Thermal for bird pickup?

[mikeakc]

Does anybody use thermal for picking up shot pigeons and pheasants etc? I’d be interested to hear any thoughts from those with experience here. Also interested to know what would be the right kit and how cost-effectively I could do if it’s a good idea.

Before anyone suggests it, my lifestyle just isn’t right for a dog unfortunately!

Thanks,
Mike

 

[Mungo]

It can be hard enough to find a dead roe deer in a stubble field using thermal. Can’t imagine it being much use at all looking for birds, on anything other than nearly bare ground.

 

[baguio]

Been picking up with another guy who's on here who did. We had the high ground and were told that there might be one bird on a meadow below us. Rather than search the whole field the bird was picked up in a few seconds with the benefit of the thermal. Saved the dog's legs for the next drive. Wouldn't have worked on level ground though.

 

[Tim.243]

Does anybody use thermal for picking up shot pigeons and pheasants etc? I’d be interested to hear any thoughts from those with experience here. Also interested to know what would be the right kit and how cost-effectively I could do if it’s a good idea.

Before anyone suggests it, my lifestyle just isn’t right for a dog unfortunately!

Thanks,
Mike

I was asked this quite a while ago with my answer being it won't pick up the chipped birds in deep cover or ones in the brambles/ditch/laid barley/wheat, also ones that have walked off as it looked dead.
That bird looked dead as it hit the ground and never moved however

So sorry NO.

 

[DavyG]

I was asked this quite a while ago with my answer being it won't pick up the chipped birds in deep cover or ones in the brambles/ditch/laid barley/wheat, also ones that have walked off as it looked dead.
So sorry NO.

It won’t even pick them up in a grass field.
DG
Answer: No.

 

[Camdig]

I've used mine couple times after an evening flight, more to see where dog has fecked off to and by chance spotted couple needing picked, you won't beat a dog and if already have one why not.

 

[HonestJohn]

Surely by the time you pick up the body heat from a bird has reduced to a level rendering a thermal relatively pointless?

Great for locating a drunk wife when there’s a power it, but that’s another story.

 

[artschool]

get a thermal drone

 

[baguio]

Surely by the time you pick up the body heat from a bird has reduced to a level rendering a thermal relatively pointless?

Great for locating a drunk wife when there’s a power it, but that’s another story.

A bird will stay hotter than the ground around it for a long time in the winter. If it's not dead it will always be hotter. It's stating the obvious that the thermal won't help you if you haven't got a direct line of sight to the bird but if you have then you will spot them no problem at all, just like you would spot ducks, rabbits, hares or deer or anything else that is hotter than its surroundings. That's why we all use thermal, surely?

 

[HonestJohn]

A bird will stay hotter than the ground around it for a long time in the winter. If it's not dead it will always be hotter. It's stating the obvious that the thermal won't help you if you haven't got a direct line of sight to the bird but if you have then you will spot them no problem at all, just like you would spot ducks, rabbits, hares or deer or anything else that is hotter than its surroundings. That's why we all use thermal, surely?

I’ll try it next time I’m on the ducks for sure

 

[jall55]

I’ll try it next time I’m on the ducks for sure

Ducks are very tricky to spot with thermal because they are so well insulated
Many times on our ponds i have looked and had to look again as you just see the heads moving

 

[jall55]

I always tell people its thermal - not x ray vision

As stated above if the ground is bareish no probs but as Tim says bramble/ditches not that good

 

[David.evans]

I’ve struggled to find fox on grass sillage that has not been cut

 

[jall55]

I’ve struggled to find fox on grass sillage that has not been cut

Interesting tonight Dave to see a fox i had shot a week or so ago giving off very very strong heat - it was moving with maggots !

 

[David.evans]

You don’t fish as well do you lol
never seen that jall
atb

 

[baguio]

I always tell people its thermal - not x ray vision

As stated above if the ground is bareish no probs but as Tim says bramble/ditches not that good

I don't think the OP was suggesting that the thermal would be better than a dog though. A thermal is certainly better than the Mk1 eyeball though despite some on here saying that they won't work! Shame they don't make them with zero magnification though.

 

[Freeforester]

I don't think the OP was suggesting that the thermal would be better than a dog though. A thermal is certainly better than the Mk1 eyeball though despite some on here saying that they won't work! Shame they don't make them with zero magnification though.

I think the FLIR Breach and similar Chinese made offerings are 1x base magnification. Anything that helps, helps, including thermal. It certainly won’t help in every situation, but it will help in quite a few, as will pinpointing the last sighting of the stricken bird. The question of cost effectiveness is less easily answered ( rechargeable batteries vs vets bills, lolno!)

 

[Tim.243]

I’ll try it next time I’m on the ducks for sure

Not when they lay cold on a winters flight or half buried in the mud. Have a flapper in the water and what do you do with you thermal then.
The simple facts are shooting carries a risk and with pigeons/pheasants (volume of birds) as the Op asked about you will get birds who carry on for quite some distance also some who are not hit in the vitals and they fly out of sight.
Add with the pigeons in the summer months/stubble rape bean stalks are quite tall also it can be quite warm then pointing a thermal across a field over hot ground will be next to useless.

It is hard enough to find a shot fox in the rowed up straw/hay in the harvest let alone a bird weighing less than a pound.

 

[Graycj]

I’ve used mine after evening flights occasionally. Helped identify one or two birds that had fallen in the stubble field but that’s about the limit for it I definitely wouldn’t buy one specifically for this job. If you have one anyway fine, can help a wee bit.

 

[the prowler]

Thermal is a handy for picking up. But even in thick cover. You will find it difficult. Better with a gun dog.