Finding a perfect hunting scope is a pretty tall order mostly because the best scope for you is almost always going to be different depending on where you are and what you’re hunting. However over the years and throughout lots of different types of terrain I’ve found that both hunting and longer-range precision shooting share a lot of the same requirements when it comes to optics. By this, I mean that I think there are a couple of solid contenders for a good “all around” hunting scope that should cover 90% of cases when it comes to North American Deer Species. We all want something that combines the best of glass clarity, durability in the field, and of course weight efficiency and price. The #1 thing that comes to mind in my head is actually a relatively recent release – the Leupold MARK 4 HD 4.5-18×52. Today we’ll talk about why it’s my pick as the best deer hunting scope currently available on the market.
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Why the Leupold Mark 4HD 4.5-18x52mm is the Best Deer Hunting Scope
Specifications and Features
Ready your rifles with a versatile Mark 4HD. We took the legendary performance of its predecessors and gave it a slimmer maintube that’s been packed full of professional-grade features. Whether you’re a dedicated enthusiast or a seasoned expert, the Mark 4HD’s optical clarity and lightweight design will get the job done at the range or in the field.
4:1 Zoom Ratio
A 4:1 zoom ratio strikes the perfect balance between weight and versatility, giving you plenty of magnification options without weighing you down. Model magnification ranges are available in powers of 4x: 1-4.5, 2.5-10, 4.5-18, 6-24, and 8-32.
25-Yard Side Focus
The 25-yard side focus allows you to adjust the scope’s parallax from 25 yards to infinity, ensuring a crisp, stationary reticle at almost any distance.
Professional-Grade Optical System
Leupold’s Professional-Grade Optical System offers unmatched light transmission that’s designed to outperform in the most challenging lighting conditions, industry-leading glare reduction for a clear image in harsh, direct light, and the resolution and clarity that professional guides and shooters demand in the field.
M5C3 ZeroLock® Adjustments
These low-profile dials are available on select models and provide up to 30-MILs of adjustment in 3 revolutions and 0.1 MIL clicks. Visual and tactile revolution indicators ensure you don’t get lost in the travel. The ZeroLock® feature prevents inadvertent adjustments and ensures accurate return to zero.
First Focal Plane
In First Focal Plane (front focal plane) scopes, the reticle grows and shrinks at the same rate as the target when you adjust the magnification. This allows you to accurately use the reticle feature at any magnification setting. These reticles are ideal in tactical situations but can also aid in range estimation for hunters and target shooters.
MSRP: $1,399.99
My First Impressions
When I first got my hands on the Leupold Mark 4HD 4.5-18×52, it felt like just the right mix of strength and portability. At around 22 ounces and 14.5 inches long, it’s compact enough to handle easily but doesn’t feel flimsy. As a deer hunter, you know those prime moments come at dawn and dusk when visibility can be a real issue, especially during the fall when deer tend to start matching their environment almost perfectly. With this scope, I’ve got the light I need to pick up on details that others might miss. I can scan a wide field at 4.5x to keep track of any movement or zoom all the way to 18x if I’m looking at a farther shot across an open field. It’s a real jack-of-all-trades scope, ready for just about any hunting situation I find myself in, from the thick cover of the woods to open stretches of land and even out to some further distances if I’m just trying to shoot steel.
Leupold’s Optical Technology
I not only live right down the street from Leupold, but I’ve used Leupold scopes for years, and they’re consistently impressive, but the Mark 4HD really goes the extra mile. It’s built with Leupold’s HD glass and a DiamondCoat 2 coating that keeps the lens not only sharp but also scratch-resistant—a huge plus when you’re trudging through brush and branches. And then there’s the Twilight Max Light Management System, which is one of my favorite features. Picture this: you’re out at dusk, scanning the tree line, and the light is fading fast. With the Mark 4HD, I’ve got an extra 20 minutes of visibility in that low light, which often makes the difference between coming home empty-handed or making the shot. I’m not just spotting shapes and movement; I can see the fine details, like the contours of the deer’s body or the brush that might be partially hiding it. It feels like the scope is working with me to make sure I never miss an important detail.
Other Things I Like About the Mark 4HD
One of the things I love most about the Mark 4HD is that it has clearly been designed by those who have a solid understanding of optics mathematics first, and then how to hunt with that math, not the other way around. Leupold gives you choices with this scope—you can select different reticles, including illuminated ones, which have been a huge help for me during those dim, pre-dawn hours. While not everyone is a fan of exposed non-lockable turrets, the ones on the Mark 4HD at least feature a zero-stop system, but typically doesn’t come in handy anywhere else but in shooting situations where repeated shots are expected.
Why I Think 4.5-18x is More Than Enough
North American deer—primarily white-tailed, mule, and black-tailed deer—are usually not considered a long-range hunting species, at least not in my experience. From what I’ve seen over the years from both myself and more experienced hunters, deer are typically hunted within 50 to 200 yards, with the distances varying by species and habitat. White-tailed deer, for example, are often taken at closer ranges in wooded or mixed environments, usually between 50 and 150 yards, due to their reliance on cover. Black-tailed deer, found in the dense forests of the Pacific Northwest up where I live, also present close-range opportunities around 50-150 yards due to the thick vegetation. In fact, in any of the places I’ve hunted up here, I’ve never taken a shot beyond 75 yards that I can remember. Only in open terrains, like those frequented by mule deer, do hunters encounter shot distances that extend to 200-300 yards, yet even these ranges are moderate compared to those required for dedicated long-range species like Elk.
Because deer are typically hunted at medium ranges, scopes that offer flexibility without extreme magnification are ideal. The Mark 4HD is a perfect jack-of-all-trades scope specifically because of its magnification range. The 4.5x setting is perfect for woodland hunting, while the 18x upper range provides extra precision when shooting across open fields if only sacrificing a bit on the eye relief side of things for unsupported shooting. This range of magnification means that you can adapt to almost any North American landscape and deer species, making the Mark 4HD an ideal choice for deer without the bulk or unnecessary power required for precision shots on larger species.
The Reticle – Does It Matter for Hunting?
The Mark 4HD doesn’t come with a standard duplex reticle but it does have several more detailed reticles that while not typical for hunting, do offer the shooter some additional assurances provided that they’ve done their work on properly zeroing, and developing a dope card for their rifle, ammo, and optic combo. The PR1-MIL reticle in particular is about as close as you can get to a standard duplex but has a few more features that might make it just as useful in medium-range hunting situations. Another option many like is the PR2-MOA FFP reticle which features an open top – while this is great for long-distance target and tactical shooters its far less optimal for hunting situations.
Complex reticles in hunting scopes come with both advantages and drawbacks, largely depending on hunting style and terrain. For hunters frequently engaging at longer distances or in open terrain, complex reticles can be a significant asset as bullet drop is much more of a factor when you’re trying to aim for the vitals of an animal at a distance. These reticles provide markings for windage and elevation holdovers, allowing quick adjustments without touching the turrets. This can be particularly useful for long-range shots or when tracking moving games, as well as adding versatility for hunters who switch between hunting and target shooting. With practice, complex reticles can help ensure precise shots at various distances, which is valuable for those covering wide, open hunting areas.
However, complex reticles can be a hindrance in more straightforward hunting scenarios, where simplicity is often key. In denser environments or typical hunting ranges of 100-200 yards, these reticles can add visual clutter that slows target acquisition, which is especially problematic for close-range hunts where seconds matter. For hunters focused on practical, mid-range shots, a simpler duplex reticle may offer a faster, cleaner sight picture without the need for a steep learning curve. Unfortunately, Leupold doesn’t currently offer the Mark 4HD with a simple duplex reticle but the PR1 series of reticles pretty much act like one at lower magnification levels.
All Seasons – No Problem
While other brands like Trijicon and Niteforce tend to rely heavily on the “it’s super tough” reputation, I’ve always seen Leupold as a brand that not only has supreme optical and build quality but a decent amount of durability – at least when it comes to riflescopes. While I personally think that Leupold’s red dot department could use an overhaul, their riflescopes have always proved to be beyond reliable, even when I’ve subjected them to pretty significant abuse.
I often camp with my guns and this means that as hard as I might try, my guns and optics will almost always get exposed to rapid and drastic temperature changes, as well as be exposed to lots of dust, dirt, and moisture. Leupold’s build quality has always ensured that the optic remains free from any water or debris ingress, and this includes smooth operation from the turrets and magnification adjustments. To this end, the magnification adjustment can be a bit stiff, and if your rifle is not properly supported, you could wind up losing a sight picture quite easily.
A Worthy Investment
The previously mentioned durability aspects of Leupold’s optics including the Mark 4HD mean that the high price tag won’t turn out to be an issue provided you actually use your riflescope. If you’re the type of person who likes to shoot a lot and can take advantage of the features of the Mark 4HD 4.5-18, the $1,400 MSRP is still a bargain of an asking price when compared to other riflescopes in its category from other manufacturers.
Higher-end optics companies and even Leupold in my experience do offer increasingly better images through their higher-quality glass and coatings, but this only extends so far, and I think at a certain point there are diminishing returns in this department. If you are solely focused on getting the best there is out there, the Mark 4HD is not for you. However, if you are an avid hunter, and want something that is the perfect blend of quality and price, I think the Mark 4HD in its 4.5-18×56 configuration is hard to beat, especially if you want one riflescope to work with all of your hunting guns.
Closing Thoughts
In a world of endless choices, the Leupold Mark 4HD 4.5-18×52 has become one of my favorite optics not just for hunting, but for mounting on rifles that I know will be used primarily at closer to longer ranges, and primarily for precision. The combination of optical clarity, durability, and precise long-range capabilities with the available reticles makes it stand out to me even more than Leupold’s reputation for duality and quality construction. I’ve put all of my Leupold optics through rain, mud, and the rigors of my typical range trips, and they’ve performed every time. Having a scope that I can trust allows me to focus on the shooting that needs to be done that day which is what matters when you get down to it.
If you’re a hunter looking for a scope that delivers on performance and durability, I’d strongly recommend giving the Mark 4HD a try. It’s an investment, but one that pays off every time you’re in the field a lot of hunting or just enjoy shooting. I know it’s made a difference in my shoots, and I have no doubt it could do the same for others who are looking for an optic that still leaves room in the budget for plenty of ammo.
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