Game Finder Illuminator

LoneWolf · Post by **LoneWolf** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 9:45 am

Does anyone have one of these new tracking devices?....

The reason I'm asking is because during the early season there's alot of water holes on the woodlot due to heavy rains and beavers which makes it next to impossible to find, follow, and stay on a blood trail. And that's if you can find a bloodtrail due to the flooded forest floor. Therefore, if an animal was to runs off a good distance after the shot and the animal hits the water, (which it eventually will), tracking it in there could turn into a nightmare. Unfortunately, a tracking dog is not an option as it wouldn't do much good for tracking in there either...

Any info on this unit would be appreciated,

http://www.basspro.com/servlet/catalog. ... rchResults

Thanks!...

terry-1 · Post by **terry-1** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 12:51 pm

I have never used one myself but have thought about buying one myself just in case as I hate to lose any deer I shoot. I have heard good and bad reports around the net about this product. Some people say they get to many false signals and true range is about 100yards in most hunting areas. Others love the product. I was going to buy the computar auto adjusting one as I emailed the company a while back and they said it was alot easier to run and would get far less false signals. I still have not bit the bullet and bought one though maybe in the future. here is the company link. http://www.game-finder.com/thermal-game-recovery.aspx

Tar Heel · Post by **Tar Heel** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 3:32 pm

Lonewolf, the bowbug looks like it might work for bowhunting I would like to have one to play with and its cheaper than the top model game finder.

http://www.northamericanst.com/bowbug.htm

Tar Heel

Big John · Post by **Big John** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 3:41 pm

lonewolf:

It sure seems cool. I think I would want someone else to buy it and try first though. Fairly pricey. However if it works very well then its probably a good item. I know I wouldn't want to spend hours in a "swampy" area trying to find a downed animal. This is the first I've heard of it. Sure might come in handy. Especially tracking at night.

John

GaryL · Post by **GaryL** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 5:04 pm

Reads like a good item to have, I would go with the PRO, alas my funds are dry

LoneWolf · Post by **LoneWolf** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 6:14 pm

terry: Thanks for the link....

GaryL: Yep, the Pro model is the one I had in mind...

John: I guess I'll be the guinnie pig...

Tar Heel: That bow bug looks pretty neat to, but would it keep working if it ever got submerged in water???... Also, this unit could be used not only for my deer, but also for the other guy's deer who is hunting with me as well if need be...

Thanks again, guys..

LoneWolf · Post by **LoneWolf** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 6:37 pm

double post

Woody Williams · Post by **Woody Williams** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 8:10 pm

They are illegal to use in Indiana.

I guess they thought that some folks would use them to hunt deer with and not just find them..

We can use tracking dogs on a leash though..

kendo kid · Post by **kendo kid** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 9:38 pm

I have owned one for nearly 4 years but I have never had to use it. The machine will pick heat differences like rocks exposed to sunlight etc. So any anomaly will register. However, I bought it because I will use anything that will facilitate game recovery.

BEARDOG · Post by **BEARDOG** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 7:47 am

I owned the pro model and could not get it to work well for me. I hunt in Florida and would get far to many false signals. Any heat change is detected, therefore if the sun comes through heavy brush the contrast from shade to sun seemed to throw me off every time. I guess if you are tracking at night after everything cools off and the temperature settles perhaps it may work better. I tracked a hog the old fashioned way, found him, then backed off to see if I would be able to "find" him with the unit. I could not. I sold it on ebay the next day.

LoneWolf · Post by **LoneWolf** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 7:59 am

Thanks for the info, kendo kid.

Yeah, I've been lucky myself with game recovery over the years having them pilling up either within eye-sight or ear-shot...

I have a question for you.... Do you think they are worth the price tag?...

To me, If it helps in finding downed game when the bloodtrail runs thin I would say it's worth having.

Thanks

LoneWolf · Post by **LoneWolf** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 8:03 am

Thanks for the info Bear Dog...

I'm not sure if I want to take the plunge or not after reading your reply...

Thanks again

kendo kid · Post by **kendo kid** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 8:46 am

Lonewolf,
Here is my thinking on the subject. Value two cents. Bear Dog is right on regarding Florida where the temperature difference between shade and open area can be considerable. My folks lived in Florida for 15 years so I know the Dover Plant City area real well. However, in the Great White North of Ontario particularly in late season and thick cover, the air and ground temperature is very different from temperature of a freshly shot deer. In 1998 I was hunting about 80 yards back from a green field and a doe merrily munching remaining raspberry leaves about an hour before dark came to me from the field side of my stand. I was about 20 feet up and slipped and bolt through her after she walked by my tree and turned at about 15 feet. I watched her run in a circle that covered 60 yards. At the last second she threw herself into the middle of a spruce top that had blown down recently. If I had not seen her do this death run and I was tracking her, the trail would have simply ended and I would have been left scratching my head and turning over everything trying to find her. Thus, I thought, in our area of the world and particularly in late season it would be well worth the investment to carry such a aid. I know I would be kicking myself if I shoot one a nice deer and I can not recover it. I am sure I would be blaming myself for being to darn cheap for not buying it. The loss of an animal is way more expensive then having something that might make the difference of recover or empty freezer. Just my thoughts.
Kendo Kid

LoneWolf · Post by **LoneWolf** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 8:58 am

I gotta admit, there are some very good points from the opinions coming from both sides here... Interesting!...

Thanks

LoneWolf

terry-1 · Post by **terry-1** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 9:20 pm

Well I stopped by a basspro to take a break while driving down to Florida and checked out these gamefinder units in person.After talking with a basspro employee I deside to by the JR model to try out.He pointed out to buy the new "E" model as it has updated software to cut back on flase signals. He said they got alot of the old models returned but since the new style came out there has just been a few which is always normal. He said it worked better at night than day from his own testing with his JR model. I said why not a gave it a try and if it does not work I was very carefull not no tear the package and will just reseal it and take it back if it does not work well.I have played with it around the condo it it does work to find my old lady. I will need to test it out at home next week after I get back.Well I better get off before my laptop battery dies and my old lady gets mad because she can't check her ebay.

Excalibur Crossbow Forum

Game Finder Illuminator

Game Finder Illuminator

unit

tracker

gamefinder