Using thermal for stalking

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cookingfat

cookingfat

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I am sure this has been done to death, But I just wondered who is using a thermal as part of there stalking kit on every outing?
I have just watched a YouTube hunting film where the guide/gillie used a thermal in stead of binoculars as part of his approach to a shot on a muntjac!
Is this now the norm now?
I have a pulsar thermal until and its a fantastic bit of kit for finding foxes in the dark without the use of a light but I never use it when stalking as I am under no pressure to produce deer for a client or achieve cull numbers.
I have friends who's job it is to kill as many deer as possible and thermal is a very valuable tool in there box and I can see the value of using it for that purpose.
Just wondered who is using thermal scopes and spotters for stalking?

your views please
 
Haven't used thermal for stalking, but borrowed one for doing a population census, and was impressed. In some ways I think using one when stalking would be "cheating", but on the other hand, when coming under pressure from a landowner to achieve a cull target, I think it would be a Godsend. I have heard folk describe it as a "game changer" and I can well believe it.
 
When funds/ the wife allows I'm gonna get one.

It's a game changer. Night or day after deer or fox ,a quick scan shows up if there is owt near ya

And before the liberals among us start going into war n peace on the ethics of using it blah blah blah

I couldn't give a monkies Ahole

It's a game changer for locating game.dead or alive

Kjf
 
North Stalker said:
Wouldn’t leave home without it.
Binos are now 95% redundant.
Click to expand...

Similar here but it’s the big lens binos that are largely redundant. Now using a pair of Swaro CL8x25B binos for final identification in conjunction with the thermal spotter. So, wouldn’t be without binos but the need for the nth degree performance has been reduced (although the little Swaros are superb).
 
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Like you, I have one and use it for foxing mainly. It is awesome for that but I tend not to use it in the daytime much. I am also under no pressure whatsoever to shoot tons of deer. Just the odd one here and there when I want as they are not a problem for us.

I did however use it this morning for an early morning foray with a mate around a wood he has recently been shooting over. It has plenty of Muntjac and is pretty dense in places with very few shootable rides or clearings. It was pretty useful I must admit. We didn't shoot anything but did spot a couple that we were able to observe and watch that I expect we would otherwise have walked past or bumped. I could see how it would be particularly useful for that sort of application.

Must admit, I do prefer binos and quiet footsteps. Far more enjoyable but each to their own. I can see where there would be a place for them, especially if numbers needed putting down quickly.
 
Yep use one for both deer and foxes and a game changer absolutely. Spot with thermal clarify and ID with bins shoot if it’s the right animal, gender,safe etc etc. As been said you haven’t got to shoot all animals you spot.
 
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All the last 10 foxes have been located with my thermal. the last fallow I shot showed up a few seconds before he stepped onto a narrow ride at 240 yards it gave me a heads up. However the 4 previous ones I could see on the rides without thermal/bins just my mince pies lol...

Tim.243
 
younger generation in the squad forced me to come out of the dark side last year never thought I would use the term 'game changer' but it certainly does just that. had originally got it for night shooting but now it goes every time very handy in the on the way out in the dark saves tumbling into deer and clearing the hill. good for seeing beasts lying down in the long grass and deep heather. even in when the mists right down to 20yds visibility can spot a target and sit it out until the mist lifts.
 
cookingfat said:
I am sure this has been done to death, But I just wondered who is using a thermal as part of there stalking kit on every outing?
I have just watched a YouTube hunting film where the guide/gillie used a thermal in stead of binoculars as part of his approach to a shot on a muntjac!
Is this now the norm now?
I have a pulsar thermal until and its a fantastic bit of kit for finding foxes in the dark without the use of a light but I never use it when stalking as I am under no pressure to produce deer for a client or achieve cull numbers.
I have friends who's job it is to kill as many deer as possible and thermal is a very valuable tool in there box and I can see the value of using it for that purpose.
Just wondered who is using thermal scopes and spotters for stalking?

your views please
Click to expand...
Abomination. It's just my opinion but personally I think it's a step too far and tips the scales very unfairly against our respected quarry not to mention the hard learnt ability to outsmart them. It's more of a leap too far really imho. I'm sure I'll be slated no end but I'm entitled to an opinion. NV and thermal aren't ever going in my arsenal for deer they're just another screw in the coffin of stalking again in my train of thought. Nintendo gaming comes to mind. Now I'm needing a big pour of Bush to calm down....
 
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