Best Rifle Scope for Deer Hunting – 2022 Top Picks

Many hunters equip their hunting rifles with scopes to increase their effective range, allowing them better shots and cleaner kills. Today, we’ll be discussing everything you need to know about adding a rifle scope to your preferred hunting rifle, including which options might be best. 

IMAGEPRODUCT 
  • Best overall
  • Features an exceptionally adjustable magnification that ranges from 4x to 14x
  • Uses the pro-level ACSS Orion reticle for a superior aiming ability
View Latest Price →
  • Best value for the money
  • An affordably-priced alternative to more expensive riflescopes
  • Features a standard crosshair reticle for fast aiming
View Latest Price →
  • Best low light rifle scope for deer hunting
  • An excellent riflescope for early morning or late evening hunting excursions
  • Provides a fantastic range of magnification and superior lens clarity
View Latest Price →
  • Best cheap rifled shotgun scope for deer hunting
  • Camouflaged pattern to help conceal hunters
  • A whopping 4 inches of eye relief with rubber cap
View Latest Price →
  • Provides superior eye relief to help compensate for recoil
  • Unbelievable parallax range
  • Included turret drums for smoother operation
View Latest Price →
  • Illuminated for improved vision during inclement weather or low-light periods
  • Uses the traditional crosshairs reticle
  • The lenses are made of durable, bright crystal for maximum clarity
View Latest Price →

Is a Rifle Scope for Deer Hunting Hard to Learn to Use?

Just like any skill or technique, practice makes it better. It can be challenging for hunters to feel comfortable using a rifle scope if they’ve never used one before or are still growing accustomed to it. However, that doesn’t mean that rifle scopes are tricky to master.

One of the best upsides of learning how to use a rifle scope is that you’ll need plenty of experience. This requirement means more hunting trips or shooting range visits, which typically also means way more fun. 

What Size of Rifle Scope for Deer Hunting Do I Need?

Choosing the right-sized rifle scope can get a little tricky. Not only do you need to consider your scope attachment type, but you’ll also want to think about the scope magnification and weight. The higher the magnification potential of any scope, the heavier it’s likely to be.

When you’re working with a heavier hunting rifle, getting the best shots can be challenging. The added weight of the scope could cause the tip of your weapon to dip down slightly, resulting in low aim. As such, it’s often best to stick with lightweight scopes that have a 3x to 9x range and a sturdy attachment site.

How To Choose a Rifle Scope for Deer Hunting

After figuring out your ideal magnification, you’ll want to begin browsing for your ideal deer-hunting rifle scope. However, if you’re not entirely sure what you’re looking for, you could spend hours attempting to select the best option.

When choosing a rifle scope for deer hunting, you’ll want to take a moment to consider:

  • Scope magnification
  • Scope size and weight
  • Rifle scope compatibility
  • Scope material and reflectivity
  • Ease of use

Let’s explore these factors in greater detail to understand how they might impact your purchasing decision and hunting prowess.

Scope Magnification

As we mentioned above, deer hunters don’t typically need or benefit from scopes with magnifications higher than 9x. In most cases, you’ll only need a 3x or 4x magnification. Anything beyond these limits might add too much weight to your rifle.

Scope Size and Weight

The higher the magnification, the more weighty the scope. Before purchasing a new rifle scope, be sure that your preferred option is lightweight enough for smooth aiming and shooting. It might also be worthwhile to double-check the scope’s attachment type.

Rifle Scope Compatibility

Mounting a rifle scope is a relatively straightforward affair. However, there are several different types of mounts. Before you spend any money on a new scope, make sure your rifle and potential scope share the same mount type. Otherwise, you might be making a quick return.

Scope Material and Reflectivity

Hunters that plan on hunkering down in the bushes or the treetops might experience inclement weather from time to time. Choose a scope made of durable materials that aren’t likely to rust or reflect light. This way, you can enjoy your scope for several years and avoid scaring away deer with a super-shiny attachment.

Ease of Use

A complicated scope that’s challenging to master may only cause you frustration. It’s crucial to choose a scope that attaches quickly, stays connected, and is simple to control. Otherwise, you may spend most of your hunting time adjusting your scope rather than staring through it.

Review of the Best Rifle Scope for Deer Hunting

Now that you’re more familiar with the features to look for when choosing a rifle scope for deer hunting, you can begin your search for the best scope. 

Top Pick

Primary Arms Orion 4-14x44mm Riflescope

PROS

CONS

What Recent Buyers Report

Hunters who’ve purchased this scope have reported that it’s effortless to install and mount, wonderfully precise even after multiple rounds, and wonderfully low-key enough to avoid drawing attention.

Why It Stands Out to Us

This riflescope offers a low-key design and a high-quality performance power. You can use it for so many different kinds of hunting trips, not just deer hunting. 

It’s not too heavy, and it’s not wickedly long, so it’s an excellent fit for most rifle frames. The quality of the lenses, superior magnification variability, and sturdy mounting ability contribute to making this one of the best overall rifle scopes on the market today.

Bottom Line

If you’re ready to invest and forget the rest, then this riflescope could be the best choice. It’s ideal for many different hunting situations, relatively light and short, impervious to fog, water, and sudden shocks, and made of durable, exceptionally-made materials.

 

Best Budget Option

Bushnell Banner 3-9×50 Rifle Scope Matte Multi-X Riflescope

PROS

CONS

What Recent Buyers Report

When it comes to the Bushnell Banner 3-9×50 Rifle Scope, there’s one thing that buyers cannot seem to stop talking about: the value. This scope is one of the highest-quality options for its price range, and buyers love the durable materials and crystal-clear lenses.

Why It Stands Out to Us

If you’re more interested in purchasing a utilitarian rifle scope than a glitzed-out gadget, then magnification range and extra features might not mean very much to you. But applicability and price might be exceptionally important. The Bushnell Banner 3-9×50 Rifle Scope understands and adheres to these needs.

Bottom Line

If you’re hoping to purchase a budget-friendly rifle scope that can still hold its own out in the woods, then you might want to invest in this option. It’s affordable, but that affordability doesn’t mean it can’t survive mud, water, fog, and accidental plummets from the nest. 

Best Low-Light Rifle Scope for Deer Hunting

Burris Droptine Riflescope – 4.5-14x42mm

PROS

CONS

What Recent Buyers Report

This product is covered by a lifetime warranty, which some buyers have had a challenging time enforcing. However, most hunters who bought this scope had reported smooth sailing thanks to clear lenses, improved low-light visibility, and easy focus adjustments. 

Why It Stands Out to Us

This sleek scope might not be the lightest of the bunch, but it is one of the best for low-light locales. Thanks to an open design that allows more light into the lens than shaded options, this scope could help hunters spy deer during the early morning hours or late evening twilight.

Bottom Line

When you need a rifle scope built for dawn or dusk, it’s not as crucial to choose one with a cap or a hefty amount of shade. This scope might be too bare for hunting in the full sunlight, but it’s a wonderful choice for dark days and locations. 

Best Cheap Rifle Scope for Deer Hunting

TruGlo 4x32mm Shotgun Scope

 

PROS

CONS

What Recent Buyers Report

Those who’ve invested in this riflescope have reported superior daytime and night vision. This improvement is likely thanks to a clear set of lenses. Most are impressed with this scope’s reticle, although a handful of buyers seemed disappointed about the crosshair’s perpendicular alignment.

Why It Stands Out to Us

This scope deserves its place within this ranking thanks to its smart, non-reflective camouflage coloration, lightweight design, and improved eye relief. One of the most notable aspects of this model is its ease of use. It is challenging to find a hunter-friendly riflescope that’s easier to install, use, and benefit from. Whether you’re gunning for bucks or aiming for wild turkeys, this option has your back.

Bottom Line

Should you go looking for a compact, camouflaged scope with plenty of viewing power, then you might find that the TruGlo 4x32mm Shotgun Scope is the optimal option for you. It’s short, light, and mighty, making it ideal for most deer hunting excursions. 

BSA Optics Matte Black Sweet 17 6-18X40

PROS

CONS

What Recent Buyers Report

Most buyers report needing to attach some type of shade to avoid glare. There are also quite a few reports of consistent aiming and tracking, superior magnification range, and improved clarity. Many also comment on the side focusing feature, noting that it often improved aiming accuracy.

Why It Stands Out to Us

The excellent eye relief for recoil certainly caught our eye, but it’s the magnification that this scope offers that’s really worth mentioning. It may be a tad too much for the standard deer-hunting expedition, but that aspect also makes it a fantastic multipurpose solution. If you’re planning on hunting deer next week, but bear the next, you can keep this scope mounted without worrying about accuracy.

Bottom Line

Though this scope is a bit heavier than the rest, it’s also a heavy-duty option with better magnification than your standard deer-hunting scope. This allows it to work for multiple hunting ventures, including larger game such as bear or elk. 

Mueller Optical 2-7x32mm Multishot Waterproof Riflescope

PROS

CONS

What Recent Buyers Report

Buyers have reported superior tracking ability, easy tuning, and fast mounting capabilities. A handful have complained that the life expectancy of this model isn’t as long as they’d hoped, but the majority of users seem to feel as though this LED-illuminated scope is right on target in terms of quality and price.

Why It Stands Out to Us

The LED illumination for the reticle is the first thing that stands out. However, when you begin taking in the entire scope, it’s easy to see that there are other features worth mentioning. For example, the 2x to 7x magnification range is ideal for shorter ranges, and the adjustment knob placement makes for fast focus adjustments. 

Bottom Line

A great option for those wanting a little extra guidance for their low-light shots. The LED illumination is entirely optional and fully adjustable. Additionally, this scope’s lower magnification spectrum may help it perform in tighter, shorter-range situations.

Common Rifle Scope for Deer Hunting Issues

Even the best things in life can present a few problems from time to time. To keep your scope (and yourself) in tip-top condition, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with some of the most common rifle scope issues and failings. 

For example, the average rifle scope may exhibit problems with:

  • Focusing on multiple distances
  • Registering elevation accurately
  • Eyepiece discomfort during recoil
  • Tilting scope and poor attachment

Most of these issues could be solved with a little due diligence. Riflescopes naturally focus on objects that are far into the distance. If you’re changing your shot to something in the foreground, you’ll likely need to adjust your scope to compensate for the change.

Conclusion

Hunting deer without a rifle scope can be challenging whether you’re spot and stalking or stand hunting. Selecting the right scope for you and your rifle means considering various factors, including scope magnification, weight, size, compatibility, material, and ease of use. We’ve presented our top picks for rifle scopes to help save you time and ensure you end up with the highest-quality scope.

People Also Ask

Below, you will find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions regarding rifle scopes and their relation to deer hunting.

What’s the best magnification for a hunting scope?

The best magnification for a hunting scope depends on the hunter. Individuals who prefer to hunt in smaller forests or wooded areas may do well with a standard 3x or 4x scope. 

However, those hoping to score game from a greater distance may need to upgrade to a stronger magnification. 

What size scope is best for deer hunting?

Generally, a 3x to 9x scope is best-suited for deer hunting. You may use a more robust and more powerful riflescope, but unless you’re hunting from a vast distance away, the extra power may go unused. As to the diameter of the lense, that depends on how much weight you’re trying to save!

Joseph Fox

Joseph Fox

Joseph Fox writes on a variety of topics ranging from reloading ammunition to gun cleaning. He has been featured on various publications like thetruthaboutguns, Sofrep & many more. Joseph is also the founder of Gunloading, where he reviews different types of reloading & firearm products available on the market.