Heym SR20
Well-Known Member
Quite. But what is the point of spending several hundred pounds on kit that you don’t use?
Has the "Thermal" Spoiled Deer Stalking?
- Thread starter Ackers
- Start date
ASl sniper.177
Well-Known Member
I use the modern technology when it's needed. There is no doubt in my mind that I could of shot more if I'd wanted to,but I'm not interested in killing everything that steps out in front of me. It's called deer management,not deer eradication. Each to their own.
My little patch sits in middle of "deer managers" who must be related to Ray Charles or Stevie Wonder as I often see these both sides of the road.
Dan Newcombe
Well-Known Member
I know its been covered but for me it depends on what you want to achieve and why your doing it. Thermal (and NV) give you an additional period of time at first and last light where traditional optics (even the best quality ones) will struggle with the amount of available light. On this basis you can potentially shoot more deer and therefore if you are there to reduce numbers then you have an advantage. If you are doing it recreationally and don't want that advantage then stick to traditional means.
I have shot deer with thermal (legal hours noted) however I much prefer to shoot them with traditional optics and that's my personal preference and I'm not doing it as a job. If it was a job then I would use every advantage to shoot deer.
Do I think that Thermal has spoiled deer stalking...personally I don't.
I have shot deer with thermal (legal hours noted) however I much prefer to shoot them with traditional optics and that's my personal preference and I'm not doing it as a job. If it was a job then I would use every advantage to shoot deer.
Do I think that Thermal has spoiled deer stalking...personally I don't.
Good reply, the thing is later in the season big deer have twigged on so the last 30mins is often the only chance!
Agreed
Deermanagement
Well-Known Member
Makes it very easy 
Work smart not hard.Makes it very easy
I had to work hard rather then smart the other evening. Watched a group of 5 fallow for 3/4 of an hour as they happily grazed 300 yards away along the top of a field with no safe backstop...then lay down...I had no way of closing the gap so had to wait until it was getting dark to try and close the gap...made it to 200 yards with a couple of minutes of shootable light left and managed one of the 2 does off the sticks....
The real annoyance is fallow being so skittish....I saw 3 roe who just stood and looked at me at 70 yards...farmer likes roe so they werent on the menu
The real annoyance is fallow being so skittish....I saw 3 roe who just stood and looked at me at 70 yards...farmer likes roe so they werent on the menu
Yes, thermals have spoiled deerstalking. They've taken away a lot of skill required to find deer.
They do make it a lot easier to keep foresters happy, so if you can't beat them, join them...
They do make it a lot easier to keep foresters happy, so if you can't beat them, join them...
I think the OPs question is incomplete.
IMHO, it should be ""Has thermal spoiled deer stalking FOR YOU"
For those who don't want to use thermal it can't have spoiled their deer stalking because they simply don't know its capabilities (ignorance is bliss and all that)
There will be those who feel that thermal has NOT spoiled their deer stalking, and there will be those who have tried thermal, and have decided it's not for them
In each case, individuals have decided what they feel is best for them so there can be no blanket statement saying either that thermal has spoiled deer stalking or that thermal has not spoiled deer stalking
Cheers
Bruce
IMHO, it should be ""Has thermal spoiled deer stalking FOR YOU"
For those who don't want to use thermal it can't have spoiled their deer stalking because they simply don't know its capabilities (ignorance is bliss and all that)
There will be those who feel that thermal has NOT spoiled their deer stalking, and there will be those who have tried thermal, and have decided it's not for them
In each case, individuals have decided what they feel is best for them so there can be no blanket statement saying either that thermal has spoiled deer stalking or that thermal has not spoiled deer stalking
Cheers
Bruce
ASl sniper.177
Well-Known Member
Very true Bruce. I would like to add,even if you have thermal,spotting a deer doesn't mean you can see it when in thick cover,even with the best day scopes,or binoculars. I've lost count of the times when I could see a full image of a deer in the thermal,but couldn’t see anything through my day scope. Those who say that people who use thermal lack field craft,are missing the point. Even the best stalkers out there,with the best binoculars,will walk past loads of deer in cover. Modern technology is great,it's up to you how you use it. I've been an early adopter of night vision,and then thermal for the last 15-20 years. Technology always moves on,being that the advent of the electric torch as used by the great Jim Corbbet for trying to get the edge when shooting man eating tigers in India.
Jeff
Jeff
Rabbit foot
Active Member
I do most of my deer hunting from high seat
One thing I will say is that thermal has taken away that sudden shock and excitement of looking one way then back the other and there stands a buck......... See it in full colour and likely ready to shoot
With thermal id likely pick the deer up as much as 30 mins in advance as a blob i wouldn't have that rush like I've described as it's an electronic blob... and you tend have got used to the deer being there before it steps out.
I guess it takes away some buck fever....?
On the other hand do I even need a thermal when in high seat??
One thing I will say is that thermal has taken away that sudden shock and excitement of looking one way then back the other and there stands a buck......... See it in full colour and likely ready to shoot
With thermal id likely pick the deer up as much as 30 mins in advance as a blob i wouldn't have that rush like I've described as it's an electronic blob... and you tend have got used to the deer being there before it steps out.
I guess it takes away some buck fever....?
On the other hand do I even need a thermal when in high seat??
Thermal in woodland is paramount. Scan and take a few steps and repeat.
hedge hunter
Well-Known Member
Thermal has had a massive effect on wild life in my area.everyone and there mothers use it even the local poacher scum with dogs.they can walk right up too the deer and slip the dogs and the deer dont have a chance. Trouble is shooters with this technology dont have a off switch and the wild life suffer for it.its about control not eradicating things.i dont want too kill every fox or deer I come across but we arnt all the same I suppose. Iv noticed a big decline in foxs.hares.rabbits etc.what do we hunt when it's all gone ???
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