NZ HUNTER MAGAZINE Testfire
It is also the most controversial, but there is no doubt that it is an absolute game changer. Ultimately the degree of challenge you want to have in your hunting is your own personal choice.
In recent years, thermal has undoubtedly become more mainstream, advanced and affordable. There are a lot of people using it, but not all are open that they do. Many in the hunting industry were also once more cautious in their acceptance of thermal. NZ Hunter is a magazine that promotes free range, fair chase, and ethical hunting. We are also open to technology and equipment advances and believe in everything having its place and people their own freedom of choice, where it doesn't impact others. The reality is that when carrying out animal management, we often look for the best result, more than the sport of it. In that arena, thermal has no peers, no matter who uses it for that purpose. It is also important to note that DOC policy for all PCL is as follows:
Hunting with any night vision equipment, thermal imaging, infrared or heat detecting devices is strictly prohibited.
So, to that end, this is officially the first review of thermal equipment that NZH has undertaken. To be clear, I use thermal professionally for wildanything and presents that to the viewer on a screen as shape and definition, which helps identify what the viewer is looking at. Anything with heat will show up, so warm-blooded animals cannot hide out in the open. It's as simple as that. They can, however be screened behind vegetation and structure that blocks the thermal signature. So, as against optical locators (eg binoculars), thermal makes warm things stand right out. With binos, you need to view and define everything in your view. With thermal you can scan quite quickly and simply look at anything with a heat signature. In short, I could scan a paddock and straight away pick up six to ten animals without trying. When I swept the spotlight over the same area, I was lucky to pick up more than a couple, despite knowing where they were. I depended mostly on eye shine at distance, which doesn't always happen.
