Clear observation without a hefty outlay

Mat Manning puts Konus's affordable Mission HD 10x42 WA binoculars through their paces on his woodland pest control rounds

Binoculars are a very useful accessory that too many shooters overlook. Stalkers know their value when it comes to quarry observation, but they can be a real asset in other branches of our sport, from scanning fields in search of pigeon activity to planning routes along the hedgerows when trying to creep within range of rabbits. The good news is that you don’t have to spend a fortune on a decent pair of binoculars for impromptu recon. I keep a cheap pair stuffed in the rack on the inside of my car door.

Konus has a reputation for producing decent optics at sensible prices, and its Mission HD 10x42 WA binoculars are built very much along those lines. They’re robust, produce a sharp, bright image courtesy of their BAK-4 prisms and multi-coated lenses and, with a recommended retail price of £115, strike a very good balance between performance and affordability.

To put the Mission HDs through their paces, I took them out on a roving session on a permission where I’m tasked with the control of rabbits and grey squirrels. This mixed woodland lost a lot of trees to ash dieback and, although several extensive blocks of conifer remain, these two pests pose a serious threat to the recently planted broadleaf saplings. Apart from enabling me to spot potential opportunities during my evening stroll, the binoculars would also help me to check for signs of squirrel damage on more established trees. 

No great burden