Thread: Thermalling deer

1justin have you actually looked at a deer through a thermal imager? I have an XQ50, and I can assure you that the images I have seen are not 'basic shapes'.

I recently watched a hind grazing her way across a grassy terrace in full darkness. I watched her raise her head and look around to check her surroundings, just as you would by eye if there was enough light. The clarity was such that I could see her turning her ears trying to pick up any unusual sounds. I could also clearly see the 20 or so cattle beasts bedded down in a hollow between myself and her, so I left her alone and moved on to another area I knew there would be deer.

Basic shapes? Definitely not. Unmistakably a hind and cattle.

I also watched 4 deer sneaking away off a grassy riverbed into the bush - obviously aware I was there, also in pitch black. I would never have known these were there without the thermal imager.

I never fired a shot at any of these deer. Once it was light enough, I put the XQ50 away in my day pack, and my 14 year old son and I hunted the clearings up the side creeks as we always do, and my son was fortunate enough to shoot a nice yearling hind.

To suggest I had no idea what I was looking at when I could watch her raise her head and turn her ears trying to pick up a strange sound, as any of you who have seen deer in the wild do, is ridiculous. This particular area I have hunted 30+ times, I know exactly what was behind where the hind was standing.

This particular area often has deer grazing the bush edge. We need to cross the main river to have a chance of shooting one. We only used the thermal imager to see if there were any there before crossing - this was to see if it was worth waiting there till it got light enough to shoot, or using the time to move upstream to other likely areas.

Could you explain how we were 'cheats'? The thermal imager didn't enable us to fire a shot before it was light enough to see through the scope. In fact mostly what it showed us was the ones we had scared off in the dark that we otherwise wouldn't have known were there.

Originally Posted by 1justin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYMiXu5tEl8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKZrWKBnlio



i have a thermal camara its a flir 320x240 if ya guna get one better to go with the other company so ya get 30hz, 9hz is fine but just a little anoyying and go as high a resolution as you can,
and i dont see why you shouldnt use them for spoting other than the fact that ur a cheat haha

It always gets me that these guys say hunting with a thermal is cheating then they promptly go out with a rifle and scope to hunt. Both are simply advances in hunting technology furthering our advantages against our quarry. If they are so against cheating should they be using a Bow? A spear? Or even simply their hands as they were given?

These advances in tech allow us to decide ourselves how much of an advantage we desire. Whether we shoot with a falling block in an old calibre, modern rifles and accuracy beyond our own persoanl abilities? Camo gear? That is our decision to make. I dont have the money to use thermal, and as much as I would like one, I probably wont. But I wont hold it against someone who does. Just cos I drive an older car, does not mean someone cannot drive a nicer one that I cannot afford. In fact I am all for that, cos that car in a few years could be affordable for me to own second hand.....

Originally Posted by timattalon

It always gets me that these guys say hunting with a thermal is cheating then they promptly go out with a rifle and scope to hunt. Both are simply advances in hunting technology furthering our advantages against our quarry. If they are so against cheating should they be using a Bow? A spear? Or even simply their hands as they were given?

These advances in tech allow us to decide ourselves how much of an advantage we desire. Whether we shoot with a falling block in an old calibre, modern rifles and accuracy beyond our own persoanl abilities? Camo gear? That is our decision to make. I dont have the money to use thermal, and as much as I would like one, I probably wont. But I wont hold it against someone who does. Just cos I drive an older car, does not mean someone cannot drive a nicer one that I cannot afford. In fact I am all for that, cos that car in a few years could be affordable for me to own second hand.....

Some good points but come on when you loose challenges life gets pretty boring pretty quick, shot plenty of deer & in a spot light but not anymore , iv been out recently 8 times seen deer 4 trips & spooked more all in the bush had a mate go out at night looking for a pig in the same spot & see 12 at night with a dig ..what are you doing lol..ouch I felt the burn & even worse the kids don't ask if I got anything now still I will not weaken if the deer keep beating me I will keep fit , will I get thermal optics or put a light on them..nope if someone tells me they shot a deer with thermal optics or a drone or xbox ...somehow ! will I think your a tosser...yep

Originally Posted by Boaraxa

Some good points but come on when you loose challenges life gets pretty boring pretty quick, shot plenty of deer & in a spot light but not anymore , iv been out recently 8 times seen deer 4 trips & spooked more all in the bush had a mate go out at night looking for a pig in the same spot & see 12 at night with a dig ..what are you doing lol..ouch I felt the burn & even worse the kids don't ask if I got anything now still I will not weaken if the deer keep beating me I will keep fit , will I get thermal optics or put a light on them..nope if someone tells me they shot a deer with thermal optics or a drone or xbox ...somehow ! will I think your a tosser...yep

This is actually part of my point. We can choose how much of a challenge we face? Do we walk in or is catching a lift in a chopper cheating? I dont spotlight anything excep rabbits and the occasional (unlucky) possum. And have not done that in ages....Most of the time I hunt with a single shot rifle in a calibre that is over 100 years old. I dont mind not shooting anything as success is measured differently. A successful trip is one where I have been successful in being where I want to be. All I am getting at is that the digi's are no more or less of an advance than scopes or rifles were over what they replaced. They have their place.

Police and SAR certainly do use thermal. Drones are being tried out for SAR purposes, but pretty limited in range, and even if equipped with thermal gear, they will struggle to get an image through thick canopy.

That last paragraph makes it sound like you are rather confused

I would love to get my hands on one to see what they look like during the day at range. Any good YouTube clips??

I am thinking I will get a hand held one. It won't get much use hunting deer. No need.

It would be good to cover a face in the winter for bull thar or chams that might elude the binos.

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Originally Posted by R93

I am thinking I will get a hand held one. It won't get much use hunting deer. No need.

It would be good to cover a face in the winter for bull thar or chams that might elude the binos.

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Not to flash on rocky faces from my experience, even tho it's winter the rocks still glow way to much

Anyone that drives to a hunting spot in a car is a cheater IMO. They should walk like I did back in my day... In snow, up hill both ways.

Originally Posted by Timmay

Anyone that drives to a hunting spot in a car is a cheater IMO. They should walk like I did back in my day... In snow, up hill both ways.

In bare feet and carryng a hundred yr old smelly with irons, making your brews with a billy and flint and wood to heat it. And only allowed to eat damper.

ooo you fellas are getting close to the flame!....next heli hunting will be sporting just smash them all lol or are doc the best hunter with 1080 wonder how many stags they have killed over the last 2 months a line needs to be drawn somewhere chaps I no this isn't a club like the deer stalkers or some other association but Id like to think we all have some morals if not why wang on about poachers & spotlighters & any other scallywags that likes blasting game how ever they see fit ?...maybe im missing something & yes I have seen it done once...and whats the point in owning a fast car when the speed limit is 100k

It comes down to the principal of fair chase. Does the animal have a realistic chance of escape.

Originally Posted by MassiveAttack

It comes down to the principal of fair chase. Does the animal have a realistic chance of escape.

Personally I find this thought comical.

We're using guns.

Preys natural instinct is to put space between itself and whatever wants to eat it. Even bush stalking which gives the deer a better chance of survival it's still a joke. You spook a deer at 5m, it runs to 40m then stops to assess the situation;
What is it? Is it still approaching? Do I need more space? Nope the predator is just standing there, I'm safe for now, stupid thing is just playing with a stick?

They don't have a concept of guns.

Even worse when your talking about 400m shots etc.
Damn this grass is good! Ah fuck that hurt! Bang!

We use technology because we would never stand a chance with our hands.

Originally Posted by Nibblet

Personally I find this thought comical.

We're using guns.

Preys natural instinct is to put space between itself and whatever wants to eat it. Even bush stalking which gives the deer a better chance of survival it's still a joke. You spook a deer at 5m, it runs to 40m then stops to assess the situation;
What is it? Is it still approaching? Do I need more space? Nope the predator is just standing there, I'm safe for now, stupid thing is just playing with a stick?

They don't have a concept of guns.

Even worse when your talking about 400m shots etc.
Damn this grass is good! Ah fuck that hurt! Bang!

We use technology because we would never stand a chance with our hands.

Nzda the code :
Definition of fair chase
•Animal must not have been taken in an enclosed area ie, behind deer wire or any such fence or fixture that impedes the animal’s unrestricted chance of escape
•Animal must not have been restrained ie, in a snare, trap, fence etc
•Animal must not have been taken with the aid of a spotlight or use of night vision equipment
•Animal must not have been taken from an aircraft, powered vehicle or vessel
•Animal must not have been coursed by dogs (with the exception of wild pigs)
•Animal must not have been taken in a manner where animal behaviour has been intentionally influenced by the use of a powered craft

seems like a good set of rules to me especially if heads are going to be entered , shooting a deer with thermal or a spotlight wouldn't be comparing apples with apples would it.

Originally Posted by Boaraxa

Nzda the code :
Definition of fair chase
•Animal must not have been taken in an enclosed area ie, behind deer wire or any such fence or fixture that impedes the animal’s unrestricted chance of escape
•Animal must not have been restrained ie, in a snare, trap, fence etc
•Animal must not have been taken with the aid of a spotlight or use of night vision equipment
•Animal must not have been taken from an aircraft, powered vehicle or vessel
•Animal must not have been coursed by dogs (with the exception of wild pigs)
•Animal must not have been taken in a manner where animal behaviour has been intentionally influenced by the use of a powered craft

seems like a good set of rules to me especially if heads are going to be entered , shooting a deer with thermal or a spotlight wouldn't be comparing apples with apples would it.

Should also say " not bred in captivity for the purpose of release'' IMHO if talking about heads entered in competitions.