NO PLACE TO HIDE

I have to admit to being instinctively dubious of most new things. For good or bad, “what a waste of money” and “I can’t see the point in that” are thoughts that are never far from my mind.

Several years ago, I was loaned a Pulsar Helion thermal spotter to test, and with a price tag north of £2,000 my natural prejudices came to the fore. And then I actually switched it on and put it to my eye. Epiphany.

I hung on to that review sample for as long as I could, making increasingly weak excuses to explain why I hadn’t sent it back. Eventually though, after selling a couple of rifles, I bought one of my own. I take it with me every time I go shooting, day and night, and wouldn’t be without it.

The simple truth is that a spotter will enable you to see quarry you would otherwise miss. Thermals are a lot more expensive, but will work whether it’s day or night, uncovering rabbits partially covered in undergrowth and squirrels too far away to see with the naked eye. Infrared spotters work almost as well, but only in the dark, although they are much cheaper.

So, with my wallet trembling, I’m taking a look at the Optical