Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Predators and Varmints Set Up fer 'Yotes at Night?

From last Thursday night. It was cold, misting rain and a bit of fog. I shot this vid hand held, with the thermal scanner. Young buck is +/- 70 yds.

One can definitely see the degradation in the image between 1.5x and 6x and 12x.




ya!

GWB

How far was hog from you in Vid.?

Hard to say, as depth perception/distance with thermal is suspect unless one has a laser range finding optic. The Taipan's specs say that the unit has a detection range of 710 meters, on a 6' object, so I would believe it would be a lesser distance than that as the critter was detected. I asked my son who has an AGM optic that includes a laser range finder, but he indicated he did not range the total distance but said that the shot was between 130 and 150 yds. I was in the high rack vehicle and was not involved in the stalk, but IIRC It was a good 15 to 20 minutes from the time the stalk commenced until we heard the report of the suppressed rifle and the scream of a wounded pig. Having hunted this ranch on numerous occasions, its not unusual to walk up 300 to 400 yds to get into position for a shot.

For the most part, I shoot over bait at known distances, my longest shot to date has been +/- 160 yds.

Best,

GWB

PS: My main rest is a Carbon Fiber Bog Pod Death Grip, which I use with various rifles. I also employ a carbon fiber tripod with ball head and Arca-Swiss adapter plate on my main rifle, the Sig Cross. Due to the nature of the terrain, taken with the style of hunting I do, I very seldom have the need for more than a 270 degree arc.

I just bought the Bog Deathgrip Infinite CF tripod, well actually I bought the aluminum version first and thought it was pretty heavy but it’d be okay. Then I walked into a store the next day that had the carbon fiber version set up for display and I couldn’t believe how much lighter it was so I bought it.

I just installed Arca plates on two of my guns, getting rid of the clamp head saves another 1.5 pounds. Any issues you’ve seen with the Arca mounts?

geedubya what I'm getting at is if the range was 130-150 yards the thermals positive I.D. range isn't very good for that thermal. That pig was still a blur. something to think about if you ever get another thermal. I don't know how post pictures here but if you send a private message, we can exchange cell phone number and then text you what you should be seeing.

TWR finaly got a tripod? Great now you can toss the spotter scope.

Over the years I"ve employed various types of shooting sticks, bi-pods and tripods.



I like the Bog Pod Death Grip when using multiple rifle platforms.



Typically my rifles with traditional stocks are not set up for an Arca Swiss or Monfrotto type attachment.



In addition I usually am hunting both before daylight in the AM and after dark in the PM,and while stand hunting having two rifles is not a problem. With the DGBP i can easily switch between platforms.


Although I do it from time to time, running and gunning at night with Thermal is not my usual style of hunting.



When I do, the lighter CF tripod with the ball head and Arca Swiss mount is the way to go IMHO, and you have 3 dimensional adjustment.

There are two perceived problems from my point of view with the Arca Swiss mount that I've encountered.


First is making sure that the plate/ball head locking mechanism is on the left where I can reach it, lock it in or make adjustments




Second, when I am on the move in the dark, it can be a problem mounting and securing the plate in the base,

What I have taken to doing when stalking is to take the rifle out of the tripod,while attached to the stem, then carry the tripod in one hand and the rifle in the other. I find that to be easier to re-attach in the dark.



Neither of which are significant as long as I pay attention.

ya!


GWB

Happy to take you up on your offer. Never can tell when one may discover a friend they have not met yet.

Anywho, just to clarify,

in the first 'Hot Tracking' vid, the white dot in the foreground, which was the hog, the distance could have been from anywhere up to the limit of the detection range. I hesitate to quantify the distance as I do not know definitively.

The distance from where i took the vid to the pig in the foreground definitely was not 130-150 meters. The shot distance was 130-150 yds.

The Taipan unit was purpose bought. My thermal scopes have a base mag of 3x. I would have preferred a 1X base mag for "blood tracking" (For lack of a better term). The Taipan had the lowest base mag at 1.5x that I could find that had a minimum of a 384 sensor and 12 micron sensitivity. All the 640 units i could find had a higher base mag, which IMHO defeated my purpose of being able to use the optic for finding critters that were not DRT while searching in heavy cover.



At this time I am supremely happy with the optic.

Ya!

GWB

So you scan while driving with a scope mounted on the rifle or use the spare scope as a scanner not mounted on a rifle ?
I find it much easier to scan with a scanner, then transition to the rifle for the shot, just like I do while hunting in the daytime using a binocular.



SJC

Thanks GW, a buddy of mine shared the same concerns of attaching it in the dark. I walk a lot and while I carry some extra weight like the can and caller, those are purposeful. Going with the Arca mount shaves a little weight.

I’ll have to try it a few times and just see I guess.

No intentions of tossing the scanner, it serves a purpose.

The tripod is dual purpose, it’ll hold my rifle while I hold my shotgun on some stands and standing is most always better where I hunt than sitting. You just simply see more.

i only sit on daytime stands in hilly country

Shoots100 I scan soon as I'm set up on stand with scoped rifle mounted in tri-pod. I know where my coyotes are and at times set up with one right in front of me out mousing. I see it and gun is already on it no switching around and carrying extra gear, bad enough dragging dam bipod along. LOL But like said I do have extra scope along to use for scanning if I wanted too prior, but I don't. Day time stands I will scan with bino's but only at end of a stand or if I see a Peaker off in distance. Day time calling and nighttime calling two different games and played differently.

But hey if a guy wants to spend money on a scanner rather than another scope or have to carry it as well then have at it.

I'm constantly scanning from the get go and have a thermal scanner or a bino in my chest rig at all times.
I've predator hunted day & night all over the country over the last 30+ years and I can count on my one hand the amount of hunters I hunted with at night that didn't have some type of scanner.
Those that didn't quickly took my offer to use my backup scanner and purchased a scanner soon after.
I don't just have a backup scope, I have a backup scope on a rifle all dialed in and ready to go and have had to use it many times or have loaned it to friends that have had issues with their rigs.
While I disagree with you about scanners, if your content to hunt without one than so be it, but I wouldn't want to hunt without one.

SJC

Let's see

What is the definition of a "provocateur"

Could it be......

someone who intentionally causes arguments or discussions, or intentionally makes other people feel angry, offended, or uncomfortable.


Quein Sabe,

GWB

im just saying, more for the new guys and not old guys set in there ways. Young guys starting out can't afford all that crap, keep it simple and they do just fine. some things and not a must have.

Same.

I don't know a single human that's done even a modicum of night coyote hunting that's not seen value in a separate scanning device.
Maybe I just don't personally know any mentally-challenged hunters?

SKane if you know your area and how your coyotes move and where they are you don't have to waste time with scanner. You ever go out and just locate coyotes? I also hunt more open country and the coyotes are down in thick stuff, that's where they feed and live, I call them out of there. no big deal.

Hell, I figured that out before I even started calling at night with a thermal. And do not regret the choice now, not one bit.