<p>Last fall a terrible tragedy befell me. The Nikon Monarch 842 binoculars that had been strapped around my neck since I was 17, accompanying me on an untold number of hunts throughout several different states, cracked at the hinge between the two barrels of the objective lenses. The binos, lopsided without a proper grasp, became more suitable for Sloth from the Goonies than my set of eyes. I managed to make it through this last turkey season with them, but the time to say goodbye to my old friend had come.</p><p>It took a mule deer/elk trip to Colorado way back when for me to truly understand the importance of optics. Out there, the deer could be 20 yards away in the aspens or 1000 yards on the next saddle over. Either way, I discovered my tinkertoy set of compacts wasn't cutting it it was a privilege to fondle a pair of Swarovskis that were in camp, for sure.</p><p>That Christmas, Santa took pity on me though it seems he couldn't spare the extra elfmanship for a pair of the Swarovskis and the Nikons arrived under the tree.</p><p>Since that point, I never hunted without them, for game big and small. 15 years especially the ages I was during that span can be tough on all gear, but they held up to the bitter end, enduring the elements, rough bag handling, and too many bumpy dashboard rides to count.</p><p><a href="http://goodhunt.blogs.theledger.com/12845/kudos-to-nikon-the-importance-of-optics/">Keep reading...</a></p>