binoculars: best use in a treestand?

[Rich LaBombard]

Hi Gang:
My wife surprised me with a real nice pair of Lupold "Cascades" binoculars, when I got home last night.  (her way of wishing me luck in the coming season.  THAT'S the woman you marry, by the way)

Anyway, these are pretty neat, but I'm wondering how you guys that use binoculars, hang them when in a treestand??

I'm thinking that hanging them on a place near me, just introduces a lot of movement, and might result in them being dropped.

On the other hand, dangling around my neck and trying to shoot, sounds like big trouble...  or do those fancy harnesses retract them against your body??

Any advice?
Thanks,
Rich

[bjk]

Get the body harness...cheap, keeps them very handy, but out of the way.

[woodslinger]

Invest in a good harness and practice shooting with it to make sure you work out any problems.

[Jeff Strubberg]

I have a very short shoelace on mine (maybe an inch of slack) and just hang it over the handle of my belt knife.   Stays in place just fine and there is no chance of hooking your binocs on the shot.

[eagle24]

I'm similar to Jeff with mine.  Short strap and hang them on a hook in the tree just below the seat of my treestand.  I can't shoot from all positions using a chest harness.

[Rich LaBombard]

Great ideas, guys.  Man, you post a question here, within minutes you have answers flying at you.
Thanks again,
Rich

[Killdeer]

I hang them under one arm, a bit high up. Reach with one hand and bring them up and around for a sneaky peek.

Killdeer

[Mike Bolin]

I have been using the harness/suspender type strap with good success. Quick story-my buddy, who was new to bowhunting told me I'd set him up in a "dead" stand, seeing absolutley no deer. I suggested he get a set of binos and spend his time visually disecting the cover around him, especially before he changed positions...sitting to standing and vice versa. He said no one needed binos to hunt deer in Indiana. After a month of no deer sightings, I gave him my spare set to use for the weekend....he saw deer all 3 times he set the stand and actually got a shot. Deer coming thru the thickets were picking up his movements and bypassing his stand site. Now he has his own binos and he sets still!! Mike

[Flatstick]

I do the same as Killdeer,,across my chest and under my right arm ( I shoot right handed). I keep my bow in my left hand and swing the binos up with my right to take a look at incoming deer.

Even been made fun of by some friends, I throw the fancy strap away that comes with the binos and tie on a piece of heavy cotton string or parachute cord,something that is going to be quiet and slides real easy. I just tell them "It works for me." thats all that matters!

Good luck and yes it sounds like you married the right kinda woman!

[Shawn Leonard]

Bino-buddies, keep them tight to your chest and they are elastic and allow you to use them and help keep them steady. Shawn

[John Nail]

I can't stand to have anything hanging off my neck, so I bought a good bino case and use the strap as a belt. It slides around my waist out of the way, and is readily available at my side when needed.

[Bobhat]

Originally posted by bjk:
Get the body harness...cheap, keeps them very handy, but out of the way.

Ditto  

[foxbo]

I have several different brand name harnesses, but my favorite method of carrying and protecting my binoculars is with the Bino Manager. I really enjoy mine.

[MCNSC]

Under the arm per Killdeer and Flatstick works for me.

[rybohunter]

I use the bino harness that holds them tight. It also serves to keep bulky jackets pulled in.

[SOS]

I honestly don't use them in my treestand that often, but for hunting pigs a harness works great.