Earning my chance at one of the most majestic of the deer family, the wapiti, I hiked through the Colorado mountains dotted with aspens and strewn with deadfalls, while it was still dark. As soon as light broke through the ridge in front of me, I began to glass for elk. With such an expanse of country to cover with legs and eyes, I was in need of lightweight, accurate, and tough optics. My choice was Leupold & Stevens’ latest Wind River® Katmai ™ center focus binocular, with 8x magnification and 32 millimeter objective lenses. Initially skeptical upon opening the small case that enclosed these glasses, I took time to properly focus the binocular back home even before I left on my hunt. But now here I was, having to carry everything I needed for the day on my back, and it was not a problem to accommodate this full-size binocular in my pack when necessary. At only four inches in length, the Katmai™ is one of the most compact binoculars on the market today.
That it was early morning with minimal lighting was insignificant – the Katmai™ offers superior light transmission for an accurate view of game in a mosaic of habitats. Treated roof prisms with large surface-area objective lenses provide remarkable sharpness in low light conditions. I watched through this binocular as several mule deer browsed in the sage and grasses of the valley beneath me. Not long thereafter, a herd of elk on the move about 400 yards away came crashing down a ridge, closing the distance. With the Katmai™, it was trouble-free to discern the spike that was off limits given that I held a tag for only a female elk. When the herd paused with a short cow call, I quickly took a broadside shot and dropped my awesomely beautiful, healthy elk at 326 yards.
The portable weight of the Katmai™ (18.9 ounces) is forgiving on a woman’s neck, especially while hiking and packing out after the harvest. This rubber-armored compact binocular fits like a dream into the delicate hands of a lady, and can be held comfortably with one hand while keeping the other free for another task. The twist-up eyecups of this binocular are an added luxury for hunters like me who wear eyeglasses in the field. Firm pressure is needed to advance or retract the eyepieces, eliminating any unwanted shifting of the eyecups. Furthermore, the 15 millimeter eye relief allows a comfortable distance from the ocular to where the viewer’s eye must be positioned for a full field of vision.
Because I was able to harvest an elk on the first day of season, the following time was spent scouting for next season and shed hunting. The multi-coated lenses of the Katmai™ allowed for incomparable brightness and contrast when searching for deer and elk antlers along the canyons. Inevitably, dark nimbus clouds rolled overhead and overshadowed the fun with a little rain, but not to worry, as this binocular proved to be completely waterproof. I covered over a dozen miles of untouched wilderness 10,000 feet above sea level on this scouting adventure, glassing for game while crossing various types of terrain in a single day. This binocular never trapped a drop of vapor inside the lens. When I entered dense timber, the Katmai™ could power down to offer a close-focus distance of not much more than one yard. Sage and other vegetation covered the open range like a carpet, and it was very easy to focus on a mulie buck 400 yards away and then to immediately switch to observe the brilliantly-colored, spongy lichens beneath my feet.
Leupold’s reputation caused my guide to give my little binocular a second glance; he examined the Katmai™ intently and put it through his own evaluation, soon proclaiming its merit aloud, as if I had never noticed, and quietly "borrowing" these glasses for longer periods. Always keep an eye on this binocular if other hunters accompany you while afield; they will definitely value its performance just as you will!
A high-country elk hunt is a remarkably taxing and liberating adventure for even the most adventurous woman. Covering such a large expanse of wilderness range and enduring variable conditions was part of the deal, and I was able to meet my challenges and become familiar with the backcountry by using the Katmai™ binocular. One of the most raw, pure, and isolated lands is the glacier-capped and volcanic wilderness of Katmai, Alaska. Nomadic hunters pursued the big game of Katmai thousands of years ago, particularly favoring caribou and brown bear. Even today, hardcore hunters, anglers, and other sportsmen and women venture to this remote region of Alaska in pursuit of the ultimate adventure. The Katmai name given to this binocular is fitting, accentuating its toughness as brilliant as the Alaskan land enjoyed by the serious explorer.
In South Carolina, I took the Katmai™ along on whitetail hunts and was not let down by its performance in a completely different landscape. Late in the afternoon, I caught a gleam of white-tipped antler before the deer stepped into a clearing. I brought the glasses to my eyes in time to see the buck with a bright green piece of vegetation hanging from his mouth. Bringing the binocular down and shouldering my rifle, I dropped a nice cull and harvested some excellent venison for the family. You can bet the Katmai™ will accompany me on all future hunts.
All outdoor enthusiasts, especially hunter-naturalists, will appreciate the Leupold Wind River® Katmai™. In addition to my favorite outdoor pastimes, my scientific pursuits have lent to me a thorough understanding of the value of impeccable resolution. Having participated in field observations as a DNR wildlife technician and routinely using a microscope for research purposes, I can relate to the necessity of a clear image. Hunters, competitive shooters, mountaineers, biologists, conservation officers, special operations military personnel, and wildlife viewers will all be pleased with the comfort and precision of this well-made binocular. Leupold, "America’s Optic’s Authority," offers products that perform for the dedicated hunter and outclass the competition.
A Leupold mint-green ring signifies that the Katmai™ has been put through a battery of tests to ensure top performance wherever it will be used. The power, extremely small size, clarity, durability, and reliability of the Leupold Katmai™ are impressive and backed by a limited lifetime warranty. If you, like me, are serious about the performance of your optics and getting the most out of your favorite outdoor activity, I strongly encourage you to contact Leupold & Stevens.
Leupold & Stevens, Inc.
PO Box 688
Beaverton, OR 97075-0688
Ph. 503/526.1400
www.leupold.com
