Originally Posted by peachfront

All these items are allowed, and both binoculars and scope are also allowed. Airlines don't carry the liability insurance for a $2,500 spotting scope in checked baggage or any other highly valuable optical or electronics items. So they must be carred on. They may be swabbed, looked through, or (as happened to me in one case) the inspector may simply ask how I like the item's optics because he is thinking about buying one of his own.