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Unbranded binoculars resting on a folded wool jacket on a rocky overlook above a vast misty valley at sunrise

Glassing: how to use binoculars well

Set them to your eyes, then scan slowly.

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Match the barrels

Audubon says all binoculars have a hinge so you can set the barrels to the distance between your eyes. Adjust it until you see a single round image.

Set the focus for your eyes

Audubon describes it this way: close your right eye and focus on something 50 to 100 feet away with the center focus knob. Then close your left eye and use the separate eyepiece adjustment to sharpen the view for your right eye.

Why a wide view helps

Audubon says a wider field of view makes it easier to find what you are looking for and keep it in sight.

Keep it steady

Audubon says magnification also magnifies hand movement, and a shaky image is tiring to use. Keep the view as steady as you can.

Set binoculars to your eyes. Per Audubon.

FAQ

Audubon suggests checking that you can see the entire field of view with your eyeglasses before you buy.
Audubon advises against them for birding, saying they are heavy and give up brightness and field of view.

General information only. Hunting laws, seasons, licenses, and hunter orange rules are set by each state; check your state wildlife agency's current regulations before you hunt, and take the hunter education course your state offers. If you hunt from a tree stand, wear a full-body fall arrest harness system every time you leave the ground, including while climbing up and down, follow the Treestand Manufacturers Association's Treestand Safety Guidelines and the maker's instructions, and have a plan for rescue. Tell someone where you will be and when you will return. In an emergency, call 911.

Next: binocular numbers

What 8x42 means.