Currently I see many "trends" with thermal and more hitting the market for lower pricing. Fancy videos downrange with thermal hunters and dealers debating technically this and that which thermal can do best for their hog hunting a .5x vs. 1x vs. this resolution vs. this FOV is all great for hunting bragging rights and placing feathers in their hats of who is the most internet forum saavy on these devices. I sit and watch all the debate and vids with lot's of hog meat piling up which is great for those activities.
While most know TNVC's core is still LE and Mil education/training, but it still stands true for the hunting crowd as well. The simple answer to this debate of NV vs. thermal? Identification is still KING and always will be.
In the hunting world, shooting a small calf instead of that thermal viewed hog would be hard on ones wallet. In the human world without ID (like the most recent hunting accident in the news, it was pure tragedy). Range and performance of both NV and thermal technologies will also play an important role down range on what you detect and ID. This is also a very critical component.
For the LE person, ID is always king especially in a shoot/no shoot scenario. Things can get collectively very busy on a perimeter dark house watching your team make entry and people start to come out the back of the house. Once again ID is king and a white light fight may be in order but your environment and safety will dictate that. What if that fight on the back of the house stays dark? Once again, having true ID has to be the #1 priority and every thermal device under 25K out there available I've worked with for LE folks will not suffice for this critical ID of shoot/no shoot for human targets. If it ain't good for true ID'ing a calf or a hog at 75 yards or even questionable, almost good enough ID, it's NEVER good enough. Some folks may say, "well Vic the guys running out the back I observed with my Vanadium Oxide, Uncooled Microbolometer, 640 x 480, .17 micron, 1 million hertz clip on thermal was not in any armor, vest, helmet etc. and was running with a gun." What the good guy shooter did NOT TRULY SEE in his internet lore 1 million hertz thermal was that undercover DEA agent with long hair, badge exposed, under armor and that large glint POLICE placard on his jacket. Understand, it's what you the shooter cannot see is the devil in disguise.
Training is obviously HUGE in all scenarios. Working with both NV and thermal and understanding what you can and cannot truly see is also paramount at different ranges and environments. This goes true for hunters as well. Ask yourself, when you first got your new NV or thermal device. Did you all look at many different critters through that device at different ranges and environments to see what you can REALLY see before you went on an actual hunt and pressed the trigger? Did you REALLY do this? (Please ask yourself this).
For the LE folks again and also the home defender, ID obviously is also just as critically important in the court room when Mr. defense attorney wants to know what did his client look like and posts pictures he took of his client through his own crude thermal or NV device. Believe me I've seen all the tactics they use as well. I've been on that exact hot seat when they've asked me, "can you ID my client in these pictures"? I then see 5 or 6 pictures of different peoples faces on an overhead projector obviously taken with a crude thermal device. This actual scenario from a search, seizure drug buy arrest of a perp witnessed on a surveillance detail and apprehended hiding in a open field with lots of brush. Both NV and thermal were used in the apprehension.
In closing, while I see the trend of thermal devices gaining more momentum with lesser pricing with a bit more resolution for hunting bragging rights. ID is still king out there when you're about to press the trigger whether he/she is LE or hunter. Most all of us heard about the recent night hunting accident based on some sort of "illuminator" used. I will not Monday night QB that incident because I do not know all the facts of the whole incident. One thing is unfortunately true... TRUE identification of the target was not obtained and a tragedy occurred.
Stay safe out there!
Vic Di Cosola
While most know TNVC's core is still LE and Mil education/training, but it still stands true for the hunting crowd as well. The simple answer to this debate of NV vs. thermal? Identification is still KING and always will be.
In the hunting world, shooting a small calf instead of that thermal viewed hog would be hard on ones wallet. In the human world without ID (like the most recent hunting accident in the news, it was pure tragedy). Range and performance of both NV and thermal technologies will also play an important role down range on what you detect and ID. This is also a very critical component.
For the LE person, ID is always king especially in a shoot/no shoot scenario. Things can get collectively very busy on a perimeter dark house watching your team make entry and people start to come out the back of the house. Once again ID is king and a white light fight may be in order but your environment and safety will dictate that. What if that fight on the back of the house stays dark? Once again, having true ID has to be the #1 priority and every thermal device under 25K out there available I've worked with for LE folks will not suffice for this critical ID of shoot/no shoot for human targets. If it ain't good for true ID'ing a calf or a hog at 75 yards or even questionable, almost good enough ID, it's NEVER good enough. Some folks may say, "well Vic the guys running out the back I observed with my Vanadium Oxide, Uncooled Microbolometer, 640 x 480, .17 micron, 1 million hertz clip on thermal was not in any armor, vest, helmet etc. and was running with a gun." What the good guy shooter did NOT TRULY SEE in his internet lore 1 million hertz thermal was that undercover DEA agent with long hair, badge exposed, under armor and that large glint POLICE placard on his jacket. Understand, it's what you the shooter cannot see is the devil in disguise.
Training is obviously HUGE in all scenarios. Working with both NV and thermal and understanding what you can and cannot truly see is also paramount at different ranges and environments. This goes true for hunters as well. Ask yourself, when you first got your new NV or thermal device. Did you all look at many different critters through that device at different ranges and environments to see what you can REALLY see before you went on an actual hunt and pressed the trigger? Did you REALLY do this? (Please ask yourself this).
For the LE folks again and also the home defender, ID obviously is also just as critically important in the court room when Mr. defense attorney wants to know what did his client look like and posts pictures he took of his client through his own crude thermal or NV device. Believe me I've seen all the tactics they use as well. I've been on that exact hot seat when they've asked me, "can you ID my client in these pictures"? I then see 5 or 6 pictures of different peoples faces on an overhead projector obviously taken with a crude thermal device. This actual scenario from a search, seizure drug buy arrest of a perp witnessed on a surveillance detail and apprehended hiding in a open field with lots of brush. Both NV and thermal were used in the apprehension.
In closing, while I see the trend of thermal devices gaining more momentum with lesser pricing with a bit more resolution for hunting bragging rights. ID is still king out there when you're about to press the trigger whether he/she is LE or hunter. Most all of us heard about the recent night hunting accident based on some sort of "illuminator" used. I will not Monday night QB that incident because I do not know all the facts of the whole incident. One thing is unfortunately true... TRUE identification of the target was not obtained and a tragedy occurred.
Stay safe out there!
Vic Di Cosola
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