Hi. Looking at getting a thermal monocular for spotting animals in the scrub, (briar/matagouri etc) more for daytime than night hunting. Any advice or experience in this area appreciated...... Cheers
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Hi. Looking at getting a thermal monocular for spotting animals in the scrub, (briar/matagouri etc) more for daytime than night hunting. Any advice or experience in this area appreciated...... Cheers
Welcome to the forum.
It's a solution that will only be helpful in early morning etc. Once the sun hits the face, you will struggle to notice them in the brush.Quote:
Originally Posted by The_bbb
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What’s the world coming too ….. how about binoculars?
If looking in briar/matagouri then the multitude of rocks in that terrain will bugger up your ability to spot animals during the daytime with thermal. Sometimes not but most of the time yes the rocks will be a similar temp to animals. Those $$ will be better spent on some quality binos.
Thermal cannot "see through" stuff like people talk about. But can, in the right conditions, give your the ability to see a significant difference in temperature. They will help you in the right conditions, but might be better to dump the money into good glass binos or even a spotter if the distance is significant
I'm a central South Island pest control contractor and spent a few nights per week behind Thermal scopes and monoculars.
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And it will take a lot of time using a thermal on real targets before you get an eye for hot spots during daytime unless it is very cold and shady
probably going to work all day in the middle of winter after a cold spell esp with snow or frozen ground but not on normal days where frost lifts and sun shines
Forget about a thermal in summer round cental mate
Naaah, well beyond that....Quote:
Originally Posted by Nathan F
An some of the Justifications make you wonder if He/She is getting out of bed on their own let alone dressing His/her self also...
Majority of large Aussie Sambar are day time thermalled now days....
Hard to Compete with egos and instafame..
Ive noticed NZ magazines promoting an advertising more budget brands which are accessible to the average punter on Kiwi wages... whereas the aussie are top brand Pulsar etc.
So no doubt alot are being used on DoC land for ...Cue the excuses here
I have some mates in the North Island hunting sika and they spy them with a thermal during daylight hours, unsure if they are doing this mid day on a hot day, but can’t see them with binoculars even though it’s openish glassing terrain, they reckon the body heat signatures are clear enough to make out animals during the day. It’s a necessity thing though, if it’s a pressured area and the animals aren’t out feeding comfortably in daylight hours then a thermal will help you spot where they are at
We see deer in steep scrub country if the sun hasn't been on the face...and clearly identify deer that are 100% invisible to binoculars. I reckon they take some of the fun out of the hunting but we get deer we wouldn't have otherwise with the tiny clearing we hunt.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jus
As said above and never accidently point into the sun.Spent a k on some binoes.Quote:
Originally Posted by Padox
Trust me I own themalsQuote:
Originally Posted by Trout
@The_bbb if you pop across to the 'Introductions' thread and introduce yourself people seem to be a little friendlier on here.
Most questions get met with people voicing there morals on the subject(sometime very strongly) and you will get helpful answers too. This has been asked before so have a look at this https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....hermals-72529/
I don't have a thermal but if I could justify the cost I would definitely buy one. I have looked through one during a sunny day and many things could be mistaken for an animal as the sun has heated them up, in some cases this is even a problem in the early evening. What I did notice using a thermal on a sunny day is I could see my mates dog as a bright heat signature moving through the bush.
On a early-ish morning hunt on a cloudy day where we had two groups looking at one dense bush face, one with a thermal one without. The thermal crew spotted 4 deer using the thermal and the other saw nothing. Rocks were seen using the thermal and discounted when confirmed using the binoculars. Based on that if you don't get out hunting often it seems like a really good tool to help spot animals.
And it can take a while to learn to 'read' (for want of a better word) the images and understand what you are looking at, especially if the image is cluttered with hot spots .
But they can be very useful during daylight and will definitely help spot animals you wouldn't see without one once you get your head around them.
And rocks don't move....
Also if you're hunting public land be aware the highlighted clause. It applies during day too.
Attachment 224152
Previously used handheld and mounted thermal scope/AR15 combo for pest control on private property. A very effective tool. These days I currently use HIKMICRO handheld thermal in tandem with HM Alpex night vision scope/rifle, almost as effective just lacking rapid firepower of semi. Can’t be arsed with P endorsement crap. I periodically use handheld thermal during daytime. They are surprisingly effective in the bush which is my main hunting for goats on DOC estate. And before anyone nuts off, handheld daylight use is ok. Hot day in open/broken country not so much. You get to recognise heat signature of rocks etc with practice. Anyhow, using thermal/NV is a very useful tool. The ethics of using for recreational? hunting is up to the individual. For me it’s oftentimes a hunter hours/numbers game.
Exactly. Get some high end binoculars and actually hunt, it's good fun.Quote:
Originally Posted by Nathan F
I have it in writing via email from DOC that daylight use of handheld thermal is ok. Local NZDA also has confirmation from same. My local conservancy bosses have previously given me the go ahead.Quote:
Originally Posted by uk_exile
Different conservancy’s may interpret differently but deerstalkers went to doc Lagan department regarding this scenario.
Thanks for all the replies, some good info in there. Cheers
Thanks for the info... yep not sure if I can justify one either yet, but interesting to hear the replies. Cheers
Think twice,buy once and enjoy.
Feckin Iphone autospell, should read doc legal department.
I own a hand held thermal but it spends most of its life with my mate who gathers meat at night on the back of farms. Im sure my swaros would see just as much if not more during daylight hours. Learn to hunt and use bino's . If you cant get a deer esp in these times take up chess or something else.Quote:
Originally Posted by Puddleduk
I have found a termal handy if you hunting pine forests during the day if its not too hot. In a block where you might get a deer if your lucky without one, with a thermal you end up seeing 10-12 and getting a crack at a few if you want.
It does change the way you hunt, less waiting and can cover big areas quickly.
That's interesting as the permit doesn't seem to be written that way and there have been a few threads here discussing how its not ok.Quote:
Originally Posted by woods223
Yes, that's the idea. If I wanted to shoot deer with the thing I would use a thermal scope, and at night. Daytime would be bino's once I knew there were animals there. Just figure it might allow some more options. If we all wanted to be purist, then I guess we would not use binos or scopes, (or even rifles for that matter......). - and last I heard, deer are an introduced pest on the DOC estate so I don't see why they would have a real issue. Cheers
Because it's in the RULES of your permit. Part 4.3
One of the very first times I took a thermal monocular out in the field it was a cool but sunny day in early winter. I got to the top of a spur that overlooked a gully and sat down and began glassing (binoculars). I spent about 15 minutes carefully scanning the gullies below me which were largely broken scrub with a bit of heavier bush near the creeks. I didn't locate anything and then remembered I had the thermal so got it out of my pack and started to scan with that. Within about 30 seconds I had picked up 2 pairs of goats and another lone goat, all in different locations below me. I then picked up the binos again and spent the next 10 (at least) minutes trying to find them again! Two were particularly hard to spot. Black and brown goats in amongst dead bracken at about 250m. Clearly visible in the thermal but near invisible through the 10x binos. I watched the 3 groups for a while (not really being interested in shooting any of them) and then picked up the thermal again. I immediately spotted a black pig in the fern below me. I could tell without doubt it was a pig but again had real trouble finding it in the binos. It looked like a good size so I crept down and got into a shooting position about 150m from where I had last seen it. When it appeared in the scope I was surprised and disappointed at how small it was. It did look a lot bigger in the thermal. Deciding not to shoot it I made my way back up and carried on further along the ridge. Once I had reach the next high point I looked back with the binos and saw 2 pigs, one much bigger than the other, disappearing into the bush. The larger one, the one I had originally seen in the thermal I suspect. This was the first time I had used a thermal in the field and I was impressed. I don't consider myself too shit at spotting game with binoculars but I don't think I would have seen any of these animals without the thermal. This was about a year ago and since then it has proved very effective at locating game quickly everywhere from chamois on the tops to deer in the bush. You can scan kms of country in seconds where using binos would take you half an hour. I can look and area over and then decide if I want to access what I have just spotted there.
I have only ever used it at night on rabbits although I have seen a lot of deer through it at night.
They have there limitations and do take a bit of "reading" but if you have a good quality one it's not hard. If you think it makes it too easy you obviously don't need one and if you have any ethical issues with them then that's up to you. Nobody is going to make you use one but I won't be getting rid of mine any time soon.
I love my thermal monoculars and clip on.Got my 1st monocular 8 yrs ago.Have updated gear a little and got a good system working well.Shot 22 deer and one pig this summer.Some in early morning and sunset light.Some in middle of the night.Have no trouble seeing deer 1800yds in the distance.Some deer walk with in 30yds of yr truck in the night.Roll on next summer.
Some nights see no deer,it starts pissing down with rain.Ten minutes later there 6 fallow over there,2 reds down there.
Couple of times I had to take my clip on off befor sunset as iv got yearlings wandering out on the river bed 200-
300yds away.
I dont have bugger all time to hunt all day around the hills.So i just watch the river beds and green spots.Shot my last 4 deer after I turned 69 last month.I was pretty pleased with my self.Oh 14 of those deer were shot from the same spot.
@turtle. So should we disregard what is written on the permit? Don't get me wrong, I actually agree with you about the people making these rules being out of touch.
PARD TA 32 is what I would be looking at. I have used friends thermals hunting and as others have mentioned you will see many animals you would otherwise miss or not be able to spot with binos. It makes your hunting very efficient so long as it’s not affected by thermal clutter (sun making other things hot). Some people fancy them some people don’t.
Think saw that thermal being used in an Aussie pest eradication contractor vid hooked up to an Ipad in the Truck. Used in conjunction with a Lightforce Spottie. Great set up. Must get link off Instagram.Quote:
Originally Posted by woods223
All good mate. I see where you are coming from. I will shut up now too.:thumbsup:
My Infiray is screwed to a camera poll thru my sun roof.Power cord down poll to power cig lighter.My monocular blue tooth to my phone.Sit in truck all night watchn for deer.Gota turn the screen light down on phone later in the night.Can take video,photos and range yr deer as well.I have a cover made to go over sun roof.Works well in pouring rain n fog.Can turn it 180degrees if needed,check behind me.Have improved design since,very water proof now.
Attachment 224211
https://www.instagram.com/p/CrsDfXXPsGF/Quote:
Originally Posted by woods223
In relation to the use of thermals on DOC land I saw this article from DOC in 2016 where they mention:
“The use of night vision equipment, infra-red and heat detecting devices are also prohibited on conservation land during the hours of darkness.”
https://www.doc.govt.nz/news/media-r...ng-after-dark/
If one takes the wording on the permit word for word then it seems thermals are outright banned but given that this statement is also grouped with other points about hunting at night and the use of spotlights etc, one could also make the interpretation that thermals are only banned at night. I think the latter is quite possibly what they intended. I personally cant see any logical reason against using a handheld thermal during legal hunting hours as long as you still have an binos/optical scope/open sights that would confirm target identity (i.e not also shooting with a thermal scope). Other evidence seems to support this interpretation such as the aforementioned article and the previous posts mentioning written statements from DOC etc.
You'd only be able to use it on a day hunt. If you were caught coming out from a multi day hike with one you'd automatically fall foul of the assumption you were using it in the daytime.
Identify your target beyond all doubt because you never miss (right?) and I'll be missed.
by that logic you better leave your torch/headlamp and candles at home too....and before you say you cant hunt using candles..yes you can,not very well but you can do it...many possums etc have been shot from trees using very primative lighting.Quote:
Originally Posted by Eat Meater
