Last month, I and my two colleagues Ford Webb and Burton Wilmot had the opportunity to go hunting in the River Lakes Conservation Area in Florida, USA. This is a conservation area with rich natural resources and wildlife, and also an ideal destination for outdoor adventure and recreation. We spent three days and two nights there, experiencing the fun and excitement of night hunting. In order to see the target clearly in the dark, we chose a high-cost-effective Chinese brand wildguarder infrared binoculars 1. This is a professional night vision device that can provide clear images in no-light or low-light conditions, and also has functions such as ranging, video recording, and photography. In this article, I will introduce in detail our hunting trip in the River Lakes Conservation Area, and the help and surprises that wildguarder infrared binoculars brought us.
River Lakes Conservation Area is a conservation area located in central Florida, USA, covering an area of about 43,000 hectares. It is jointly managed by the St. Johns River Water Management District and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It is part of the Upper St. Johns River Basin Project, which aims to restore the hydrological connection between the river and the floodplain, improve water quality, reduce freshwater discharge to the Indian River Lagoon, and provide clean water sources for Melbourne City. It is also a conservation area with rich natural resources and wildlife, providing outdoor enthusiasts with various activities and exploration opportunities.
The place where we hunted in River Lakes Conservation Area was Winder Lake, which is an artificial lake with an area of about 1,000 hectares, located in the southwest of the conservation area. It was built by excavating soil and piling up embankments to store flood water from the river and transport it to Melbourne City through pipes. It is also an important wetland ecosystem that provides habitat for many birds, fish, reptiles and mammals.
We found a suitable camping site near Winder Lake, set up tents and bonfires. We prepared some food and drinks and enjoyed a delicious dinner. We also brought some fishing gear and planned to fish by the lake. Winder Lake has rich fish resources, including black bass, bluegill, white bass, dogfish, catfish and so on. We soon caught a few big fish and felt very excited.
After dark, we started our night hunting operation. We put on camouflage clothes, hats and gloves, took guns and ammunition. We also brought our most important equipment – wildguarder infrared binoculars. This is a professional night vision device that can provide clear images in no-light or low-light conditions, and also has functions such as ranging, video recording, and photography. It can let us see the target clearly in the dark and make accurate shots.
We walked quietly along the lake shore, looking for possible prey. River Lakes Conservation Area has a variety of wildlife, including white-tailed deer, wild boar, turkey, squirrel, raccoon, skunk and so on. We used wildguarder infrared binoculars to observe the surrounding environment and found some movements. We carefully approached the target, adjusted the muzzle and posture, and waited for the right time to fire.
Night hunting is a very special experience, it can not only let you feel the stimulation and fun different from the daytime, but also let you have the opportunity to hunt some nocturnal animals. However, night hunting also has higher difficulty and risk, requiring you to have more skills and preparation. In this part, I will share some important skills that I learned in night hunting, hoping to help you.
Get enough sleep
Hunting itself is a dangerous sport that requires you to stay awake and alert. Night hunting is even more so, because your vision and hearing will be affected. Therefore, before starting night hunting, you should try to get enough sleep to ensure that your body and mental state are in the best condition. If you also want to hunt during the day, then you should find a time to take a nap in the noon or afternoon to replenish your energy.
Get the right equipment
Night hunting requires the use of some special equipment to improve your efficiency and safety. First of all, you need some suitable clothes and shoes to adapt to the temperature changes and terrain conditions at night. You should choose some dark or camouflage clothes to avoid being discovered by animals. Secondly, you need some suitable guns and ammunition to adapt to the shooting distance and accuracy at night. You should choose some guns and ammunition that can make smaller sound and flash to avoid scaring or attracting other animals. Finally, you need some suitable night vision equipment to improve your vision and target recognition ability in the dark. Here I strongly recommend the wildguarder infrared binoculars that we use, which is a professional night vision device that can provide clear images in no-light or low-light conditions, and also has functions such as ranging, video recording, and photography.
Light control
Light control is a very important skill in night hunting. Light control refers to the reasonable use or avoidance of any form of light source in the dark to achieve the best effect. On the one hand, you need to use some light sources to help you see the surrounding environment and target clearly, such as flashlight, torch, laser pointer and so on. On the other hand, you also need to avoid using too much or too bright light sources to prevent exposing yourself or disturbing other animals. Therefore, when using any light source, you should pay attention to the following points:
Use red or green light sources, because these colors have less impact on animals.
Use low-brightness or flickering mode light sources, because this can reduce the scattering or reflection of light in the air.
Use directional or focused mode light sources, because this can reduce the scattering or reflection of light on the ground.
Use intermittent or short-term use of light sources, because this can reduce the alertness or adaptation of animals to light.
Night vision equipment
Night vision equipment is an indispensable equipment in night hunting. It can let you see the target clearly in the dark and make accurate shots. However, not all-night vision equipment is suitable for all situations. When choosing and using night vision equipment, you should pay attention to the following points:
Understand different types and grades of night vision equipment, and choose the appropriate model according to your needs and budget.
Understand your environment and target, and choose the appropriate magnification and resolution according to the light conditions and target characteristics.
Understand your guns and ammunition, and choose the appropriate calibration method and zero-point setting according to the shooting distance and accuracy.
Understand your risks and challenges, and choose the appropriate accessories and functions according to possible interference or danger.
We used wildguarder infrared binoculars as our main night vision equipment. It is a night vision device with various functions and advantages. It can provide clear images in no-light or low-light conditions, and also has functions such as ranging, video recording, and photography. Its magnification can be adjusted from 2x to 8x, resolution can reach 1280×960, calibration mode can choose automatic or manual, zero-point setting can save multiple different guns and ammunition. It is also equipped with an infrared laser pointer, which can help us locate the target in the dark and improve shooting accuracy. Its weight and size are moderate, and it can be easily mounted on guns or worn on the head. Its battery life is also long, and it can work for more than 8 hours.
Reconnaissance and preparation
Night hunting requires you to have a comprehensive and accurate understanding of your environment and target. You cannot rely solely on your intuition or experience, but need to do some reconnaissance and preparation work in advance. Before starting night hunting, you should pay attention to the following points:
Understand the habits and activity range of the animals you intend to hunt, and choose the appropriate time and place according to their behavior patterns and food sources.
Understand the terrain and climate of the area you intend to hunt, and choose the appropriate route and position according to their characteristics.
Understand the laws and regulations of the area you intend to hunt, and obtain the necessary permits and certificates according to their requirements.
Understand the safety situation of the area you intend to hunt, and prepare necessary emergency measures according to possible dangers or emergencies.
We had done a thorough reconnaissance and preparation work for River Lakes Conservation Area before starting night hunting. We learned about the history, geography, climate, flora and fauna of the conservation area through the internet and local people, and chose Winder Lake as our hunting place according to this information. We also contacted the St. Johns River Water Management District by phone and email, and obtained their permission and guidance for night hunting. We also prepared some necessary equipment and supplies to cope with possible situations such as rain, cold, insects, snakes, injuries and so on.
Patience is the key
Night hunting is a sport that requires patience and perseverance. You cannot expect to find and hit the target easily every time, but need to spend a lot of time and energy to look for and wait for opportunities. During night hunting, you should pay attention to the following points:
Do not give up or change your plan easily, unless you have sufficient reasons or evidence to show that your chosen time or place is not suitable or safe.
Do not move or make noise at will, unless you have a definite target or need to communicate with your partner. Otherwise, you may scare or attract other animals, which will affect your hunting effect or safety.
Do not fire or waste ammunition at will, unless you have a clear view and confidence to hit the target. Otherwise, you may miss better opportunities or attract other animals’ attention or attack.
Do not be overconfident or reckless, unless you have enough experience and skills to deal with various situations. Otherwise, you may get into trouble or danger.
We showed enough patience and calmness during night hunting. We followed the plan and route we had made in advance, without deviating or changing. We kept quiet and hidden when looking for and approaching the target, without making unnecessary noise or light. We ensured that we had a clear view and confidence when firing and shooting, without wasting ammunition or missing opportunities. We were cautious and decisive when facing risks and challenges, without being overconfident or reckless.
These are some important skills that I learned in night hunting; I hope they can help you. Of course, these skills are not fixed, you can adjust and improve them according to your own actual situation and experience. Night hunting is a sport that requires constant learning and practice, only by constantly trying and summarizing, you can become a real night hunter.
During night hunting, we encountered some thrilling and interesting moments, and also harvested some precious prey. In this part, I will share some of our experiences and feelings in night hunting, and how we used wildguarder infrared binoculars to improve our hunting effect and fun.
Our first target in night hunting was wild boar. Wild boar is a very common and harmful animal, they will destroy crops and natural environment, and also spread some diseases and parasites. Wild boar is a nocturnal animal, they usually come out to forage at dusk or dawn, and hide in the woods or bushes during the day. Wild boar has a very keen sense of smell and hearing, but poor vision. Wild boar has a very strong body and sharp tusks, if threatened or attacked, they will fight back very fiercely.
We found some traces of wild boar near Winder Lake, including some turned soil, gnawed plants, flattened grassland and so on. We used wildguarder infrared binoculars to observe the surrounding environment and found a group of wild boars drinking water by the lake. We quietly approached them, using the lake water and wind direction to cover our smell and sound. We selected one of the larger male boars as our target, it had black fur and long tusks. We used wildguarder infrared binoculars to measure its distance from us, finding that it was about 150 meters away. We used wildguarder infrared binoculars to adjust our guns and zero-point settings to suit this distance and accuracy. We used wildguarder infrared binoculars to aim at its heart area, which is the most lethal part of wild boar. We waited for a suitable moment, when it raised its head to drink water, we fired at the same time.
We heard two shots and a scream, and then saw the boar fall to the ground. The other wild boars were scared and ran away. We quickly ran over to check the situation and found that the boar was dead, it had two obvious bullet holes, piercing its heart and lungs. We felt very excited and proud, this was our first time to hunt wild boar at night. We used wildguarder infrared binoculars to take some photos and videos to record this unforgettable moment. Then we dragged the boar back to the campsite with a rope, ready to deal with its meat and fur.
Wild boar meat is a very delicious and nutritious food, it contains rich protein, iron, zinc and other trace elements. Wild boar meat is leaner and more tender than domestic pig meat, and has a unique aroma and flavor. We made some delicious dishes with wild boar meat, including roasted wild boar chops, wild boar soup, wild boar pie and so on. We used bonfire to cook and warm up, and enjoyed a hearty dinner. We also made some practical items with wild boar skin, including hats, gloves, scarves and so on. We made some decorative items with wild boar hair, including necklaces, earrings, key chains and so on. We kept the wild boar’s skull and tusks as souvenirs to show our courage and skill.
During night hunting, we also encountered some other animals, including white-tailed deer, turkey, squirrel, raccoon and so on. Some animals we just observed and photographed, some animals we also tried to hunt. We used wildguarder infrared binoculars to help us find and identify these animals in the dark, and made different hunting strategies according to their characteristics and habits. We used wildguarder infrared binoculars to adjust our magnification and resolution to suit different distances and accuracies. We used wildguarder infrared binoculars to record our hunting process and results, and share them with our friends and family.
Night hunting is a very interesting and meaningful activity, it can let you feel the charm and mystery of nature, and also let you exercise your body and mind, and also let you harvest some precious food and souvenirs. If you want to try night hunting, I suggest you prepare the right equipment and skills, and choose a suitable place and time. I especially recommend you use wildguarder infrared binoculars as your night vision device, it can let you see more clearly in the dark, shoot more accurately, play more happily.
Through this night hunting experience, I learned a lot about night hunting knowledge and skills, and also felt a lot of night hunting fun and challenges. I am very grateful to my partner and my equipment; they gave me more security and confidence in night hunting. I especially thank wildguarder infrared binoculars, it is my best friend and assistant in night hunting, it makes me see more clearly in the dark, shoot more accurately, play more happily. I hope that through my sharing, I can give some inspiration and help to those who want to try night hunting. I also hope to have more opportunities to experience and explore the charm and mystery of night hunting. Night hunting is a very interesting and meaningful activity, it can make you closer to nature, and also closer to yourself.
