can be reset to zero after sighting in.
Key features
- Long eye relief
- Fully multi-coated lenses
- Has a fast-focus eyepiece
- Max Elevation Adjustment: 60 MOA
- Has improved, resettable MOA turrets
Choosing the Best Riflescopes for Deer Hunting
Durability
Durability is a large part determined by the construction material used. The scope’s lenses should also be able to tackle a long time of use, with nitrogen purging, dust resistance, fog-proofing, waterproofing, and shock resistance.
Magnification
Deer are naturally wary and run away quickly. Your ideal scope for this exercise should not be anything lesser than 9x. The image should remain clear and bright even with maximum zoom.
Multi-coated lenses
A great rifle scope can perform from dawn to dusk, mainly because most hunting takes place in the early hours of the morning and late evenings.
Objective lens
For deer hunting, it is always best to go for a larger lens. The larger lenses provide more light transmission resulting in clearer, brighter, and bigger images. You should however know that the larger the objective lens, the heavier it weighs.
Eye relief
Eye relief helps to protect your eyes and eyebrows from recoil which is even higher in the more powerful rifles. The best scope for hunting deer should provide generous eye relief of at least 3.5 inches.
Reticle
For long-range shooting, your scope should compensate for the bullet drop over extended distances. This helps with holdover positions and even bullet trajectory prediction systems. It is also important if the target turrets are resettable to zero and lockable.
Final Thoughts
Whether Vortex, Leupold, Bushnell, or any other brand, whichever scope you choose should provide the easiest and quickest performance during deer hunting. You will probably be in anticipation to bring the meat home and having the best scope ensures that your results are exciting and quite fulfilling.
The rifle scopes we have discussed in this article are made with numerous features to make your hunting easy and enjoyable.