Thermal Spotting

[Foxyboy43]

Well then, yours truly tiptoed very gently into the world of NV only last year with the purchase of a Pard 007a which I used on my .17, .222 and 6.5x55SE (other 6.5s are available but ……). It was so impressive I also soon bought a Pard 008P for the beloved. For clarity, that’s the Triple Deuce, not Mrs FB! Again as with the add-on I have found it a super addition to my day and night-time shooting - Mrs FB really looks forward to viewing all my splendid footage, time and time again, though I have noticed a corresponding increase in her gin consumption…... But hey, what more could an oul fella want? Or so I thought…..
Sooo recently a much younger whippersnapper pal who knows these things suggested I borrowed his thermal to help shoot a particularly troublesome and educated fox. I was of course very grateful though in my innocence I did wonder how a warm vest would make any difference to my fox-shooting so I was particularly surprised when he produced this dainty little magic box which didn’t use IR. For brevity let’s just say it was a revelation, I could see every warm-blooded creature at distances I couldn't believe possible, the first being a woodcock which took to its wings and discharged a very long tracer-like emission as it took off! Offending fox was a doddle, ran straight in and shot with the help of the trusty Pard at close range. Stunning! A not so slow-burning itch started at that point….
Sooo a long quick conversation with Mrs FB about that wonderful, useless present she was going to buy for my upcoming very big birthday and as soon as the plaster was removed a call to Colin aka Remmy 700 (other dealers are available) and a new Axion is in the post en route to NI. What many would call an eejit impulse buy but I am at an age where impulses are increasingly rare and by the time the purchase is delivered I have forgotten buying it. I do like surprises though so that’s all right.
Question now is what is the best use to make of said thermal? I have read on this site that you use it with your non-shooting eye, why is that, how do you hold the damned rifle then? Does it have the same temporary loss of vision effect as IR? Which of the “palettes” (wot?) is best? What is “lag” (wot?)? I have this mental picture of me on my next outing taking on the appearance of a Japanese tourist. Am I mad?
Oh well, if you keep an eye on the Classifieds no further update may be necessary.
Grateful for any advice chaps.

 

[Len the dog]

I’ve also just dipped my toe into thermal spotting to supplement the Mk3 NV, it’s a game changer. Previously I was searching with a lamp, but because of the regular night time activities in my area of those kind and considerate folk whose homes have wheels, all the foxes are very lamp shy. After reading a couple of threads about this very dilemma I have decided to use my scope eye (right) even though I naturally hold things with my left hand. I shoot right handed, fortunately because my right eye is dominant, so it’s not a natural way to hold the spotter to the opposite eye, however I find that with my left eye unaffected by display screens I can still wander about without a torch.

 

[wytonpjs]

FB - most of my stalking is done during the civilised hours of the day targeting animals who get the mid-morning/lunchtime munchies so I invariably use my thermal with my master eye that I shoot with. I’m right -handed too and just cannot get to grips with using it left-handed and left-eyed.

However, thermal is a compliment to my stalking and I use it to quickly “glass” an area to see what’s around before deciding which to follow up traditionally. My main stalking ground is mostly open grassland and the wood blocks are relatively open so it’s mostly Mk1 eyeball, binos and then a quick check with the thermal to see whether I’ve missed anything (safety too as to whether there is something else there). I used to also shoot fallow in woodland and that was the reverse: thermal, Mk1 eyeball (briefly assessing safety) then scope/bang as they don’t hang around for long.

I don’t night shoot so I appreciate that those who do have to use thermal differently but for my stalking, it compliments my stalking rather than defining it. Sadly, I see too many other users who walk around with thermal clamped to their faces like cyclops missing deer in plain sight to the eye. Both my last roe doe of the season and my first 2 roe bucks taken on Friday and Saturday were entirely “optical”. Where I do find my Helion 2 XP50 Pro essential is in claggy/wet conditions where it can alert me to things my eyes cannot discern.

Welcome to the New World - I doubt you will be selling it on!

 

[Foxyboy43]

FB - most of my stalking is done during the civilised hours of the day targeting animals who get the mid-morning/lunchtime munchies so I invariably use my thermal with my master eye that I shoot with. I’m right -handed too and just cannot get to grips with using it left-handed and left-eyed.

However, thermal is a compliment to my stalking and I use it to quickly “glass” an area to see what’s around before deciding which to follow up traditionally. My main stalking ground is mostly open grassland and the wood blocks are relatively open so it’s most Mk1 eyeball, binos and then a quick check with the thermal to see whether I’ve missed anything. I used to shoot fallow in woodland and that was the reverse: thermal, Mk1 eyeball (briefly assessing safety) then scope/bang as they don’t hang around for long.

I don’t night shoot so I appreciate that those who do have to use thermal differently but for my stalking, it compliments my stalking rather than defining it. Sadly, I see too many other users who walk around with thermal clamped to their faces like cyclops missing deer in plain sight to the eye. Both my last roe doe of the season and my first 2 roe bucks taken on Friday and Saturday were entirely “optical”. Where I do find my Helion 2 XP50 Pro essential is in claggy/wet conditions where it can alert me to things my eyes cannot discern.

Welcome to the New World - I doubt you will be selling it on!

Wow that is very reassuring thank you - I was a bit concerned about the eye thing after seeing the footage of the thermal spotter inventor….

 

[Gunner223]

Turn the brightness down to zero it helps a lot .

 

[3.5mag]

Definitely use your non-shooting eye otherwise you may unfairly curse the apparently diminished performance of your scope due to "black eye"!
You'll soon get used to scanning with your left? eye. Been using a Helion for 4yrs now & wouldn't be without thermal now.
Have fun, there's no going back now!

 

[Foxyboy43]

Th

Definitely use your non-shooting eye otherwise you may unfairly curse the apparently diminished performance of your scope due to "black eye"!
You'll soon get used to scanning with your left? eye. Been using a Helion for 4yrs now & wouldn't be without thermal now.
Have fun, there's no going back now!

Thank you 3.5 - I fear I am forever damned to getting some very strange looks from total strangers because of my big eye…….

 

[User00036]

Foxy, I find hot white is best, lag is when I'm too bloody knackered to get out there. The best thing with thermal is reconnaissance, I spend as much time just studying what is about, deer numbers, woodcock, fox patrol routes, & where they don't. Its fascinating, opens up a door into their world. Before I bought a thermal, I was struggling to see a pair of eyes, after I got one I put 40 foxes down in the first year on my few acres. Find the standby button on that tool, it saves battery & stops lighting up your coat/face when out & about. Good luck.

 

[foxdropper]

If the axion has a violet screen mate ,try that .I find it’s far softer on the eye .The black eye thing goes in time ,I don’t get it now .From memory the default screen is light blue on them which is soft too .
I rarely hunt without mine ,not to kill everything I see but to watch all nature around me before it watches me .

 

[Foxyboy43]

Foxy, I find hot white is best, lag is when I'm too bloody knackered to get out there. The best thing with thermal is reconnaissance, I spend as much time just studying what is about, deer numbers, woodcock, fox patrol routes, & where they don't. Its fascinating, opens up a door into their world. Before I bought a thermal, I was struggling to see a pair of eyes, after I got one I put 40 foxes down in the first year on my few acres. Find the standby button on that tool, it saves battery & stops lighting up your coat/face when out & about. Good luck.

Thank you sir. Getting quite excited really - exceedingly rare and something to be cherished nowadays!

 

[Foxyboy43]

If the axion has a violet screen mate ,try that .I find it’s far softer on the eye .The black eye thing goes in time ,I don’t get it now .From memory the default screen is light blue on them which is soft too .
I rarely hunt without mine ,not to kill everything I see but to watch all nature around me before it watches me .

Thanks UNG.
Mrs FB always assured me that the black eye would fade in time - usually just before she gives me another one!

 

[David.evans]

So up too good
you do have a soft heart in there somewhere
nice

 

[3.5mag]

White hot is great for fast scanning as any creature stands out immediately as if they've a 500w halogen shoved up their jacksey!
I also find it excellent for identification. Red monochrome is good for eye relief, being more subdued but still giving good target detail... It's also good at seemingly reducing screen noise/graininess on poor nights

 

[foxdropper]

So up too good
you do have a soft heart in there somewhere
nice

I’m a caring sharing chap Dave who dosnt suffer fools readily .
Don’t get too cosy though

 

[Phil fox man]

welcome to the new age of huntingtook me a while to get one but I wouldn't be without it now.
you will be amazed what's out there.

 

[Foxyboy43]

welcome to the new age of huntingtook me a while to get one but I wouldn't be without it now.
you will be amazed what's out there.

Thanks PFM.