Jul 7, 2018 4 min read

I am not sure exactly when Leopold Scopes became the scope to which all others are compared. Any discussion that centered on shooting and hunting optics had to include what many of us consider the best, Leopold. From the early Pioneer to today’s Freedom models, when Leopold is mentioned the discussion has reached talking about quality.

I have often said if I were going on a hunt in coastal Alaska my rifle would carry a Leopold. When I worked in a sporting goods store it was common for a customer to approach the counter with a certain amount of money to purchase a new rifle and scope. My advice? Purchase a Leopold 3×9 first then buy a rifle. What separates a good rifle from a plain one is mostly aesthetics. What separates a Leopold from the others is dependability. Why is it that this old-timer thinks so highly of Leopold scopes?

Again, while working in that store, we sent scopes back to the maker for repairs. Every year there would be 30 brand B and 25 brand T sent back for repairs. Surprisingly, maybe one of those was a Leopold, and when that Leopold was sent back to the maker on the west coast it came back in a reasonable time. What really impressed me is its warranty. If a Leopold is broke they will fix it for free. Find a Leopold in a garbage can and send it back, they fix it for free. Think real hard and try to come up with another product with a warranty like that.

It has been said that imitation is the greatest form of flattery but counterfeiting is not legal. It seems someone somewhere has been marketing a counterfeit Leopold. It is sold as a Leopold and looks identical but isn’t a Leopold scope. This was discovered when these cheap clones started to appear in the company’s repair room. I don’t have any numbers but there are some Leopold scopes floating around that aren’t Leopold, so buyer beware.

While on the subject, why isn’t a Leopold Stevens just called that? If it’s alright to drop the second name here, why isn’t the Bausch & Lomb called a Bausch?

Maybe it’s little more than old age but it seems that 2018 has been an unusual year. We have witnessed an increase in flooding because of an increase in rain. You want to go fishing? It has been hard to do for the creeks are running high and they are the color of coffee. It is a good idea to remember that the creeks feed the lakes. Fishing has been tough.

Many of us don’t hunt groundhogs until the first of July.

We do this because the young are still nursing earlier. We looked forward with anticipation to that first day but were greeted with blast furnace type of heat. Since shade and good view of our favorite field don’t go together, we suffered the heat.

As I writing this, I am hoping for a bit cooler weather. One thing is for sure – to hunt these ground-dwelling critters the shooter needs a good, flat shooting rifle, a clear scope and quality binoculars. Now one thing else is added this year – a cold drink to prevent heat stroke.

There are a few other accessories that help. I have even considered taking a beach umbrella for some shade. Then one needs a rifle rest.

The Harris bi-pod is good as is the tri-pod from Caldwell. The law requires a blaze orange cap so that can be added to the list. When ranges reach the extreme a spotting scope can be handy. Then there is always the laser range finder. In the old days we guessed distances but today range finders eliminate that guess work.

This talk about groundhogs has got me thinking let’s find a good field and go hunting.