Technical aids are also becoming increasingly popular in the field of hunting. This includes night vision devices and night vision cameras. As the name suggests, these are primarily intended to facilitate hunting at night by providing the hunter with adequate visibility even in the worst lighting conditions. According to § 19 Abs. 1 Ziffer 4 of the Federal Hunting Act in the Federal Republic of Germany, no game other than wild boar may be hunted at night, so the focus is mainly on hunting boars with the help of such devices. Especially during the times of leading sows, good visibility of the wild boar and the associated ability to assess them more accurately is important. Small piglets, which are not as easily seen through binoculars or scopes in low light conditions as larger animals, can be detected using the night vision device.
Furthermore, it is essential to observe § 2 Abs. 3 of the Weapons Act in conjunction with its Annex 1 Subsection 1 No. 4.3 (Definition) and Annex 2 No. 1.2.4.2 and § 19 Abs. 5a of the Federal Hunting Act, which states that it is not permitted to use a device suitable for night vision (night vision or thermal imaging optics) in connection with a weapon, for example through adapters, mounts, or similar, for the targeted shooting of game. Accordingly, the use of so-called night vision aiming devices remains prohibited.
Also, thermal imaging technology is increasingly being used in the field of hunting. This has the advantage over night vision technology that the display of the heat gradient makes game stand out from its surroundings, making it easier and faster to detect. Most night vision devices require a bit of practice and experience to use them effectively. One must first become familiar with the technology and its peculiarities in displaying the observed area. This is especially true for those night vision devices and cameras that, in addition to the usual low-light amplifier, have integrated infrared emitters. However, in terms of price, night vision technology is often significantly cheaper than thermal imaging technology. Both, however, share a common disadvantage: neither commercial thermal technology nor night vision technology allows one to detect game obscured by another object, e.g., a tree.
Nevertheless, the market for technical aids of this kind is growing rapidly, as hunters particularly like to rely on them for security when assessing game.