Best Hand-Held Thermal $4k or less?

Hi All,

Looking to pickup a hand-held thermal, for daylight, winter deer hunting in moderately open bush and also tussocky hills/guts. It's a long drive from where I live to where I hunt (2+ hrs), and I know there are deer bedded down and I'm walking right past them, and would prefer to bring home a few more animals to make the travel worth it. And I do like toys ;)

Anyhow, I was looking at the Guide Track IR 50mm ($4k), or the Guide IR 510 Nano 25mm ($2.5k), and was wondering if anyone has experience with either or can perhaps make a recommendation for something better at that price range? I know that the Pulsar are highly regarded, but also a lot more expensive for comparable specs.

Also, if someone has a decent quality unit for sale I'd be open to purchase, but would want it to be in very good condition, late model.

Thanks a lot!

I have the guide track IR 50mm it's a top unit and performs well, I haven't used it on deer but I would be more inclined to suggest spend your money on better binos and take your time, if they are bedded down the will get up eventually.
If you were closer I'd let you have a look.
I'm in 2 minds about if I'm going to keep mine or sell it and buy better binos.
Nothing wrong with how it performs just not using it.
Flick me a pm if you like

Thanks. Part of the issue is I really enjoy covering a lot of ground, 15-20k per day, so sitting for hours and glassing is not my specialty. Being able to scan quickly whenever the sightlines open up in the bush, or after cresting a ridge when in open country, looking for heat signatures, would work better for me. Cheers

Problem with thermals, I’ve used the pulsar, is if an animal is bedded down and you can’t physically see it the thermals won’t pick it up either. Heat signatures don’t show through the bush. Even harder during the day as trees, Wood, bark, stones, ponga ferns all retain heat that shows up on the thermals. They are certainly handy and work amazingly well in the right situations. Also if you do get a monocular, use your non shooting eye to browse for animals through the thermal ( or Bluetooth to your phone and use the screen, which drains battery life quicker ) especially if it’s at night. Found one on the thermals then went to shoot it and couldn’t bloody see out that eye haha. We live and we learn.

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Originally Posted by F Majeur

Thanks. Part of the issue is I really enjoy covering a lot of ground, 15-20k per day, so sitting for hours and glassing is not my specialty. Being able to scan quickly whenever the sightlines open up in the bush, or after cresting a ridge when in open country, looking for heat signatures, would work better for me. Cheers

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You need to get a horse to cover that sort of ground a day.

There is a new brand out called Dali Southern.
NZ firm. I think its a copy of the Guide IR 50mm
Shooters supplies in are dealers.

I will have a pulsar accolade XQ38 to sell in the next week or so, just waiting for its replacement to turn up. Will want 5k for it. Bought brand new for 6k at start of year. Its done 2hrs or less of run time and is still on its first battery charge. Hasnt been leant out to anybody, only myself and the mrs have looked through it. We went for a walk around the farm the first night i had it and its only been used off my deck to look around with since. Havnt even wiped the glass on it. Best described as very babied, shop demos wish they were this looked after.

Hey, thanks sounds like a great offer, I ended up buying a Guide Track 50 from another forum member. Cheers