Recommendations for a first thermal?

[TST123]

Good morning,

I’m relatively new to deer stalking having only been stalking around 10 months and at the moment whilst I am still gaining experience all of my stalking is accompanied/guided. But one of the many things I’ve learnt is how essential a thermal is to spotting deer and in due course I would be looking to get my own once I start stalking un-accompanied.

So can anybody recommend a thermal for a budget of around £1k? I’ve looked back through previous threads and it seems a Pulsar Axion XM30F is my best bet!

It would be quite handy to have one with a built in range finder but I appreciate that would push me well over my budget.

My stalking will mostly be for Muntjac and Roe at sensible ranges.

Cheers,
Tom

 

[Cyres]

Firstly do a search on here as same question is asked with regularity.
If you can get to the Stalking show then do so and look through the various brands. You might need to spend £1500 but you will then be looking a very good unit.
Alternatively have a chat with some of the advertisers on here. Deals to be had.

PULSAR we're once the gold standard but now the markets changed and other brands offer better value.
D

 

[Tazz]

Good morning,

I’m relatively new to deer stalking having only been stalking around 10 months and at the moment whilst I am still gaining experience all of my stalking is accompanied/guided. But one of the many things I’ve learnt is how essential a thermal is to spotting deer and in due course I would be looking to get my own once I start stalking un-accompanied.

So can anybody recommend a thermal for a budget of around £1k? I’ve looked back through previous threads and it seems a Pulsar Axion XM30F is my best bet!

It would be quite handy to have one with a built in range finder but I appreciate that would push me well over my budget.

My stalking will mostly be for Muntjac and Roe at sensible ranges.

Cheers,
Tom

Wait for Bruce to reply and read his post carefully

 

[Blackwood Outdoors]

HikMicro Lynx LH19

HikMicro Lynx LH19 2.0 Thermal Monocular

The HikMicro Lynx LH19 2.0 thermal offers great performance for its price point, with 12 micron 384px 20mk sensor and 19mm focusable lens.

www.blackwoodoutdoors.co.uk

Pulsar Axion XQ30 Pro

Pulsar Axion XQ30 Pro Thermal

The Pulsar Axion XQ30 Pro thermal monocular features a 17 micron, 25mk netD, 384 pixel sensor, with a compact magnesium alloy waterproof body.

www.blackwoodoutdoors.co.uk

NocPix Lumi L19

NocPix Lumi L19 Thermal Monocular

The compact NocPix Lumi L19 thermal monocular features a 12 micron 384x288 resolution <18mk sensor.

www.blackwoodoutdoors.co.uk

Pixfra Mile 2 M425

Pixfra Mile 2 M425 Thermal Imaging Monocular

The Pixfra Mile M425 is compact lightweight unit and features a 25mm lens and 384px resolution sensor, providing a 1300m detection range.

www.blackwoodoutdoors.co.uk

All these around the £1K budget price point, contact me for SD member deals.

 

[Flash G 74]

Hello, There is ATN on the forum, They have just released some good Thermals , Blaze Hunters, They do the 635 with RF, Contact Rob Mclean on here,

 

[Taff]

Are you joking when you say it’s essential? If you are going out with stalkers who need a thermal then you have not learnt anything.
As a culling tool at night yes, but recreational stalking no.

 

[Malxwal]

Thermal, whilst very useful, is not essential. Quality binos are a better initial investment.

 

[Cranborne]

If you don't already own a pair, I'd prioritise buying decent binoculars. Walk slowly and use them often.

 

[alexjoneill]

I am really liking the habrok 4ks as you have everything in one - binoculars, thermal, range finder & night vision with IR!
The thermal isn't the best as it is the entry level unit but you can clearly see 'something' is there and with a push of a button switch to binocular mode to identify

They are also around your price range so maybe worth considering

 

[Donkey Basher]

Are you joking when you say it’s essential? If you are going out with stalkers who need a thermal then you have not learnt anything.
As a culling tool at night yes, but recreational stalking no.

Going to disagree with this, after nigh on 30 years of proper stalking I bought a thermal just before Xmas & now wouldn’t be without it. It simply adds that extra dimension to the whole stalking process - it isn’t going to stop you bumping deer due to bad wind, or other poor efforts, but it can see things that simply aren’t there with binos & that’s where it’s made it’s cost back for me.

I bought a Lynx LH25 2.0 for sub £1k on a Black Friday deal & am very impressed with it for the money. I wouldn’t be surprised if there weren’t some ‘show deals’ & price matching going on imminently.

 

[old keeper]

I managed pretty well without a thermal for 60-odd years before thermal arrived. Thermal is very useful, but essential, no.

 

[Keith Edmunds]

Good morning,

I’m relatively new to deer stalking having only been stalking around 10 months and at the moment whilst I am still gaining experience all of my stalking is accompanied/guided. But one of the many things I’ve learnt is how essential a thermal is to spotting deer and in due course I would be looking to get my own once I start stalking un-accompanied.

So can anybody recommend a thermal for a budget of around £1k? I’ve looked back through previous threads and it seems a Pulsar Axion XM30F is my best bet!

It would be quite handy to have one with a built in range finder but I appreciate that would push me well over my budget.

My stalking will mostly be for Muntjac and Roe at sensible ranges.

Cheers,
Tom

Perhaps not 'essential', you are absolutely correct to realise that a thermal is pretty darn handy. In all honesty, if you are shooting munty and roe at sensible ranges - I guess under 200m - and most under 150m, then I wouldn't worry too much about LRF.

Also, cheaper thermals are great and 'finding' deer - as in locating a heat signature. It would then be good to hone your fieldcraft by IDing with binos. At your stage in the game, something that just tells you that there is a living 'deer sized' creature, over there, is sufficient - then hone your skills from that point.

 

[Taff]

Going to disagree with this, after nigh on 30 years of proper stalking I bought a thermal just before Xmas & now wouldn’t be without it. It simply adds that extra dimension to the whole stalking process - it isn’t going to stop you bumping deer due to bad wind, or other poor efforts, but it can see things that simply aren’t there with binos & that’s where it’s made it’s cost back for me.

I bought a Lynx LH25 2.0 for sub £1k on a Black Friday deal & am very impressed with it for the money. I wouldn’t be surprised if there weren’t some ‘show deals’ & price matching going on imminently.

Only 40 yrs for me, but there’s hunting and then shooting deer, as I said if you need to cull then they are great.

 

[sy247]

Perhaps stalk for a year or two without one. I find it very satisfying when I spot a deer that is hidden in the undergrowth with my binoculars. It's a different style of stalking. You move a lot slower, taking a few steps then glassing slowly and repeat. It can take a long time doing that in dense woodland.

 

[Ben23]

There are some cracking deals on the ‘

HIKMICRO Lynx-S PRO 10mm LE10S Thermal Monocular’​

Not sure peoples thoughts on them for £399?

Usually when I see a discount that big though it means there’s something new just around the corner!

 

[paulbshooting]

Thermal improves efficiency so really down to your stalking and objectives. With culls to deliver and venison orders to forefill, I use mine alongside binos every outing

 

[Jagged77]

These are outstanding, well worth shortlisting

ATN BLAZE HUNTER 650 LRF Thermal Monocular | ATN UK

Buy the digital ATN BLAZE HUNTER 635 LRF Compact Thermal Monocular for night hunting - 3 Years Warranty ✔ Free Shipping ✔

www.atneu.uk

 

[Donkey Basher]

There are some cracking deals on the ‘

HIKMICRO Lynx-S PRO 10mm LE10S Thermal Monocular’​

Not sure peoples thoughts on them for £399?

Usually when I see a discount that big though it means there’s something new just around the corner!

Pretty sure the Pro series has already been superseded by the 2.0 series.

The model I bought is LH25 2.0 & current rrp seems to be £999

 

[Donkey Basher]

These are outstanding, well worth shortlisting

ATN BLAZE HUNTER 650 LRF Thermal Monocular | ATN UK

Buy the digital ATN BLAZE HUNTER 635 LRF Compact Thermal Monocular for night hunting - 3 Years Warranty ✔ Free Shipping ✔

www.atneu.uk

OP was looking for something circa £1k unfortunately

 

[Jagged77]

OP was looking for something circa £1k unfortunately

Ah, fair enough! The non LRF model comes in at £1250 though - worth stretching to