The Predator's Eye

Although exact numbers are surprisingly difficult to find, the National Shooting Sports Foundation states that in 2010 there were some 8000 hunting related accidents in the United States alone. Most of these accidents occur during the day and are entirely avoidable with proper training and safety precautions.

Now imagine how much more dangerous it would be to hunt at night where there is little to no light! What fools would put themselves and their companions in that dangerous situation simply for recreational purposes? Or so goes the conventional wisdom…

In an ironic twist, hunting at night with the right equipment can actually be safer than hunting during the day. you Many hunting accidents occur because a hunter misidentifies a target—mistaking a fellow hunter for game.

The most popular infrared hunting accessories are scopes and monoculars.

IR scopes come in many shapes and sizes with an equal number of specifications. Infrared Monoculars or monocles are essentially scopes that can be held in one’s hand as opposed to being mounted on a rifle—think binoculars for the dark.

There are literally hundreds of IR scopes on the market today which can make scope shopping quite the challenge. So with so many options for IR scopes, what factors should one consider?

 As you can imagine, prices vary widely, ranging from under $100 to tens of thousands of dollars.

▪ Scope Sensitivity

This is measured in fractions of a degree. The smaller the number, the more sensitive it is.

▪ When it was manufactured

As with most products, newer models typically have more available features and better technology.

▪ Startup time

You never know when your target will come traipsing through your line of sight. You don’t want to miss your chance because the scope is taking too long to turn on.

▪ Mounting

Most of the time, the scope will be mounted to the rifle, but sometimes it is nice to be able to detach it and use it as a hand held monocle.

▪ Zoom

The better the zoom, the more flexibility the hunter has. This decision must be made, of course, with regard to the rifle’s range and capabilities.

▪ Battery Life

These devices do require a power source to operate. The better the battery, the more reliable your scope will be and the longer you can use it in the field without recharging or replacing it.

▪ Recording features

Some IR scopes are capable of snapping pictures or recording video. This is certainly a fun feature, but for serious hunters, it can help them track their prey as well.

▪ Weight

 In general, lighter is better. The less the scope weighs, the more maneuverable the rifle is. Plus, less weight means less fatigue for the user.

With some 16,000,000 hunters in the United States alone, IR scopes and monocles have enormous potential to transform night hunting by making it both much safer and much more fun.