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Night vision and thermal imaging

hickslawns

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
39,721
248
Ohio
I'm getting closer. I still cannot justify spending the money. Compared to $1000 and up for night vision not too long ago, these are getting better. Under a grand. Better technology. I do not have enough ground to hunt, time to hunt, or high enough concentration of coyotes to justify spending the coin. I will say it is getting more tempting. Check these guys out. Don't get me wrong, you can still spend $3-5k on the top of the line stuff. BUT. . . with promo code you can knock 10% off the $699 scope which is worlds better than some of the originals. I'm no fortune teller, but history tells us as the technology advances and competition in the market increases we will see some of these prices come down. I'm not making predictions but if I had to "guess" I would say these will be much more common place for the average hunter to own. If they come into the $300-400 range I can see me climbing on board. Heck, I paid around $450-500 for my first Foxpro and there are better callers out than the one I own for less money now. Again, increase in technology and competition in the market (an increasing market didn't hurt any) have brought them down in price.

https://blackdiamondtactical.com/collections/all
 

Sgt Fury

Sgt. Spellchecker
I'm getting closer. I still cannot justify spending the money. Compared to $1000 and up for night vision not too long ago, these are getting better. Under a grand. Better technology. I do not have enough ground to hunt, time to hunt, or high enough concentration of coyotes to justify spending the coin. I will say it is getting more tempting. Check these guys out. Don't get me wrong, you can still spend $3-5k on the top of the line stuff. BUT. . . with promo code you can knock 10% off the $699 scope which is worlds better than some of the originals. I'm no fortune teller, but history tells us as the technology advances and competition in the market increases we will see some of these prices come down. I'm not making predictions but if I had to "guess" I would say these will be much more common place for the average hunter to own. If they come into the $300-400 range I can see me climbing on board. Heck, I paid around $450-500 for my first Foxpro and there are better callers out than the one I own for less money now. Again, increase in technology and competition in the market (an increasing market didn't hurt any) have brought them down in price.

https://blackdiamondtactical.com/collections/all

I remember when camcorders first came out...they were the size of the cameras that the news crews used and were about $1000. Now you can get one for a couple hundred and they are small enough to fit into a coat pocket.
 
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Jackalope

Dignitary Member
Staff member
38,841
260
Personally I would go with a good quality night vision over thermal. Thermal is obviously better for yote hunting because you can see the animal better, however it lacks on ancillary benefits. I can't name any names but I do know of guys who have used night vision to scout deer at night from the road. Much like we drive in the morning or evening to glass deer, they do the same but at night. Thermal isn't going to show you rack size and characteristics like a good set of NV will. In this manner the optic can you'll double duty which may better justify the cost.
 
I've caught myself saying "I can't justify spending the money" and at the same time realize that this may never pay for itself. People go out and spend in excess of $40K on a motorcycle without batting an eye. The bike isn't going to make you any money, but it sure is fun to ride.

Meanwhile, I see the increased success rates of these guys using thermal equipment. :cool: Animals can NOT hide their thermal image and this type of equipment puts all the odds in the hunters' favor....minus wind direction and/or scent detection.

I'm considering using my 0% for 18 months credit card and just dive in and get it done. o_O I'd like to talk to some more hunters, in person, that have used this type of equipment, before making this decision.

Bowhunter57
 

hickslawns

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
39,721
248
Ohio
Personally I would go with a good quality night vision over thermal. Thermal is obviously better for yote hunting because you can see the animal better, however it lacks on ancillary benefits. I can't name any names but I do know of guys who have used night vision to scout deer at night from the road. Much like we drive in the morning or evening to glass deer, they do the same but at night. Thermal isn't going to show you rack size and characteristics like a good set of NV will. In this manner the optic can you'll double duty which may better justify the cost.

So the $699-799 scope you believe would be more beneficial? I'd need to remove from the rifle before using as scouting tool. Loaded or not, if someone saw you pointing a rifle at deer at night. . .

Daniel- Maybe so, but I haven't spent much over $4k on any one motorcycle in my life and it's taken me a good 15 years to accumulate my 5 bikes. Two were Dad's so they are actually priceless to me. Heck, we only have a quarter of that in the Nova. lol I'm still hesitant to spend $700 on a coyote scope to use half dozen times a year. At this point in my life I simply don't have the time to commit.
 

jagermeister

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
18,060
223
Ohio
To each their own I guess. Buying something that requires financing, to kill a coyote... Something you won't eat, and something that won't make you any money... Hard for me to wrap my head around that one. But people spend big money on crazy shit all the time I guess.
 

hickslawns

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
39,721
248
Ohio
To each their own I guess. Buying something that requires financing, to kill a coyote... Something you won't eat, and something that won't make you any money... Hard for me to wrap my head around that one. But people spend big money on crazy shit all the time I guess.

I'd tend to agree. I wouldn't need to finance, but I struggle to justify it. Then again, $700 on a hobby isn't out of line. Ever buy golf clubs? Waterfowl gear? How much does Giles spend on beer in a year? Some guys drop that on lotto scratch offs in a month. I mean, $700 is a lot, but I guess it depends on how much pleasure you get out of it. Just depends on where we put our priorities.
 

CJD3

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
14,630
201
NE Ohio
To each their own I guess. Buying something that requires financing, to kill a coyote... Something you won't eat, and something that won't make you any money... Hard for me to wrap my head around that one. But people spend big money on crazy shit all the time I guess.

But it is all about what you get out of it personally. I've known coyote hunters that don't deer hunt. They just like the sport. Coon hunters too for that matter. We all have some rabbit hole or another we've headed down. I say if it makes you happy to set your self up with all the bells and whistle's , do it!
Life is to damn short.
 
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giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
I'd tend to agree. I wouldn't need to finance, but I struggle to justify it. Then again, $700 on a hobby isn't out of line. Ever buy golf clubs? Waterfowl gear? How much does Giles spend on beer in a year? Some guys drop that on lotto scratch offs in a month. I mean, $700 is a lot, but I guess it depends on how much pleasure you get out of it. Just depends on where we put our priorities.
A year?! Don’t make me break thst down.
 
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Hickslawns,
Here's a video that compares day vs. night hunting for coyotes that pretty much says it all. It's 24 minutes long, but well worth it.
One of these hunters is a daytime hunter and the other is a night time hunter. They share they're experiences of hunting in the other hunters' world of day vs. night. This kind of comparison will help you make the decision to go one way or the other....if you really want to pursue coyotes and greatly increase your killing success rate.

Bowhunter57
 

hickslawns

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
39,721
248
Ohio
You want to be set up like these guys. . . .you better get a line of credit a mile long. Stealth mode night driving, night vision goggles, thermal stuff. . . I guess I don't really want to be able to do what these guys do. Around here it isn't a reality to have enough ground to be able to use it.

I'll let the prices keep falling. I'll add some better weapons optics at some point. Not able to spend the coin they have. If I won the Powerball I don't think I'd spend what they have.
 

giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
What if...you offered it as a service? I’d have to call my lawyer and check legalities, but I’m sure it could all be wrote off. Sell a couple hunts a year or something. I’m sure that’s what these guys do.
 

hickslawns

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
39,721
248
Ohio
What if...you offered it as a service? I’d have to call my lawyer and check legalities, but I’m sure it could all be wrote off. Sell a couple hunts a year or something. I’m sure that’s what these guys do.

I don't care. No desire to spend that much coin on novelty toys. $600-700 on a scope? Maybe at some point. The guys on video were talking $3-5k stuff x2. One weapon mounted. One on a lanyard. Better be able to pay the bills with it when you take it to this level. Not just "hey check this out!"
 
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giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
I don't care. No desire to spend that much coin on novelty toys. $600-700 on a scope? Maybe at some point. The guys on video were talking $3-5k stuff x2. One weapon mounted. One on a lanyard. Better be able to pay the bills with it when you take it to this level. Not just "hey check this out!"
I feel the same about your vintage motorcycles. Just not my thing when they make much nicer, reliable, more comfortable, way faster bikes today. That’s your thing, maybe this is 57’s thing. You only live once...live it up!
 
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Wildlife

Denny
Supporting Member
5,248
191
Ross County, Ohio
Honestly, if I could afford to spend the money, I'd have me a thermal scope mounted on my rifle.

In stead, I'm always trying to win one on-line every chance I can.

Unfortunately, I'm not that lucky apparently :LOL:

They are real nice and I want one!!!

All this talk made me brake out my coyote gear.
2018-12-24_12.54.07[1].jpg

The shit I can afford to some extent.

I think I'm going to put it all to good use over the next few days.

The fields have been fairly active in the we hours lately and I'm getting the itch real bad!
2018-12-24_13.06.17[1].jpg
2018-12-24_13.07.45[1].jpg


https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX-1JMYXAH9PUXvclqLpkp0bjYK2_Qn1v

Anyone is welcome to join me if you'd like being up real late and put your rifle to good use.
 
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