Using thermal for stalking

[timbrayford]

100% or get a drone mounted 308 and exterminate deer from your bed

Would you recommend mounting a Blaser r8 on to the drone with a Lawrence Precision moderator fitted and using ballistic tipped ammunition for best effect?

 

[mchughcb]

So who is taking the 400 yard shots with thermal at deer at night and posting on facebook.

Just thought I'd merge two threads so the night warriors and ethic nazis can square off sooner without skirting the subjects.

 

[pop1]

If your using a thermal scope, would that be classed as stalking??

 

[mealiejimmy]

I don't think there is a legal definition of "stalking", but if you are out with a rifle and it is your intention to shoot deer, then most people would regard that as stalking irrespective of the type of scope you had on the rifle.

Cheers

Bruce

 

[Orion]

If your using a thermal scope, would that be classed as stalking??

Depends if you’re on foot or shooting driven, or from a high seat, on horseback, or quad, other vehicle, paraglider, helicopter, etc. etc.

Choice of scope doesn’t alter the definition of ‘stalking’ - “the act of following a person or animal as closely as possible without being seen or heard”.

 

[swatty]

The use of thermal is a invaluable tool to anyone who takes deer management seriously the fact that you can see far more deer using it means you can be twice as selective in which deer you choose to cull thems the facts of the matter plain and simple . Also they allow you to do better population census at all times of the year which is a game changer if your dealing with transient deer etc they are a game changer which used right will benefit deer populations by giving the stalkers the tools to become more effective in how they manage Deer

 

[glasshalffull]

I give you the future

 

[LuckyEddie]

My tuppence worth.

It seems that those that use thermals need to do so because they have too much ground to cover and can’t do it by simple means.
So instead of getting somebody to help, they need to rely on the thermal to manage the deer population - yes/no?
One of the posts said he had 6000acres to cover well I’d like to have a quarter of that and I’d gladly take the worst quarter!
It seems that having a thermal means you can cover more ground; which means there is less to be divided by the rest and it’s the less well off that are being priced out of stalking.
It would take me the better part of 4yrs to save up for a decent thermal, during which time I couldn’t afford to be out stalking - so just bear that in mind for all those that say thermals are great (including those that have to treat deer as vermin to do their job)

 

[woodmaster]

If your stalking deer for your own amusement then do it without thermal. If your culling to please your landowner use it.

Like sg arms says. I'm a recreational stalker and although I see the benefits of thermal to assist in having a successful outing, I personally gain more enjoyment from having to do some leg work, think where deer are most likely to be or not and test my ability to the full. I feel if one is to get a more instant "satisfaction" from finding the deer quickly and then hopefully turning that into an animal on the floor, one is missing some of the pleasure in taking the time to end with the same out come. That said it can be very frustrating when you've travelled a long way and ground has a low deer count a thermal may just help with finding them. For now I'm happy using the eyes while they are still good.

 

[tom308w]

Like sg arms says. I'm a recreational stalker and although I see the benefits of thermal to assist in having a successful outing, I personally gain more enjoyment from having to do some leg work, think where deer are most likely to be or not and test my ability to the full. I feel if one is to get a more instant "satisfaction" from finding the deer quickly and then hopefully turning that into an animal on the floor, one is missing some of the pleasure in taking the time to end with the same out come. That said it can be very frustrating when you've travelled a long way and ground has a low deer count a thermal may just help with finding them. For now I'm happy using the eyes while they are still good.

If your a recreational stalker that’s part of the stalking finding the deer through field craft.everyones seems to want instance success and moan about gamedealer prices

 

[glasshalffull]

I have to use this to achieve my cull target

 

[jimbo1984]

My tuppence worth.

It seems that those that use thermals need to do so because they have too much ground to cover and can’t do it by simple means.
So instead of getting somebody to help, they need to rely on the thermal to manage the deer population - yes/no?
One of the posts said he had 6000acres to cover well I’d like to have a quarter of that and I’d gladly take the worst quarter!
It seems that having a thermal means you can cover more ground; which means there is less to be divided by the rest and it’s the less well off that are being priced out of stalking.
It would take me the better part of 4yrs to save up for a decent thermal, during which time I couldn’t afford to be out stalking - so just bear that in mind for all those that say thermals are great (including those that have to treat deer as vermin to do their job)

All well and good , but ask this , when you ask someone to help , will they show up once the interest has waned ? Will they respect boundaries ? Will they close gates etc ? Will they try and go behind your back and take the land ? After being burnt a few times a lot of blokes simply think screw it I’ll manage on my own

 

[mchughcb]

My tuppence worth.

It seems that those that use thermals need to do so because they have too much ground to cover and can’t do it by simple means.
So instead of getting somebody to help, they need to rely on the thermal to manage the deer population - yes/no?
One of the posts said he had 6000acres to cover well I’d like to have a quarter of that and I’d gladly take the worst quarter!
It seems that having a thermal means you can cover more ground; which means there is less to be divided by the rest and it’s the less well off that are being priced out of stalking.
It would take me the better part of 4yrs to save up for a decent thermal, during which time I couldn’t afford to be out stalking - so just bear that in mind for all those that say thermals are great (including those that have to treat deer as vermin to do their job)

Well isn't that the truth. I hunt solo and i hunt in a team both deer, foxes, ducks. Working in a team takes effort but can certainly be worth it both socially and effectiveness. I see this reoccurring theme that somehow one person must somehow shoot hundreds of deer per year solo otherwise they will be booted off the place and claim thats management. On the other had i hunt in two clubs (fox and deer) where we shoot hundreds during the day but have about 10 active members in each club.

Then there is dogs. It seems to me that a lot of people don't have a dog, let alone a trained dog for finding deer and are quick to say if you don't have a dog its great to use a thermal. Same people who head shoot deer all night? Using a trained dog plus looking for running marks and blood trail in thick scrub is far more effective than a thermal alone. Looking for a deer you just head shot at 100m in an open paddock that just fell into long grass well then of course its better than a lamp.

Should this be called the deer culling directory?

 

[Primate]

[/QUOTE]

I have to use this to achieve my cull target View attachment 142093

Most likely a .223 AR15. So probably not legal in England for the larger species. Would be ok for Scottish Roe though. Tell me does this rifle belong to PKL by any chance?

 

[Primate]

Well isn't that the truth. I hunt solo and i hunt in a team both deer, foxes, ducks. Working in a team takes effort but can certainly be worth it both socially and effectiveness. I see this reoccurring theme that somehow one person must somehow shoot hundreds of deer per year solo otherwise they will be booted off the place and claim thats management. On the other had i hunt in two clubs (fox and deer) where we shoot hundreds during the day but have about 10 active members in each club.

Then there is dogs. It seems to me that a lot of people don't have a dog, let alone a trained dog for finding deer and are quick to say if you don't have a dog its great to use a thermal. Same people who head shoot deer all night? Using a trained dog plus looking for running marks and blood trail in thick scrub is far more effective than a thermal alone. Looking for a deer you just head shot at 100m in an open paddock that just fell into long grass well then of course its better than a lamp.

Should this be called the deer culling directory?

You are comparing methods used in a Country 32 times bigger than the UK that has a third of the population (people that is)
Hunting is banned here. If teams or 'clubs' of 20 fellas went out with dogs and killed hundreds of foxes and deer a day I dont think it would work somehow. Anits and sabs would be all over it. Over here deer stalking/control in most scenarios is largely undertaken as a solitary role, on pieces of land that in comparison to your country are tiny acreage's. Discression is paramount, wild west tactics wouldn't fit the bill in this sensitive world we live in, on our small over populated little island.

 

[glasshalffull]

All well and good , but ask this , when you ask someone to help , will they show up once the interest has waned ? Will they respect boundaries ? Will they close gates etc ? Will they try and go behind your back and take the land ? After being burnt a few times a lot of blokes simply think screw it I’ll manage on my own

Come off it you just wanna keep it all for me me me. I've heard it all before, just draw up a contract get them to read and sign it, job done. I'm sure they'll chip in with overheads deer extraction dog provision etc. If not then they ain't no use. It works for us anyway.

 

[foxdropper]

.......Or they can do the legwork and stop scrounging off lads with permission . Only one thing worse than a **** stalker and that’s a whining **** stalker that thinks the world owes him a favour .
If anyone has plenty of ground and can get round it they have my admiration as it dosnt come without putting in time served ,ground that is rent free I’m talking about where results matter or you are out .
We do several places where being hard on the deer is the only way forward and rather than getting in unknown persons with all the crap associated ,the latest tech used by those who know how to use it cannot be beaten .
Without thermal in these instances ,success is minimal and I’d like to see anyone prove otherwise .

 

[pop1]

Depends if you’re on foot or shooting driven, or from a high seat, on horseback, or quad, other vehicle, paraglider, helicopter, etc. etc.

Choice of scope doesn’t alter the definition of ‘stalking’ - “the act of following a person or animal as closely as possible without being seen or heard”.

I hear you, but I’m not sure anyone using a thermal scope with the intention of shooting deer would be stalking, in the traditional sense of the word anyways

 

[jimbo1984]

Come off it you just wanna keep it all for me me me. I've heard it all before, just draw up a contract get them to read and sign it, job done. I'm sure they'll chip in with overheads deer extraction dog provision etc. If not then they ain't no use. It works for us anyway.

Yep nobody ever breaks a contract ! You sir are delusional

 

[glasshalffull]

Yep nobody ever breaks a contract ! You sir are delusional

If they break the contract put them out of the syndicate that's how a contract works you see? Just take your head outta the sand and admit you sir are too greedy to share ur ground