Thermal monoculars

[PeterHenry]

So, deer have recently started to stray onto one of the farms I shoot on - there previously having been none in the area. I've seen damage to orchards, and I've had freinds tell me they have seen deer knocking over electric fences and darting out of the way when cutting hedges, etc.

Having been deer stalking a few times before, but not being particularly experienced by any means, I was thinking a thermal monocular might be the best thing to see how many are about (I know you can't shoot them at night).

Does anyone have any recommendations on what to buy or to avoid? I've seem some monoculars from about £350 - or would these be a waste of money?

[Walker570]

I have a Lynx Micro LC06 which was about £350 and out to 150yrds it picks out hare and fox sized targets no problem. Rabbits out to 100yrds.  Cows out to 200yrds it suits my requirements. With thermal you get what you pay for and need.  This little unit fits my requirements.  I have used thermal binos costing over four grand and they are great but I can spend that sort of money more sensibly, I don't need that sort of performance. 

[ninjaferret]

You can use thermal through the day.

[Whitester]

I have had a look through a few of them and I think the best of the cheaper end is the hik micro 10 mm. I think they can be had for about £750.

 

personally I’d save up another £300 and buy the pulsar xm30 f , much better recognition

[PeterHenry]

On 20/09/2022 at 18:11, Walker570 said:

I have a Lynx Micro LC06 which was about £350 and out to 150yrds it picks out hare and fox sized targets no problem. Rabbits out to 100yrds.  Cows out to 200yrds it suits my requirements. With thermal you get what you pay for and need.  This little unit fits my requirements.  I have used thermal binos costing over four grand and they are great but I can spend that sort of money more sensibly, I don't need that sort of performance. 

Cheers, that's good to know 👍 

23 hours ago, ninjaferret said:

You can use thermal through the day.

👍 

20 hours ago, Whitester said:

I have had a look through a few of them and I think the best of the cheaper end is the hik micro 10 mm. I think they can be had for about £750.

 

personally I’d save up another £300 and buy the pulsar xm30 f , much better recognition

Thanks, I'll take a look 👍 

[Agriv8]

Peter where you based - someone may have one you can borrow for a trail

I too have the lynx 6mm used for tree rats and floor rats - for the price it’s at entry level but fits my needs !

Agriv8 

[gmm243]

I have a Zeiss monocular,not sure of the model.

Was expensive (over £1500) but it is great. Can see little birds in bushes at a huge range and deer out to over 1.5km.Can also be used in the daylight and I find that I see far more deer now than just with using the binos. The deer lying down in rushes with just the tip of its ear showing or the stag that is standing behind the trees waiting for last light to appear now are able to be spotted

It is a fantastic bit of kit but does not always mean more deer shot,just more deer observed and is great for doing counts especially in area where the deer have become more nocturnal. 

[PeterHenry]

On 22/09/2022 at 08:51, Agriv8 said:

Peter where you based - someone may have one you can borrow for a trail

I too have the lynx 6mm used for tree rats and floor rats - for the price it’s at entry level but fits my needs !

Agriv8 

Good point - I will ask some freinds. I hadn't thought of that strangly 👍

5 hours ago, gmm243 said:

I have a Zeiss monocular,not sure of the model.

Was expensive (over £1500) but it is great. Can see little birds in bushes at a huge range and deer out to over 1.5km.Can also be used in the daylight and I find that I see far more deer now than just with using the binos. The deer lying down in rushes with just the tip of its ear showing or the stag that is standing behind the trees waiting for last light to appear now are able to be spotted

It is a fantastic bit of kit but does not always mean more deer shot,just more deer observed and is great for doing counts especially in area where the deer have become more nocturnal. 

The counting is a big thing for me - I would like to get some accurate'ish numbers on all kinds of wild game. Ducks, snipe, hares, deer - the whole lot really. It would also come in helpful when my soay sheep escape again.....

[gmm243]

Have used it to check on duck numbers on a flight pond in the past,don't have to go anywhere close enough to disturb the birds and still can get a great idea of what is using the area.

The other thing that I noticed was how much wildlife is on the move under cover of darkness from woodcock to badgers,owls to pine martens and everything in between.

[PeterHenry]

On 24/09/2022 at 07:17, gmm243 said:

Have used it to check on duck numbers on a flight pond in the past,don't have to go anywhere close enough to disturb the birds and still can get a great idea of what is using the area.

The other thing that I noticed was how much wildlife is on the move under cover of darkness from woodcock to badgers,owls to pine martens and everything in between.

That does sound like a great piece of kit

 

[ruffapuffa]

Ideally buy one with a built in rangefinder to increase its overall usefulness but they normally come at a high price which is why I don’t have one.