Monocular Special | Rebirth Of The Sporting Monocular


Basic Gear
Air, distance, sun and shade can easily deceive a hunter; milk pods appear as turkey heads, bent lily pads look like ducks, shelf mushrooms look like other hunters, blinds seem occupied, dumped appliances give the impression of a parking area. 

Singling out lawful game can be difficult. For example, accidentally firing upon a flock of geese mixed with cormorants could wind up illegal even though these unrelated birds mix together and appear identical at times. In other areas, hunters may only bag a turkey with a visible tuft of hair called a beard. Many game animals are now regulated with anatomical restrictions that a hunter must be able to spot.

Monocular
A monocular is a telescope made with prisms to reduce its overall length. A monocular is even smaller than a field scope. A monocular is used for single eye viewing of distant objects and scenery. For sporting, a monocular ought to ruggedized and not a delicate instrument or an eccentric contraption.  

Hunting with Galileo
The term monocular (for distant objects) could not be found during a search of 19th century publications; instead, the terms “hunting telescope” and “Spyglass” were used:


“…an opera-glass that was described to him as a hunting telescope…” -1818 A second journey through Persia

“Jarrocks pulled out his hunting-telescope, and having marked the bird down with the precision of a billiard-table keeper…” -1831 The New Sporting Magazine
At the start of the 20th century, the term hunting telescope meant a telescope attached to a firearm:

“…the Stevens hunting telescope fits not only its own rifles, but its mounts are designed especially for the Savage and Marlin rifles.” -1912 Field and Stream

While hunting-telescopes were being fitted with pin sights and cross hairs, and the term hunting-telescope was being surrendered to the arms companies (J. Stevens Arms and Tool Company/others), adventurers began to write of monocular use. Following in the footsteps of Sir Samuel Baker, Harry Storey wrote an appendix on monocular use: 

“A glass…might come in handy at times. I usually carry a 6-power Güerz prismatic monocular – small, portable and powerful enough. -1907 Hunting And Shooting In Ceylon


Reputation
The qualities of a sport monocular are unique and unrelated to the displeasures of rangefinders or night vision devices. Compared to field glasses, a monocular sometimes has a smaller field of view, but sometimes a monocular offers a larger field of view. Beyond this, the disadvantages of using a monocular are mostly gossip. The ten to fourteen basic visual cues for depth and distance are all monocular. Furthermore, occluding one eye is actually therapeutic at times. Lastly, eye strain is mostly related to electric displays, eye focus and conditions using both eyes. 

Motion Sickness
Motion Sickness does not require movement and can be visually induced. Visually Induced Motion Sickness is normal. The treatment (prevention and therapy) for Motion Sickness is habituation. For field glasses or a monocular, habituation implies exclusive ownership, a breaking-in period and regular viewing practice, avoiding long intervals of nonuse.

Advantages
Monoculars have a simplified design and a practical purpose. A monocular is worthwhile for most people and highly recommended for people with very unequal eye conditions because wide-ranging disparities in eye traits can exceed the accommodations of field glasses. 




Stealth Gear | Run and Gun
A monocular is sometimes described as less than half the body of binoculars. Monoculars are less likely to interfere with concealment. Monoculars are easier to hold with one hand allowing a hunter to steady his posture, call game or transition to a weapon. A monocular is well suited for close quarter tactics like hunting dense brush or stands of trees. Scouting, tracking, stalking, still hunting, jump shooting, and walks for birds (especially turkey, wood duck, and teal) are all examples of hunting styles that benefit from compact, ultra light optics.

 

Alpen® Sport Monocular
Online price survey $45.95-$79.74 / MSRP: $92.00


Model/Code/Item: 120
8x25 Magnification Diameter | Objective Lens
4mm exit pupil
Adjustable Focus | 3.5m Close Focus
6.1˚ Field | 321ft. Field of View @ 1000 yrds.
18mm Long Eye Relief | Adjustable Eye Cup
Fully Multi-Coated BAK4 Optics
Waterproof | Fogproof
5 oz.






The Alpen Sport Monocular is made with dull, ecological colors that do not impair camouflage or concealment.

Much of the Alpen Sport Monocular appears to be a precision milled, hard metal alloy, including the wide-ranging knurled focuser.
The Alpen Sport Monocular’s rubberized armor, shielding and hood are also a non-slip palm and finger grip.

 
Turning, adjustable Eye Cup has 3 stop positions.

A stud and rotating swivel loop comes with a wrist strap, but afterwards might hold a neck strap, lanyard, tether, carabiner, snap clip, or paracord.  

No Fault, No Problem, Lifetime Warranty.




Author’s Analysis
Easily manageable, heavy-duty, first-class optical qualities and an instinctive design are the overall impressions of the Alpen Sport Monocular. The Alpen monocular had better brightness, resolution and field of view than some higher magnification binoculars. The Alpen Sport Monocular oversteps outdated limitations and advice almost certainly because of its Fully Multi-Coated Optics.


Alpen® Optics
California’s Alpen Optics is an “affordable alternative”, a true to life purveyor of binoculars, monoculars, spotting scopes, rifle scopes and accessories. Alpen works hard to include premium features, winning seven years worth of "Great Buy Awards" from Outdoor Life, a "High Score" from Bird Watcher’s Digest and a "Best of the Test" from Field and Stream. Alpen’s mission is to have the best customer service and “provide superior quality optical products at affordable prices”. 




About
I requested the opportunity to feature the Alpen® Sport Monocular for the 2013 Monocular Special. I utilized a donated sample for this purpose. Currently, I am not otherwise affiliated or associated with Alpen® Optics and have not received pecuniary compensation or incentive from Alpen® Optics.

Ruggedized Gear | Waterproof Devices | How They Work


Initiation
Rugged terrain, water areas, severe weather, children and the clumsy can ruin an unadventurous piece of equipment.

 
Availability
Nowadays, ruggedized, waterproof devices are plentiful and found alongside ordinary devices at stores.

 
Situations
Waterproof devices, especially phones and lamps, are more reliable in harsh conditions. The phone shown is loaded with applications that are not based on connectivity with a service provider. These applications include a sophisticated compass, pedometer, thermometer, tide data, sunrise/sunset data, astro calendar, astro map and a flashlight.

  
Operation
Ruggedized, waterproof gear is made using strengthened cases, sturdy connectors, thick tempered glass/polycarbonate lenses/crystals/screens, and shielding. Sensors, microphones and speakers are either waterproof or are covered by a waterproof membrane. Waterproof cases, ports, doors, hatches, jacks, controls, and lenses make use of supple packing, gaskets, or O-rings. 


Unhelpful Aspects
Waterproof devices and gear do not necessarily float. Flotation accessories are usually sold separately for waterproof devices. Waterproof packing, gaskets and O-rings must be regularly inspected and maintained to ensure a watertight seal.

Some knives come with a magnesium fire striker that will start a fire when wet.

Read about the Author’s duck hunting accident:
Into The Drink


Scenes From Game Fair 2012 | $10,000 Calling Championship

 


Game Fair is one of the most personal and engaging, annual sporting conventions. Held outdoors, towards the fall, Game Fair is an example of the European tradition for sporting conventions called “Country Shows” or “Game Fairs”.

 “Game Fair easily outclasses other types of shows and is a worthwhile travel destination.” -TRF

Venue | Site
Armstrong Ranch Kennels/Ramsey, Minnesota
80 acre setting of lush woods, water and fields.
*Ramsey is West of Anoka and is a suburb of The Twin Cities, Minneapolis/Saint Paul, Minnesota USA.

Game Fair website:










 
 












Turkey Kill Zone: Locked Down with Kick’s

Gobblin’ Thunder
Kick’s is a talented maker of shotgun chokes. The Kick’s know-how is evident in both the world shooting titles that have been won with Kick’s turkey chokes as well their simplified product line.

The Kick’s “Recipe for Turkey” is the Gobblin’ Thunder brand of turkey chokes.




Choke Selection
Choke selection is the most important means a turkey hunter has over how commercial ammunition performs, whereas the gun itself is more of a constant than a variable. 




“An authentic turkey choke gives you the ability to kill only one turkey at a time.” -TRF

Probably the most underreported aspect of turkey hunting is the unintentional killing, wounding or crippling of extra turkeys when a shot pattern or spread is too scattered or unfocused.




The Turkey Kill Zone | Shot Placement
Although it’s clever not to add shot pellets to the most edible parts of a turkey, 19th century books describe hunting turkey bodies in trees, at night, during a full moon.

Nowadays and based on principal, the shot placement guidelines for killing a turkey is an intricate headshot which includes the neck.

Exactly when the modern headshot directive was instituted is unclear because turkey hunting sometimes wanes for as long as 20-30 years when turkey populations dwindle or disappear. Hunting then resumes after the successful restocking of turkeys. A November 1970 Field -and- Stream article refers to turkey hunting as an “ancient art” following a 24 year hunting moratorium.

Nevertheless, the author’s father-in-law revealed that when turkey hunting briefly resumed in America’s Upper Midwest, in the late 1960’s and again in the late 1970’s, it was considered important to call a turkey to ruffle it’s feathers just before the shot, to allow penetration, otherwise, the shot pellets cold be seen bouncing off the back of the turkey.



Design
Gobblin’ Thunder is an extra long tube milled from solid 17-4PH stainless steel with a parallel section after the choke that stabilizes the shot constriction. It extends approximately 1 ¾ inches beyond the muzzle, and has a round/flat, precision crown. Gobblin’ Thunder allows you to extend your range, barrel length and mass. A longer barrel handles more steadily and generally improves shot pattern. Increasing the mass of a barrel reduces recoil acceleration.

Installation | Finish | Markings
Kick’s choke tubes are installed and removed by hand. I thought these chokes were visibly glossy at first, but I took them outside, in the natural light and they do have a duller, black finish preferred for hunting. These chokes have stamped/engraved lettering for easy identification that remains visible when installed and during use.



Porting | Braking System
Gobblin’ Thunder chokes are diagonally and directionally ported at a precise, prescribed angle of 135 degrees forward of the shooter. Upon firing, these ports vent forward, slowing the recoil and better protecting the shooter, bystanders and hunting position from shock pressure, smoke and debris.

Gobblin’ Thunder’s heavy porting is very similar in appearance to many of the newest compensator designs and is a long-established, ballistic improvement characteristic.

24 sharp-edged cut outs, measuring nearly ¼ inch each, are oriented to provide momentary, retrograde traction for the stressed boundaries of shotcup-wads.

Surface interruption by perforations (porting) also vibrate the wad by converting some of the otherwise wasted energy from wad stress. This vibrational energy yields a more efficient separation between the wad and pellets (author’s conceptual model based on improved pellet release and the deformation and shear of plastic components).



Ranging | Accuracy | Pattern
The Gobblin’ Thunder choke was extremely accurate, delivering a dense core pattern or “Bull’s Eye” at multiple ranges/distances. Beyond the “hot core” at short ranges, shot patterns had a very good distribution across the targets.


Magnum Shot Pellet Count Percentages:
20”dia.@50yrd.//089.54% | 15”dia.@50yrd.//081.07%
20”dia.@50yrd.//083.61% | 15”dia.@50yrd.//060.45%
20”dia.@40yrd.//092.65% | 15”dia.@40yrd.//083.61%
20”dia.@25yrd.//100.00% | 15”dia.@25yrd.//094.63%
20”dia.@10yrd.//   N/A %  | 15”dia.@10yrd.//100.00%




Unhelpful Aspects
There are very few unhelpful aspects of the Gobblin’ Thunder choke. Ported chokes are generally louder (the equivalent of removing the outside wall of a muffler) and have an increased surface area that requires cleaning. Furthermore, Gobblin’ Thunder chokes are not recommended for use with steel or hard tungsten pellets.

Contact:
Kick's Industries Inc. 800-587-2779



About:
I requested the opportunity to test, review and give opinion for Gobblin’ Thunder choke tubes. I utilized a donated sample for this purpose. Currently, I am not otherwise affiliated or associated with Kick’s Industries and have not received pecuniary compensation or incentive from Kick’s.