James - our resident Night Vision and Thermal expert - explains why he recommends the use of a Thermal Monoculars in Deer Stalking.
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Thermal imaging has become more and more popular over the past decade, so has the requirement for it for the modern Deer Stalker.
When I first began Deer Stalking 7 years ago, the idea of taking a Thermal Imaging Monocular would not even have crossed my mind as I saw it purely for a tool to be used for night time vermin control. Nowadays I won't leave the house for a Stalk without one. I consider it to be as useful as my Binoculars.
Here is why…
Most Stalking predominantly takes place in a low light situation, whether that be at first or last light of the day when the Deer are out feeding and the threat of interference from the outside world is low. As a result of the low light quarry identification is paramount to any Hunter and so the use of a Thermal not only allows the user to pick out Deer they would not normally see with their day glass (Scope and Binos) but it can also help narrow down the sex and species of the Deer up to a certain range. Having a Thermal also allows you to move into a closer range of the target and reach a point where it doesn’t make a huge difference if you spent £900 or £2500 on a Spotter.
Price. I have just mentioned the various range of prices of Spotters on the market. Personally, for the fact of the quality of the image, the wide FOV, the size and the incredible value for money, I use the HIK Micro Lynx Pro 19mm. It may not detect up to the greater distances that its big brother, the Vulkan Pro 35, but it is exactly what I need for seeing Red Deer down here on Exmoor comfortably up to a distance of 1000 yards. I cannot recommend the unit highly enough and as I’ve said value for money is second to none.
Ethics. The ethics of using a Thermal for Deer Stalking is a big talking point in the stalking community. There is still a large number of Deer Stalkers out there who are more traditionalists when it comes to the kit they are using i.e. Rifle, Scope, Binos, Sticks, and the Hunting methods they are applying, of which there is absolutely nothing wrong with and I believe that it works incredibly well for the more recreational Stalker. However, if you are more of a Deer manager or you are fortunate enough to be out quite a lot during the relative seasons then I would add a Thermal Monocular to the list of items that you take with you. It proves an effective tool in the field and it allows you to be more efficient with your Stalking by allowing you to identify and control more Deer than you would usually see with your standard day optics.
