To thermal or not to thermal…

[Foxyboy43]

I love my foxing and have been having much greater success since I bought an Axion2 thermal spotter - detection is simplicity itself and no longer am I dependent on the old-fashioned eye-shine from an assortment of handheld lamps/torches or way back, even a car headlamp. Currently I use the excellent Zulus 5-20 day/night scope and before that a Pard 007 and an 008P both of which I have kept and still use on my smaller chambering rifles - all to good effect.
However, I have this worm working away in what’s left of my brain to buy a thermal scope - never again would foxes see the IR torch so presumably they will be unaware of my presence (apart from dark mutterings when I can’t find the record button) - so what could go wrong?
Sooo - advice sought from those who have been there already - is there any real obvious benefit over IR, did you miss the more meaningful (b&w) picture, did it spoil/enhance the excitement attached to fox shooting, etc.?
Or should I hold off and go for the multi-spectral latest version of the Zulus (or wotever it is called) which now includes thermal - though by all accounts a rather short-range version? Again advice from anyone who has done this already would be much appreciated, plz?
Thanks chaps.

 

[WalkedUp]

I do not have a thermal scope, just a spotter and IR night-vision. So take what I say with a caveat of ignorance, but having a two-stage multi spectral identification gives me great confidence in ID before pulling the trigger. I would be hesitant to rely on a thermal spotter and thermal scope to weed out the loose terrier, cat, badger, polecat etc that are half hidden and trying their best to look fox like in movement and thermal signature.

In the old days I had the occasional nervous walk out to the “fox” realising that I had naively fired based upon eye-shine rather than a more positive ID. It was always a fox, but I do not miss that feeling at all!

 

[Dari]

I have been using Pard 007 and Solaris srx since 2020. It is great combination with all my scopes and I have managed to shoot more than 100 foxes in those 4 years.
In last two years, I also had a chance to test several thermal attachments and when it comes to fox hunting thermal really is next level.
But, I am not shooting foxes for money, just to keep their number low and protect small game animals. So I still enjoy b/w picture in Pard 007 and any time when weather permits it, I will use digital NV.
Regardles of that, I always keep thermal front add on in my bag, just in case, if fog surprise me.

Somehow I keep on carrying multispectral (Pard007, thermal monocular, thermal front add on) bagpack with me. Reall multispectral device like ThermNight 6xx, would be great, but with two add ons, and decent glass scopes, I have everything I need.

Cheers

 

[Stalker62]

In the old days I had the occasional nervous walk out to the “fox” realising that I had naively fired based upon eye-shine rather than a more positive ID. It was always a fox, but I do not miss that feeling at all!

Honest reporting. Nice to see.

 

[Flash G 74]

Hello, How far can you see with a hand held thermal to distinguish a fox as said in above post, would it not be the same with a thermal scope, all my pixfa does is show white heat blobs until you get very close, i am no expert but i still say spot with thermal but use a normal night vision scope or add on to confirm species,

 

[Dave_45]

I’ll personally never fire at anything based off a heat created image.

spot with thermal , confirm with NV , confirm again and then shoot.

 

[old keeper]

Just recently I have been using an extremely good, scope-mounted torch in conjunction with the Habroks, the result? A dozen foxes in the last couple of weeks with no problems. I always shoot from a static position (the Hilux), spot with the Habroks, on with the torch at the appropriate moment and shoot.

I have thermal and night vision scopes but I love the simplicity of the lamp. Things have changed radically in in my lifetime, and now what used to be a completely dark countryside is now littered with lights and foxes no longer regard a suddenly appearing light as a problem. Only one of the last dozen or so foxes I've shot "on the lamp" reacted badly, the rest carried on what they were doing. A complete reversal of their reaction years ago.

Finally, when spotted and the torch switched on you see the fox as it really is, not a digital image, perhaps not for everyone, but it pleases this old foxer!

 

[DVS1]

I have a similar worm in the brain!

However my foxing isn't that large scale it warrants a 2k+ thermal scope so I continue with the Pard & IR in the day scope.

I like to twiddle my knob...elevation!, keep it clean gents!...so the flexibility of switching from day to night in a few seconds is what I like.

Yes in misty weather I may have to call it a night but to me thermal is another few years from MY comfort zone of better ID capabilities.

Just my two penneth, a new lad thats been out with me recently has been all excited at spotting a fox in the thermal spotter only for me to dash his hopes and tell him he's seen a badger and a barn owl atop a fence post! Amazing how they have that look of a fox sitting there facing you watching at a 200-300m range! Hes new so just pull his leg but consider what he could've been thinking if it was a thermal scope atop a rifle!

 

[Phil fox man]

We were out last Friday and had a fox at 90 yds away,clear image in the thermal and I would have took the shot.i then went to nv and there was loads of cover in the way so no shot.
spot with thermal id with nv.
Phil

 

[camodog]

I began using TI around 7 years ago, a Pulsar XD 38. I 'cut my teeth', so to speak, on learning how to ID animals by movement, behaviour, characteristics etc using this 4-5 days/nights per week.
Some two years ago I made the leap to a Thermion scope. I've never regreted it ! Having used a variety of tubed and digital night-vision devices, and before that....lamps/torches/car batteries etc..oh the nostalgia ! My Thermoion has revolutionised my foxing ! The important bit was what went before, using the spotter and learning how to, as far as is possible, identify what it was you were seeing.
At the end of the day, whatever set-up, if in doubt...don't take the shot. As 'Walked-Up' alluded to earlier, I think many amongst us will have experienced that 'nervous feeling' !
Anyhoo 'FB', go get your thermal scope, learn how to use it and enjoy, you won't regret it !

'Camodog'.

 

[Nickb]

If you need to satisfy that worm get one you won't be disappointed. They all work NV , Thermal and lamp it's just what you like.
Heres an image of a fox at 150 yds , no problem with ID.

 

[finnbear270]

I have a similar worm in the brain!

However my foxing isn't that large scale it warrants a 2k+ thermal scope so I continue with the Pard & IR in the day scope.

I like to twiddle my knob...elevation!, keep it clean gents!...so the flexibility of switching from day to night in a few seconds is what I like.

Yes in misty weather I may have to call it a night but to me thermal is another few years from MY comfort zone of better ID capabilities.

Just my two penneth, a new lad thats been out with me recently has been all excited at spotting a fox in the thermal spotter only for me to dash his hopes and tell him he's seen a badger and a barn owl atop a fence post! Amazing how they have that look of a fox sitting there facing you watching at a 200-300m range! Hes new so just pull his leg but consider what he could've been thinking if it was a thermal scope atop a rifle!

It's about many years of watching how creatures move, and restricting shots to your own red line, & finally making sure you are seeing what you ARE seeing.

 

[finnbear270]

If you need to satisfy that worm get one you won't be disappointed. They all work NV , Thermal and lamp it's just what you like.
Heres an image of a fox at 150 yds , no problem with ID.

View attachment 392994

Alsation pup.

 

[Nickb]

Alsation pup.

Better go to Specsavers

 

[finnbear270]

 

[finnbear270]

Badgers, too low to the deck when trolling along & they have that up & down springy sort of look when moving along ... much shorter stubby tail, Fox, nearly always going somewhere just like a dog's leg length with an outstretched tail, I will never shoot a static unless I have watched it moving.

 

[forever]

So I have a thermal scope, thermal monocular, NV scope and NV bino's. In my view thermal is great for finding, NV for identifying. That's the rule i always use.. Plus if a little bit unsure "no shot" til I am 100%..

 

[DVS1]

It's about many years of watching how creatures move, and restricting shots to your own red line, & finally making sure you are seeing what you ARE seeing.

Totally agree, its this experience that was able to let my young padawan he was looking at something other than a fox!

 

[3595wilk]

The DNT multi spectral initially came in a relatively low resolution thermal configuration. I haven't looked through one, but the video footage from it wasn't massively impressive, and probably better suited to air and RF use. I personally wouldn't have bought one if foxing was my main focus in that configuration.

They are changing/upgrading the sensors so may be a good choice as the DNT/Arken is a good nightvision bit of kit......but probably worth speaking with someone in know......

@mealiejimmy has done a fair bit of testing of the multispectral DNT unit for the manufacturer - so will be up on its capabilities for foxing use.

 

[kenbro]

I love my foxing and have been having much greater success since I bought an Axion2 thermal spotter - detection is simplicity itself and no longer am I dependent on the old-fashioned eye-shine from an assortment of handheld lamps/torches or way back, even a car headlamp. Currently I use the excellent Zulus 5-20 day/night scope and before that a Pard 007 and an 008P both of which I have kept and still use on my smaller chambering rifles - all to good effect.
However, I have this worm working away in what’s left of my brain to buy a thermal scope - never again would foxes see the IR torch so presumably they will be unaware of my presence (apart from dark mutterings when I can’t find the record button) - so what could go wrong?
Sooo - advice sought from those who have been there already - is there any real obvious benefit over IR, did you miss the more meaningful (b&w) picture, did it spoil/enhance the excitement attached to fox shooting, etc.?
Or should I hold off and go for the multi-spectral latest version of the Zulus (or wotever it is called) which now includes thermal - though by all accounts a rather short-range version? Again advice from anyone who has done this already would be much appreciated, plz?
Thanks chaps.

Hi Fb;
Only a tiny area where I shoot and it wasn’t many foxes in befor I sussed out that they’d sussed out the ir light and as soon as it was switched on for a shot Charlie would change direction and tactics.
Bought a thermal and it worked (Talking very few foxes here) in that my ambush position started to work again.
Didn’t go out for 6 weeks after clocks sprang forward, but when I did I took the nv and it worked.
I’m thinking new foxes coming in and not fussed, or not noticing ir glow?(Now 940).
I prefer digital but like to have the thermal for standby.
Ken.
Ps. Mine’s an Optix 100.
Google it Fb and if interested I’ll send it over and you can borrow it for a month.