Thermal spotter and its uses

[mchughcb]

Cull targets set by others that must be met that drive certain behaviours. Whats next your mate spots for you with with a thermal drone and you come in down wind and belt them. He marks the location where they drop and continues to follow the herd until they are all down and in a few nights you clear your permission of all deer and jobs done. Then you can spend the money and spare time going to the continent and going on a driven boar hunt. I like it.

 

[baguio]

Cull targets set by others that must be met that drive certain behaviours. Whats next your mate spots for you with with a thermal drone and you come in down wind and belt them. He marks the location where they drop and continues to follow the herd until they are all down and in a few nights you clear your permission of all deer and jobs done. Then you can spend the money and spare time going to the continent and going on a driven boar hunt. I like it.

If anyone thinks that drones aren't already being used to find deer then I think that they would be being very naive. They're certainly being used for census work so why not? Why spend all day stalking a block when the herd is in the next one?

 

[mchughcb]

So while everybody is keen to say me too to the thermal spotters, who's out using drones on the culls then?

At least you can spend more time down the pub. Not much use stalking the area if there is no deer.

 

[mchughcb]

If anyone thinks that drones aren't already being used to find deer then I think that they would be being very naive. They're certainly being used for census work so why not? Why spend all day stalking a block when the herd is in the next one?

I supposed you could use the drone to scare them into your patch and then belt them as well. Save the next guy faffing about?

 

[25 Sharps]

If anyone thinks that drones aren't already being used to find deer then I think that they would be being very naive. They're certainly being used for census work so why not? Why spend all day stalking a block when the herd is in the next one?

The other team use them during the TB cull to spot traps and shooting teams at night too!

 

[JabaliHunter]

PC 1.5 requires the candidate to stalk to a position where a safe and effective shot can be taken. Firstly, we arrived amongst deer before first legal shot time and waited. We therefore 'ambushed' them at this point. Also, the deer could not be positively identified as per PC's 1.2 & 1.6. The thermal does not show cover between stalker and deer or indeed a safe backstop, so the shot could never be deemed safe or humane. Finding deer with them is easy, but you still need to get close enough to positively ID them and ensure a safe shot with the good old Mk1 Eyeball!
MS

Once the light had come up enough for positive ID with Mk.1 eyeball, safe shot, etc., etc., a single step to get into shooting position would technically constitute a stalk at that point...

 

[straightpull6547]

A thermal spotter will change you view on the number of muntjac you have, and increase your productivity by a factor of 5 as long as you know how to stalk them.

 

[Cyres]

Agree entirely we have munties but rarely see them and when you use a thermal you know why as they are running down the inside of thick double hedges and ditches. Even in daylight with the best optics available they can be all but impossible to see but all changes with a thermal.

As for cost well £2500 is a substantial amount in my case I took advantage of a 24 month interest free credit card and purchased my thermal then cut up the card and pay off each month. So I will have 24 months use before its actually mine. Guarantee for 3 years. Insured so its a win win.

As for fallow stalking of which I have minuscule experience, in woodland for a novice neigh on impossible but with a thermal you do get a chance.

There are some pitfalls recently head shot a fox in some very rough grass and took 15 mins to find it as it fell in a rut and so all but invisible.

Alternatively the last munty I shot ran into some very thick stuff but was plainly visible on the thermal. Nice to see it a real pain to get it out, quite literally.

Now I dont go out without a thermal.

D

 

[ashray]

thermal and night vision are out there and can never be stopped now BUT i do wish they had to be licenced.it may/may not have stopped them being used by poachers but had they been licenced it may not have been so wide spread or easy to obtain.

 

[sauer]

Thermal and NV for poaching yes you can bet it happens but it doesn’t give any more advantage than before because whatever they have we have also .... it went on and still does with the lamp.
Same as before just have to be right place right time same as they are to catch em.

Paul

 

[oowee]

A thermal spotter will change you view on the number of muntjac you have, and increase your productivity by a factor of 5 as long as you know how to stalk them.

Thats the hard part.

 

[baguio]

The deer down my neck of the woods don't suffer from aerial attacks (not even Bot flies) therefore they don't worry too much about drones. Because of this, driving deer with them isn't really an option even on our own land.

 

[mchughcb]

Might need to start a new thread on best drones for culling becsuse everyone is keen to say they use thermal but not sayong much about drones other than "people" are using them in culling.