When hunting in the western states, the terrain is vast, open and hard to reach. Because of this, optics are an extremely important asset. To be more specific, good optics are important. In order to see bighorn sheep up in the deepest cirques behind the highest peaks, or mule deer feeding out of the dark timber across the canyon, a hunter needs an optic that will provide superior edge to edge clarity, light transmission and resolution to help them claim success in the field. This is where the Leupold SX-5 Santiam HD came into play!