I dropped down onto the other side of the ranch gate and onto the saturated soil. I was hunting private property south of Longview, Texas, in early April 2021, and it had been raining much of the last 24 hours. It had been raining pretty steady for the last three days of my time here in East Texas, which made the fields and pastures even more inviting to the feral hogs that so love to root up the ground.
thermal optics
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Burris Thermal Scope Plus a (Not) Boring Rifle = A Great Night Hog Hunting Rig
BY Brian McCombie Published: June 6, 2022 { 0 comments }Thermal Review: Bering Optics R-35 vs Hogster Stimulus
BY Clay Martin Published: May 2, 2022 { 0 comments }The Bering Optics Hogster Stimulus is no question fantastic for the dollar, if you are on a very limited budget. At $1599, you would be hard pressed to find something that will hang with it as far as capabilities go. But what if you have a little more in the tank? To answer that question, we took a look at the Stimulus side by side with Hogster R-35.
The West Texas Proving Grounds: Trijicon’s New Thermal Optics and Missing on Tom Turkeys
BY Brian McCombie Published: April 4, 2022 { 1 comment }That was one of the furthest shots I’ve even made with a thermal optic, at night, on a hog. My guide and fellow hunters were cheering my shot, and I certainly felt good about it. But I also knew the REAP-IR made the shot possible.
Hogster Stimulus: Best Value in Thermal Optics Today?
BY Clay Martin Published: February 28, 2022 { 7 comments }Thermal optics have long been the domain of the, uh, not poor. While some people have a job that can justify the upfront cost, it has not been a realistic option for the masses. Granted, prices have gone down. But not down to the point of accessibility to the masses. Until now.
Affordable Handheld Thermal – InfiRay CBL19 Full Review
BY Austin Van Gilder Published: February 19, 2022 { 2 comments }The new infiRay Cabin CBL19 thermal monocular is now available to the US market, through a relatively new company, iRayUSA. It features a high-resolution display and a 384×288 sensor core. The result is a crisp, detailed image that’s able to detect heat out to 1,070 yards.
Pulsar Thermion XQ38
BY Mitchell Graf Published: January 3, 2022 { 0 comments }For many of you reading this and just jumping into the world of thermal optics, do not fret, it is not as complicated as some may suggest. While Thermal scopes are not cheap, they are an absolute game-changer in the world of night hunting. 5 years ago, I would have never believed how powerful of a tool thermal would become in my hunting game.
ATN ThOR 4 640- Godlike or Gimmick? Long Term Review
BY Austin Van Gilder Published: December 6, 2021 { 6 comments }Thermal optics have been gaining popularity amongst hunters and outdoor enthusiasts over the last decade. Advancements in thermal imaging technology have brought the costs down to a more affordable level.
Farther into the Night: My Journey into Night Vision and Thermal Optics – Bering Optics Super Hogster
BY Steve Gaspar Published: November 1, 2021 { 3 comments }This article is the second of two on thermal optics. In part one I discussed night vision, how I decided to invest in thermal optics, and profiled the iRay MH25 thermal scanner. In this article, I cover the Bering Optics Super Hogster thermal riflescope.
Into the Night: My Journey into Night Vision and Thermal Optics
BY Steve Gaspar Published: October 4, 2021 { 8 comments }The first of a two part series, this article covers the scanning portion of thermal night hunting with a review of the IrayUSA Mini MH25 thermal scanner.
Review: Burris Thermal Imagers
BY Trapr Swonson Published: June 7, 2021 { 2 comments }Burris has brought 3 different thermal imaging products to the market and considering the price point and what you get, they’ve got a winner.









