Illegal Thermal Use

[Hunting Wife]

I love mine for coyotes. It’s fun to call and see what comes in, but I am continually surprised at how well I can see and ID other critters at pretty decent distances. I can’t really tell bucks from does most of the time, but it’s pretty easy to tell deer from antelope for example. Unfortunately I have no doubt folks are using them to locate and set up on big game before shooting light.

 

[EYJONAS!]

Its even dry January.....

 

[DFS]

People have shamelessy told me they use them for hunting big game. Pisses me off. Hunting needs a technology roll back.

 

[Flynarrow]

Why not just shoot them at night too? At that point ethics are out the window IMO.

Probably the paying clients thought they were on a real hunt.

 

[Ought Six]

“The use of infrared or thermal devices to hunt, locate, or scout wildlife provides a person with a significant unfair, unethical advantage over other unethical hunting behaviors as it completely voids the animal’s natural ability to hide or conceal itself,” Oregon State Police said.

I think Oregon State Police said it pretty well.

 

[DFS]

“The use of infrared or thermal devices to hunt, locate, or scout wildlife provides a person with a significant unfair, unethical advantage over other unethical hunting behaviors as it completely voids the animal’s natural ability to hide or conceal itself,” Oregon State Police said.

I think Oregon State Police said it pretty well.

Too bad Montana won’t copy and paste.

 

[Gellar]

Iowa DNR Confirms First ‘Fisher’ Spotted in Iowa Since 1800s

ALLAMAKEE COUNTY, Iowa – An animal not confirmed to have been seen in Iowa since the 1800s has weaseled its way back into the state. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says a trail camera pho…

who13.com

Hardin County man fatally shot while coyote hunting

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is investigating a fatal hunting incident that occurred Sunday night in northern Hardin County.

www.iowadnr.gov

What did they forget to mention in both of these articles? O yea, they were both killed using a thermal scope. 1 was at the taxidermist before the newspaper article ran.

 

[Little Big Man MT Chris]

We're not all on cocaine.

All right who’s ready to kill chit !

 

[Benfromalbuquerque]

There are probably some states that still don’t have “thermal” in the regs. Rather “light/IR device projecting beam…” and now the technology has already jumped from monoculars to binoculars to scopes and then semi-autonomous drones. Thermal scopes have a significant advantage when hog shooting and recovering. There are hogs in many states and a case can be made that thermal should be allowed for that specific application. Deer, coyotes, antelope, rabbits, mice all have distinctive appearances in thermal and you know it’s a hog when you see it.

Though I will add this caveat: hog hunting alone with any means possible is ineffective in total hog eradication. If we’re going to continue that narrative that [hunters are necessary yadda yadda] pigs destroy crops and outcompete native species then we have to trap pigs and run dogs on pigs as well as shoot. I’m in complete support of 24/7 feral hog killing using any means possible including those ways that would otherwise be considered unsportsmanlike and provide an unfair advantage.

 

[Kiwi]

FWIW thermals are now legal in NZ to find game on public land while hunting.

I’m not a fan as I don’t like the idea of people using this technology to find deer to shoot while I’m taking an afternoon snooze under a tree. Here people shoot at color/sound/movement all too often.

 

[jejack26]

Friend of mine guides for big outfitter here in montana
Said every single client showed up with some sort of thermal device.

 

[Mallardsx2]

This thread makes me want to puke.

 

[BrentD]

As I have said for decades, if the military has it, Cabelas will have it within 5 years.

This is going to be a big issue as proponents will say "we only use thermal to find wounded game."

Thermal optics and scopes are already out there....controlling them is going to be a nightmare.

Kill everything with whatever means possible seems to be the new modis operandi......

It is not new. But it is the MO.

 

[BrentD]

There's no doubt it is a to each his own type deal. I just sit back and ask myself where is the line? I hear stories of people using thermals drones to scout. It just takes away from the adventure in my opinion.

There is no line. Never will be. The newest and greatest has to be allowed. Has to.

We exterminated herds and even species with muzzleloaders and horses. We do not NEED this stuff, but hunting is competitive in nature, so everyone wants an edge.

 

[Sytes]

Don't need no stinkin' thermals...

 

[EYJONAS!]

We exterminated herds and even species with muzzleloaders and horses. We do not NEED this stuff, but hunting is competitive in nature, so everyone wants an edge.

That's when real men and women walked the earth. Can you imagine how much they're laughing at us looking down.

Now a days it's hey bruh checkout Reaper and Switchblade I got on my cell cams 15 min ago coming into the corn feeder.

I don't see it ending either. Matter of fact it's probably just the beginning I've been listening to lots of different podcasts lately on thermals and drones for military use and now what just civilians have access to it's some crazy shit they can do and see.

 

[Ought Six]

That's when real men and women walked the earth. Can you imagine how much they're laughing at us looking down.

Now a days it's hey bruh checkout Reaper and Switchblade I got on my cell cams 15 min ago coming into the corn feeder.

I don't see it ending either. Matter of fact it's probably just the beginning I've been listening to lots of different podcasts lately on thermals and drones for military use and now what just civilians have access to it's some crazy shit they can do and see.

Bet they are looking down thinking, “Damn I wish we had centerfires and thermals.”

 

[brockel]

Hunttalk talking about that damn technology from their technology. Place gets more ridiculous all the time. Getting to be a tough place to hang out. Feel like I’m at the coffee shop with the old timers always pissing and moaning about something

 

[shrapnel]

Hunttalk talking about that damn technology from their technology. Place gets more ridiculous all the time. Getting to be a tough place to hang out. Feel like I’m at the coffee shop with the old timers always pissing and moaning about something
View attachment 355538

Agreed, the only thing not brought into the discussion is fur seals, and I’m sure someone can find a way to introduce them into the conversation…

 

[ismith]

It would be pretty sweet to drop a

Hunttalk talking about that damn technology from their technology. Place gets more ridiculous all the time. Getting to be a tough place to hang out. Feel like I’m at the coffee shop with the old timers always pissing and moaning about something
View attachment 355538

So, how long have you been using thermal? Which brand do you recommend?