collapse

Advertisement


Author Topic: Night vision/flir/thermal imaging  (Read 2747 times)

Offline Night goat

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jan 2017
  • Posts: 709
  • Location: Anacortes
Night vision/flir/thermal imaging
« on: May 30, 2024, 06:58:56 PM »
First things first, not looking to use this for hunting.


Anyway, I’m curious about getting some sort of night vision/thermal imaging scope/monocular/spotting scope/camera thing with some zoom on it. I tend to anchor my Alaska boat up in some “interesting” places ie foggy spooky remote inlets, and it’s not uncommon to see eyes shining back when you look around with a spotlight, and being on the water I tend to hear my fair share of weird noises. My curiosity is getting the better of me, and I’d like to know more about this imaging technology and possibly buy something. I’m gonna be taking my boat from AK to WA and think it’s the perfect opportunity to do some wildlife viewing in the remote corners of that world. Who knows, might even see “the big guy”  :chuckle:

Offline ducks4days

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Apr 2021
  • Posts: 933
  • Location: Ravensdale
Re: Night vision/flir/thermal imaging
« Reply #1 on: May 30, 2024, 07:04:43 PM »
Mermaid hunting counts as hunting
What country can preserve it's liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon & pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots & tyrants.

Offline Feathernfurr

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Scout
  • ****
  • Join Date: Apr 2024
  • Posts: 332
  • Location: West Wa
Re: Night vision/flir/thermal imaging
« Reply #2 on: May 30, 2024, 08:03:08 PM »
Looking for something handheld or something mounted to the boat?

Offline Night goat

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jan 2017
  • Posts: 709
  • Location: Anacortes
Re: Night vision/flir/thermal imaging
« Reply #3 on: May 30, 2024, 08:17:50 PM »
Looking for something handheld or something mounted to the boat?
not sure about mast mounted but I have a ton of rigging and commercial fishing gear in the way and can’t actually get to the top of the mast…

I was kinda thinking tripod mount…? Although price point comes into play, I just don’t know anything about this stuff.

My first thought was a good drone but no way to land on my boat without getting tangled in rigging

Offline birdshooter1189

  • Trade Count: (+3)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Nov 2013
  • Posts: 601
  • Location: Port Orchard
Re: Night vision/flir/thermal imaging
« Reply #4 on: May 31, 2024, 07:01:57 AM »
A pulsar Telos XP50 handheld thermal monocular ($3k), or pulsar Merger XP50 thermal binoculars ($6k) would probably be the best options for what you are looking for.  They aren't cheap, but you will be thankful that you bought the good stuff.  You will feel like you OWN THE DARK.  If something is out there, you will see it.

Digital night vision, like the spotlights you are using, will "blind you out" in high humidity and foggy conditions.  Thermal will see through the fog better.  Thermal still struggles in fog, but it's way better than lights or nightvision.  Good thermal has better thermal sensitivity (for example NETD <18mK thermal sensitivity of the pulsar telos is about as good as what's available right now.) and will penetrate the fog better.  NETD of <40mK can produce great images in dry conditions.  But when it gets foggy or misty out, the lower mK will really stand out.

Pulsar axion thermal monoculars are a cheaper option that still give good results. I have an older Axion XQ38LRF, with <40mK sensitivity. On a foggy night i think I can identify an animal about twice as far out with the thermal as I can with my naked eye.  Whereas if i turn on a spotlight, I get blinded by the bright fog and can see only about 1/3 as far as I can with my naked eye in the dark with ambient light.


 


* Advertisement

* Recent Topics

Looking for Solid 22 LR input by 30.06
[Today at 09:52:59 AM]


Archery elk gear, 2025. by pcveen
[Today at 09:35:38 AM]


AUCTION: SE Idaho DIY Deer or Deer/Elk Hunt by ASHQUACK
[Today at 08:31:51 AM]


2025 Canning by blackpowderhunter
[Today at 07:19:25 AM]


Lynx kittens confirmed in the Kettle Range by dwils233
[Today at 12:04:14 AM]


How To Get Your $0.00 Tax Stamp - Black Hammer Arms by dreadi
[Yesterday at 11:33:25 PM]


Seeking recommendations on a new scope by Klickitatsteelie
[Yesterday at 09:23:56 PM]


2025 Montana alternate list by Edminsterquality
[Yesterday at 08:47:06 PM]


WSTA 2025 Summer Rendezvous Agenda by Trapper John
[Yesterday at 08:00:27 PM]


First attempt at polish sausages by Stein
[Yesterday at 07:58:22 PM]


Fullsized Truck Opinion: HiMiNew vs LoMiOlder by MADMAX
[Yesterday at 07:57:22 PM]


Sockeye Numbers by Southpole
[Yesterday at 07:44:30 PM]


Best all around muzzy (updated) by jjhunter
[Yesterday at 07:44:26 PM]


38% increase in fishing and hunting licenses by Sitka_Blacktail
[Yesterday at 07:02:41 PM]


50 inch SXS and Tracks? by 92xj
[Yesterday at 05:34:03 PM]


3 days for Kings by MADMAX
[Yesterday at 05:06:49 PM]


Full moon and last week of September by pd
[Yesterday at 04:51:23 PM]


Hunting bears in the thick stuff by ghosthunter
[Yesterday at 04:33:46 PM]


GMU 247 Entiat bear hunting by Ridgerunner
[Yesterday at 11:56:01 AM]

SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2025, SimplePortal