A question for those of you that hunt squirrels in the woods

[UCChris]

My wife and I are going to squirrel hunt for the first time and we have to go to a designated hunting area to do so. Since we're going to be traipsing through the woods to do this, I'm wondering how vital having an illuminated reticle is when trying to get on a squirrel amidst a bunch of branches. I recently had to eliminate a small pest from our garage and it was very difficult to see clearly with the black reticle in our garage during dusk when the pest was active.

 

[Sqwirl57]

The only time I've really found illumination beneficial was on the low end of some FFP scopes where the reticle is super thin

 

[yenniedn]

I have to say that all of my scopes have an illuminated reticle and the only time I use it is the very first time I take it out of the box just to make sure it's working. After that, I almost forget it's there. For my normal shooting, I just never get a chance to use it but it's nice to know it's available should I ever need it.

 

[elh0102]

I never use the illumination feature in the scopes I own that have it, except to play around with it. I believe the best squirrel hunting tactic is to have a scope with a relatively coarse CH (in comparison to a fine target CH), and supplement it with a hand-held rangefinder. Alternatively, use a scope of sufficient power at the upper end for ranging with it, having it accurately calibrated with marked distances on the focus wheel.

 

[Dr. Kralenstein]

I chose didn't care either way, I use them sometimes and in the woods it would be beneficial obviously. Just get used to seeing that lit up because it does throw me off sometimes. I start to focus ON the reticle and not the target.

I'm a bit OCD and buy scopes with illuminated reticle just to make it all even on the 3 sides of the scope tube. I refuse to own a scope where the illuminated reticle control is on the rear diopter bell... and whoever decided to make them on the rear AND at some stupid angle... it just looks fugly like that.

 

[UCChris]

Appreciate the responses gentlemen!

 

[Glenroiland]

I own a few illuminated reticle, but have never used them. I'm sure as i get older I may appreciate them, but I have yet to use them. I am not a big fan of battery operated things...even all my watches (and I have a ton---close to 100!) Are mechanical and most are self winding.

I know they have their place, I'm just waiting to find it for me.

 

[pesty3782]

I used the IR at the night EFT competitions here in Arizona. Most of my shooting before PCP‘s were red dots even have a couple of pistols with them, so I am used to them and like them. A few of my scopes are bright enough I can see the IR during the day while hunting. So for me I really like to have them.

Tony P

 

[Blackmoor]

My son and I regularly squirrel hunt on public land. No IR reticles on his rifle, or mine. The reticles do fade, in the later evening gloom, but we just reduce the zoom.

 

[dizzums]

pretty much, theres no time to be twisting knobs in the heat of battle and the apparatus makes the scope bulkier .. id say there are situations where a lit ret can help like low light and the critter is in the shadows obscuring the lines but ... so far in 50 years ive never got 'that shot' by having a lit ret on ...

 

[qball]

Depending on how dark the woods/shadow might be and depends on the reticle. If it’s fine reticle/FFP then IR is very nice to critical. In heavy wooded areas there are bright areas with rather dark shades and shadows which makes finer FFP reticle near invisible, I would leave IR on during the entire hunt.

 

[scallen2112]

It's a nice feature to have, as you never know what the lighting for a shot will be until you start to take it. "Vital"? Hardly - billions of squirrels were shot before illuminated reticles.

 

[Teep]

There some days when dark and the woods thick that I find a blue reticle very advantageous.

 

[Vetmx]

With a SFP scope I’ve never needed an illuminated reticle for squirrel. I focus on a good zero yardage that has me covered for the distances I shoot when squirrel hunting. I tried hunting in the woods with FFP but it’s more of a handicap than a help. It’s too difficult to follow squirrel at or near max magnification or struggle to find the precise aiming point even it it’s glowing at lower magnification.

 

[Vetmx]

I did vote and for the most part all of my scopes that have illuminated reticles are just carrying dead weight. When it gets dark enough to not see my reticle, I switch to IR.

 

[AmosBurton]

I learned on a SFP with no illumination. I can sit until shooting light is over and always see my reticle and by then I can't really see the squirrels.
If and when a nutter sits still long enough and you can dial to maximum magnification, then you can use the scope as a rangefinder.

 

[thumper]

Never saw the need for one for my uses. Most shots at squirrels are up in the trees, against the sky anyway so it's usually bright enough. Especially so this time of year with no leaves on the trees.

 

[Harv24]

Just got back from the hunt, SFP reticle in my Vector Veryon, does not have Illuminated reticle, and I have not had a need for one.

 

[Dr. Kralenstein]

My wife and I are going to squirrel hunt for the first time and we have to go to a designated hunting area to do so. Since we're going to be traipsing through the woods to do this, I'm wondering how vital having an illuminated reticle is when trying to get on a squirrel amidst a bunch of branches. I recently had to eliminate a small pest from our garage and it was very difficult to see clearly with the black reticle in our garage during dusk when the pest was active.

So did you guys go hunting yet? How did it go?

 

[UCChris]

So did you guys go hunting yet? How did it go?

Haven't gone yet. Apparently I have to do some hunter's education class in IL, even though I got my hunter's safety course back in Utah.