For whitetail hunting, 8x and 10x binoculars are the most practical options. An 8x binocular offers a wider field of view and a steadier image, which is helpful in thick timber or when glassing from a tree stand. A 10x binocular gives more detail at distance, which is useful in open farmland or big ridge country.
Exit pupil and low-light performance matter on public land because you are often glassing at dawn and dusk. An 8x42 provides a larger exit pupil than a 10x42, which can make the image brighter in low light. That advantage can help you identify deer movement in the last few minutes of legal light.
Choose magnification based on where you hunt most. If you split time between timber and open edges, an 8x binocular is a reliable all-around choice. If you routinely glass large openings, 10x can be worth the tradeoff. The best binocular is the one you can hold steady and use often.
On public land, the details that seem small add up fast. Mark the conditions you saw, how deer reacted, and how other hunters used the area. Those notes let you build a repeatable plan instead of relying on luck. If a spot produced but access was marginal, adjust your route next time. The goal is to learn faster than the pressure changes, and to stack small improvements over the season. That mindset keeps you ahead of the average hunter and in sync with how deer adapt.