TassieTiger wrote:I think a thermal is a little different in that at night - you really can not guarantee your target. Your shooting at a heat sign not a fully identifiable target.
Well Tassie I must say what you state is really whether or not the shooter is doing the right or wrong thing, and also to what quality the equipment is.
The way I operate,, I study the terrain and memorize all the trees, stumps, boulders etc in full daylight,,,,, and then set up in the same vantage point at night and reaquaint myself.
But most importantly I do NOT shoot at a mere "heat signature" and I believe that anyone who does so,,, needs to have their license revoked permanently.
My unit will pick up a human size heat signature at 1.6 kilometers,,,,, but not with detail enough to confidently ascertain exactly what it is.
It's great to pick up on something way out there (not that you can shoot at that distance) but at least you can track it if it is getting closer,,, until it is at a range whereby you can distinguish without doubt exactly what it is, ie: hands/arms/legs and anything else you could require.
Then and only then do I shoot,, with all that including the background information absolutely known.