Originally Posted By: 6724I see in some threads that guys say that with a thermal a positive ID on a coyote beyond 200 yards is not happening. That for a positive ID you need night vision.
But, positive ID is a very subjective thing. Is positive ID being able to tell the difference between a coyote and a domestic dog? or the difference between a coyote and a fox? or is it between a coyote and a deer?
Positive ID is only subjective if you think it is. Animals viewed with thermal sometimes are standing at odd angles, or partially blocked by foliage. Head up or head down??.....the animal looks completely different in different positions. As Skypup noted the ambient conditions can have a big effect on thermal performance also.
Positive ID is just what it says..... You positively know what animal you are looking at. Other factors weigh in also. Probably not a big deal to shoot a fox instead of a coyote most of the time......except in FL there is no season on foxes so if you shoot a fox by mistake you just broke the law. Coyote vs canine?.... You might have just shot the landowners farm dog. A Black bear cub with his head down.....looks just like a hog and around here if you shoot one of those you're gonna get put under the jail.
I scanned a target in a low area on a small dam one night and decided to just turn off my scanner and stalk the target. At about 50 yards I set my scope on my tripod and just about messed up my britches. I was 50 yards from what appeared to be a big back bear and there are several that show up on this property. I just sort of froze trying to figure out my next move and kept watching.......after a few minutes I noticed movement and then the target separated.......2 large boars feeding on the dam. The way their outlines lined up they looked just like a big bear.
Thermal is great technology but you have to realize it has it's limitations and you have to decide for yourself if t's the best choice for your hunting situation. The longer the range the bigger the lens needed for ID and that's a big jump in cost also.
