Say 150 yards or closer shots....don't want to break the bank, but would like to consider predator hunting at night to bring down yote numbers at the property. It's in the NE and it is super brushy country, furthest shot would be 150 yards...ish. Thermals really intrigue me but my goodness are they stupid expensive. It's also my understanding they have a shelf life.....not sure that is true, just what I've been told.
People that have some of the more affordable models....what do you think? Would you buy them again? Which model do you have and how long have you had it? Any other info would be awesome.
Most people have focused on the fancy thermal options. I can provide a little input on much cheaper alternatives....
I've been using ~$150 digital night vision setups on a couple rifles for about 3 years now. Killed about 50 coyotes on my property. All 50-100 yd shots. I also have the same system on an air rifle and have shot many rats with it. I'm happy with what I have and yes I would buy it again. Combined with motion alarms to let you know when the animals are entering the property, or standing at a bait station, this type of night vision is very effective. It is cumbersome if you are out in the open and scanning large areas. It still works, but not as ideal. The LCD screen lights up my face in the dark. I haven't noticed it to be an issue yet, but I suppose it could be in some situations.
Here's an old thread I made sharing details of the system i'm using.
https://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,246847.msg3316213/topicseen.html#newIf you are hunting your own property, and shooting them from your house, in my opinion, a good motion alarm is more important than a fancy optic. Toss some dog or cat food on the ground in a spot where you think the coyotes will come to it, around 75 yds from a window or door you can shoot from. Put a motion alarm nearby pointed at the bait. Then have a gun ready with a light, nightvision, thermal, etc. When the alarm goes off you grab your gun and see what it is. Then shoot or don't shoot, put the gun down and keep going about your business. Most people don't have time to sit out scanning the dark for hours on end night after night wondering when the coyotes will come through. Motion alarms are a good way to integrate constant property patrol with daily life.
https://www.amazon.com/Driveway-Wireless-Detector-Rechargeable-Weatherproof/dp/B07VLXGWVX/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3DTEJ2VQC3DKS&keywords=driveway+alarm+wuloo&qid=1668805178&sprefix=driveway+alarm+wuloo%2Caps%2C142&sr=8-3
