Thermal scope?

[RickeyT]

Has anyone tried to use thermal scope to spot elk? I think it would be easier than binoculars but was curious if others have tried this?

 

[MtnMuley]

I've always trusted my Swaro Binos for spotting elk, but then again, I'm not glassing in the dark.......

 

[bluetick78]

WTF?

 

[String&stick]

I've wondered how long it would take for states to ban them if that counts! I would imagine a huge advantage could be gained sitting on a ridge at 2 hrs before sunlight and scanning the area for elk with one, but where do you draw the line between hunting/sporting and too much tech.

 

[Bubblehide]

I'm pretty sure it's already illegal in many states.

 

[RickeyT]

I’m sorry I didn’t realize that everyone on the forum used a recurve bow and muskets.... from what I’ve read and seen everyone’s using modern sporting scopes that could double as telescopes, rifle scopes with 24+ magnification, rangefinders, rifles that can reach out and take an elk at 500+ yards. So to say adding one more advancement is cheating or no longer sporting is ignorant. I’m not looking to use this at night as that isn’t legal. I’m simply looking to buy a hand held thermal instead of a tripod and spotting scope. I feel like a handheld thermal could not only cut my pack weight by 5 lbs or so but be just as beneficial as a spotting scope which I don’t already own.

 

[String&stick]

Big difference between a regular rifle scope, range finder, shooting elk at 500yrds, and not having to look hard to find them because their thermal signature jumps off the landscape.

It completely removed the animals natural camo from the equation.

If it's legal go ahead and do what you want, but from conversations I've had with many local hunters, either the people I hang with are weird, or many you run into will find in unsporting.

Would you frown upon hunting a collared deer if I had the tracking device?? It's just another step down the road

 

[RickeyT]

No But I live in Texas where we set up feeders to draw in the white tail then shoot them. People also say that this isn’t sporting but you’ll be hard pressed to find anyone who stalks a white tail like one would an elk.... despite the thermal or the feeder you still have to know where to go and be there at the right time. When I look at statistics that say that I’m only 10% likely to kill an elk on my first trip I’m going to take the 2% increase in my chances if it’s legal...

 

[Top147]

AI guns soon to follow

 

[GregB]

I’m sorry I didn’t realize that everyone on the forum used a recurve bow and muskets.... from what I’ve read and seen everyone’s using modern sporting scopes that could double as telescopes, rifle scopes with 24+ magnification, rangefinders, rifles that can reach out and take an elk at 500+ yards. So to say adding one more advancement is cheating or no longer sporting is ignorant. I’m not looking to use this at night as that isn’t legal. I’m simply looking to buy a hand held thermal instead of a tripod and spotting scope. I feel like a handheld thermal could not only cut my pack weight by 5 lbs or so but be just as beneficial as a spotting scope which I don’t already own.

So at what point do you decide it's no longer sporting and draw the line with advancements in technology and the advantages it gives you? You set up feeders for white tail because there are so many of them you can harvest multiple deer per year. That is not the case with elk. I would say there are more effective ways to increase your odds of success than with a thermal. There is another thread that talks about non resident success rates that speaks to that. There's nothing wrong with wanting to be successful and kill an elk, but if that's the only measure of success, then you will be missing out on the experience.

 

[wytx]

No But I live in Texas where we set up feeders to draw in the white tail then shoot them. People also say that this isn’t sporting but you’ll be hard pressed to find anyone who stalks a white tail like one would an elk.... despite the thermal or the feeder you still have to know where to go and be there at the right time. When I look at statistics that say that I’m only 10% likely to kill an elk on my first trip I’m going to take the 2% increase in my chances if it’s legal...

Sorry but I do just that, spot and stalk whitetails down in Texas. Not all hunting is done over feeders.
Thermals have been made illegal for spotting game in most western states. They may be legal for game recovery but I would sure check before using it.
Try some rattling next fall.
I have no issues with thermals in Texas, use them for hog hunting, but for western big game they are a no go in most states.

 

[RickeyT]

I called the parks and wildlife and thermals are not allowed during hunting season. Thermals are only allowed for scouting before the season.

 

[DenverCountryBoy]

Besides not being legal for hunting in some states, the effective range would limit their use.

 

[papawheelie]

I've spotted elk with a thermal at well over a mile. Their effective range is not a limiting factor.

 

[tanto]

I’d leave the thermal at the house. Wait till offseason as others have stated


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[jspradley]

Well I was going to make a Texas joke....

 

[ndbuck09]

I'll just add that western states and hunters don't take lightly to people trying to find and take shortcuts to true public land, DIY success. Drones are banned, some states ban trail cams during the season, some ban electronic communications in aiding a hunt, electronics on bows are banned, etc. etc. You're simply poking the bear.

 

[Blackdirt Cowboy]

Legal or not, I think the thermals would be almost worthless. If an elk is in tall grass, or thick timber, the thermal isn’t going to see him anyway. My thermal I use for hogs can detect heat out to nearly a mile and a half, so range isn’t the limiting factor, terrain is.

 

[wytx]

My FLIR would pick them out with no issues, over a hill no way. Thermals today are amazing.
For locating downed game, I would have a talk with our GW before use.

 

[HairyScandinavian]

No But I live in Texas where we set up feeders to draw in the white tail then shoot them. People also say that this isn’t sporting but you’ll be hard pressed to find anyone who stalks a white tail like one would an elk.... despite the thermal or the feeder you still have to know where to go and be there at the right time. When I look at statistics that say that I’m only 10% likely to kill an elk on my first trip I’m going to take the 2% increase in my chances if it’s legal...

Head out to West Texas, there's some challenging hunts out there with no feeders and such to be had.

Sorry but I do just that, spot and stalk whitetails down in Texas. Not all hunting is done over feeders.
Thermals have been made illegal for spotting game in most western states. They may be legal for game recovery but I would sure check before using it.
Try some rattling next fall.
I have no issues with thermals in Texas, use them for hog hunting, but for western big game they are a no go in most states.

Hey I assume you're the same wytex from TBH, I'm justletmein over there. I need to send you a PM, my son is moving to Laramie.

Besides not being legal for hunting in some states, the effective range would limit their use.

I've spotted elk with a thermal at well over a mile. Their effective range is not a limiting factor.

So I have a Leupold handheld that my wife bought me for a birthday last year. It's great for spotting hogs at our fish camp down on the island in the open brush. I can't say it's gonna do much good through trees and forests though, and this gizmo would definitely be range limited, we get maybe 100 yards and everything starts to blend. I think it could be very useful for tracking after the shot though, especially after dark when a blood trail dries up. I've been meaning to find out if it's legal for that type of use but I doubt it.