Thermal hunting blacktail or any big game

[Magnum_Willys]

So as it stands currently. With no intent to kill an animal, can you use thermal to scout fields at night time? 

You can’t have weapons on you unless hunting for predators …….?

[andrew_in_idaho]

The Leupold Quest was being marketed in part to track bloodtrail of an animal that you had shot.   If it was only used for tracking , is that  really different  than using a dog on leash to track  the  animal?

Yea, but they didn’t show downed animals or blood trails in the ads, it was always a live elk, funny how that works.


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[ghosthunter]

I think it’s time to put a end to some of this stuff and just straight out ,out law it during hunting seasons. With low game numbers and a huge number of hunters seeking them. It’s just time to pull the plug on a lot of this stuff.

Every year better scopes, binoculars, atv, electric bikes, see through blinds, drones, shooting 300 plus yards. Trail cameras with cellular service. Where does it end. I think it’s time to step back and get back to hunting basics.

I use some of these items because I can, but I would not miss them if they were banned.

At what point do we become too effective in killing, how much more technology’s can the game with stand?

[birdshooter1189]

I think it’s time to put a end to some of this stuff and just straight out ,out law it during hunting seasons. With low game numbers and a huge number of hunters seeking them. It’s just time to pull the plug on a lot of this stuff.

Every year better scopes, binoculars, atv, electric bikes, see through blinds, drones, shooting 300 plus yards. Trail cameras with cellular service. Where does it end. I think it’s time to step back and get back to hunting basics.

I use some of these items because I can, but I would not miss them if they were banned.

At what point do we become too effective in killing, how much more technology’s can the game with stand?

In my opinion, in some cases, technology has already exceeded what the game can withstand. That is why we limit harvest to, for example, 1 deer/elk per hunter per year.  Some animals, like coyotes, don't have bag limits because hunters and technology haven't yet exceeded what they can stand.

With animals like deer and elk, where technology has already exceeded the game, we solve the problem by placing limits on the harvest.  A hunter can choose to hunt with muzzle loader, archery, or modern firearms.  The seasons are timed to offset the advantages gained by technology.  And there are still limits on the number of animals each hunter can harvest in a season regardless of the method used.

Some people already have superior equipment than what I have.....bows, rifles, scopes, binoculars, spotting scopes, outfitted trucks, e-bikes, etc.  I have no problem with that. We all follow the same set of hunting rules.  I also have no problem with people using thermal and night vision scopes for big game. However I don't think night hunting (for deer and elk) should be allowed because of it.

My solution: keep the legal daylight hunting hours the same as they are now, and allow whatever optic you want to use--scope, red dot sight, night vision, thermal, lights, etc.

[buckfvr]

What is it about the "timing" of late season mule and whitetail modern rut hunts that offset the advances in technology ??   

[buckfvr]

So as it stands currently. With no intent to kill an animal, can you use thermal to scout fields at night time? 

You can’t have weapons on you unless hunting for predators …….?

Its illegal to spotlight or use thermals etc. during any big game season, even coyotes have to be hunted during legal hunting hours.

[Bob33]

So as it stands currently. With no intent to kill an animal, can you use thermal to scout fields at night time? 

You can’t have weapons on you unless hunting for predators …….?

Its illegal to spotlight or use thermals etc. during any big game season, even coyotes have to be hunted during legal hunting hours.

I'm not aware of any restriction against spotlighting during big game seasons as long as the person is not in possession or control of a firearm, bow and arrow, or cross bow.

[huntingfool7]

I don’t know much about the technology, does it work both day and night?

Yes but it has limitations based on quality.
Most units the average Joe will buy are limited in range and accuracy.
We used to run some that where scary good at great distance but they were 10k each unit...

That said they have no place in the world of big game hunting. Imo

I don't see how it would be useful during the day.  Once the sun comes up and warms the trees, stumps and rocks, there are a bunch of objects glowing.   Very little if any upside to daylight use of thermal and a lot of down side when compared to quality daylight optics.

The Leupold Quest was being marketed in part to track bloodtrail of an animal that you had shot.   If it was only used for tracking , is that  really different  than using a dog on leash to track  the  animal?

Yea, but they didn’t show downed animals or blood trails in the ads, it was always a live elk, funny how that works.

Night hunting for big game is normal in parts of Europe.  That is where many of these products are produced and utilized (if not Chinese).  It is not surprising that red stags and hogs are used in a lot of the advertisements when you realize where it comes from. 

[Bob33]

A few years back I got a Seek thermal imaging device for around $400. It’s a useful tool around the house for finding areas with poor insulation. I also found that one of my feet appears to have better circulation than the other. 

These units work by detecting differences in thermal readings. As such they work best when ambient temperatures are consistent such as at night or during cloudy days. For finding animals they would work better in cooler temperatures because the difference is greater.

Here are a couple photos taken near my home. The second one is dog pee; I suspect this could work on blood from an animal if it were still warm enough relative to ambient temperature.

[fishnfur]

iI was considering purchasing a FLIR unit several years ago.  Though i they are illegal to use while hunting, I figured that one of those scopes would be an invaluable tool for learning how an animal (in this case - Blacktail) used foliage, terrain, and other environmental conditions in choosing bedding spots that provided hiding spots from predators.  What a great tool in learning how and where and when to hunt a chosen prey!  Cooler Westside conditions - fall temperatures with rainy conditions create a situation in which  a FLIR scope would work very well due to the distinct difference of a deer's body heat to it's surrounding cover .  The downside of course is th eprohibitive price. (deal breaker).

[fisheral87]

Anyone know for sure if it is illegal to use drone/thermal for recovering downed animals in WA?

Al

[Bob33]

Anyone know for sure if it is illegal to use drone/thermal for recovering downed animals in WA?

Al

Illegal on both counts. You can't legally hunt with a drone or thermal imaging.

[pickardjw]

Would you not consider that as an animal that has already been hunted?

To Hunt: Any effort to kill, capture, injure, or harass a wild animal or wild bird.

Not a lawyer but...if you can't use dogs to hunt big game, but you can use dogs to track wounded game, I would interpret that to mean that a wounded animal has already been "hunted". Therefore, using a drone or thermal imaging to track it would not be illegal. 

Anyone ever discussed either with a warden?

This guy's videos have been popping up in my feeds for a few weeks now. Pretty cool.
https://www.dronedeerrecovery.com/videos-and-resources

[buckfvr]

Anyone know for sure if it is illegal to use drone/thermal for recovering downed animals in WA?

Al

If it was only "downed", as in wounded and not dead, if you found it you couldnt kill it, even with a dog.

[Bob33]

Would you not consider that as an animal that has already been hunted?

To Hunt: Any effort to kill, capture, injure, or harass a wild animal or wild bird.

Not a lawyer but...if you can't use dogs to hunt big game, but you can use dogs to track wounded game, I would interpret that to mean that a wounded animal has already been "hunted". Therefore, using a drone or thermal imaging to track it would not be illegal. 

Anyone ever discussed either with a warden?

This guy's videos have been popping up in my feeds for a few weeks now. Pretty cool.
https://www.dronedeerrecovery.com/videos-and-resources

If you know the animal is dead, you shouldn't need a drone or thermal to find it because you must know where it is to confirm it's dead. I think the change in regulations allowing the use of dogs is flawed by the same argument. You are using a dog to look for an animal you believe is dead but may not be.

A legal exception has been made to allow the use of dogs to search for a wounded animal but no exception has been made for the use of drones or thermal imaging yet so they are still illegal.