Night vision scopes

A night vision scope lets you see the animal once your own eyes stop working, after sunset, before dawn, or deep into the night. This category holds the INFIRAY TD70L V2, a digital scope that mounts on the rifle like a standard optic.

Who needs a night vision scope

A night vision scope is for the hunter who is out after dark: a driven-hunt team tracking wild boar, someone standing watch by a feeding site, or a farmer dealing with pest control at night. It replaces your day optic once the light drops, and lets you identify the animal before you shoot, not just guess at a shape.

How a digital night vision scope works

A digital scope builds its picture from a sensor paired with infrared illumination invisible to both you and the animal. The TD70L V2 offers several IR power levels, so you can match the light to the distance, a lower setting for game close by so the picture does not wash out, a stronger one for game further off.

When the scope earns its place

Night driven hunts

When a drive runs into dusk or full dark, a night scope lets you separate the boar from a bush or a shadow before it steps into the open.

Watching a feeding site

A long wait on a high seat often ends after the sun is down. The scope lets you watch the approach and take aim without a spotlight that would send the animal running.

Wild boar in fields and crops

Boar are most active at night, so a digital scope is often the only way to spot them in time on open ground.

Pest control on farmland

Foxes and other pests are usually dealt with at night, when they are most active and least cautious.

How to choose a night vision scope

• Work out the range you shoot at most, it decides how much IR power you actually need.
• Check that the mount fits your rifle's rail or rings.
• Weigh the scope's size and weight, especially if you cover ground on foot during the hunt.
• Make sure screen brightness and IR power can be adjusted in the field, not buried in a menu.

Field advice

Check the scope while it is still light, before you head out. Zero it in and confirm the mount holds firm after a few shots. In the dark, switch the IR on only once you are close to the spot you are watching, since it drains the battery faster left running, and a night watch usually leaves you nowhere to recharge. In cold, damp weather, keep the scope dry, and let it reach outdoor temperature before switching it on so the screen does not fog. Back home, do not pull the scope off the rifle straight away, let it warm to room temperature first, or condensation can form inside it.

INFIRAY as a brand

INFIRAY makes the scope in this category, the TD70L V2, built for night hunting on a digital-image basis rather than thermal imaging. The result is a picture close to what you see through a day scope, with IR illumination added for the dark.

Related categories: night vision accessories and night vision binoculars. If you are not sure which scope fits your hunting ground, write to us and we will advise based on your situation.