BRAIN TRUST QUESTION: Night Vision

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

Guys,

I think we have been forced into the market for night vision. I am thinking about goggles so that either Wife or I could wear them (I was military medium, I think she is small/medium).

I know a little bit about Gen III/IV but not about our current commercially available market. I know some of the Russian stuff is rather good, but I am not sure which.

First question: Goggles versus scope

Goggles could be transferred between users, scope is specific to rifle. We use quite different spoons. A scope makes the spoon purpose built and would require it to be interchangeable between us. Don't think that will work so very well.

Second Question: Price Range

We'd like to keep it under $500.00, more under the better!!!

Third Question: Type

Wife was looking at infra-red, I was thinking light collecting. HUGE price differences... What are yall's opinions?

Fourth Question: Targets

We are having issues with stray dogs and coyotes. I just shot at four (dogs and coyotes mixed) tonight. Doubt I hit anything. They had cornered our 24 year old horse and our dog started going crazy. Horse is OK but scared. He is now in a stall in a barn where he is protected. Our other horses will kill canines so I have to check the main field to see what is up out there in the morning.

So, keeping in mind the target size is 35 - 50 pounds or less.

Fifth Question: Light dampening

Do not want the issue of the Gen I where they hit the light and burn out. I want something that will dampen itself so lights will not damage it.


I will not put out step in traps. I have asked around for some live traps but none are readily available short of buying them. I'd rather spend the money on a night vision gear.

I'm also leaning towards getting a 22MAG but I'm scared of how far they travel. Guess I'll stick with the .44 and .45 spoons. Backdrop is hills and trees. Neighbors are about 1/2 mile away to closest.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Floodlights are a heck of a lot cheaper and will probably scare off the animals rather than putting you in a position where you have to kill them.

[Embraer]

East of muncie there's a place that specializes in night vision sales. (i remember seeing the billboard everytime i drove up I-69). Nightvision Sales go check it out and see what you think in person

[Jagshund]

If you really loved your horse you'd set out landmines.

[id10t]

On a clear night with a half moon or more a good scope w/ 40 to 50mm objective set at a lower magnification can make a very good "night vision" scope...

Granted, if over cast, early in the moon phase, etc. you won't get the light gathering you want/need.... but then, you probably have something suitable.

[ODDJOB UNO]

the russian stuff is crap. ya get what ya pay for here big time. since i know a hell of alot about these from mfg them here at litton, SPEND AS MUCH AS YOU CAN AFFORD for a u.s. mfg'd set.



the huge issue is SHOOTING AT NIGHT! ya damn well better check your game and fish laws.


here, if you have a spotlight and ANY weapon on you...............yer going to jail period.


flashlights only. nothing attached to a vehicle meaning a 1 mill-yon candlepower hooked up to 12 volt. and the ONLY time you can do that is COON HUNTING!



the fuzz is really nasty about shooting at night, for obvious reasons.

[Tim Hancock]

I primarily use a fairly cheap low end (plastic model... called Nilotron?) Surefire flashlight I mounted to my shotgun. This works great for varmints that I typically shoot at under 15 yards (skunks, possum, coons, strays etc) when I catch them stealing cat food or harassing our pets. The little flashlight is actually pretty powerful and would probably be "good enough" to make longer shots possible with a rifle. I would guess that a 30-50yd shot on a dog sized animal might be possible with this little flashlight.

Outdoor spotlights will have no effect on keeping the varmints away although if strategically placed on your outbuildings, they will allow shooting with out the need for weaponlights or night vision.

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

POP,

Automatic lights do nothing, they are used to seeing them and do not react. Stray dogs are used to humans, our aged Belgian would be no match for anything bigger than a church mouse these days. But her heart is there, she lets us know when something is close to the yard! She is how I found out the dogs and coyotes were going after our old horse.

Mike,

I'm going by there in a few weeks. Might stop in but their prices are higher than some other on-line sources I looked at. Always nicer to try it out before buying... Hope your move is OK! Never got that barn ornament ;-) of a Jaguar!

Scott,

Yes, Cola (the horse) might taste good with some bbq sauce after heating with a nice bouncing bettie. One never knows till one tries! Of course, Wife is a crack shot and it is HER favourite animal. Most likely including me...

CUJO,

Thank you for chiming in! I have used some OLD Russian stuff and it seemed OK for the short term use. I have had some of the Pros tell me they used the stuff and it worked well in field. It does have it's own set of problems and repairs are impossible.

Any particular manufacturer you'd suggest/prefer?

Fuzzy would have to lock up half the county of rednecks here. And down by the river where we live sound travels strangely. Neighbors are 1/2 mile off or more depending upon direction and they are doing the same thing. Sort of why I now have an issue...

But, I am legally able to take out problem animals and I am not going out into the woods looking for trouble. These are animals that are coming right into my front yard and killing my livestock. I'm good with letting them live, until they start costing me money. My cows and other horses can take care of themselves quite readily (I have already removed dead dogs). The old horse and the birds are nothing more than sitting targets.

Tim,

Interesting thought about small powerful light. But I was wanting to see before/when they saw me as well. BUT that would be a less expensive route...

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

I fogot to add the following from the state hunting regulations/rules at the Indiana DNR website (and I do thank you for asking! Rather good question I had already looked into. Of course, in the heat of the moment I was NOT going to let the dogs/coyotes take down Wife's horse! I might have been next....)

Predator Calling (in Indiana ONLY)

"It is legal to hunt fox and coyote with the use of mouth- or hand-operated calls, or with the use of recorded calls. Spotlights may be used to take fox and coyote. There are no restrictions on hunting hours or firearms for hunting fox and coyote. It is illegal to hunt fox or coyote from a roadway or with the use of any motor-driven conveyance."



I will not trap as that is indescriminate and I do wish to dicriminate against stray dogs and coyotes.

[ODDJOB UNO]

Originally Posted by Groesbeck Hurricane

I fogot to add the following from the state hunting regulations/rules at the Indiana DNR website (and I do thank you for asking! Rather good question I had already looked into. Of course, in the heat of the moment I was NOT going to let the dogs/coyotes take down Wife's horse! I might have been next....)

Predator Calling (in Indiana ONLY)

"It is legal to hunt fox and coyote with the use of mouth- or hand-operated calls, or with the use of recorded calls. Spotlights may be used to take fox and coyote. There are no restrictions on hunting hours or firearms for hunting fox and coyote. It is illegal to hunt fox or coyote from a roadway or with the use of any motor-driven conveyance."



I will not trap as that is indescriminate and I do wish to dicriminate against stray dogs and coyotes.

well if ya want to have big FUN w/this...................and you can shoot at night legally..................


1) go to redneck hunting/phishing store. ask for "raped rabbit" yep just like it sounds-cassette.

2) find cheap ass ghetto blaster w/cassette.

3) crank ghetto balster w/sweet hip sounds of rabbit getting raped aka squeal squeal squeal about 60thousand times a minute.


and in NO TIME you will have very varmint within a mile begging on yer doorstep for that action.


to up the ante.................get a stuffed rabbit, install stuffed rabbit on 360 degree rail setup and take a remote control from an RC car and have rabbit go around rail setup(hoop) roundy roundy 360 degrees imitating a rabbit moving.


you will have your very own hunting farm in no time.



the noise and the movement combined is key.



this is what we use out on the san carlos rez for varmints. after you set off that ghetto blaster you dont even have time to setup your lounge chair and grab a cold one and they are coming in.


(1) REALLY BIG WARNING about this.................you damn well may find yerself facing a really really really BIG VARMINT..........aka mr. bear/mr. mtn kitty/mr. bobby kitty as they are always looking for a free easy meal.



and you can cook fresh BACON to add even more enticing impetus for them pesky varmints to come a calling!

[vash]

night vision? for varmits?..naaa...my friend the world has changed around you. lemme do a search.

[vash]

first check with your game laws..get a depredation permit..whatever. with one you can shoot at night in california.

and then buy this, much cheaper than night vision, it double as a flashlight..this is what the trend it turning too. this is just one example. i think the prices really vary. i cannot remember the model i saw some pro hunter types testing..but i dont remember it being this cheap.

hog hunting lights, feeder lights, blood trailing aids

[vash]

i think the show used Laser Genetics.

Amazon.com: Laser Genetics Rifle Scope Mounted Laser Designator with Two Mounts: Sports & Outdoors

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

CUJO,

I do, somewhere in there, like the idea of what you are suggesting! We had even tossed around just such fun.

Funny thing though, I have photo of little putty cat, rather of darkish colour, a bit larger than coyotes, with footprints BIGGER than my 80 pound Belgian, and a nice long curvey tail. A large cat rescue farm down the road seems to have lost one a couple of years ago...


Vash,

I have large enough acreage, neighbors quite a ways away, state is OK with me removing some of the overpopulation of dogs/coyotes. I just cannot shoot to the north due to road (keeping Yankees at bay with other ideas ;-).

The guy with three turntables, 1800 to about 1950's furniture, a Commadore 64, using single action and lever action spoons, and only an outside antenna asks: What do ya mean? Me passed by technology from the rest of the world????

I likes zee red lights! Interesting alternative! AND we could do a his and hers! This might be our option?


EDIT: I forgot:

BACON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ODDJOB UNO]

there is a point here with raped rabbits/moving rabbits/bacon where they(kritters) THROW ALL CAUTION TO THE WIND. and it really helps to have 2-3 people watching yer 360.


you get so involved sighting on moving target you get tunnel vision and ya havent a CLUE whats going on behind you.


and yes we have had them come up behind and scare the living holy hell out of US!


its a RIOT! fer sure have a camera.


just make sure of yer backdrops.