Thread: Spotting scope vs thermal handheld?

Hi everyone,

I’m looking at purchasing either a spotting scope or a thermal handheld for hunting deer in NZ South Island. I already have decent 12x42 binos. I like the idea of having a scope to check sex/age and also for general animal observation (including bird watching). But, thermals look great for finding animals more quickly and I’m wondering if they can be used for bush hunting as well as tops.

Price is not really an issue but I’m only looking at having one or the other rather than both. Would appreciate any advice/opinions!

Thanks
BB

If what you want to do is find deer to shoot for the freezer, a thermal handheld will find 10 times more than a spotting scope. Its also a lot lighter and easier to use. They will work very well in the bush, where the average temperature will be lower than out in the open.

Given the nature of the questions, I think your best bet is to get out hunting and try both out. They are both handy for their own purposes, but how you'll end up using them, and their strengths/weaknesses are quite different. Jumping in without understanding them is a recipe for wasting money.

If you're new to hunting, hold off on buying either and get out hunting a bit, get a feel for what you like, and take the opportunity to learn from others (and their mistakes) before dumping more money into more gear.

Spotting Scopes:
Pros:
- Great for open country
- Some can be used for general glassing (depending on quality, field of view, magnification etc) while others are better for scrutinizing specific animals.
- Work any time there's enough light to see (don't require batteries).
- Last forever if they don't get abused

Cons:
- Generally at least bulkier if not heavier.
- Can't be used at night or in very low light.
- Most of the time you'll use your binoculars, but seems like once you're used to having a spotting scope you miss not having it.

Thermal optics
Pros:
- Can spot animals you would miss otherwise (big emphasis on can... these aren't magical).
- Allows you to observe animals at night time (Remember to follow DOC policy if on public land etc).

Cons:
- Battery powered.
- Very expensive - the two biggest costs in thermal devices are the lenses and the sensor. As you go up in size and quality, so do your costs. As you go up in size, so does image quality.
- Much harder to use if there's direct sunlight, or there has been much direct sunlight in the last several hours. Even small changes in ground temperature can make the ground and animals appear as almost the same temperature, basically making the thermal useless until the ground cools down.
- Electronic, so prone to failure. Unlike mechanical optics, these have a lifespan. You can refurbish some of them for a price if the company is willing to, but generally if they fail outside of warranty that's your problem, which is annoying given their price point.
- Require a certain degree of tech savvy (or willingness to read and learn) to choose the right thermal and use them effectively. You don't need a degree in thermography, but if you don't understand them, you won't get as much value out of them. You'll probably also get sold on useless marketing by whoever is selling it. If you aren't willing to read and understand how optics size, sensor size, NETD, and pixel pitch work and interact, you're probably going to be sold a marketing story and not the device that's best for you.
- Some people can't get used to them no matter how much they try. Seems like they usually find this out after buying them.


They're both excellent tools, but it's worth understanding what their strengths and weaknesses are, and the best way to do that is try them in the real world. If you don't know anyone with them, your local NZDA will have people who can point you in the right direction.

With a spotting scope you can see a whole lot further than a thermal. Most thermals have a pretty limited useful distance if in open country. If youre a hunter, possibly looking for a trophy, then a spotter will be a lot more useful. Then as time progresses and you have the opportunity to try a few thermal's, finances may allow you to own both.

I was in a local hunting chain store recently listening to a young salesman attempting to sell a customer two thermals that were at the same price point. Both thermals being completely different (19mm and 35mm) and suited for thermal work at entirely opposite ends of the hunting spectrum. The only common factor being the price. Like anything become informed before purchasing. Ive put this basic guide together to help people on their thermal journey.

https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....thermal-96545/

Originally Posted by 55six

I was in a local hunting chain store recently listening to a young salesman attempting to sell a customer two thermals that were at the same price point. Both thermals being completely different (19mm and 35mm) and suited for thermal work at entirely opposite ends of the hunting spectrum. The only common factor being the price. Like anything become informed before purchasing. Ive put this basic guide together to help people on their thermal journey.

https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....thermal-96545/

That's the thing at longer range large and small lens have different use...
I have only used the infiray T2 to find animal at first light. Usually when the sun is up I move to bino. Larger lens would give more detail but I don't feel the need for it. If I upgrade the Infiray T2 I would go for a small lens.

Thermals are a massive time saver, if you want to see more animals get a thermal.

Recently bought a thermal and took it up the coast to show one of my hunter fam members who was a skeptic and had never used one, within a few minutes we spotted 3 deer 160 yards from his back deck and he couldn't believe it.

Found them in the binos and it was a stag and 2 spikers, he was an instant believer and is now going to buy one

You will find animals with a thermal you wouldn’t have seen with a spotter, especially low light.
You need a spotter to assess animals.
I was running hi end binos and a thermal,(shot a stag I should have left)
Have just bought a spotter, make a huge difference

There two very different bits of equipment that do very different things.

A spotter is designed to see detail at long distance and obviously needs (day)light to work, the more the better. A spotter is ideal for assessing animals you've already found or for sustained glassing at longer distances. There not ideal for having a quick look at a face or a brown blob that you can't decide if it's a deer or bush. Weight also becomes an issue if you're walking any distance.

A thermal on the other hand is designed to see heat so needs no light. Typically they are used at short-mid range.
A thermal is very good for finding animals fast, they're not ideal for assessing an animal though. And they definitely have limitations on a warm day.

It depends on what your trying to achieve, if you want to see more animals and aren't fuzzy about exactly what animals then get a thermal. If you're looking to shoot a certain standard of animal and need to be able to pick the difference between an 11 and 12 inch bull or 12 and 13 pointer stag at distance then you need a spotter.