Game Finders???

[oregoncritters]

Just wondering if anyone has any experience with the game finding electronic gizmo's they have out. I have a color blind buddy who is really getting into archery but is a little hesitant because it is tough for him to follow a blood trail. If you have any info, I would love to pass it on....

 

[bzzboyz]

Never used one, but I have consistantly heard here and on other sites to "not" waste your money.

 

[Shot]

what bzz said. Don't wast your money. I buddy of mine had one, we went on a pig hunt. The blood trail was clearly visible to us, but with the game finder you couldn't see anything unless you brought the damn thing inches away from the trail. So its kind of useless. I am also thinking maybe he had a cheap one (not sure) and the more expensive ones might me better.

 

[larrysogla]

Is it supposed to track blood or isn't it supposed to detect latent body heat. Never seen one so I dunno. They have remote digital thermometers now that can detect heat from a few feet away. Just my

. larrysogla.

 

[Speckmisser]

Most of them detect body heat, but my experience with them definitely did NOT sell me. We were trailing a deer in the swamp. I'd whacked her pretty good with a .50 cal smokepole, and had a decent blood trail. I figured she'd laid down on a hummock and passed on. My brother had just picked up a new game finder, and was dying to try it in the field.

The danged thing sent us on more wild goose chases than I care to remember. It was picking up heat from all directions... none of which turned out to be my deer. (Next day, we found where the deer had made it to the river and apparently tried to swim it... not sure if she made it or became gator food.)

Later, he shot a deer and dropped it on the spot. He pulled out the gamefinder to try it again. Same story.. false positives to right and left, although it did eventually point the deer.

Bottom line, it'll take more than that to convince me they're worth the money.

Your own mileage may vary.

 

[larrysogla]

Probably this technology is still in it's early stage at the affordable/mass market level. We know that the US military has matured the technology where they can detect very accurately enemy soldiers from miles away with these FLIR(Forward Looking Infra Red), it detects heat emissions. This is a major step up from the image intensifier [magnification of very faint light(starlight) goggles/sniperscopes & light years away from the WW II era infrared spotlight (illuminator)/receiver snipersopes]. The technology is mature to the tune of hundreds of thousands(if not millions) of dollars per instrument. What needs to be improved is the sensitivity/accuracy of definition at the level of the pocketbook of the everyday American hunter. As a confirmed/two hands raised EL CHEAPO, it will still be a few more years before I can afford one that will be accurate to my satisfaction(& I will be shopping for a used one at E-bay or the swap meets or the gun shows at that).
God Bless. larrysogla.

 

[spectr17]

The $300 dollar units simply don't work. We won't sell them in the store here for that very reason.

The technology does work, we used them in the military and the fire departments use them to find people in burning buildings. They just cost several thousand dollars for the better units that work.

One day hopefully they will be in range for the average Joe. In the meantime, buy a couple tracking books and get out and practice tracking.

 

[Timjackson]

My cousin is a firefighter and says that the units they use are unbelievable.. He said that you can make out a body in a raging fire and even tell if it is an adult or child... We have talked about how cool these units would be to use out in the woods.. You could just scan an area and what animals are hiding on the other side of the trees... Problem is just what Jesse said, they are tens of thousands of dollars for the units they use...

 

[bigtusker]

The ones we use in the fire department are thermal imaging, about $20,000.

 

[Timjackson]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

The ones we use in the fire department are thermal imaging, about $20,000[/b]

yep.. that is what I was talking about... It should be able to locate downed game for you though!!

 

[bigtusker]

Absolutely!!

 

[SierraExplorer]

Do people still carry HydrogenPeroxide in a misting spray bottle?

I have never had the need for it yet- but it is in the truck durring the season with my gear.

Just srpay some and when in contct with just a little blood it bloats up and is easy to see.

 

[larrysogla]

I wonder if the US government ever puts these thermal imaging units on sale at their auctions. Perhaps someday we may see them in some surplus dealer. Sigh!!! all it takes is money & we can find these elusive public land Calif. piggies. Till then, it is pay to hunt or buy your own ranch. God Bless. larrysogla.