Thread: Thermal gear. Should we have it?

Thermals are heaps safer than spotlighting or looking through a scope. You can identify the target and what's behind it to a certain extent. So long as you identify your target, line of fire and what's beyond.

For me it’s a bridge too far and tips the balance too much in the hunter’s favour. I have always been of the opinion that the hours of darkness give our prey a little respite, which is now being diminished. I get the point that without innovation I would be without my rifle, scope, GPS, ballistic app, rangefinder, etc, but this is a step change beyond all of those. I will never do it, but it’s a personal choice. I am also not comfortable with the argument that it makes hunting at night safer. Yes, unit may be safer than spotlighting, but it’s never going to be as safe as seeing the target and what’s behind it in shooting light.

Originally Posted by Outdoors

Thermals are heaps safer than spotlighting or looking through a scope. You can identify the target and what's behind it to a certain extent. So long as you identify your target, line of fire and what's beyond.

Issue is your last statement its not a given everyone does it. And at night the target doesn't get a warning whether that be deer or person.