Thermal scanner vs scope

Thanks, everyone. I appreciate the replies. I have been leaning toward scanner first, so that is probably the route I will take. If I wouldn't end up in the dog house so bad, I would do everything now! Young kids that have many needs take priority over more toys for Dad sometimes.
 
Originally Posted By: jmeddyAs said by DU and me in previous posts. The hybrid system works well BUT you MUST have a scan light on your head turned on and relatively bright.. I ran a night eyes on 80-90% for a few months with a scanner and was almost as successful as with 2 thermals. When I sat in the dark with the scanner then turned the gun light on when I saw them, they would head the other way.
I know some very successful hunters run the scan lights dim but my success expanded greatly when I decided to try it on a brighter setting. (this was first discovered when I just used lights.)

jmeddy can you elaborate a little? Is keeping the gun mounted light on all the time and pointed outward not good enough to let them feel a little more ate ease? That was my original plan.
 
I believe jmeddy was suggesting getting the thermal scope & scanning with nighteyes headlamp but I’m sure he will respond soon.

Many of us here slowly worked into thermal due to raising family & the high cost starting out. This sport is evolving rapidly now but it has taken many years to get here. Just enjoy the outdoors & when you do call predators in that’s a bonus !
 
I believe what jmeedy meant was to use the head mounted scan light along with the handeld thermal at the same time. That way your scan light and thermal are already pointed in the same direction when you pick up an animal on thermal. Thus you start conditioning the animal to the light as soon as it appears. With a weapon mounted light turned on all the time, you still will have to locate the animal with the weapon mounted light which means that light up is apt to be sudden and bright resulting in a spooked coyote. If that's not what he meant, I'm sure Mike will clarify it for you.
 
Originally Posted By: DoubleUpI believe what jmeedy meant was to use the head mounted scan light along with the handeld thermal at the same time. That way your scan light and thermal are already pointed in the same direction when you pick up an animal on thermal. Thus you start conditioning the animal to the light as soon as it appears. With a weapon mounted light turned on all the time, you still will have to locate the animal with the weapon mounted light which means that light up is apt to be sudden and bright resulting in a spooked coyote. If that's not what he meant, I'm sure Mike will clarify it for you.

Ah this would make sense. I didn't think about it that way. Good perspective. I'm sure he will clarify.
 
Originally Posted By: Pa. MickI believe jmeddy was suggesting getting the thermal scope & scanning with nighteyes headlamp but I’m sure he will respond soon.

Many of us here slowly worked into thermal due to raising family & the high cost starting out. This sport is evolving rapidly now but it has taken many years to get here. Just enjoy the outdoors & when you do call predators in that’s a bonus !

Couldn't agree more. I just enjoy getting out. That's why I haven't been discouraged by all the blank stands so far
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Just watched an announcement from Sellmark, new on the market Sightmark Wraith Thermal scope 2x-16x their first thermal 384. Operation same as their NV.

Really small would make a great little scanner for $1997 !

You might want to check it out. Personally I have only owned Pulsars but this little scope deserves a look.
 
Originally Posted By: Pa. MickJust watched an announcement from Sellmark, new on the market Sightmark Wraith Thermal scope 2x-16x their first thermal 384. Operation same as their NV.

Really small would make a great little scanner for $1997 !

You might want to check it out. Personally I have only owned Pulsars but this little scope deserves a look.

Thanks for this!
 
Originally Posted By: jwebster34Just curious which you would purchase first if you only had the money to buy one or the other. Most people that I have spoken with so far seem to say a thermal scanner and work with lights or night vision for time being can still get it done if you can't afford to buy everything. What does everyone here think?


What is your max $$$$ budget?
 
...if you could hold off, save and double your amount... You would be in better situation quality wise. And possibly by then a situation may arise where a manufacturer comes out with a different product..because the industry is moving fast.
I know it's tough to sit it "out" and virtually every one of use here have been through saving...I personally saved for 2 years(scope that i used as scanner) ...then an additional 2 years to buy my second thermal(dedicated yote gun)...and just bought a dedicated scanner this season.
 
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Originally Posted By: limbhanger10...if you could hold off, save and double your amount... You would be in better situation quality wise. And possibly by then a situation may arise where a manufacturer comes out with a different product..because the industry is moving fast.
I know it's tough to sit it "out" and virtually every one of use here have been through saving...I personally saved for 2 years(scope that i used as scanner) ...then an additional 2 years to buy my second thermal(dedicated yote gun)...and just bought a dedicated scanner this season.

I get that. I'm not in a rush to be honest. I am content with daytime calling and using lights only at night for now. I just need to find the dumb ones
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For just under $2,000, you can get the new Sightmark Wraith Thermal. You can find videos of it on YouTube along with reviews. It looks like one heck of scope for the price and could double as a rifle mounted scope or as a scanner.
 
Back when I got into thermal I was in the exact same boat. In those days the most entry level thing worth putting any money on was the Pulsar XQ-30 at around $1800-$1900. I saved up for it and got my money together. But after talking to several people and telling them what I wanted to do they told me I would be disappointed in it, and would regret getting it because it was not going to meet my expectations. They told me the same thing as what you are hearing now. Keep saving and get another $1k to go with it and get something that will do what you need. I did just that and am so glad I listened to them!

In todays market $2500-$2800 will get you something way better than what you can get for $1500, whatever brand you decide to go with. I'll be one of those guys who encourages you to wait it out, save some more, and get into something that will work better for you. I'm so glad I had some people do that for me when I started with thermal, so I will pass it along.
 
I have a super basic entry level setup…AGM Taipan tm10 19x256 thermal monocular and a Sightmark Wraith Mini 2-16 NV scope…My shots are limited in range to abt 150yds max, most shots 75yds and under. 1st time using either last season and worked out great. I had no problem seeing critters in the dark it’s the thermal. Only issue I had was transition from dusk to dark with the Wraith. I hit a dead area of about 15-20min where i couldn’t see anything on the screen. It was too light for NV and too dark for daytime setting. Not sure if being in an enclosed blind effected this or not, only happened once, but very frustrating as that’s prime time for movement.
 
Scanner first. Digital NV on gun until you get money for a quality 384 or better Thermal scope.
This will also help prevent you from shooting wrong things with a budget scanner while you learn to ID them better by movement alone.
 
I use a thermal hunting scope from Pixfra and switched to using a handheld scanner as well. The scope works great for taking the shot, but the scanner lets me cover way more ground quicker and keeps me from holding my rifle up the whole time. Since adding the scanner, my setup feels way more efficient, especially when hunting solo at night.
 
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Depends on what and how you hunt. Box blind over a feeder ( possibly with a feeder light), scope is fine. Open fields for yotes? You need the scanner. I got a green hog light for dillos in kid's yard, never used it - IR works fine. Years ago I used an old Sony camcorder for a NV scanner, worked fine.
 


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