predator hunting texas A NNUA L 2 02 2
The thermal
craze,
with good reason
Advertising Section
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PREDATOR HUNTING TEXAS ANNUAL 2022
Lone Star Outdoor News
The thermal
craze,
with good reason
By Craig Nyhus
Lone Star Outdoor News YouTube videos of Texas hog hunters using thermal imaging have caught the attention of hunters from all over, many of whom are interested in experiencing a night hunt. Thermal scopes run the gamut and range in cost from a few thousand to several thousand dollars. The image from the scope, though, isn’t a photographic-type image; it’s a heat signature from infrared radiation that takes some getting used to. But with imaging like the Leica Calonox mounted onto a rifle scope, you can search for huntable game in the dark at far distances (up to 3,000 yards), and then shoot with accuracy when you get closer. But what can a hunter using a thermal scope for the first time expect? Probably something like this: Imagine walking across a wheat field in total darkness, the only things visible to you and the other hunters are wind turbines and flashing lights off in the distance. You drove into the field with lights out and loaded your guns in the dark. The hogs are 400 yards away. Before you approach, you are instructed who shoots to the left, right and middle. The command to fire comes. Through the thermals, you and the others can see the patches of dirt where you missed, allowing you to adjust your lead on the running hogs. When there is a hit, there’s no question as the telltale thump is audible, indicating to the group how many hogs were downed. This type of hunt is a special kind of thrill, although safety needs to be paramount. For shooters, staying in a line when the shooting starts and only shooting in your lane is required. And for those identifying the targets, looking through a thermal scope is a different kind of view. While distinguishing a hog from a cow is easy and obvious, spotting the bushy tails and stealthy behavior of a fox or coyote, as opposed to a deer fawn or the neighbor’s roaming dog, requires more experience.
PREDATOR HUNTING TEXAS ANNUAL 2022
Leica
Lone Star Outdoor News
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RIDE IN THE HAM RODEO The Bandera Ham Rodeo, formerly the Wild Hog Explosion, is coming up on its 20th anniversary. The Bandera Wranglers is a nonprofit organization that started putting on this event in 2019 after the prior organization received threats of a lawsuit by PETA and other animal activist organizations that thought our small, hometown rodeo involving feral hogs was animal abuse. The Bandera Wranglers were more than happy to take over this event and keep it alive for the community that enjoys a change of rodeo livestock. In February of 2020, PETA sent a letter stating that if the Ham Rodeo was put on in March, a lawsuit would occur. In June, the Bandera Wranglers organization was served. In October of 2021, the court ruled in the favor of Bandera Wranglers, stating the rodeo was not committing animal cruelty, public endangerment or public nuisance. We have local ranchers trap feral hogs ranging from 5 to 85 pounds and have contestants ranging from 3 years of age to adults. The smaller children run with the smaller hogs and simply have to touch the hog somewhere on its back. The older children and adults have more of a challenge and must catch, bag, and drag the feral hog across a line within two minutes to stay in the running.
Ribbons and goodie bags will be awarded to smaller children while the older kids and adults compete for one of the 18 silver buckles made by Bandera’s own Hyo Silver. The event happens over Spring Break on March 19. Mansfield Park gates will open at 8 a.m. and registration begins at 8:30 a.m. The Hog Catch will begin at 11 a.m. Admission fees are $10 for adults, $5 for children 5-12, and free for children under 5. Hog catch registration fees are $5 (single entry per child) for ages 3-9 and $15 for ages 10-adult, and $30 for teams of 2. The Bandera Wranglers’ mission statement is, “bringing the community together to support those in need.” It is events like this that allow us to put money back into our community and donate funds to 501(c)(3) organizations within Bandera County to help our friends, neighbors and community. Without the support from our sponsors and attendees this event would not be possible. Please come to the Cowboy Capital of the World and join us for a day of fun, food, merchandise, vendors and live music and see what our rodeo is all about — and why PETA is making such a fuss. We look forward to seeing y’all!
THE BEST WAY TO HUNT HOGS, PREDATORS Slow Glow hunting lights introduce a whole new way to hunt wild hogs, predators and exotic game. The lights are designed to be mounted 5 feet off the ground on a T-post, and once motion is detected in your hunting area, your Slow Glow will slowly increase light intensity over a 2-minute period to avoid spooking game — eventually lighting more than 6,000 squarefeet. Hogs, coyotes and other exotic game never realize they’re being lit up. Sit a few hundred yards away and use your light like an alarm! When your light gets bright, stalk in downwind behind the cover of your Slow Glow for insanely close encounters. Slow Glow lights easily switch between red or green colors and feature two different lenses for a spot or flood beam pattern. They also offer an 850nm Infrared version for hunters using night vision. A powerful 12v feeder battery will run your light for several nights of hunting, or add our 5w SolR Pro Power Management system to leave your light out year-round. The new SolR Pro system will power up to four devices year-round, so you can power a trail camera and hunting light year-round using solar power. SolR Pro also comes with a USB power port for convenient USB power in off-the-grid locations. All Slow Glow lights are built by hand in Liberty Hill, Texas by family, and come with an unconditional 1-year warranty. They’ll never know what lit ‘em. SLOW GLOW ☎ (512) 828-6862 SLOWGLOW.COM
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PREDATOR HUNTING TEXAS ANNUAL 2022
Lone Star Outdoor News
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PREDATOR HUNTING TEXAS ANNUAL 2022
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CALONOX REVOLUTIONIZES THERMAL IMAGING FOR HUNTERS Leica Sport Optic’s first-ever thermal imaging camera is designed specifically for hunters: the Leica Calonox. Available in two versions: The Leica Calonox “View” is a hand-held observation device and The Leica Calonox “Sight” is a mounted clip-on device for direct fit to riflescopes. Similar in design to conventional digital cameras, thermal imaging cameras emit infrared radiation as a heat signature that is not visible to the human eye. With the new Leica Calonox thermal imaging cameras, the terrain can be searched for huntable game in the dark or in difficult light conditions. The Leica Calonox models offer a large field of view with a high detection range, high-contrast imaging at extreme distances (>3000 yards). Introducing LIO (Leica Image Optimization), which borrows from more than 100 years of building the most advanced cameras in the world, the Leica Calonox models utilize LIO in conjunction with Calonox’s large sensor and high-resolution OLED display, and both optics offer the highest observation quality. The functional elements are extremely ergonomic and easy to grip. In addition, operation with just three buttons is intuitive, user-friendly and reduced to the essentials. The Leica Calonox “Sight” mounted clip-on device can be used in conjunction with a conventional riflescope and is equipped with 1x magnification, and it also can be utilized in hand-held mode for observation. The Leica Calonox “View” offers a high recognition range (>3000 yards), while the wide field of view is ideal for close-up work thanks to the large sensor (640x480 pixels) at 2.5x basic optical magnification. Both models have a 42mm lens and are extremely light at around 500 grams. A permanently installed rechargeable battery with a minimum operating time of six hours serves as the power supply.
LEICA CALONOX - ADVANTAGES AT A GLANCE • • • • • • • • • • •
Excellent imaging performance - extremely high contrast and detail Operating time of at least 6 hours Magnification Leica Calonox “View”: 2.5x, 5x, 7.5x, and 10x Magnification Leica Calonox “Sight”: 1x Objective diameter: 42mm Dimensions: approx. 170x60mm Ergonomics and design practical and user-friendly High-resolution sensor (640x480 pixels) OLED display with 1024x768 pixels Integrated rechargeable battery Selling price: $3,999
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PREDATOR HUNTING TEXAS ANNUAL 2022
Lone Star Outdoor News
FROM WORK TO PLAY WHATEVER YOUR ADVENTURE IS, WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED.
FIND YOUR NEW RIDE AT HOFFPAUIR 2 1 1 4 G O L D T H W A I T E ,
( 8 5 5 ) PREDATOR HUNTING TEXAS ANNUAL 2022
Lone Star Outdoor News
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NEW!
Sight
Leica Calonox
View
Leica revolutionizes thermal imaging for hunters Leica Sport Optics has unveiled its first ever thermal imaging camera designed specifically for hunters using state-of-the-art technology developed from over a hundred years of building the most advanced camera systems in the world: the Leica Calonox. Available in two versions: The Leica Calonox “View” is hand-held observation device and The Leica Calonox “Sight” is a mounted clip-on device for direct fit to riflescopes. With the new Leica Calonox thermal imaging cameras, the terrain can be searched for heat signatures emitted from huntable game unseen by the naked eye in dark or in difficult light conditions. The Leica Calonox models offer a large field of view with a high detection range, high-contrast imaging at extreme distances (>3000 Yards). • Excellent imaging performance - extremely high contrast and detail • Operating time of at least 6 hours • Magnification Leica Calonox "View": 2.5x, 5x, 7.5x, and 10x • Magnification Leica Calonox "Sight": 1x
• • • • • •
Objective diameter: 42mm Dimensions - approx. 170x60mm Ergonomics and design - practical and user-friendly High-resolution sensor (640x480 pixels) OLED display with 1024x768 pixels Integrated rechargeable battery
@LeicaHuntingUSA
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PREDATOR HUNTING TEXAS ANNUAL 2022
Lone Star Outdoor News