Thermal Foxing

[happyhunter]

Earlier this year I decided I was going to bite the bullet and invest in a thermal unit to use exclusively for spotting when out with the nv setup foxing.

After lots of looking through/reading up/searching I decided that the Pulsar HD38s was the one for me and was about to buy new when an almost new (3 months old used twice) unit came up in the second hand section on this very site so I took the plunge and bought the unit.

 

I was like a kid at Christmas when it landed on the door step, as I had been to a few demo nights to compare units so I new what it was capable of.

As said the unit was as new full boxed with extra battery cradle, wiring, ansmann batteries and charger. I've since purchased extra ansmann batteries for the spare cradle from wexphotographic (£6.99 for 4 cheapest I could find) also Fizzbangwhallop shared a like to eBay for a 1/4" screw in loop for a lanyard (£5 delivered?)

 

Well to say Iam pleased with the units performance is an understatement if its in the units line of sight you'll know it's there, rabbits out to a lazered 400/420yards so far, and the furthest I've picked up a moving fox was just shy of 720yards at which point I was 90% sure what I was looking at by the way the fox was moving across/down the fell coming into hare distress. Once we get some decent cold nights I think a fox could be spotted quite a bit further out once you know what your looking at through the thermal. You can spot cattle/sheep/hot chimney pots/planes a very very long way. The unit works 24/7.

 

The unit fits nicely into a good sized pocket on your shooting jacket but find it best left hung round my neck (I find the more you take it in and out of a warm pocket and knock it on and off the more it "calibrates") it only weighs 420grams. It has a nice rubber armour feel to it and is just the right size/shape to hold steady one handed for scanning.

 

Where I've found the unit to really come into its own is on rough ground with lots of vegetation (rushes/bracken/long grass etc etc) and even on maize stubbles. As with a lamp you might just get the odd flash of Charlie's eyes as he's moving about and not be able to make out his body etc with the thermal he'll stick out like a sore thumb even if partially obscured.

Twice in the last three weeks I've picked up a heat source of that of a sleeping fox from a decent range and quietly stalked into both around the 130yard mark where even then they could not be picked up in the longish grass with the nv, got settled for the shot looking at the rough area the fox was layed up and letting out a few lip squeaks for them to lift their head to receive a 50grn v-max inbetween the eyes.

 

On one permission we've had a fox that even spooks with the ir illuminator and any sort of lamp but we haven't educated it. I finally caught up with him on Sunday night over a sheep carcase on the rough ground he frequents, it took him almost an hour to approach the carcase he was that wary but when he started tucking in facing away from me I got behind the nv atop the .223 flicked on the ir at which point he spun round to face me with that expression of "O that which promotes growth and vigour" and dropped to a high bib/neck shot, he was a very wise old boy indeed. Another fox making its way to the carcase ran at the shot, only to do a wide loop around the field and come into the bait, she was a very small vixen from this years litters not bothered by the ir illuminator whatsoever.

 

You can scan fields/ground just as quick with the thermal as with a lamp but your not just looking for that quick flash of eyes was it a fox/sheep/badger etc etc, you know instantly what is where and in the next two fields also.

 

I've been switching the unit on as soon as I get to the ground I have to cover and leaving it on, each battery cradle is doing about 6hrs (less if you constantly switch in on and off) and it also takes about 8 seconds to start up. I've set the unit on "auto calibrate" and "white hot" although it has a push button x2 digital zoom and black hot.

 

I honestly think for serious fox control, a thermal spotter paired up with a rifle and nv scope is unbeatable. Of the 16 foxes for 16 shots in the last three week, I've only called three (the one that came in from 720 and the two I squeaked to lift their heads) the rest I've just quietly watched and moved/stalked into position for the shot, would they of called and came running in under the lamp I'll never know... This weekend I'll be out to use it along side the foxpro and will report back.

 

Any serious foxer/gamekeeper within a reasonable distance to me (hrs drive) undecided whether to invest in a thermal unit is more than welcome to a demonstration. pm me details if intrested.

[happyhunter]

alongside a .223 case

[Paddy_SP]

I agree with you all the way. My shooting partner and I both use thermals - I'm so used to using it I'd be completely lost without mine now. We had 38 foxes in September alone - all taken from foot off sticks, so we must be doing something right!

[pork chop]

i keep looking into these but just cant bring myself to do it.good to see they do the biz though

[visiter1]

great write up im currently saving every penny for one !!!

[happyhunter]

I agree with you all the way. My shooting partner and I both use thermals - I'm so used to using it I'd be completely lost without mine now. We had 38 foxes in September alone - all taken from foot off sticks, so we must be doing something right!

Good going Paddy,

 

all mine have been on foot also hardly ever use a 4x4.

 

You couldn't of put it better, I've use mine for three weeks and I'd be lost without it...

[happyhunter]

i keep looking into these but just cant bring myself to do it.good to see they do the biz though

Think of it as an investment porkchop, or are your arms short and your pockets deep....

 

I might not cover my costs foxing but Iam certain this will save me considerable time when after problem foxes, which in turn will save the lives of countless lambs/pheasants/ground nesting bird etc etc.

[andybrock]

I've got the HD38 which is the older version of the HD38s and to be honest it's one of the best pieces of kit I've bought for foxing and rabbiting, wouldn't be without mine now.

[pork chop]

Think of it as an investment porkchop, or are your arms short and your pockets deep....

I might not cover my costs foxing but Iam certain this will save me considerable time when after problem foxes, which in turn will save the lives of countless lambs/pheasants/ground nesting bird etc etc.

lol, wish that was my problem then there would be some cash spare .fixed on having one next season

[garyw]

Good write up there simon-all the write ups i have read about thermal spotters say the same thing-they save a lot of time and effort to locate fox/rabbit which is a good thing if you have a lot of land to cover.

are there any negatives with the unit?

can you spot a shot[trace of bullet]with it?

[gaz6br]

It's on my wish list

 

Gaz

 

Good write up

[Barrelsniffer]

Garyw i have a video of me shooting a fox and you actually see the bullet come out the other side hit the ground and bounce before landing again will try and post it on here tomorrow if i can but will have be watched in HD to see the bullet, i was using my Guide 518c...also good for find your shot fox afterwards.

[happyhunter]

Good write up there simon-all the write ups i have read about thermal spotters say the same thing-they save a lot of time and effort to locate fox/rabbit which is a good thing if you have a lot of land to cover.

are there any negatives with the unit?

can you spot a shot[trace of bullet]with it?

I have no major negatives with the unit but a shuttered eye cup would be handy as no to light up your face as you bring it up/take it away from your eye or the screen switches on/off as your eye is pressed/depressed from the unit, but if a fox is so close to notice I either switch it off or quickly turn the brightness down.

A few folk have complained about run time which I have no worries with as always carry the spare cradle which takes seconds to change. Also read that some didn't like the fact the battery wasn't built in just to plug a wire in to charge but if that was the case you'd have to pack up and go home/vehicle to do so.

 

I have no idea if you can spot bullet trace as its hanging round my neck for the shot but I'll defiantly give it ago over the weekend!

[happyhunter]

Garyw i have a video of me shooting a fox and you actually see the bullet come out the other side hit the ground and bounce before landing again will try and post it on here tomorrow if i can but will have be watched in HD to see the bullet, i was using my Guide 518c...also good for find your shot fox afterwards.

Good point about finding the fox afterwards, with one fox I shot you could clearly see the trail of blood/lung/heart material the 50grn v-max had taken with it on passing through the fox for 5-6yards past the fox. (could be used to track deer that have been shot but ran if no dog is at hand? Although the hunter would have to be on it straight away before the trail went cold? Easy to spot in woodland etc) Haven't yet had the chance to watch a fox been shot while I'm looking on with the thermal.

[Offroad Gary]

Would one of these compliment a scope mounted lamp for taking the shot? I'd love to see one in action, bet it would be good for locating deer that have run into deep cover?

[camo304]

I have no major negatives with the unit but a shuttered eye cup would be handy as no to light up your face as you bring it up/take it away from your eye or the screen switches on/off as your eye is pressed/depressed from the unit, but if a fox is so close to notice I either switch it off or quickly turn the brightness down.

A few folk have complained about run time which I have no worries with as always carry the spare cradle which takes seconds to change. Also read that some didn't like the fact the battery wasn't built in just to plug a wire in to charge but if that was the case you'd have to pack up and go home/vehicle to do so.

 

 

Just use a Pvs14 eye-cup they work fine.

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[garyw]

iv got the 14 eye cup-just need the thermal now

[happyhunter]

I'm just in from a look round a small holding (out for barley an hour) when foul has been killed since the maize crop has been harvested. A little vixen was spotted first mousing up a dyke back in maize stubble about 300yards off, with the wind in my face a few squeaks had her across the field and through the hedge, at 90yards she dropped on the spot to a head shot.

I had a good scan about with the thermal to check I hadn't caught the attention of any other foxes and set the foxpro out 60 yards from me on chicken distress.

Scanning with the thermal after a minute or so I spot a fox cross the main road some 470yards in front of me and come straight up the hedge line heading for the caller, I mute the caller and slip behind the .223 locate the fox and squeeze the trigger, at 70yards he drops on the spot with a round through the shoulders without the foggiest idea I was even there.

Camo, nice idea with the shuttered eye piece.

Offroad Gary, no reason it wouldn't work with a lamp get the exactly where you want them before lighting them up. No reason why it couldn't be used to find deer.

[rigboot]

Would one of these compliment a scope mounted lamp for taking the shot? I'd love to see one in action, bet it would be good for locating deer that have run into deep cover?

The only issue I found was when working in pairs. My shooting partner had to use a rifle mounted lamp when his nv scope was out of action and although we both know the ground intimately, sometimes picking up the target was a bit laurel and hardy.

Since we both now use nv scopes on our rifles, we can take our time, locate, track and pick your shot much easier than blinding old Charles and making him aware someone is looking.

The thermal/nv combo is really bringing in the numbers nowadays and I think this is where the thermal excels, even on pressured ground, they simply do not know you are there.

I've been blown away by the HD38s, a long way from lead batteries, spot lamps and cooker flex & the smell of acid melted wax jackets

[CZ Varminter]

I have been fortunate enough to go with same to said location on my first session,out with him. It's a honey pot for them there huh mate. I had just bought my bresser spotter and first time I used it within twenty mins I had spotted a fox moving along the far hedge row at around 450 I believe, Simon will correct me if wrong, with that main road behind, I could see it as clear as day moving along fields until that one dropped,at 70yards also. Glad your enjoying the thermal mate. Will have to get out over winter with it on my ground I'll "borrow" Inlaws ps32 and compare notes. TBH no comparison as I mentioned the pulsars first. But seemed he wanted the FLIR.

 

All the best mate.

[Paddy_SP]

My shooting partner and I take it in turns to pull the trigger. As a result, I've watched him drop foxes through the thermal many times. Every now and then you get a big heat signal from all the blood, etc. that comes out of the far side. Sometimes you even see the bullet!

[AnthonyR]

This video has lost a fair bit of quality from the original but you can still the bullet and the blood:

 

http://youtu.be/J_ZKLOq3F8s

 

Guide 518EC Thermal at about 70 yards.

[abolter]

Thermal is superb.

 

Only negative on the Pulsar is the battery cradle. I broke 1 and the other is dicky with rechargeables. It usually works but only if you fiddle with the batteries in the cradle. I also have the battery pack but if you disturb the connector too much it trips the unit out which can be a pain.

 

As for finding dead stuff, you have to have line of sight. A dead fox in long grass is invisible until you are above it. Dead deer in cover will usually show a bit of heat throught the foliage and if you have a good exit it will see blood on the floor etc.

 

A real positive is I had a shodow line appear on my screen after 18 months (it was relatively minor but I didnt want to leave it). I sent it back to Thomas Jacks and I have a brand new unit back with me within 7 days! Superb service!!!

[223magic]

I've got the HD38 which is the older version of the HD38s and to be honest it's one of the best pieces of kit I've bought for foxing and rabbiting, wouldn't be without mine now.

+1

[fizzbangwhallop]

Nice one Simon, glad to hear you're pleased with it...... would be lost without mine now.

 

Picked up another 2 dogs with it and the .17Rem 595/Drone Pro 10x last night following 2 vixens earlier in the week and none of them have had a clue

 

Big wide open stubble fields with hedges and woods so I'd parked my Grand Vit 3 door in the lee of a hedge out of the moon and the wind where the 'keeper was losing partridges with the intention of standing on the back and shooting off the roof.... initially charlie was spooking them on one side of the pen and then nipping round to take their heads off poking through the mesh..... dirty bugger! Solved with bales after that.

 

The biggest problem is that the fields are surrounded by public right of way tracks and because the moon is so bright at the moment there are people walking their dogs, cycling up to about 8.30/9pm..... even if there's no moon there's so much light pollution bouncing off the clouds from Luton that it's never really dark. The thermal is a definite just to check if there's anyone around. The light makes stalking foxes out over the fields almost impossible... the only bonus is that they tend to ignore human/dog scent unless they're too close for comfort. (Plan D )

 

Last night I'd tracked the first dog across the field heading towards the bottom corner of one of the woods so I legged it back down the hedge, switching sides to stay out of the moon/sight of the fox. Getting down the hedge I could see another coming on from the other direction, that went up into the wood and out of sight. Got to the end of the hedge, down on the deck, rifle on the pod and picked up the first fox in the 'scope at about 140m... fascinating to watch it's behaviour.... it knew well enough about the other fox and was focused on that....very wary, marking here and there and moving almost sideways in the submissive posture ie back end overtaking the front end. It finally stopped long enough to take another pee. Result.

 

Just feeling like a dog with 2 d*cks when the other fox appears at speed out of the bottom corner of the wood and turns left up the track, got a bead on it and bingo, number 2 in the bag. Stood up and thermalled the big field to see another 2 foxes working the stubble... tried to get on those in the shadow of the wood but the wind was so strong on top I left them alone for another night.

 

Back down the track to pick up the second one and it's a huge labrador sized dog!! Right result, no wonder the other one didn't want to get any closer, biggest i've seen around here in many years... if ever. Definitely the king fox and a good one to catch up with... I'm guessing that any sniff of a vehicle or lamp would have mean't him disappearing rapidly, he hadn't got that big by hanging around.

 

 

Good stuff.

 

atb

 

Fizz