New Optics & Scouting Gear for 2023

Whether we're talking about trail cams, binoculars, or smartphone apps, they all get you closer to filling your tag — and there's plenty of new items this year.

January 11, 2023 By Jace Bauserman

More Bang For Your Buck — Covert Scouting Cameras WC20

Bowhunters are praising the redesigned, 5.5-inch high by 4.5-inch wide by 3-inch deep Covert WC20. Easy to hang and conceal, this cellular trail camera features an ultra-fast, .3-second trigger that means you won’t get a head or tail picture of your target buck. Instead, deer are centered in the frame, and the 40 Infrared No-Glow LEDs provide a 100-foot flash range for even illumination. MaXimum Silence Image Capture means the camera doesn’t produce game-spooking noises, and setup is simple thanks to the integrated, 1.5-inch color settings screen. Coverage plans for AT&T and Verizon are available. $129.99 | covertscoutingcameras.com

The Right Size — Zeiss SFL 40 Compact Binoculars

When it comes to what bowhunters hang around their neck or on a tree hook, they want something small, compact and powerful. Enter Zeiss’ SFL 40 Compact Binoculars. Highlighting the latest member of the SF line is the new Ultra-High-Definition (UHD) glass that ensures maximum color fidelity and high-resolution imagery. Combine this with 90 percent light transmission and T* multi-coating, and these binos provide excellent edge-to-edge clarity with a wide field of view. Zeiss offers the SFL 40 Compact in two models: SFL 8x40 and SFL 10x40. $1,799.99 | zeiss.com

Made For Bowhunting — Bushnell Broadhead Laser Rangefinder

When you see a rangefinder branded with the name “Broadhead,” you know it was tailor-made for bowhunting. Engineered to nearly instant yardage readouts to 150 yards, this distance reader is fitted with an all-new, auto-adjusting black-to-red reticle and display that morph to your background and ensure maximum contrast and readability. Another highlight is the 50 percent larger objective lens that promises increased light transmission when paired with the all-glass optical system. ARC Technology eliminates shot angle worry, while the EXO Barrier bonds to the exterior lens surface to better repel water, oil, fog, dust and debris. Plus, the rangefinder still hits reflective targets out to 1,500 yards. $299.99 | bushnell.com

Get The Best Signal — Browning Defender Pro Scout MAX Extreme

Browning’s new Defender Pro Scout MAX Extreme Trail Camera is a compact, .25-second-trigger-speed scouter that has a lot going for it. For starters, you’ll love the Auto-Detect feature that allows the camera to sense what signal — AT&T or Verizon — is strongest in the locale you choose, and because the MAX comes with a pair of pre-installed SIM cards, you’re then set to go. Pro Scout MAX Extreme cameras have 22MP image capability and full-HD, 1080p video with sound settings. The Radiant 6 Night Illumination delivers crisp, sharp, detailed day and night images and video. $139.99 | browningtrailcameras.com

Dual Network Winner — Muddy Matrix

Cell cameras are all the rage, and we certainly know why. What other device is capable of giving you right-now, in-the-field updates 24/7? Well, there aren’t any. Thus, cell-cam makers are constantly trying to up their game and stay one step ahead of the competition. Muddy’s Matrix is one such camera — this 1- to 3-photo burst cellular device operates on AT&T and Verizon networks and features On Demand photo and video capture. Plus, an auto-detect feature will tell you what carrier has a stronger signal in the area. The cell-cam masses will appreciate the 80-foot detection range and the images stamped with time, date, moon phase and temperature. $129.99 | gomuddy.com

Hunt The Wind — onX Hunt Optimal Wind Feature

The wind is arguably the No. 1 factor bowhunters must consider when deciding which stand to hunt. The all-new Optimal Wind Feature in the onX Hunt app makes the decision-making process simple by visually displaying the wind anywhere in your hunting area. Just punch in your stand locations, set the optimal wind conditions for each location and the app will automatically tell you whether conditions are right for hunting your chosen location. $29.99 per state; $99.99 for all states | onxmaps.com

Ready To Rock — Stealth Cam DECEPTR

Capable of working with AT&T and Verizon networks thanks to pre-installed SIM cards, Stealth Cam’s DECEPTR is ready to dominate the deer woods. This cellular scouter promises a rapid, .4-second trigger speed, and the 36 NoGlo infrared emitters mean you won’t spook game while capturing nighttime images. The camera has a detection range of 80 feet, and photo megapixels can be set to 40, 16, 8 or 4, depending on your needs. $149.99 | stealthcam.com

Dissect The Details — Covert Optics 8x42 & 10x42 Binoculars

When bowhunters can get quality ED Glass and BAK-4 phase-corrected, dielectric-coated roof prisms in a compact, dependable pair of binoculars under $550, they should take notice. Offering a couple such options is Covert Optics, and early rumblings note the company’s well-built 8x42 and 10x42 binos deliver maximum clarity. Whether you’re 20 feet up a hardwood waiting on a buck, hunting the sage-dappled plains for pronghorns or pursuing screaming bulls in the pine-dotted basins above timberline, this dynamic glass duo provides a waterproof and fog-proof setup that won’t let you down. $549.99 each | feradyne.com/covert-optics/

Custom Settings For Bowhunters — Leupold RX-FullDraw 5

The latest in Leupold’s legendary FullDraw Rangefinder lineup is the RX-FullDraw 5. Combining rapid, right-now yardage readouts with multiple reticle options, 6X magnification and new Archer’s Advantage software with Flightpath technology, this handheld yardage master is a must-have bowhunting item. After entering in standard bow and arrow-speed data, Flightpath helps you determine if your arrow’s travel between launch and the target will be hindered by any obstructions out to 85 yards. $499.99 | leupold.com

Deer-Specific Scouting App — HuntStand Pro Whitetail

There are many reasons more than 1.8 million hunters trust HuntStand. In addition to being a dynamic hunting and land-management app, users can now take advantage of the platform’s Pro Whitetail subscription that tells you when whitetail activity will be the best in a given locale thanks to the seven-day activity forecast. Other features of the Pro Whitetail subscription include a Nationwide Rut Map, Whitetail Habitat Map and new National Aerial Imagery. Blend these features together with private/public boundaries, Monthly Satellite Imagery and detailed weather forecasts, and the odds of punching your tag go way up! $69.99 | huntstand.com

Compact Design, Bigtime Images — Browning Trail Cameras Dark Ops Full HD Extreme

Packed with features, yet checking in at a sweet price, Browning’s new Dark Ops Full HD Extreme features a 55-degree field of view, HDR nighttime photos and the new “RADIANT 4” night IR illumination system with Illuma-Smart Technology that automatically adjusts the flash for the conditions. The results? Enhanced nighttime images and video! The camera has a 24MP image capability, 80-foot detection range, 90-foot flash range, multi-shot and rapid-fire image options and a trigger speed that’s adjustable between .135- and .7 seconds so you never miss a shot. It can also capture 1080p, full HD video between 5 seconds and 2 minutes long. The camera is housed in a compact case that’s 4.25x3x2.5 inches, and it runs on six AA batteries. $139.99 | browningtrailcameras.com

So Quiet! — ALPS OutdoorZ DeadQuiet Shield Bino Harness

Whether you spend your fall 20 feet up a hardwood waiting for whitetails or combing the Rockies in search of elk and mule deer, a bino harness is an essential accessory item. For 2023, ALPS OutdoorZ is taking things to the next level with the DeadQuiet Shield Bino Harness. Knowing that silence in the field is critical, the company constructed the case with layered DeadQuiet fabric, deadening the sounds that come from contact with hands, brush and clothing. An inside suede layer adds more hush and keeps your pricey glass protected. $59.99 | alpsoutdoorz.com

Cell cameras reign supreme and for 2023, Bushnell’s award-winning CelluCORE 20 has gotten a facelift. The good news is that users can still bank on the reliability and photo quality of the original CelluCORE 20. The even better news is that battery life has been significantly increased thanks to the addition of a solar panel that detaches so you can make any needed sun-angle adjustments. The panel sports a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and can maintain a full charge for up to 70 images per day with direct sunlight. $243.45 | bushnell.com

Built For High-Speed Crossbows — TenPoint RangeMaster 100 Scope

New from the minds at TenPoint is the water- and fog-proof RangeMaster 100 Precision Crossbow Scope. Engineered to boost accuracy, this scope features a variable speed and drop-compensating setting for crossbows that send bolts at warp speed. Compatible with horizontal rigs that shoot between 380 and 505 fps, the scope has a reticle that features three illuminated dots calibrated at 20, 30 and 40 yards. In addition, it offers three illuminated crosshairs at 50, 60 and 70 yards, as well as a trio of illuminated chevrons at 80, 90 and 100 yards. $299.99 | tenpointcrossbows.com

Superior Reception — Cuddeback Tracks Cellular Camera

Have your big-game photos sent instantly to your cellular device with the new Cuddeback Tracks Cellular Camera. Built on a minimalistic platform and sporting dual external-paddle antennas, this camera can be concealed almost anywhere, plus it helps to mitigate the image-transmission problems that come with spotty cell coverage. Cuddeback’s Tracks uses an advanced IR-cut image sensor to ensure exceptional image clarity and quality and four D batteries ensure extended battery life. $149.99 | cuddeback.com