Deer hunting is a thrilling activity that demands precision. To get the most out of your hunting trip, you need to have a toolset with the right hunting gear and quality scope is one of them. In this article, we will take you through the best Vortex scopes for deer hunting and ensure that you find the ideal model for your specific hunting needs.
Vortex is a big name in the world of optics. It makes excellent-quality optical instruments and some of the best scopes for deer hunting. The scopes are well-built to tackle any hunting situation, reliable and remarkably inexpensive. However, since Vortex makes so many scopes, it becomes a tough task to find a model that will work best for your individual hunting needs and hunting style.
In this post, we are here to help. We have done our homework and put up a list of 7 best vortex scopes for deer hunting that make a handy companion for every avid hunter . Let’s take a look.
Best Vortex Scopes for Deer Hunting
#1) Vortex Diamondback 3.5-10×50 mm Riflescope
The Diamondback 3.5-10×50 mm Riflescope is a quality scope that provides precise details of targets at various distances. Featuring a variable 3.5-10x magnification, the scope offers great versatility and covers any deer hunting situation from close range to long range. It also features a Dead-Hold BDC reticle that stays precise at any range for easy aiming.
This riflescope offers excellent optical performance. It boasts fully multi-coated lenses that maximize light transmission for brighter and clear images from dawn to dusk. The fast focus eyepiece helps in quick and simple reticle focusing and with the metal-on-metal precision turrets, you will be able to get back to zero effortlessly after sight-in.
Weighing just 0.75 pounds, this scope is lightweight, portable and convenient to carry from place to place. Though lightweight, it has a shockproof design for greater durability. It also features a solid one-piece tube that is argon purged and sealed with O-rings to provide you with a lifetime of waterproof and fog proof performance. Moreover, the scope has a hard anodized finish that camouflages your shooting position and reduces wear and tear for greater durability.
Features
- Variable 3.5-10x magnification
- Hard anodized finish
- Fully multi-coated lenses
- Fast focus eyepiece
- Dead-Hold BDC MOA reticle
- Metal-on-metal precision turrets
- Waterproof, fog proof and shockproof
- Side focus parallax adjustment
- Lightweight design
#2) Vortex Crossfire II 4-12x44mm Riflescope
When it comes to reliability and versatility, it’s hard to beat the Crossfire II 4-12x44mm Riflescope. It has virtually every feature that you need to hunt more competitively. First, it features a V-plex reticle which is not only easy to aim, but also stays accurate in a variety of hunting applications. It is easy to shoot with and a perfect companion when hunting deer in wide, open fields.
The scope is built ready for outdoor use. It is crafted from aircraft grade aluminum which maximizes its strength and durability without adding any unnecessary weight. Even better, it has a single piece tube that’s purged with nitrogen to prevent internal lens fogging and O-ring sealed to deliver total waterproof performance.
With the anti-reflective, fully multi-coated lenses. you get bright and clear views even when you are hunting in low light conditions. For added convenience, the scope comes with a fast focus eye piece for easy reticle focusing and capped reset turrets that are finger adjustable. It also brings to the table a long eye relief and an ultra-forgiving eye box that make quick target acquisition a breeze.
Features
- Fully multi-coated lenses
- Aircraft-quality aluminum construction
- Capped reset turrets
- Waterproof and fog free
- Long eye relief
- Fast focus eyepiece
- V-Plex MOA reticle
- Hard anodized finish
- 1-inch tube
#3) Vortex Razor Gen II-E 1-6x24mm Riflescope
If you are looking to take your deer hunting skills to the next big level, you should get the Razor Gen II-E 1-6x24mm Riflescope. It is a feature-rich riflescope that is designed to provides great accuracy and excellent-quality sight pictures in both short and mid-range applications.
The scope features a JM-1 BDC reticle with an illuminated center dot which facilitates easy target spotting in low light conditions and more accurate shooting for targets that are as far as 600 yards away. Better yet, it features fully multi-coated lenses to increase light transmission and high-density ED glass that provides stunning image quality even in dismal environments.
This scope is well-made to give you many years of field use. It has a 30mm singe-piece tube that withstands high recoil, shock and impact. The Armortek coating included shields the external lenses from dirt, dust and scratches for added durability. Moreover, it is sealed with O-rings and argon purged to deliver reliable waterproof and fog proof performance.
The reticle in this riflescope is housed on the second focal plane. It comes with a bright center dot that increases its versatility by providing the red dot functionality. Furthermore, it features a generous eye relief that aids in rapid target acquisition and large diameter turrets for fast and accurate elevation and windage adjustments. The turrets are also capped for added protection.
Features
- Aircraft-grade aluminum construction
- Hard anodized finish
- Low capped turrets
- Fast focus eyepiece
- HD extra-low dispersion glass
- Lightweight design
- Generous eye relief
- Waterproof and fog resistant
- 30mm tube
- JM-1 BDC SFP MOA Reticle
- Daylight bright illuminated center dot
#4) Vortex Diamondback 4-16x44mm Riflescope
As one of the best Vortex scopes for deer hunting, the Diamondback 4-16x44mm Riflescope comes with everything you need to have a successful hunting trip. It has a 30mm main tube that is well-crafted from aircraft grade aluminum for the ultimate durability. The whole tube has a hard anodized finish which camouflages your shooting position by reducing glare when hunting under direct sunlight.
Featuring a variable 4-16x magnification, you will be able to use the scope for both short and long-range hunting applications. When shooting long-range, you can easily eliminate parallax from 20 yards to infinity so you are able to shoot more accurately. On top of that, the scope boasts fully multi-coated lenses which delivers bright, clear and sharp images across the whole magnification setting.
Weighing about 23.1 ounces, this riflescope has a manageable weight so you will be able to carry it from place to place easily. It has a shockproof design to stand up to the harsh and unforgiving outdoor conditions and fully waterproof and fog free for all-weather reliability. Lastly, it features a first focal place reticle that stays true at every magnification.
Features
- Precision glide erector system
- Fast focus eyepiece
- Hard anodized finish
- Aircraft-quality aluminum construction
- 30mm tube
- Waterproof and fog proof
- FFP glass-etched reticle
- Fully multi-coated lenses
- Variable 4-16x magnification
- Lightweight and portable
- Parallax adjustment from 20 yards to infinity
- 8-inch eye relief
#5) Vortex Razor HD LHT 3-15x50mm Riflescope
The Razor HD LHT 3-15x50mm is one of the best Vortex scopes for deer hunting even in the toughest hunting conditions. It provides crisp images even at highest magnification settings for accurate shot placement. It also boasts a large 50mm objective lens which provides a wide field of view needed for easy tracking of fast-moving game.
With this riflescope, you get HD optical system that delivers stunning image quality and anti-reflective coatings on all air-to-glass surfaces which provide excellent low light performance. To add on that, the scope has a variable intensity illuminated center dot which facilitates accurate shooting in low light conditions.
It’s crafted from aircraft grade aluminum to give you unbeatable durability. The exterior lenses have an Armortek coating that offers protection from dirt and scratches and the 30mm tube is fully waterproof and fog proof for all-weather reliability. For added convenience, the scope has an ultralight design for easy carrying in the field and a generous eye relief that keeps you eyes safe when using high-recoiling rifles.
Features
- Locking eyepiece
- Waterproof and fog proof
- 30mm tube
- Variable intensity illuminated center dot
- Anti-reflective coatings on all air-to-glass surfaces
- Locking elevation turret
- Capped windage turret
- Aircraft-grade aluminum construction
- Ultra-lightweight design
#6) Vortex Crossfire II AO 4-12×50 Riflescope
As one of best Vortex scopes for deer hunting for the money, the Crossfire II AO 4-12×50 Riflescope is your best option if you are on a budget. It offers a wide variety of features at a cost-effective price tag. It also offers excellent image clarity at any distance and is suitable for both short and long-range hunting.
Featuring an adjustable objective, the scope eliminates parallax for greater accuracy when hunting long-range. The fully multi-coated lenses maximize light transmission to provide bright and clear views, while the long eye relief aids in quick target acquisition. Also, this optic brings to the table a fast focus eyepiece for quick and simple reticle focusing and capped reset turrets that are finger adjustable.
Since water is one of the greatest enemy of optics, the Crossfire II AO 4-12×50 Riflescope is O-ring sealed to lock out moisture, dirt and dust. It’s also purged with nitrogen for total fog proof performance. With its budget price tag, this riflescope is a decent option for hunting beginners looking to start a new hobby.
Features
- Aircraft grade aluminum construction
- Fully multi-coated lenses
- Fast focus eyepiece
- Waterproof and fog proof
- Adjustable objective
- Long eye relief
- Capped reset turrets
- Dead-Hold BDC reticle
- Variable 4-12x magnification
- 50mm objective lens
#7) Vortex Viper HS-T 4-16x44mm Riflescope
The Viper HS-T 4-16x44mm Riflescope has a VMR-1 Reticle that’s perfect for deer hunting and hunting in general. It’s simple to use and has a lightweight design that makes it easy to carry in the field.
Featuring 4x zoom, this scope provides you with the excellent magnification versatility. You can use the 4x for close-range deer hunting, then ramp up to 16x when you need to engage faraway game. Even at 16x magnification, the scope provides excellent-quality images for more accurate shooting. Furthermore, it utilizes a fast focus eyepiece that helps in quick reticle focusing which is important for easy target acquisition. It also incorporates fully multi-coated lenses and extra-low dispersion glass to give your brilliant and clear as crystal sight pictures from dawn till dusk.
Another good thing about the optic is the durable construction. Like any other Vortex riflescope, it’s crafted from aircraft grade aluminum for the ultimate durability. The single-piece tube is sealed with O-rings to prevent entry of moisture into the delicate optics and argon purged to prevent fogging. It also features an Armortek coating which protects the external lenses from dirt, oil and scratches.
Features
- Versatile 4x zoom
- Armortek coating
- Exposed target style turrets
- Fast focus eyepiece
- Waterproof and fog proof
- CRS Zero Stop
- VMR-1 MOA reticle
- Fully multi-coated lenses
- Durable and shockproof construction
What Makes a Great Vortex Scope for Deer Hunting?
A good scope for deer hunting should have a decent magnification power, high-quality optics and excellent low-light performance. The lenses should have high-quality coatings to facilitate maximum light transmission which is essential when hunting in poor light settings. Moreover, the scope should have a lightweight design for easy portability and be fully waterproof and fog proof so you can use it for hunting even in bad weather conditions.
What Magnification Do You Need for Deer Hunting?
For deer hunting, your ideal scope magnification will depend on your hunting environment and how far the target will be. For close and mid-range hunting in thick forests, a model with 3-9x will suffice. This range will help you shoot a target that is as far as 500 yards away at maximum power and you can also zoom it back in and hit a deer that’s as close as 20 yards.
On the other hand, if you plan to hunt long-range in wide, open spaces, you should opt for a scope with 4x to 12x magnification. If you are a professional hunter looking to take your hunting skills to the next big level, its best if you get a scope with more than 12x magnification.
How Much Eye Relief Do I Need?
For deer hunting, you’ll want your scope to provide comfortable views for easy target identification and more accurate shooting. It will be good if you get a scope with an eye relief of at least 3.5-inches. If you get a model with longer eye relief the better. This way you’ll be able to shoot comfortably and spend a considerable long period of time glassing and not experience eye fatigue.
See Also
How to Choose the Best Vortex Scopes for Deer Hunting
When shopping for the best Vortex scopes for deer hunting, here are some of the notable features you should consider in order to make the right buying decision.
Magnification
Magnification is the primary factor you should look out for. While magnification is largely a matter of personal preference, it’s important that you get a decent magnification power that will bring distant deer closer. For short and medium range hunting, a scope with 3x to 9x should be sufficient. For long-range hunting, look for a model with 4-12x magnification or more.
Objective Lens
The objective lens is responsible for collecting light into the scope. The larger the objective lens, the more light gets inside the scope. When hunting deer in low light conditions, you’ll want your scope to maximize light transmission and provide bright and clear images for accurate, ethical shot placement. Look for a scope that comes with an objective lens of at least 40mm.
Weight
You’ll be carrying the scope and your hunting rifle from place to place in search of deer. A heavy scope can break your hunting experience. It will be difficult to carry around and can interfere with your rifle’s accuracy. To get the most out of your hunting trip, look for a Vortex scope that has a lightweight design for easy portability. Besides, a light scope is easier to shoot with and does not interfere with the accuracy of a rifle.
Reticle
There are a variety of reticles suitable for different shooting applications. Most hunters prefer a simple reticle that doesn’t obstruct the target even at full magnification. If this what you prefer, a scope with a custom ballistic turret will be ideal for you. If you prefer to hold for windage and elevation adjustments, go for a scope with a BDC reticle.
Durability
When hunting, your scope will be subjected to harsh and unforgiving conditions. So, it’s important that you get a product that’s made of high-quality material. Luckily, Vortex scopes are made from aircraft-grade aluminum which is both durable and shockproof. Also make sure that you get a scope that’s both waterproof and fog proof so you will be able to use it to hunt in inclement weather or on unfamiliar terrain.
Price
The other factor you should consider is the cost of the scope. Vortex is renowned for its quality yet budget-friendly scopes. So, if you are on a tight budget, you’ll find numerous budget scopes that don’t compromise on their quality. However, if money is not an object, there are several high-end models to choose from. These scopes offer high-end features and great durability as well.
Conclusion
We do hope that this post has provided you with some insight into the best Vortex scopes for deer hunting. Your hunting style and intended hunting range will help determine which scope is best for you. Invest in any scope above and use it to improve the way you hunt this hunting season.