Infra-red torches creating light visible by target animals

Dingo

New Member
For some specialist work I've contracted to carry out, I've been given a NightMaster infra-red torch.

When used on its own away from the vehicle, it does not seem to startle or alert animals, but when used while I am by the vehicle or under trees, the beam seems to make the animals look up and become alert.

Does anyone involved in the clever side of optics know if an IR torch can reflect off a car or trees/leaves in such a a way that the 'new' light is moved to the visible spectrum. In the same way that if you shine a coloured light on a coloured surface , the surface colour and reflected light dramatically from the original light and surface colours.

Tanks in advance.
 
although people will disagree anyone who uses IR with Night Vision will confirm animals CAN see IR
especially the lower frequency ones

I am not sure if the 800 stands for the frequency but I would guess it does.
​I have a 900nm laser and the foxes could definitely see it
 
800 in this instance is actually the distance the lamp shines (in metres) - according to the manufacturer. The standard Nightmaster LED is 850nm, although they do do one at 940nm. The former is closer to the visible spectrum than the latter and emits a faint dull red glow.
To answer the OP, direct reflection of the light will not change the wavelength, but diffraction (through glass etc) may to a lesser extent.

As Bewsh says, animals can pick it up and reflection will not help with the light footprint you're creating - but the beam on the NM800 is pretty focussed, so there shouldn't be too much spill.
 
although people will disagree anyone who uses IR with Night Vision will confirm animals CAN see IR
especially the lower frequency ones

I am not sure if the 800 stands for the frequency but I would guess it does.
​I have a 900nm laser and the foxes could definitely see it


It may not be 900nm i have a L915nm but it is not 915nm as i can see the (redish-glow) a True 880nm you won't see the beam unless looking thru nv kit.
 
I have a lamp shy fox that I'm desperately trying to get. I am considering getting a night vision.
This all makes me wonder, how long until we have IR shy foxes out there???
 
I've mopped most of the cubs up using my NM800 fitted with the Red led - now I'm on to the old wary Foxes I've switched to my NV & use the IR led - so far none have been spooked by it at all ;) It's my landowner who chase things about with Red lamps that cause me the problems :rolleyes: !!
 
I had the laser that came with the Archer and found that over the last couple of years a few foxes turned tail when the laser caught them - even at 150 yds. Also badgers seemed to pick up the laser at around 100 yds - since I swopped the laser for a Nightmaster I have not had this problem and even badgers have wandered as near as 30 yds from me with the beam full on them
 
I can confirm that the foxes I've met DO NOT see IR even at 80 metres (the closest I've shot at with the rig which was walking straight at me): Nightmaster 800 IR on a Pulsar N750.

We've actually had to turn on a "proper lamp" to get the things to "behave" as they have kept on doing foxy things like hunting which does not help getting an engagement.

The DO, however, see and hear very well: perhaps the vehicle has other noises? Springs? Seats?
 
It depends on the fox. You can see the red glow if you look directly at the IR
For some foxes, this is enough to send them running. It depends on if the fox has been educated or not.

There is a covert IR available for the NM800 from Scot Country. It is shorter range than the 850Nnm wavelength on the standard NM800. It uses 940nm and I'm waiting for the drop-in module to become available.

ATB
 
Is there some environmentalist group running fox education programmes?

The ones I see quickly get to see the next world: might think the red glow is the light at the end of the rabbit burrow?
 
Foxes primary senses are those of scent and sound. Their eyesight is poor but far better than ours at night (they have a lot more rods than ours which have a split of rods and cones giving good colour perception and reasonable night vision)
The torches we use are in the short wave infra red range, generally 760 to 1000nm so the 'hot' infra red wavelengths. It's quite likely that foxes and other animals that rely on hunting small animals can detect into the short wave ir region ( snakes for instance have two sets of 'eyes' one for visible wavelengths the other for ir detection)
cooler ( longer wavelengths) would be invisible and become progressively more difficult to detect using optics.
 
One train of thought is that there's no such thing as a lampshy fox. They already know you're there but not exactly. Turning on a lamp lets them pinpoint and avoid you.

​I've not seen any foxes yet that have been spooked by my IR.
 
With most IR (and visible) lights there's plenty of spill to other wavelengths than the nominal one.
 
One train of thought is that there's no such thing as a lampshy fox. They already know you're there but not exactly. Turning on a lamp lets them pinpoint and avoid you.

​I've not seen any foxes yet that have been spooked by my IR.

:thumb:
 
It depends on the fox. You can see the red glow if you look directly at the IR
For some foxes, this is enough to send them running. It depends on if the fox has been educated or not.

There is a covert IR available for the NM800 from Scot Country. It is shorter range than the 850Nnm wavelength on the standard NM800. It uses 940nm and I'm waiting for the drop-in module to become available.

ATB

The 940 pill is available from Tony if you ask him for it specifically.
 
SOrry to hijack a little but how do you lads rate these torches? I've seen the kit for 159 quid does that come with the red led too?
​Atb Jim
 
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