Night vision options

[Blancoalex]

Looking for opinions on night vision options. Made my first hog hunt with borrowed night vision equipment. We use 3 types but would like to hear what you think is best to look at acquiring .

Below is what we used and our experience.

1- Night vision scope - if behind brush did not see pig(s)
2- infra red - limited distance 0-150yds , but saw red body heat glow that night vision missed
3 - regular scope with green or green flashlight - good for about 100yds to see body and red eyes
4- something better ?

Thanks

 

[Blackpowder72]

I use the Elusive Wildlife green scope light and green feeder lights . I'm good out to 150 yards . For the money very good products . I have a friend that uses ATN thermal scope. He is good out past 150 very nice rig . If you have unlimited money go with the thermal .

 

[geo4061]

Reap-Ir thermal. Outstanding definition to 400 plus.

 

[Blancoalex]

Geo4061, can this one be used as normal scope during day? We would like to transition from daylight to night with same setup if possible. Thx

 

[Kmccord]

I don't own the Thermal, but do own a Sightmark Photon 6x50 Digital Night vision, with a DNV, as you noted not going to see in brush, the thermal will pick out heat signatures, however in heavy thick woods, probably not going to be any better than DNV. If you want to use the same scope in the day as you do at night, then more than likely an ATN 4k Pro is probably going to be your best bet. I am not sure the thermal during the day will provide you with the same level of detail or crispness as the 4k Pro DNV. If anything, you invest 799.00 in that ATN and can use it all the time or take a chance and invest 1700.00+ for a Thermal that may not work as well as you want during the day. If possible, go to a store that has both and try it out. You know what it will do at night, the question is what about during the day.

 

[Blancoalex]

Thanks for the replies and shared knowledge

 

[snox801]

Ya price range depends. I've used lights atn x sight and I now have a pulsar thermal.
Thermal is by far the best but hard to judge distance.
X is crap without a good ir light. I will soon be testing it with one of my sniper hog lights with ir bulb.
Depends on price range and how often you will. Use it. Keep in mind just because you can see a target at 200 plus doesn't mean you should shot at it. You need to be very sure what your shooting and that can be tough. I've had some close calls in the past at around 100 yards because you have very little depth perception with thermal. So size can seem different. Had what I thought was a big pig not to long ago. Something about the neck seems off. After getting within 70 yards I was sure still 50/50 but couldn't chance it. So I hit it with a spotlight. Was a new calf with a small drop off next to it making it look like a pig height. Even the tail made me think pig. So be careful.

 

[Zen Archery]

All depends on your budget. Unpressured areas you can easily get away with a light.

 

[dfanonymous]

Looking for opinions on night vision options. Made my first hog hunt with borrowed night vision equipment. We use 3 types but would like to hear what you think is best to look at acquiring .

Below is what we used and our experience.

1- Night vision scope - if behind brush did not see pig(s)
2- infra red - limited distance 0-150yds , but saw red body heat glow that night vision missed
3 - regular scope with green or green flashlight - good for about 100yds to see body and red eyes
4- something better ?

Thanks

There's plenty of things better. Problem is they cost a lot so, depends on your budget and how serious you want to get at night. However you can't expect much out of cheap (sub $1000...more like $2000) optics that were made in China like ATN and sightmark when it comes to pure NVs. You can't use real NVs really in daylight either. You'll ruin the intensifier tube.
It would be easier and cheaper to use thermals.

 

[Kmccord]

Ya price range depends. I've used lights atn x sight and I now have a pulsar thermal.
Thermal is by far the best but hard to judge distance.
X is crap without a good ir light. I will soon be testing it with one of my sniper hog lights with ir bulb.
Depends on price range and how often you will. Use it. Keep in mind just because you can see a target at 200 plus doesn't mean you should shot at it. You need to be very sure what your shooting and that can be tough. I've had some close calls in the past at around 100 yards because you have very little depth perception with thermal. So size can seem different. Had what I thought was a big pig not to long ago. Something about the neck seems off. After getting within 70 yards I was sure still 50/50 but couldn't chance it. So I hit it with a spotlight. Was a new calf with a small drop off next to it making it look like a pig height. Even the tail made me think pig. So be careful.

What you just mentioned about calves looking like a pig is why I will not let anybody hunt on my property, I will not hunt in the same pastures my cows and calves are in. I have a DNV and 100 yards is max distance I will use. I have watched some of the YouTube videos of people using thermals, scanning pastures with pigs and you see cows in and around them and then they do a count down and start shooting, pigs running everywhere and crossing in front of cows and still blasting away... I do wonder how many cows or calves are shot during one of those nights Hunt's.

 

[snox801]

What you just mentioned about calves looking like a pig is why I will not let anybody hunt on my property, I will not hunt in the same pastures my cows and calves are in. I have a DNV and 100 yards is max distance I will use. I have watched some of the YouTube videos of people using thermals, scanning pastures with pigs and you see cows in and around them and then they do a count down and start shooting, pigs running everywhere and crossing in front of cows and still blasting away... I do wonder how many cows or calves are shot during one of those nights Hunt's.

That's why it's important to be responsible.
I've hunted cattle ranches for every hunt but a few.
You need to make sure you know what you are aiming at and what is behind it at all times.
It's very tough for some people to process that in real time. My ex brother-in-law is one who I could never really take places cause the risk was to high.
I would have the combo of good night vision for scanning and identifying targets and thermal for the rifle. But I don't get to spend enough time in pig country to make it worth it. I get two weeks a year max.

 

[Revolting Peasant]

I use a thermal monocular for scanning.
Pulsar Digisight for shooting. Have to have a really good illuminator to get full potential from this scope. Brush, branches, and tall grass really messes with this set up. Especially if it is close and hog is further out. Glare reflected from brush etc blooms out the scope. Senderos, roads, and right of ways works great.
Upgraded to a Halo Lr thermal sight.
Life is good. If you go thermal sight, be sure to match your base magnification to the range you will most often shoot. Lots of low mag thermals that aren't very effective if you are gonna sit in a deer stand and shoot hogs after dark at 150-200 yards. Work great for walking a grain field.
As stated, be very careful with id of game and thermal. Easy to make a costly mistake.
Just my hard won opinions. Pee on the electric fence yourself, if you must lol. YMMV

 

[Revolting Peasant]

Also, just my experience using red vs green lights. I have several. Have used more side by side.
For hogs and especially exotics (axis, sika, etc) red works much better than green. I think maybe they can see their shadow with the green lights. These are hard hunted animals, so wary. Whitetails doing headcounts it didn't seem to matter much.
I discussed this with one of the high dollar light manufacturers. His experience matched mine, but everyone wants green lights so he makes green lights.

 

[Merf45]

Yea i have an Atn 4 k ir that came with it not that great put a sniper hog ir on it made a big difference