Hunting with thermal imaging technology
To many outsiders, hunting always seems like a craft with outdated customs. Often the image of the traditional "loden jockel" is a cliché that has become accepted in the general opinion.
However, hunting has also become much more modernized in recent decades as a result of technological advances. Especially thermal imaging technology as well as night vision technology are terms that quickly catch one's eye in this regard. Both thermal imaging cameras and night vision devices have enjoyed steadily increasing popularity among hunters for several years. There are many reasons for this.
On the one hand, both thermal imagers (also called WBG) and night vision devices are a great help in spotting game. Both make it easier to spot and, in difficult light conditions at dusk or at night, to approach the game, both in raised hide hunting and in stalking. Thermal imaging devices in particular have the decisive advantage that they can also be used in daylight. More and more hunters are even taking their thermal imaging device along on driven hunts in order to be able to detect any game lying around the seat earlier.
Targeting with thermal imaging technology
Thermal imaging devices are also of great use when precisely targeting individual or multiple pieces of game. Especially when hunting sows, the hunter can benefit from a thermal imaging camera. If he cannot tell through his normal scope or binoculars in low light conditions whether the sow is a leading doe, by using thermal imaging he can often find out whether small does are moving with the piece or not.
Tracking with thermal imaging
A thermal imager can also be of great use during a post-hunt search. While it certainly won't replace a trained bloodhound, it can also make both fresh sweat marks and the dead piece identifiable to the hunter through the heat signatures in the darkness.
As in many other areas of modern camera technologies, much development has taken place in the area of thermal imaging in recent years. The digitized representation of heat signatures on the displays of thermal imagers in particular is undergoing constant improvement, and the detection ranges of the sensors installed are also becoming ever greater. The price of thermal imagers has also changed considerably in recent years. While thermal imaging cameras for any use used to be very expensive and difficult to acquire luxury goods, they have adapted to the rest of the hunting equipment with a price range of about 800€ to 6000€. Factors such as detection range, resolution, battery life and handiness of the device naturally condition the price of the individual model. Likewise, the factor of connectivity in the field of WBGs is becoming increasingly relevant. The modern models in the mid-range and upper class now almost all have a video output as well as a WiFi adapter for transferring the image or the stored data to a smartphone or tablet.
Manufacturers of thermal imaging cameras
Among the best-known manufacturers of thermal imaging cameras for hunting use are companies specializing in thermal imaging and night vision technology, such as Liemke, Pulsar or Flir. But even established manufacturers of other optics for hunting use, such as Zeiss, have meanwhile developed their own thermal imaging cameras.
Due to their manifold fields of application and their advantages in difficult light conditions, thermal imagers can significantly support hunting operations in many situations. Due to these features, thermal imagers are rapidly gaining popularity among hunters and there are more and more hunters who actively hunt with thermal imagers.
Thermal imaging cameras under test:
The best test reports of thermal imaging cameras are available at our premium partner Geartester. In addition, Geartester provides high-quality video content on the topic on YouTube:
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