Boar & IR

[Puds]

I’ll hopefully be heading out for a boar later in the year and was wondering if they can see normal IR used on night vision?

I’m using a 850NM laser IR illuminator at the moment but didn’t know if it was worth investing in one of the 940NM ‘invisible’ illuminators instead?

 

[Gunner223]

Ive used 850 on them no problem at all.

 

[Polar Lynx]

Don't know about UK boar but here (Sweden) where they been shot at for 10-15 years they tend to be very suspicious about IR lamps. Boar are good learners. When they are closing in at a feeding station they are extra careful, naturally, and if lamp is lit they tend to ship that evening meal.

Both 850 and 940 are visiable to some extent especially when light is right on. In the fields it is easier as they move all the time but at feeding stations tricky.

Best solution is to have some kind of green light at the feeder and then, we they are busy eating, switch on the IR pointing well above the boar and then move gun downwards and take the shot directly.

A better solution is spotting with a termo device and thereby be fully invisable and be able to see when they calmed down and then use the IR scope/gun.

With IR it is easy to see when a boar sees you (or the lamp). When there is glare in the display from their eys then they are looking at the lamp. However, often there are a few seconds before they disappear into the darkness and sometimes one can then take a shot but then you don't see bullet reaction.
With boar thermal scope is superior.

 

[Puds]

Don't know about UK boar but here (Sweden) where they been shot at for 10-15 years they tend to be very suspicious about IR lamps. Boar are good learners. When they are closing in at a feeding station they are extra careful, naturally, and if lamp is lit they tend to ship that evening meal.

Both 850 and 940 are visiable to some extent especially when light is right on. In the fields it is easier as they move all the time but at feeding stations tricky.

Best solution is to have some kind of green light at the feeder and then, we they are busy eating, switch on the IR pointing well above the boar and then move gun downwards and take the shot directly.

A better solution is spotting with a termo device and thereby be fully invisable and be able to see when they calmed down and then use the IR scope/gun.

With IR it is easy to see when a boar sees you (or the lamp). When there is glare in the display from their eys then they are looking at the lamp. However, often there are a few seconds before they disappear into the darkness and sometimes one can then take a shot but then you don't see bullet reaction.
With boar thermal scope is superior.

I’ve got a thermal spotter but unfortunately a thermal scope is beyond my means.

 

[Morkai]

They cant see infrared light.

 

[Jagare]

Don't know about UK boar but here (Sweden) where they been shot at for 10-15 years they tend to be very suspicious about IR lamps. Boar are good learners. When they are closing in at a feeding station they are extra careful, naturally, and if lamp is lit they tend to ship that evening meal.

Both 850 and 940 are visiable to some extent especially when light is right on. In the fields it is easier as they move all the time but at feeding stations tricky.

Best solution is to have some kind of green light at the feeder and then, we they are busy eating, switch on the IR pointing well above the boar and then move gun downwards and take the shot directly.

A better solution is spotting with a termo device and thereby be fully invisable and be able to see when they calmed down and then use the IR scope/gun.

With IR it is easy to see when a boar sees you (or the lamp). When there is glare in the display from their eys then they are looking at the lamp. However, often there are a few seconds before they disappear into the darkness and sometimes one can then take a shot but then you don't see bullet reaction.
With boar thermal scope is superior.

I've a green spotlight up on my boar feeder. It runs of a car battery and has a solar panel that will keep it charged spring through to Autumn. The spot light turns on and off by a light sensor. The boar take no notice of the green light and its light intensity can be adjusted by a remote control. I have it on a low setting and just increase the brightness when the boar turn up. The spotlight gives plenty of light to shoot boar by so no thermal is needed.

 

[Polar Lynx]

That is correct. Green light at feeder and then no need for NV or Thermal. A good scope with low magnificaton is sufficient or all you need.
I've left 'feeder shoting' behind nowdays. Only 'David Crocett' hunting and all year, actutally. Then thermal all the way. Thermal binos with lrf and thermal scope.

It is correct that boar can not see IR but they can, as we can, see the red lamp which is emitting IR.

 

[thomas]

I am sure boar can see the glow of an IR torch, their heads are up and looking in my direction when I am down wind and a good distance away, I have seen this on numerous occasions. They have become aware of IR, even young boar are alert to it and it has become more prevalent, I can only assume due to pressure of being shot and associating a red glow with danger. On the flip side I still shoot boar using IR which take zero notice of it! I have only used 850 and not 950. With thermal, assuming you are down wind and quiet they don't have a clue.

 

[th32]

My experience in Spain is that it depens on shooting preasure. Some 30y ago they started to run as soon as you swichted a white lamp on. I started to use green/red light. It was ok for some years, but it was a nightmare as you never know if they were going to stay or not. I used to stop using any light and with a high end scope I shot many boars years ago.

Nowadays in my area, they are not suspicious to 850nm yet, but in other areas they already run away as soon as they detect a 850nm. Never heard of boar been suspicious of 940nm. If I were you I'd ask other hunters in that area, but probably you'll be OK with your 850nm.

 

[pbear94]

Have seen them run when a 850 ir is turned on. Suppose it depends how many are using it in the are and if they associate it with being shot at. I have a 985 and haven't had a problem yet.

 

[woodland mouse]

Have often thought about setting up a 12v IR floodlight on a solar battery set up on the feeder all year round. I guess that the fact the light is on all the time (well when its dark enough for the sensor) it should become a part of the background and the need for an additional illuminator wouldn't be needed. Also one less thing to think about charging or forgetting….

 

[jthyttin]

Problem with boar is that you keep educating them. You avoid shooting the leading sow, so it gets plenty of chances to associate phenomenon X with a loud bang and some of the sounder being left on the ground.

It's 100% positive that educated boar will react to sudden 850nm whether it's from LED or VCSEL. And also 100% positive that same boars will not be reacting to 940nm be it LED or VCSEL. One thing to note, this experience is with equipment from the more sensitive end of spectrum (not Pards etc. that require insane amount of IR). I also have a hunch, that if you have dedicated Gen3 scope, you might be able to get by with 850nm VCSEL if it has good dimmer (LL Wraith comes to mind) and you keep the intensity down.

 

[Bavarianbrit]

My Pard took a 20kg young one out of a sounder of seven that had been chomping away in a maize field for an hour on Thursday evening, I saw the last four of them enter the field with my thermal but they were too fast for me to react then I just sat and waited wondering where will they exit the field? As luck has it they came out from the same corner they had entered giving me the chance of a shot.