Using thermal for stalking

[Deermanagement]

"Mark I eyeball"

Maybe there will be a time...... when Mark 1 starts to fail but you can still shoot straight when you've eventually found it .

Obviously that time will come to people at different stages but if you are still capable with no wish to retire, would that be a good excuse?

 

[glasshalffull]

Agree to disagree. Is it ok then to sit in a high seat with NV/thermal watching for deer until first light and at least you know they are going to be there for a shot or not? Or would you rather sit there in anticipation of the unknown?

 

[Orion]

Is Thermalphobia a real thing?

Certainly appears to be looking at some posts on this thread!

 

[Primate]

Is Thermalphobia a real thing?

Certainly appears to be looking at some posts on this thread!

Certainly seems to be a thing.
Amazes me how some moan about the expense of thermal too.
There has been good thermal spotters for sale on here recently at very affordable prices. A second hand Quantum xq38 only last week for £1250. That's no more expensive than any other bit of kit, like a decent second hand scope or binos.
You could bet your life on it that the same moaners think nothing of Pi$$ing away 3k every year on a holiday in the sun with naff all to show for it after 2 weeks.

 

[Overlay]

That is your opinion.

Wandering around a wood having a nice morning out, maybe spotting a deer and killing it, if in season and safe to do so isnt doing the landowner any kind of service whatsoever.

You pass very little to nothing by using thermal for spotting.

The sole purpose of attaining deer stalking is to kill deer, reduce numbers or manage them on an acceptable level.

Thermal is, as I said, a valuable tool, which enables the user to be more selective when choosing which animals to kill.

You wish to do things traditionally, thats fine, take out a pair of jena bios, with a parker hale 270 and 6x42 scope and fill your boots.

Oh, hang on, werent the same discussions taking place in the 50's when chaps using open sights, saw an influx of "telescopes" on rifles, that made the game "unfair", the same argument over fixed power scopes vs variable , the same argument over the need for training and practice.

This is the same argument / discussion.

Times move on, deer numbers are at the highest ever, use the tools available to manage deer effectively.

yep correct
thats my opinion - I grass between 140 - 200 deer per annum year in year out without what I do each year work wise as well - never needed thermal - your bang on on I’m going to be doing exactly what I do now.

 

[Ronin]

yep correct
thats my opinion - I grass between 140 - 200 deer per annum year in year out without what I do each year work wise as well - never needed thermal - your bang on on I’m going to be doing exactly what I do now.

Super , we agree to differ but both carry out similar work

I’m not getting into a competition with numbers and I also carry out other work

Thermal allows me to be more efficient

 

[mchughcb]

Finally after successfully skirting the 400 yard thermal Facebook thread merge we are now down to the how high is the pile in the chiller. So maybe we can merge three concepts.

400 yards, thermal Facebook and how nany deer per year.

Yep it should be called the culling directory.

 

[Ranger22]

Jeez some people just never give up.
A thermal doesn’t necessarily mean your going to get more deer or wipe out a population. You still have to have the basic skills of a stalker to put deer in the larder. TI only helps you see the deer. Bins do the same sort of job, shall we get rid of them too?
If you don’t like them don’t use them, its as simple as that

 

[foxdropper]

I see the yes’s still have it .

 

[foxdropper]

Agree to disagree. Is it ok then to sit in a high seat with NV/thermal watching for deer until first light and at least you know they are going to be there for a shot or not? Or would you rather sit there in anticipation of the unknown?

Why then bother with the rifle as a dawn look about can be just as rewarding without the gun .
It’s here to stay ,suck it up sunshine .

 

[mchughcb]

So the next big question is who is flying thermal drones over their permissions. Don't all chip in at once.

 

[glasshalffull]

Why then bother with the rifle as a dawn look about can be just as rewarding without the gun .
It’s here to stay ,suck it up sunshine .

I will when I finish wea your ma

 

[foxdropper]

You should be able to afford one mate ,all that “overtime “the wife’s doing .Martini anyone !

 

[mchughcb]

Why then bother with the rifle as a dawn look about can be just as rewarding without the gun .
It’s here to stay ,suck it up sunshine .

You get better video too.

 

[User00003]

I think people are losing track of what deer stalking is and means ad the etiquette and sport behind it, it’s embarrassing and shameful. It makes me very sad to see the our ‘sport’ Heading in this direction, and I believe some of the practices adopted these days,,,well, we are singing the songs of our own demise as David Attenborough so eloquently said.

 

[Monkey Spanker]

I think people are losing track of what deer stalking is and means ad the etiquette and sport behind it, it’s embarrassing and shameful. It makes me very sad to see the our ‘sport’ Heading in this direction, and I believe some of the practices adopted these days,,,well, we are singing the songs of our own demise as David Attenborough so eloquently said.

Unfortunately mate it is YOUR type of vision of what we do that is portraying the wrong image of what we do and will ultimately be the demise!
Deer management is essential as we all know, but as soon as you call killing animals a 'sport' it makes it look like fun and games and will give people that wish to judge us entirely the wrong impression! Etiquette also makes it sound elitist? Maybe ethical is a better term?
This is where recreational 'Stalkers' that shoot deer for 'sport' do themselves no favours!
We now have a situation looming where game shoots and even deer management groups are unable to sell what is shot and it may well end up in the incinerator or a hole in the ground. Once that happens, it is 'game over' as you cannot justify shooting animals or birds for fun!
Meanwhile, our supermarkets continue to sell farmed venison from New Zealand FFS!
We need to have a serious look at how we portray ourselves. We also need to promote the sale of venison in our own country and gain the trust of the shops and general public to eat our own organic produce and not the farmed produce from the other side of the planet!
To do that, we must first gain the trust that what we produce is fit for human consumption.
Unfortunately, much of that trust relies upon certification and basic food safety laws which most people on here seem to oppose?
The writing is on the wall folks! Shape up - or ship out!
Your choice.
MS

 

[mchughcb]

If we change it to culling directory we can all sing a new song?

 

[Monkey Spanker]

Jeez some people just never give up.
A thermal doesn’t necessarily mean your going to get more deer or wipe out a population. You still have to have the basic skills of a stalker to put deer in the larder. TI only helps you see the deer. Bins do the same sort of job, shall we get rid of them too?
If you don’t like them don’t use them, its as simple as that

A voice of vast experience! The first time I experienced thermal a mate of mine said 'there's 15 fallow in the bushes about 30m in front of us'! I looked through my bins and couldn't see even one! But we then knew they were there and that's the advantage!
Deer stalking is very much a game of 'who sees who first', and that's where TI gives you the advantage.
However, all it shows you is a white glow! You still then need to stalk close enough, sex and age the beast, make sure there is nothing to obstruct and a safe backstop - basic stalking skills and safety? Yes, it gives you an advantage, but so does most modern equipment?
If you are that bothered then get out dressed in a loin cloth with a spear or bow! Actually don't as that would be illegal! Why is that I wonder?
MS

 

[rem284]

The main reason I control deer is to limit damage levels to acceptable levels. The cost incurred are in part negated by the selling of venison and byproducts. The net cost, must be less than the cost of the damage that the deer would cause if they were not controlled. This justifies it in my mind and to the landowners/managers that it is necessary. I do it to the best of my ability and will use any tools within the parameters of the law. Yes, the tools can range from os and ns licenses, TI modern rifles, scope ect. I believe that the professional cullers could in part benefit from using some recreational stalkers in some way managing these guys would eat into time that I could spend culling so it is debatable if it would be worth the hassle. I think these guys would be far and few between and if I was selecting guys it would be easy to weed out a lot of them. The first ones to be crossed off the list would be the ones with the attitude like the preachers have, It's not sporting, we are killing too many, we shouldnt be using tI, should have open sights, we need to get close enough to touch them etc. The same preachers would not want to do it because it would be too much like hard work anyways. I would look for the guys who has the brain set of "it is necessary, it's doable ltes get out there and get them, bang it's done. Those preachers who are happy not to shoot a lot of deer and only use antiquated equipment and techniques, then I am happy for them to do so. However I think it is wrong for them, to think they are better than the people who actually are making an effort to control deer numbers whether it is recreational, full-time or part-time employed or contractors. To me the things that count is safety, humane killing and the correct handling of the end products. Finally, it is not a sport for me however I enjoy doing my job(most of the time, summer is a real pain).

 

[jimbo1984]

Unfortunately mate it is YOUR type of vision of what we do that is portraying the wrong image of what we do and will ultimately be the demise!
Deer management is essential as we all know, but as soon as you call killing animals a 'sport' it makes it look like fun and games and will give people that wish to judge us entirely the wrong impression! Etiquette also makes it sound elitist? Maybe ethical is a better term?
This is where recreational 'Stalkers' that shoot deer for 'sport' do themselves no favours!
We now have a situation looming where game shoots and even deer management groups are unable to sell what is shot and it may well end up in the incinerator or a hole in the ground. Once that happens, it is 'game over' as you cannot justify shooting animals or birds for fun!
Meanwhile, our supermarkets continue to sell farmed venison from New Zealand FFS!
We need to have a serious look at how we portray ourselves. We also need to promote the sale of venison in our own country and gain the trust of the shops and general public to eat our own organic produce and not the farmed produce from the other side of the planet!
To do that, we must first gain the trust that what we produce is fit for human consumption.
Unfortunately, much of that trust relies upon certification and basic food safety laws which most people on here seem to oppose?
The writing is on the wall folks! Shape up - or ship out!
Your choice.
MS

Thank you oh wise one for your mighty input ! You are the “ voice of stalking “