For general purpose, short distance use, a pair of low magnification binoculars can be ideal: they are light, easy to use, and can be bought relatively cheaply.

For longer distance viewing, where, for instance, a stag is to be selected for a stalk that may take several hours to complete, a higher quality, higher magnification aid is much better suited to the task.

Binoculars with a magnification greater than 8x or 10x can be very hard to keep steady, especially in wind, after some exertion, or in a moment of excitement: their short length means that every slight movement translates through to a blurred or lost image. The high quality telescope is so well balanced that it is far easier to hold steady in almost all conditions. Magnification of 25x translates to an ability to view a subject from a much greater distance, and in much greater detail than is possible with binoculars.

In an ideal world, one would have both telescope and binoculars, but cost and carrying limitations may weigh against this option; so it comes down really to range - for longer distances, telescope, and for shorter distances, binoculars.