Thread: Thermal for daytime

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.

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.

Originally Posted by Nathan F

What’s the world coming too ….. how about binoculars?

Exactly. Get some high end binoculars and actually hunt, it's good fun.

Originally Posted by uk_exile

Also if you're hunting public land be aware the highlighted clause. It applies during day too.
Attachment 224152

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.
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.

Originally Posted by Puddleduk

Exactly. Get some high end binoculars and actually hunt, it's good fun.

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.

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.

Originally Posted by woods223

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.
Different conservancy’s may interpret differently but deerstalkers went to doc Lagan department regarding this scenario.

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.

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.