J@mes Posted September 29, 2007 Report Share Posted September 29, 2007 A bit of a strange one really, is it legal to use a thermal imaging camera to shoot roosting birds? I understand that lamping is illegal, but wasn't sure on this. I have one at work, and think it would be an excellent tool for shooting birds at night... comments? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted September 29, 2007 Report Share Posted September 29, 2007 Using a rifle ?? even if you use a shotgunit isn`t exactly ethical is it ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J@mes Posted September 29, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 29, 2007 Using a rifle ?? even if you use a shotgunit isn`t exactly ethical is it ! shotgun..... explain the ethical side to me. when clearing vermin surely the only concern is legality of your actions and dispatching cleanly and humanely? I have NO idea where I would stand with this, so keep the comments coming! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pin Posted September 29, 2007 Report Share Posted September 29, 2007 I think it's just the idea of taking brids at night. Unless there was a really good reason to I wouldn't, even more so with a rifle. Back to the point though, thermal imaging cameras cost a fortune, to use them as a weapon sight you'd need to spend 10's of thousands on one. I looked into it about 6 months ago when looking at NV, the affordable ones don't have the resolution nor the range to be useful. The ones which do are hand held in the same way some people with the surname capes can pick up cars with their hands I did find one designed for rescue services which was compact and feature rich, but it cost £178,000 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonno 357 Posted September 29, 2007 Report Share Posted September 29, 2007 Using a rifle ?? even if you use a shotgunit isn`t exactly ethical is it ! shotgun..... explain the ethical side to me. when clearing vermin surely the only concern is legality of your actions and dispatching cleanly and humanely? I have NO idea where I would stand with this, so keep the comments coming! I'm a strong believer in respect your quarry too. Pointing a thermal camera at a pigeon at night and picking them off one by one? Not very sporting is it ? Jonno Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markbivvy Posted September 29, 2007 Report Share Posted September 29, 2007 A bit of a strange one really, is it legal to use a thermal imaging camera to shoot roosting birds only feral pigeons with this.and on man made structures only as it would be classed as an illuminating device. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J@mes Posted September 29, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 29, 2007 The one we have is used for picking up hot spots in overhead cables, and is useful out to around 15 metres. It is handheld (about 500g) and has a 3" LCD screen on the back. But as Mark has just said it is classed as an illuminating device, thats the end of it. Jonno, I know what you mean about respect for the quarry and sportsmanship, but if being asked to clear mass amounts of birds or other vermin where does sportsmanship end and getting the job done start? Irrelevant now I guess, it'll be decoying or nothing! Cheers, Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markbivvy Posted September 29, 2007 Report Share Posted September 29, 2007 no worries james. buy the way you must not shot towards any kind of cables. i cant remember where i got this bit of info, but its one of them things that sticks in your head. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catamong Posted September 29, 2007 Report Share Posted September 29, 2007 Don't refer to Pigeons as vermin, that ranks them alongside cockroaches and rats. They are a superb sporting bird and officially classified as an agricultural pest species, not vermin. As for using a thermal imager, no sportsman would even contemplate it. Cat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tuck1 Posted September 29, 2007 Report Share Posted September 29, 2007 I've always fancied a go with a thermal camera. Strikes me that it could be used for all sorts of sneaky beaky stuff. If the firm decides to sell it, sneak it out and let us all have a go.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted September 30, 2007 Report Share Posted September 30, 2007 Using a rifle ?? even if you use a shotgunit isn`t exactly ethical is it ! shotgun..... explain the ethical side to me. when clearing vermin surely the only concern is legality of your actions and dispatching cleanly and humanely? I have NO idea where I would stand with this, so keep the comments coming! If it was for clearing vermin then use of a stupefying bait or traps etc. would be the way to do it, that would save any investment in TIC`s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter_zero Posted September 30, 2007 Report Share Posted September 30, 2007 If it was for clearing vermin then use of a stupefying bait or traps etc. would be the way to do it, that would save any investment in TIC`s. The use of a stupefying bait is not as straight forward as it seems and is of course subject to the relevant temporary licence. IMHO the use of Thermal imagers is not covered by the wildlife and countryside act, as such could legally be used to shoot roosting birds at night. The cameras are not in anyway an illuminating device and can not possibly be classed as such. I would suggest that if you were caught using this device you would be at the mercy of a test case and the outcome IMHO would be that such a case would never get to court due to cost issues. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest raymond1 Posted September 30, 2007 Report Share Posted September 30, 2007 I've always fancied a go with a thermal camera. Strikes me that it could be used for all sorts of sneaky beaky stuff. If the firm decides to sell it, sneak it out and let us all have a go.. i bet you only want it for the local car park in the hours of darkness,..........dogging , as yet is not regonised as a sport , or spectator sport Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted October 1, 2007 Report Share Posted October 1, 2007 I've always fancied a go with a thermal camera. Strikes me that it could be used for all sorts of sneaky beaky stuff. If the firm decides to sell it, sneak it out and let us all have a go.. i bet you only want it for the local car park in the hours of darkness,..........dogging , as yet is not regonised as a sport , or spectator sport .....in that case I suggest you, look into TIC`s further, they register the ambient and target temperature. So for those that are still in the dark, literally, you can`t see behind glass, as that is the same temperature all over unless someone/thing is against it, and it is the same as trying to see behind plate steel. same thing goes for a bird in a tree, any leaf/ branch will cut the image and as has been said, unless you have many £1000`s to spare then it will be worthless. Believe me , I have seen the better end of the market. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tuck1 Posted October 2, 2007 Report Share Posted October 2, 2007 How very dare you Raymond! Henry, in your line of work, obviously you will have lots of experience of these. I take it from the comment about the bird in the tree there would be no worth, for example, in using it to track a ferret/terrier underground etc? What is the spotting range like on these, could they be used, for example to locate squirrels up trees in winter when the leaves are off? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted October 3, 2007 Report Share Posted October 3, 2007 How very dare you Raymond! Henry, in your line of work, obviously you will have lots of experience of these. I take it from the comment about the bird in the tree there would be no worth, for example, in using it to track a ferret/terrier underground etc? What is the spotting range like on these, could they be used, for example to locate squirrels up trees in winter when the leaves are off? You won`t see anything unless it`s in plain view, however as it picks up heat you will also pick up where a squirrel/terrier/ferret/ rabbit was, ie. their body heat will linger in the last place they were. It will also pick up small heat differences like a branch that has been in the sun but is now in shade so it would be difficult to get true readings, and couple that with the price............it`s a non starter IMHO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Country Boy Posted October 3, 2007 Report Share Posted October 3, 2007 You have ALL been watching far too many re-runs of 'Total Recall' :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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