Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Any Gen 2 Hog Hunters with Guidance?

Looking into Gen 2 Night Vision for a Texas Trip. Most likely going on an AR platform in 308 but might get mounted on a 700 action.
Anyone here with any likes or suggestions on a price conscious traveling hunters options.
Also looking at addition of an IR illuminator as an upgrade?

Last trip was very successful with just a Leopold Scope and green light but word is Hogs have become wary of the light from above due to pressure on this property.

Thank you for any thoughts on this.

I am in the same pickle, you need about $4K to make it happen, I am pretty sure the cheaper ones are a waste of money.

Unfortunately in the case of this stuff, you get what you pay for.

Interesting proposition.

From what I've read and heard, jimmyp is right. That equipment is very expensive. Thermal gear is even more expensive.

If you're just going from time to time, it may be cheaper to hood up with a guide who already has the right equipment. That may make dollars and sense...

DF

These are your huckleberries...

http://tnvc.com/shop/m845-mk-4-2-5x-gen2-shp-red-dot-sight

http://tnvc.com/shop/tnvc-torch-pro-infrared-illuminator

ROst,

Have you used that set up?

DF

Yes.

I have one on my Volquartsen .22WMR

So, the IR light works like a green light, but the hogs can't see it...

Can you mount the light source on the gun?

Bet that would be a cool set up on my .300 Whisper with can...

All that together could get pretty heavy, the Whisper with can isn't light.

DF

Just make sure that the scope you get can hold up to the rifle you put it on.

I purchased an Aurora Tactical 8010 3rd. Gen. and when I did they advertized that it would hold up to a 50BMG.
After I received it they changed the advertizing and said that it would hold up to a 308.

Good luck in your choice.

Just leap on them from the blind at night with a Bowie knife clenched in your teeth. That's how real Texans do it...

The weight deal is a big issue, some of these things weight 4 pounds.

With the can, my Whisper is a big heavy as is. With all that extra stuff, it'll easily exceed 10-12#'s. May need a wheelbarrow to tote it around...

DF

Thanks for the information.
Any one here bought from tnvc?
Appreciate the feedback on this.
Not walking around with the rife at night. Daytime a second more appropriate rig will be utilized. Night time will be sit and wait it out.

you can make it a crew served weapon!

While that certainly is not cheap, both items together are less than either one of my Hensoldts plus less than the S&Bs, the Vortex Razor II, a bunch of the Nightforce scopes...etc, that a lot of guys are using.

I'm wondering when these landowners in Texas, who are charging hunters $500.00 and up to kill a feral hog that is destroying the landowner's property, will, in the long run, be forced to pay hunters to come on their land and shoot the hogs before all they have are yaupon stands and completely rutted up fields.

when the wind don't blow, the grass don't grow and the sky ain't blue....

About what it sounds like...

DF

These "hog commandos" work for the rancher/farmer for free, selling hunts to tourists who like the excitement. I think they'll have customers for the foreseeable future.

And the chopper hunters seem to have a fan base, as well. I would think those hogs would get wise to that technique over time and the night hunters may have the ultimate edge.

Hogs are pretty smart and very adaptable.

No way to completely wipe them out without poison or other such techniques. And the collateral damage there wouldn't be acceptable, IMO.

DF

Yes. I've bought a handful of items from them over the years. They're good to go.

DF,

You're right. They've wised up to the helicopters. Survivors will bed up in some thick cover and not budge.

The only way to put a dent in their numbers is too trap.

Hog doggin' with a knife is an adrenaline rush! NV over feeders or AG fields is the next best thing.

I am digging the 845 dot sight from TNVC. The alternatives are huge heavier beasts. The only other option towards a man portable device is an IR laser on the gun rail and a PVS-14 on a head mount. I cannot see how that would be as accurate.