Thermal Monocular for deer (maybe even duck) recovery

[Rubberhead*]

Anybody use one? Reviews for the Goyojo 210 started popping up on my Youtube feed and all the sudden, I need one...

I can think of a couple of lost deer that I might have been able to find if I had had one and a couple that would have been much easier to find.

[USMCsilver]

As good as it sounds in theory, I would think any thermal recovery attempts would be useless, unless it was via drone.

[Coastal Woodie]

It works decent in the winter when the woods are thin but early season you can't see any further with a thermal than you can a flashlight.

[b-stick]

I’ve got a handheld.

Hot humid days makes it useless.

I’ve also got a thermal drone and it’s useless during the day and at night in thick vegetation.

I use both of them more to kill armadillos.

[b-stick]

This was in a clear cut min zoom about 90ft up.

I don’t have any images from my handheld. They are cool toys and very useful tools in the right application.

[KRT]

The handhelds most talk about would be worthless for recovery.

[SilverFox]

I disagree with most it appears. I have 2 of them and have used both of them with success. I used one to find a deer in a cotton field before it was picked. It had been sprayed and most of the leaves had fallen. I walked across the rows and was able to see him around 70-80 yards away. Cotton was around 5 foot tall and full. Sure you're not going to get a full picture but if there is heat, it's going to show up. I've found a couple in the woods... not pines where you can see straight down the rows either. One thing I will tell you is to get the lowest base magnification you can. a 1 or 2 is a lot better than a 3. With 3 it's really hard to walk around and scan since everything is going to be really close to you. Using it for deer recovery you can get away with a 256 as well. The lower magnification one I have is a 256. The other is a 384 but a 3 power. I usually only use it for scanning before daylight when walking in to try and not bump anything.

High humidity does hurt them. Some do better in it than others. Good thing we don't have high humidity all season long.

One of the deer I found had been walked over several times before he called me to come help. They had all but given up. He's on the wall now.

[bloodline]

Rix stride st 6 light is what you want. 256 is useless. 384 monocular is OK but the price of 640 now makes it stupid to buy 384. You want 1X. LRF is useless on a monocular unless you have it on a tripod.

[bloodline]

As good as it sounds in theory, I would think any thermal recovery attempts would be useless, unless it was via drone.

Not so. Found a shit ton of animals with handheld or helmet mounted thermal.

[USMCsilver]

Not so. Found a shit ton of animals with handheld or helmet mounted thermal.

I guess it all just depends on vegetation; shoulda clarified that up above.

Sent from Galaxy S25 Ultra using Tapatalk; don't blame me for the phone's mistakes.

[CurLee]

I would pass over any 2x options and start with 1x base magnification. Walking with 2x is pert near impossible and your eyes constantly adjusting back and forth between scanning and walking is annoying.

[b-stick]

I disagree with most it appears. I have 2 of them and have used both of them with success. I used one to find a deer in a cotton field before it was picked. It had been sprayed and most of the leaves had fallen. I walked across the rows and was able to see him around 70-80 yards away. Cotton was around 5 foot tall and full. Sure you're not going to get a full picture but if there is heat, it's going to show up. I've found a couple in the woods... not pines where you can see straight down the rows either. One thing I will tell you is to get the lowest base magnification you can. a 1 or 2 is a lot better than a 3. With 3 it's really hard to walk around and scan since everything is going to be really close to you. Using it for deer recovery you can get away with a 256 as well. The lower magnification one I have is a 256. The other is a 384 but a 3 power. I usually only use it for scanning before daylight when walking in to try and not bump anything.

High humidity does hurt them. Some do better in it than others. Good thing we don't have high humidity all season long.

One of the deer I found had been walked over several times before he called me to come help. They had all but given up. He's on the wall now.

I probably should have worded mine better. The drone works great for finding heat signatures even during the heat of the summer but to positively identify a dead deer in a thick canopy from overhead is extremely hard.

I’ve honestly never used my handheld to find dead deer. My Bassett is on every single deer I shoot whether it’s with the bow or rifle. If it falls in sight, she is still used. I strongly agree with the lowest magnification and widest FOV possible.

My handheld is a AGM Taipan 10-256. For what I use to for, there is no reason for me to have anything more other than its because I want it. I’ve had my handheld for a few years now. My drone is a 640. I also have the AGM Rattler v2 256 scope and I love it. I can see using 384 or 640 if I was as serious as some of these guys. It does extremely well killing pigs and armadillos.

[BugBuster]

Pulsar. If I had to pick between my thermal handheld and my binos, I would leave the binos at the house every time.

[3 1/2" MAGUM]

I've located a few dead deer with my Leupold. In open woods on a cold evening, mine works really well.

I've also used it to sneak up on my kids & wife to scare the shit out of them. Good fun.

[usrgce]

Can yall not see blood?

[Frank1]

I have one of these, got a deal on it. Comes with a small hard case, keep it in my hunting backpack. Works pretty good, especially in colder weather. Found 1 deer with it just to try it out. Not bad

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GX8XTG5...ect=mhFallback

[CurLee]

Can yall not see blood?

Do you shoot deer much?

[usrgce]

Do you shoot deer much?

Quite a few over the years actually!

[usrgce]

For 45 years anyway.

[Rubberhead*]

Quite a few over the years actually!

And every one of those deer has left a good blood trail?