Thermal Regrets?

about a year ago I purchased an N-Vision HALO 50 thermal scope which I mounted on a 6.5 AR15 Grendel build. I loved the scope so much that I purchased an N-Vision Atlas 50 bino's. Great set of thermal binoculars, but I wish they were NOT manual focus. (My HALO 50 thermal scope is auto-focus and much prefer this feature).
 
Originally Posted By: cmateraEven if you do, in 3 years or less, whatever you buy will be worth less than 50% of what you paid for it. You better live in a state where it's legal to hunt with, you better not move to a state where it's not legal for hunting, and you better have access to a lot of ground to hunt to make it worthwhile.


And that's IF whatever you bought is still working.
 
Last year I went with a friend with his thermal. We had to scan with the gun. I told myself if I was going to do it I was going to do it right and get a scope and scanner. I’ve had more fun calling coyotes this year than any other time. I haven’t made a single daytime set this winter. Now if coyote prices would have held out for a couple more years
 
Originally Posted By: P&YOriginally Posted By: Catdog1Originally Posted By: KsracerI regret buying an N-Vision Halo XRF with every fiber of my body.

I wrote a $10k check almost 3 months ago and I've been rewarded with nothing but headaches, wasted time, excuses, and a wasted season ever since.

I find this hard to believe. Care to elaborate?

Just sent mine back for the last time. Search Halo-XRF issues, you'll find more hard to believe experiences with elaboration.

I did a Google search and was only able to find one instance where you all posted this problem on snipers hide.

Is this all the problems that youre aware of?
 
I have no regrets going to thermal over red or amber lights. Ive seen way more Predators now then i ever did running a light. Yes it cost lots of money but what dont and in the End its Just Green Paper with Dead Presidents on It! We sure cant take it with us. Im not a rich man by no means but you only live one time so make the best of it. I hunt 4-6 nights a week now since going to thermal. Makes life so much better!
 
No regrets here. Thermal was/is such a game changer in my neck of the woods. Without it, I'd be calling in a broken arrow B52 airstrike since I'd be over-run with coyotes.

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Hey Burn, remember just a couple years ago when you were concerned about being able to ID animals with thermal? Now that you've had some time with thermal, what do you think of how hard it is to ID?
 
Originally Posted By: Catdog1Originally Posted By: P&YOriginally Posted By: Catdog1Originally Posted By: KsracerI regret buying an N-Vision Halo XRF with every fiber of my body.

I wrote a $10k check almost 3 months ago and I've been rewarded with nothing but headaches, wasted time, excuses, and a wasted season ever since.

I find this hard to believe. Care to elaborate?

Just sent mine back for the last time. Search Halo-XRF issues, you'll find more hard to believe experiences with elaboration.

I did a Google search and was only able to find one instance where you all posted this problem on snipers hide.

Is this all the problems that youre aware of?

Yes, LRF no worky. There's supposedly posts on spacebook as well but I don't do that. If your looking at buying one beware.
 
Originally Posted By: DoubleUpHey Burn, remember just a couple years ago when you were concerned about being able to ID animals with thermal? Now that you've had some time with thermal, what do you think of how hard it is to ID?

Great ping from past history there DU, as I was just thinking about that topic this morning. I'd say I'm 98% there with being able to distinguish between a fox and a coyote with my Super Hogster. The more time I have behind the thermal helps because they generally move differently and the size difference is usually easy to tell. Plus I'm pretty comfortable knowing the habits of both around my AO.

I still have my 4k Pro digital and was reviewing some videos this morning because I was thinking about selling it. Here's fox viewed thru the 4k with the IR floodlight. 100% positive ID.


Here's a fox as viewed thru the SH: Easily smaller than a coyote, so I'd say 99-100% positive ID.


Here's a coyote as viewed thru the 4K. Easily 100% positive ID.


and here's a coyote as viewed thru the SH. I'd say 98% positive ID?


I did shoot a fox with the SH that I thought was a coyote one time since switching to thermal though. Lesson learned, and when I reviewed the video I should have known. Chalking that one up to being tired and not taking enough time to really make sure.

If a domestic dog that looks like a coyote (size/shape) was to wander into my bait area that would be tough to distinguish unless it is wearing a collar. Havent had that issue yet though. I doubt if I could tell the difference otherwise assuming the dog was the same size/shape as a coyote, unless I could tell by the way they move which is a determining factor (usually).

When I hunt with my brother in law, I always take the SH as we hunt side by side and he runs a 4K digital.

I'm fairly comfortable hunting with the SH now around my property, but I think I'll keep both the 4K and the SH as mission dictates
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My areas are thick woods generally, and the coyotes just pop in from out of the woods and we dont have much time to see to determine 100% what's coming in.
 
From my limited experience, coyotes never carry their tails high except when fatally wounded sometimes. Dogs, usually carry their tails erect provided of course they have one. I'm not a dog expert so there could be some makes that could be different.
 
Originally Posted By: DoubleUpFrom my limited experience, coyotes never carry their tails high except when fatally wounded sometimes. Dogs, usually carry their tails erect provided of course they have one. I'm not a dog expert so there could be some makes that could be different.

Excellent point DU. Hadnt thought of that aspect
 
Originally Posted By: DoubleUpFrom my limited experience, coyotes never carry their tails high except when fatally wounded sometimes. The tail is a usually a great indicator as DU says. I look there first, and then the way they move, as a fox kind of darts as they move. Next I look at their body thickness and overall size. When it is tough is when a big male fox pops up on a hill looking right at you. When you don't get their approach to help, and they are just there, that is when I can make the incorrect guess (not an actual ID). Fox are fine in my state to shoot, but I let them go most of the time. If a person needs 100% PID, then NV is nice.
 
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