|
Forums46
Topics551,821
Posts9,897,012
Members88,155
| |
Most Online28,231
Feb 7th, 2025
|
|
|
 Night Vision
#480250
11/10/08 01:09 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,042
Bulldawg
OP
Pro Tracker
|
|
OP
Pro Tracker
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,042 |
Has anyone used night vision like the Night Owl or the Bushnell ? Back in the early 80's when I was a Security Policeman in the Air Force I used the night scopes at work and they worked great. Just wondering if these commercial ones would work for varmit hunting and finding deer than ran at dusk after being shot. After losing a buck this weekend I want to do something so I don't waste a perfectly good animal.
|
|
|
|
Re: Night Vision
[Re: Bulldawg]
#480251
11/10/08 03:57 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,838
djones
Veteran Tracker
|
|
Veteran Tracker
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,838 |
The saying “you get what you pay for” has never been more true than when it comes to night vision. You might get by if you use an infrared illuminator to help gather more light if you’re using the NV for observation and hunting. Of course, unless you have a night scope or some means to aim through the NV device, you’ll still be using a regular scope with a spotlight to take the shot. If you're wanting NV for tracking, you might as well use the tracking devices that illuminate blood or a portable spotlight.
|
|
|
|
Re: Night Vision
[Re: djones]
#480252
11/10/08 04:07 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 13,735
helomech
THF Celebrity
|
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 13,735 |
I agree tracking with night vision will not work. Now tracking with thermal would be awesome.
|
|
|
|
Re: Night Vision
[Re: helomech]
#480253
11/10/08 05:29 PM
|
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 332
A-10Warthog
Bird Dog
|
|
Bird Dog
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 332 |
I'd hate to say it, but if you were stoped by a GW and he noticed you had/have a night vision scope mounted onto your rifle he can assume you poach at night. Best advice I'd say is don't put yourself into that situation.
Either use the blood tracking lights or a lightweight powerful spotlight.
|
|
|
|
Re: Night Vision
[Re: A-10Warthog]
#480254
11/10/08 05:37 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 13,735
helomech
THF Celebrity
|
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 13,735 |
Quote:
I'd hate to say it, but if you were stoped by a GW and he noticed you had/have a night vision scope mounted onto your rifle he can assume you poach at night. Best advice I'd say is don't put yourself into that situation.
Either use the blood tracking lights or a lightweight powerful spotlight.
He could say the same for the spotlight.
I am not sure how many of you have used night vision, but you would never find a drop of blood with it, and you would probably step on a deer in thick brush before you saw it with the night vision. A bright flash light is the best, short of thermal (which is very expensive).
Now for shooting hogs I would love to have a night vision scope.
|
|
|
|
Re: Night Vision
[Re: helomech]
#480255
11/10/08 10:44 PM
|
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 957
robbf213
Tracker
|
|
Tracker
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 957 |
Quote:
Quote:
I'd hate to say it, but if you were stoped by a GW and he noticed you had/have a night vision scope mounted onto your rifle he can assume you poach at night. Best advice I'd say is don't put yourself into that situation.
Either use the blood tracking lights or a lightweight powerful spotlight.
He could say the same for the spotlight.
I am not sure how many of you have used night vision, but you would never find a drop of blood with it, and you would probably step on a deer in thick brush before you saw it with the night vision. A bright flash light is the best, short of thermal (which is very expensive).
Now for shooting hogs I would love to have a night vision scope.
Night vision is pretty much worthless for tracking. Especially because you have to constantly refocus at short distances and you can't see blood all that well with it. Cheap NV is especially worthless because the only units worth buying are maybe the D-300 for about $1400 anything less is junk and a waste of money IMO.
As far as what a GW would think I think it depends on the time of the year. Deer season, NV mounted VERY suspicious. Off season, fine for hogs and yotes. I have a Litton PVS 14 with a Pinnacle autogated tube. What this does is regulate the amount of light that gets to the tube in case of a bright flash of light, kind of like in the movies when the NV user gets blinded. I mount the 14 on the back of my AR or M4 behind an EoTech 552 which is NV compatible.
Infrared illuminators are good for when there is no appreciable ambient light; stars, no moon. IR illuminator isn't going to help a poor image through cheap NV.
|
|
|
|
Re: Night Vision
[Re: robbf213]
#480256
11/11/08 06:43 PM
|
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 9,263
Dave Davidson
THF Trophy Hunter
|
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 9,263 |
I have a set of Gen1 binoculars. They work OK. I have never been able to afford the really good stuff.
Without a sense of urgency, nothing ever happens.
Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley, Rancher Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
|
|
|
|
Re: Night Vision
[Re: Bulldawg]
#480257
11/11/08 10:47 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,042
Bulldawg
OP
Pro Tracker
|
|
OP
Pro Tracker
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,042 |
Thanks for all the inputs. I think I am getting one of the blood lights for sure. Not too worried about the GW, he is my cousin and knows I wouldn't poach. I can afford the IR but the wife says I spend too much already on hunting. I will just bug her for about a year and she will buy it for me anyway. I may get one of the GEN 1 binocs or monocs and try it out for just moving around in the dark and hog killing. More or less something to play with.
|
|
|
|
Re: Night Vision
[Re: Bulldawg]
#480258
11/15/08 03:35 AM
|
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 19
Flashpoint
Light Foot
|
|
Light Foot
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 19 |
Bulldawg
I have the Night Owl monoc and its great. I bought mine from a pawn shop for 50-60 bucks works great for spotting hogs. Even on no moon nites i can see them. I then flip on a green LED mounted on my scope that has a lighted reticle works great.
|
|
|
|
Re: Night Vision
[Re: Flashpoint]
#480259
11/15/08 09:54 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 35
accidentalart
Light Foot
|
|
Light Foot
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 35 |
I just picked up the Yukon Mono from Academy for $159 just to see how it works. Must say i had a blast with it last night. The illuminator is only good for 60-70yds though. I wouldn't say its a waste as I afforded it and had fun with it.
|
|
|
Moderated by bigbob_ftw, CCBIRDDOGMAN, Chickenman, Derek, DeRico, Duck_Hunter, kmon11, kry226, kwrhuntinglab, Payne, pertnear, sig226fan (Rguns.com), Superduty, TreeBass, txcornhusker
|
