Epoch Digiscope Challenge: Official Rules
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. This is a skill-based contest. Winners are not selected by chance. Void where prohibited.
1. Sponsor
The Epoch Digiscope Challenge (the "Contest") is sponsored by Shed Straps LLC, 12 Red Rock Court, Bozeman, Montana ("Epoch Outdoors" or "Sponsor").
The Contest is not sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Instagram, Meta Platforms, Inc., Vortex Optics, or Aziak Equipment. Vortex and Aziak prize items were purchased by Epoch Outdoors at retail. All trademarks belong to their owners.
2. Eligibility
Open to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia who are 18 or older at the time of entry (19 in Alabama and Nebraska, 21 in Mississippi).
Not eligible: employees, contractors, and owners of Epoch Outdoors, its agencies, and anyone involved in running or judging the Contest.
3. Contest period
The Contest begins November 11th, 2026 and entries must be received by November 21, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time (the "Entry Period"). The sponsor's clock is the official timekeeper.
4. How to enter
- Follow @epoch_outdoors on Instagram.
- Share the Contest announcement post to your Instagram story and tag @epoch_outdoors.
- Submit your video through the entry form at epochoutdoors.com/pages/digiscope-challenge, including your name, email address, and Instagram handle. Video files may be uploaded directly or shared by Google Drive, iCloud, or Google Photos link.
Steps 1 and 2 are required. Sponsor may verify them for finalists and may disqualify a finalist who did not complete them, where Sponsor can check.
There is no limit on the number of videos per person, but only one video per person may be selected as a finalist and each person may win only one prize. Entries that are incomplete, late, corrupted, or submitted through a link that cannot be opened are void. Keep your share link active until the Contest ends.
5. Video requirements
Each video must:
- Be footage you personally captured through optics (spotting scope, binoculars, or similar) using a phone or camera. Any brand of optics or adapter is allowed.
- Be your original work, owned by you, and not previously licensed to anyone on an exclusive basis.
- Be captured legally and ethically, following all wildlife, hunting, and land regulations, including National Park Service wildlife distance rules. No baiting, harassing, or approaching wildlife to get footage.
- Include only people who have given permission to appear (and a parent or guardian's permission for anyone under 18).
- Contain no copyrighted music or third-party content. Sponsor may remove or replace audio.
- Contain no AI-generated or digitally fabricated content. Basic editing is fine: trimming, cropping, stabilization, and color or exposure adjustment.
- Not be obscene, offensive, defamatory, or otherwise inappropriate, as determined by Sponsor.
Sponsor may disqualify any video that does not meet these requirements.
6. Judging and voting
Round 1 (judges). On or about November 24, 2026, a panel selected by Sponsor will choose five finalists from all eligible entries using these criteria:
| Criteria | Weight |
|---|---|
| Image quality and clarity | 40% |
| Subject and "wow" factor | 40% |
| Digiscoping skill and technique | 20% |
Round 2 (public vote). Sponsor will post each finalist video as its own Instagram Reel on @epoch_outdoors, with like counts visible. Sponsor will not boost, advertise, or collab-post any individual finalist.
Voting closes December 1, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. Mountain Time. The finalist whose Reel shows the most likes at that moment, as recorded by Sponsor, wins the Grand Prize.
Sponsor may disqualify any finalist, and discount any likes that Sponsor believes came from bots, fake accounts, purchased engagement, engagement-trading groups, or any other manipulation. Sponsor's decisions are final.
7. Prizes
Grand Prize (one awarded). Approximate retail value (ARV) $2,418.99, plus Stasis stabilization:
| Item | ARV |
|---|---|
| Vortex Razor HD 85mm spotting scope | $1,699 |
| Aziak Frontcountry tripod | $349.99 |
| Aziak Vantage XL pan head | $150.00 |
| Mountain Mag digiscope setup | $180.00 |
| Mountain Mag phone holder | $40.00 |
| Stasis stabilization access | $140 |
Finalist prizes (four awarded). The four finalists who do not win the Grand Prize each receive Stasis stabilization access. ARV: $140 each.
Prize conditions. Prizes have no cash value and cannot be transferred, sold, or exchanged for cash. Sponsor may substitute a prize of equal or greater value if an item becomes unavailable. Vortex and Aziak items carry only their manufacturers' warranties; Sponsor makes no warranty on prize items.
Stasis stabilization access is tied to the winner's Mountain Mag app account, is non-transferable, and has no cash value. It is provided as long as Sponsor offers the Stasis feature; Sponsor may modify or discontinue the feature in the ordinary course of business.
8. Winner notification and verification
The Grand Prize winner and finalists will be announced on @epoch_outdoors on December 2, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. Mountain Time and notified by Instagram direct message and email.
The Grand Prize winner must reply and return a signed Affidavit of Eligibility, a Liability and Publicity Release, and an IRS Form W-9 within 5 days of notification. If the winner does not respond in time, is ineligible, or does not comply with these rules, the prize is forfeited and Sponsor may award it to the finalist with the next-most likes.
9. Taxes
Winners are solely responsible for all federal, state, and local taxes on their prize.
Because the Grand Prize ARV exceeds $600, Sponsor will report the prize value to the IRS and issue the winner an IRS Form 1099. The winner must provide a completed Form W-9, including a Social Security or taxpayer identification number, before the prize is shipped. A winner who does not provide a W-9 forfeits the prize.
10. Footage license
You keep ownership of the videos you submit. By entering, you grant Epoch Outdoors and its affiliates, agencies, successors, and assigns a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, perpetual, and irrevocable license to use, copy, edit, crop, add text, music, or branding to, publish, distribute, and display your video, in whole or in part, in any media now known or later developed. This includes social media, the Epoch Outdoors website, email, print, trade show and in-store displays, and paid advertising.
This license applies to every video submitted, not only finalists and winners. Sponsor will try to credit you by your Instagram handle when practical but is not required to. You will not receive payment for any use. Sponsor is not obligated to use any video.
By submitting, you confirm that you shot the video yourself, you own all rights to it, everyone identifiable in it consented, and Sponsor's use will not violate anyone's rights.
11. Publicity
Except where prohibited, finalists and the winner agree that Sponsor may use their name, Instagram handle and video to announce and promote the Contest results, without further payment or permission.
12. Email marketing and privacy
The entry form includes an optional checkbox to receive marketing emails from Epoch Outdoors. Checking it is not required to enter or win. You can unsubscribe at any time using the link in any email.
Whether or not you check the box, Sponsor will use your name, email, and Instagram handle to administer the Contest, including contacting finalists and winners. Sponsor will not sell your information. See our privacy policy at epochoutdoors.com/policies/privacy-policy.
13. Instagram release
This Contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Instagram or Meta Platforms, Inc. By entering, you release Instagram and Meta from all liability related to the Contest. Questions about the Contest go to Sponsor, not Instagram.
14. General conditions
Sponsor may disqualify anyone who tampers with the entry or voting process, violates these rules, or acts in a disruptive, harassing, or unsportsmanlike way.
Sponsor may cancel, modify, or suspend the Contest if fraud, technical failure, platform changes, or anything else beyond Sponsor's control compromises its fairness. If that happens, Sponsor may judge eligible entries received before the change.
Sponsor is not responsible for lost, late, or unreadable entries; broken share links; Instagram outages or changes to how likes are displayed; or errors in any Contest materials.
15. Release and limitation of liability
By entering, you release Sponsor and its owners, employees, agents, and affiliates from any claims, injuries, losses, or damages arising from your participation, from capturing your footage, or from accepting or using any prize. This includes injuries in the field while filming.
16. Disputes
These rules are governed by the laws of the State of Montana. Any dispute will be resolved individually, without class action, in the state or federal courts located in Gallatin County, Montana.
17. Winner list and contact
For the name of the winner, or for questions about the Contest, email info@epochoutdoors.com after December 2, 2026.