REACH FOR YOUR THERMALS

With winter upon us and the nights drawing in, hunting for most means going out after dark. In my book, that’s a good thing. However, although many airgun species are more active at night, hunting them is likely to involve an investment in specialist gear.

Last month we looked at some of the best infrared (IR) scopes on the market. In this issue we’re examining thermal scopes. Although prices are slowly coming down, it’s fair to say that in general, thermal technology demands deeper pockets.

Many will argue that going thermal is unnecessary and that IR scopes are more than up to the task when it comes to airgun hunting. Having spent many hours with the products in last month’s test, I’d have to acknowledge there being some truth to that argument. But then again, I’m sure dedicated lampers would argue that IR is a needless expense too.

There’s no denying the fact that a thermal image, even in a top-end product, takes a bit of getting used to. However, unlike IR, a thermal scope will home in on anything with a pulse, even when it’s hidden by light undergrowth. The simple fact is that if you can’t see anything through your thermal, there’s probably nothing to be seen.

It’s no surprise that many