15 November 2022, 03:11
dogcatNight vision or thermal? Cost not an issue
What do you like - night vision or thermal assuming cost is not an issue?
15 November 2022, 07:35
enyIf you're just shooting pigs and varmints go thermal, if you need to positively ID target , get NV
16 November 2022, 08:39
AcerMy experience with night vision is dated and limited to more primitive versions - but I can’t envision a scenario where night vision would be preferable to thermal.
Seeing animals at night with a thermal is a surreal experience. You can detect animals from hundreds of yards away that you probably wouldn’t notice with night vision - it’s like they are painted with luminous paint. The “glow” draws your eye - not just movement, more like a flashlight moving. I see mice scurrying at night at ranges and in vegetation that I would miss them in daylight.
As mentioned in another response, you need to positively identify your target - as sometimes the outline of a hog may resemble a raccoon or deer or something else. But if you take your time, experience quickly teaches you what to look for.
Thermals make distance estimation difficult (is that a small hog at 20 yards or a big hog at 80???) - but newer versions have built-in rangefinders. Thermals also provide details that help in target selection- as boar bits or sow teats are easily visible at reasonable ranges.
No matter what you end up with, hunting at night is really fun and effective. Read first-hand reviews on individual models. Consult your state regs and enjoy!
Dave
26 January 2023, 02:13
ZekeShikarquote:
Originally posted by Acer:
My experience with night vision is dated and limited to more primitive versions - but I can’t envision a scenario where night vision would be preferable to thermal.
Seeing animals at night with a thermal is a surreal experience. You can detect animals from hundreds of yards away that you probably wouldn’t notice with night vision - it’s like they are painted with luminous paint. The “glow” draws your eye - not just movement, more like a flashlight moving. I see mice scurrying at night at ranges and in vegetation that I would miss them in daylight.
As mentioned in another response, you need to positively identify your target - as sometimes the outline of a hog may resemble a raccoon or deer or something else. But if you take your time, experience quickly teaches you what to look for.
Thermals make distance estimation difficult (is that a small hog at 20 yards or a big hog at 80???) - but newer versions have built-in rangefinders. Thermals also provide details that help in target selection- as boar bits or sow teats are easily visible at reasonable ranges.
No matter what you end up with, hunting at night is really fun and effective. Read first-hand reviews on individual models. Consult your state regs and enjoy!
Dave
I've play extensively with both and I concur, there's NOTHING like a quality thermal product. We use thermal spotter/scanners and thermal rifle scopes and they're nothing short of wonderful.
But of course the new scope I want is $18,000.00 so I'll just suffer by with my old yet decent one.
Zeke