It’s an even merrier Christmas coming up for three talented readers of Sporting Shooter who have won Vanguard optics and gear for their entries in our Hunter’s Diary short story competition, courtesy of Hunting Depot.
The competition simply requires people to submit a brief yarn and a photo or two about a hunt, and one entry is published every issue, with a Vanguard Scout B62 bipod worth $95 as the monthly prize.
And we have decided on the three major prize winners for the stories we’ve judged best overall.
First prize goes to Ellie Thwaites for her tale about hunting sambar in the hills near home, published in August. Ellie has won a Vanguard Endeavor HD 82A spotting scope and case valued at $750.
“Poppa” Pete Dowdell has taken second place for his tongue-in-cheek expose of the toad-hunting exploits of Knockem Down Nell and her gang of enthusiastic urchins, printed in the September issue. He has won a pair of Vanguard VEO HD 10×42 binoculars worth $699.
Third prize was won by John Mikler for the December story about hunting with his son, who shot his first boar. John has earned himself a Vanguard Endeavor RL 303CGM Carbon tripod with gun vice head, which normally sells for $649.
The competition is now open for 2026, with the same range of awesome prize up for grabs.
Entering is easy! Just write a story of 200-400 words and email it to the editor, along with a good high-resolution photo (ie, at least 1MB in size) as well as your name and contact details. Don’t worry too much about the spelling and grammar, as we’ll sort that out, just as long as you can string together an entertaining yarn for us.
The quality and content of the image is important, so go your hardest with it.
Thanks to Hunting Depot, one of Australia’s premier suppliers of hunting and shooting gear, the prizes are awesome:
Every month: Vanguard Scout B62 bipod, RRP $95
The Vanguard Scout B62 is a lightweight aluminium bipod with a V-shaped yoke that is rubber-lined for greater stability. It’s key features include:
- Lightweight and durable aluminium alloy
- Folds to 22.25 inches and weighs just 17 oz.
- Extends to 62 inches
- V-shaped yoke spins 360°
- Cushioned foam grip.
1st prize: Vanguard Endeavor HD 82A Spotting scope with case, RRP $750
The angled-view Endeavor HD 20-60×82 Spotting Scope combines a nitrogen-filled magnesium housing and a fully multicoated optical path to create a well-equipped zoom optic for intermediate to long-range observation. Endeavor HD series features an extra-low dispersion (ED) lens system and phase-corrected BaK4 prisms, which maximise light transmission and produce colour faithful images that are rich with contrast.
- Angled View Eyepiece
- 20-60x Eyepiece Magnification
- Extra-Low Dispersion Glass Elements
- Fully Multicoated Optics
- Nitrogen-Filled Fogproof / Waterproof
- Magnesium Housing
- Tripod Mounting Shoe
- Rubber Armored Body
- Stacked Fine / Coarse Focus Controls
- Built-In Sunshield
2nd prize: Vanguard VEO HD 10×42 binoculars, RRP $699
Vanguard’s new VEO HD IV 10×42 binoculars offer an upgraded viewing experience for hunters, nature lovers, birders, sports fans and travellers. The innovative pairing of Premium HOYA ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass and SK-15 prisms produces crystal-clear images of your subject while preserving its true image and colour integrity. Key features include:
- Fully multi-coated premium Hoya ED glass offers premium optical quality
- Waterproof and fogproof to handle any environment
- Magnesium alloy body is built tough without excess weight
- Large field of view and outstanding near focus
- Three-stage twist-up eye cups and large centre focus wheel help you adjust to your viewing style
- Open-bridge design makes binoculars easy to grip
- Includes protective case, neck strap, and lens covers.
3rd prize: Vanguard Endeavor RL 303CGM Carbon tripod with gun vice head, RRP $649
The Endeavor RL 303CGM carbon-fibre shooting tripod with gun mount is a sure-footed field companion, featuring a large range of height adjustment, retractable spiked feet, and an easy-turn handle to control the removable bowl mechanism. Plus, the Endeavor GM-70 gun mount provides a sure grip for your firearm.
- Removable bowl with an easy-turn handle to lock in or release movement
- 15-degree range of movement to follow your target
- Legs with easy-twist locks and height reference marks help you set up quickly and precisely
- Arca-Swiss base with a 3/8”-1/4” thread hole for mounting an extra tripod support arm – useful for adding a smartphone or Digiscoping kit for video
- Padded shoulder carry strap included
- Large knob to adjust GM-70 clamp from 30mm to 70mm, fitting most firearm forearms
- Max load of 25kg means it can stand up to heavy firearms and downward pressure from leaning
- Rubber pads on insides of clamp walls provide a secure grip while minimising the chance of scratching your gear
- Connects to a 3/8” thread, making it a perfect pairing with many types of tripod/head kits
- CNC-machined for quality and precision.
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