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Posted: 3/27/2017 6:50:00 PM EDT
Took my shiny new White Phos unit out in the field for the first time this weekend.... Didn't exactly go as planned. I'm generally very comfortable on my place at all hours of the day or night, but I didn't account for the freak out factor that being almost totally dark would bring. In short, I think the animal life I encountered was equally unnerved and their movements were even more alien and spooky than I'd expected. This combined with the loss of peripheral vision and flying solo made me cut my venture short.
Any tips on controlling nerves and gaining confidence in this enviro? I should mention that I have a robust hog population that also gave me pause.... 
Thanks |
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Posted: 3/27/2017 7:15:27 PM EDT
[#1]
Carry a rifle.
Of course a white light backup, a white light attached to the rifle, glow sticks etc. Critters do behave differently, my best guess is because they don't recognize you as human if they hear you stomping around. I've been close to stampeded by cows before, had a coyote try to close the gap with me after I took a shot at him, & almost tripped over a skunk. |
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Posted: 3/27/2017 7:16:32 PM EDT
[#2]
Just be glad it's on land you know and the animals aren't carrying guns
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Posted: 3/27/2017 7:27:26 PM EDT
[#3]
Quoted:
Took my shiny new White Phos unit out in the field for the first time this weekend.... Didn't exactly go as planned. I'm generally very comfortable on my place at all hours of the day or night, but I didn't account for the freak out factor that being almost totally dark would bring. In short, I think the animal life I encountered was equally unnerved and their movements were even more alien and spooky than I'd expected. This combined with the loss of peripheral vision and flying solo made me cut my venture short. Any tips on controlling nerves and gaining confidence in this enviro? I should mention that I have a robust hog population that also gave me pause....
Thanks Pfffff. A big gun. 
But seriously. Bring a big gun. Shoot first. Shoot last. Shoot some more and then try to ask questions. |
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Posted: 3/27/2017 8:11:28 PM EDT
[#4]
Bring a gun as others have said.
The other, and actually the first, thing is to get out every night walking until you get the hang of moving and observing. I know people with tons of time under NODs that are still not comfortable walking around with wildlife. It's completely natural but can be overcome with practice. Move slowly and keep your head on a swivel, you'll quickly learn how animals react to your presence and what you need to do when something spots or smells you. |
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Posted: 3/27/2017 8:13:33 PM EDT
[#5]
I had the same problem, just go out more. Take rifle n white light
Hardest part for me was the lack of peripheral vision. Get used to constantly panning lol....until TNVC decides to sell GPNVG-18s to the little people
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Posted: 3/27/2017 8:54:03 PM EDT
[#6]
Breathe.
Seriously, breathe and relax. I remember taking my nephews out at night when they were young. This was without night vision but in the deep woods. They were freaked out. I said "listen, you both play out in these same woods during the day all the damn time. There is nothing out here that isn't out here during the day..... Except that serial killer that kills kids..." LMAO Seriously though, it's just an attribute of living in the city and relaying on lights every where. Most people walk out to their drive way with lights on the house on (or in the garage with lights on), get into the car which turns on a light when you open the light, use the headlights in the car, drive to somewhere well light and park in a well lit parking lot. In short, very few city folks get the true experience of being out "at night" in the true sense of the meaning. Even camping- people sit by a campfire with huge flames. Someone invariably stokes the fire the second the flames get the least bit uncomfortably small. They use a large white light to walk six feet to their tent, and may even have a lantern in the tent.... In short, We live in a world well lit for our visual input. That in turn hinders us if that's our only world. I always suggest people train a lot at night WITHOUT NV first, before learning to "relay" on NV. It's not a magic wand, it has limitations. Learn to take in the sights from your unaided eye, smell more at night, focus your hearing, use all these with your NVD to form a "picture" in your mind. Breathe, relax, enjoy the adventure. If you find yourself getting tweaked, just give it a few deep breathes and calm down. DON'T go right to the crutch of a white light or run back in the house. I know it's not big bad tough guy talk, but I've seen cooldaddy tough guy operators who COULD and did run their carbines well during the day, moved tactically correct, etc. get a bit freaked out at night. It happens, just breathe, try to relax and move. Spend some time outside without it as well. Breathe, I heard it helps :) |
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Posted: 3/27/2017 9:07:07 PM EDT
[#7]
Great advice. Thanks y'all.
 I was carrying my suppressed 5.56 SBR but my intent was to get to where I wanted to go quietly to smoke a hog or two. I had plenty of IR light on the ATPIAL when I was trying to identify the Dickfer that had me spooked, but during the incident I didn't really think that it couldn't see that either.
Anyone that's worn one of these on a two way range for our country has my respect and admiration. It's humbling to get even a small taste of what that might be like. |
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Posted: 3/27/2017 9:28:34 PM EDT
[#8]
Don't step on "Sneks". Killed 3 big Rattlers too close to the house this week. I hope the Pigs eat the rest.
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Posted: 3/27/2017 10:10:57 PM EDT
[#9]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
In short, We live in a world well lit for our visual input. That in turn hinders us if that's our only world. |
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Posted: 3/27/2017 10:34:39 PM EDT
[#10]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
when you open the light |
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Posted: 3/27/2017 10:43:15 PM EDT
[#11]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Don't step on "Sneks". Killed 3 big Rattlers too close to the house this week. I hope the Pigs eat the rest.
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Posted: 3/27/2017 11:00:23 PM EDT
[#12]
I hunt solo on the ground could cover 2-3 miles but usually only 1/2 a mile before I kill something then back to the barn. It gets less freaky the more times you do it but for me it's always on my mind. Get a Bowie knife. Long story short killed a coyote less than 4 feet from me, now I carry 12 inches of sharp steal helps me psychologically. I started with the cheapest ammo but now I use 77 grain razor core ammo and may start using the ar10. Was using 5.45x39 AR for 15 cents a round. Thought I was smart until I was out with a big boar in the middle of a 200 acre field. Shot at him 26 times hit him 16 times that I know of, gun jammed, he was running at me and fell over 50-75 feet away. I upgraded firepower and reliability the next time out. Keep your head on a consistent swivel and turn 360 ever min or so. Several times pigs have showed up behind where I just was and skunks like to follow you sometimes. The spookiest thing for me is crossing a small running creek at night. I don't know why but I hate it.
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Posted: 3/27/2017 11:21:44 PM EDT
[#13]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Silly question, was Greek your first language? Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
when you open the light |
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Posted: 3/27/2017 11:31:25 PM EDT
[#14]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I had the same problem, just go out more. Take rifle n white light Hardest part for me was the lack of peripheral vision. Get used to constantly panning lol....until TNVC decides to sell GPNVG-18s to the little people 
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Posted: 3/28/2017 12:53:38 AM EDT
[#15]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Funny you mention that. I haven't seen many sneks since getting the place. It's full of water and should be stacked with moccasins and rattlers etc, but nope. I think the hogs ate em. I guess I'll know when I've killed enough hogs when the snakes start rebounding. |
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Posted: 3/28/2017 12:54:43 AM EDT
[#16]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I hunt solo on the ground could cover 2-3 miles but usually only 1/2 a mile before I kill something then back to the barn. It gets less freaky the more times you do it but for me it's always on my mind. Get a Bowie knife. Long story short killed a coyote less than 4 feet from me, now I carry 12 inches of sharp steal helps me psychologically. I started with the cheapest ammo but now I use 77 grain razor core ammo and may start using the ar10. Was using 5.45x39 AR for 15 cents a round. Thought I was smart until I was out with a big boar in the middle of a 200 acre field. Shot at him 26 times hit him 16 times that I know of, gun jammed, he was running at me and fell over 50-75 feet away. I upgraded firepower and reliability the next time out. Keep your head on a consistent swivel and turn 360 ever min or so. Several times pigs have showed up behind where I just was and skunks like to follow you sometimes. The spookiest thing for me is crossing a small running creek at night. I don't know why but I hate it. 
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Posted: 3/28/2017 12:55:37 AM EDT
[#17]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I had the same problem, just go out more. Take rifle n white light Hardest part for me was the lack of peripheral vision. Get used to constantly panning lol....until TNVC decides to sell GPNVG-18s to the little people |
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Posted: 3/28/2017 1:01:06 AM EDT
[#18]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Carry a rifle.
Of course a white light backup, a white light attached to the rifle, glow sticks etc. Critters do behave differently, my best guess is because they don't recognize you as human if they hear you stomping around. I've been close to stampeded by cows before, had a coyote try to close the gap with me after I took a shot at him, & almost tripped over a skunk.
OP, you just gotta walk around. After my first couple nights out with my PVS14, I'm a lot more sure footed than I was to start with. Check out the YouTube video on monocular vs. binocular NVGs from Telluric Group also. |
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Posted: 3/28/2017 1:18:22 AM EDT
[#19]
If the walking is troublesome you might try it on the other eye. I do better with the left eye for nv if not binos but I shoot right eye dominant during the day.
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Posted: 3/28/2017 2:02:22 AM EDT
[#20]
another +1 to what others have said, the more time under them, the more confident you will become. I know the first time I took mine out camping, maybe a week or two after I had gotten them I spooked myself bad enough to call it a night and go to bed early. Something about being able to see into the dark woods where you shouldn't be able to, mixed with free range cattle randomly sneaking up on you didn't sit easy with me. Too many samsquach stories too (and I had a big gun too!) kept going through my head.
I am amazed at how animals treat you though. Went on a little night hike the other day in some foothills. Watched a coyote run between two groups of people, maybe thirty yards apart if that. After I hung out for a while on one of the hills I came back down and headed for the truck. I noticed eyes watching me from a bush. Threw a rock, nothing, kept walking, nothing. Then, once I was about ten yards from said bush, the same damn coyote darted out, and turned around to look at me again. I hit him with the white light and he hauled ass! |
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Posted: 3/28/2017 2:08:46 AM EDT
[#21]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I always suggest people train a lot at night WITHOUT NV first, before learning to "relay" on NV. It's not a magic wand, it has limitations. Learn to take in the sights from your unaided eye, smell more at night, focus your hearing, use all these with your NVD to form a "picture" in your mind. Breathe, relax, enjoy the adventure. If you find yourself getting tweaked, just give it a few deep breathes and calm down. DON'T go right to the crutch of a white light or run back in the house. Unless it's a cloud covered, moonless, starless night way out in the sticks away from the light pollution of a city, it's never really completely dark. You'd be surprised how sharp your senses can get just by sitting in the dark and letting your scotopic vision adapt, while your sense of smell and hearing take over. You gain the first 1/3 of your scotopic vision in about 3 minutes. The next 1/3 in about 30 minutes, and full scotopic vision by the time you've been 3 hours in darkness. If you've been out in the woods and gotten used to using your dark adapted (scotopic) vision, any NVG's make things look like daylight. You still have to get accustomed to the tunnel vision, but getting used to using your hearing and sense of smell along with your vision makes the adaptation easier. If there are critters in your neck of the woods, being up in a treestand can help keep you at ease while you get comfortable being in darkness. Oh, and a big gun lol. Max |
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Posted: 3/28/2017 3:50:24 AM EDT
[#22]
I don't have to worry about sneks, and I'm borderline too comfortable under nvgs.
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Posted: 3/28/2017 4:05:35 AM EDT
[#23]
In the Army I took new guys in my squad out for a 2 hour walk the first week we showed up im the woods behind the barracks under the pvs14s. many would get headaches the first time but the practice made it easier later. when it mattered.
Hell one of my Lts got so good driving his dirt bike under pvs-14s by playing on ft.Bragg's back roads he got stopped one night by a green beret team that could not get away from him and ordered to stop. you need the practice get out & do it. |
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Posted: 3/28/2017 7:32:06 AM EDT
[#24]
You need to watch some of the videos that Cy Brown has posted about shooting pigs in rice fields barefooted. It will make you feel even more like a pansy after watching how close he gets whacking pigs
Thats one fearless dude!
Most of my night hunting is done in cooler weather so snakes are not much of a concern, but man we have a lot of skunks around here! Easy to walk up on them in waist high grass
skunk with thermal Another thing to NEVER do is walk into a horse pasture with nothing but your NV on - "scaredest" I have ever been in my life having a few tons of mad horses charging me and stomping around me. |
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Posted: 3/28/2017 7:49:00 AM EDT
[#25]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
another +1 to what others have said, the more time under them, the more confident you will become. I know the first time I took mine out camping, maybe a week or two after I had gotten them I spooked myself bad enough to call it a night and go to bed early. Something about being able to see into the dark woods where you shouldn't be able to, mixed with free range cattle randomly sneaking up on you didn't sit easy with me. Too many samsquach stories too (and I had a big gun too!) kept going through my head. I am amazed at how animals treat you though. Went on a little night hike the other day in some foothills. Watched a coyote run between two groups of people, maybe thirty yards apart if that. After I hung out for a while on one of the hills I came back down and headed for the truck. I noticed eyes watching me from a bush. Threw a rock, nothing, kept walking, nothing. Then, once I was about ten yards from said bush, the same damn coyote darted out, and turned around to look at me again. I hit him with the white light and he hauled ass!
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Posted: 3/28/2017 9:03:04 AM EDT
[#26]
I will admit I still suffer from this.
my brother went out with me one time and just having one other person with me took all my fears away. but when I go out by myself I still get a little spooky. watching bigfoot and monster shows dosent help either
The only way I can feel somewhat relaxed is if im basically carrying enough guns and ammo to go to war. pistol with a few mags, rifle and 4-5 reloads, body armor. the whole shabang. Then I feel like im carrying enough firepower I can pretty much put anything I see down for good if I have to. I also hate snakes, I wear chaps. and the damn rabbits... I hate those fuckers. hard to spot then they dart off and scare the shit out of me
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Posted: 3/28/2017 9:19:22 AM EDT
[#27]
watch out man, there is shit out there you cannot combat. |
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Posted: 3/28/2017 9:30:16 AM EDT
[#28]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Silly question, was Greek your first language? |
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Posted: 3/28/2017 9:51:05 AM EDT
[#29]
My first few experiences were totally opposite... I was so amazed at what I could see I thoroughly enjoyed getting used to using NV. I'm glad I was comfortable from the start... but then again I've been hunting since old enough to carry a gun so being in the woods in total darkness was something that I got over rather quickly.
More time will ease the uneasiness... go have fun. |
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Posted: 3/28/2017 10:31:20 AM EDT
[#30]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I will admit I still suffer from this. my brother went out with me one time and just having one other person with me took all my fears away. but when I go out by myself I still get a little spooky. watching bigfoot and monster shows dosent help either
The only way I can feel somewhat relaxed is if im basically carrying enough guns and ammo to go to war. pistol with a few mags, rifle and 4-5 reloads, body armor. the whole shabang. Then I feel like im carrying enough firepower I can pretty much put anything I see down for good if I have to. I also hate snakes, I wear chaps. and the damn rabbits... I hate those fuckers. hard to spot then they dart off and scare the shit out of me |
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Posted: 3/28/2017 10:36:47 AM EDT
[#31]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Active IR makes eyes reflect. I typically see them 50 yards out, and they alert 10 yards(ish), and move about 3 yards away. |
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Posted: 3/28/2017 10:38:50 AM EDT
[#32]
I have to admit, I am a little shocked so many of you guys are scared/uneasy in the dark.
There ain't no boogie monsters, no "bigfeets", or dogmen in the woods and horror movies aren't reality. Depending on where you are I would only be worried about snakes, gators, and grizzly bears. Damn fellas, with NV on you are the king of the woods, fear nothing - you are the apex predator (but you may occasionally smell like an apex skunk when you step on one )!!
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Posted: 3/28/2017 10:59:04 AM EDT
[#33]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Using the on board PVS-14 IR or something else? Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Active IR makes eyes reflect. I typically see them 50 yards out, and they alert 10 yards(ish), and move about 3 yards away. Surefire vampire series or laser based illumination. If you're going to be behind, shooting through, or barely above vegetation, laser is the way to go. If you want the area illumination like a white flashlight, go with a LED based system. I use laser based on rifle, LED based on pistol. |
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Posted: 3/28/2017 11:01:06 AM EDT
[#34]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I have to admit, I am a little shocked so many of you guys are scared/uneasy in the dark. There ain't no boogie monsters, no "bigfeets", or dogmen in the woods and horror movies aren't reality. Depending on where you are I would only be worried about snakes, gators, and grizzly bears. Damn fellas, with NV on you are the king of the woods, fear nothing - you are the apex predator (but you may occasionally smell like an apex skunk when you step on one )!! |
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Posted: 3/28/2017 11:15:30 AM EDT
[#35]
Go out and walk your property with no NODs under a full moon. You'll be surprised at how effectively you can move after about 45 minutes. Then, do normal tasks that you've done in daylight and artificial light a few times.
After a few repetitions of those kind of tasks, try doing those things under NV. I ALWAYS get the mail under NV now, because it's good practice. Walk down to and load up a wheelbarrow with firewood from the wood shed under NV a couple times. Do normal tasks under NV to get used to how you feel and move. It looks like you've got the "walking around under NV" down pretty well, but you have to build your skills up to the point where you feel comfortable. Sometimes it can get scary when you realize you're 3 miles into the woods with no light, and you just accidentally turned off your -14 instead of turning on the IR illuminator. lol. Like others say, carry a white light. Carry a glo-stick. Carry a woobie if it makes you feel safer. But the bottom line is to get out there and practice. |
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Posted: 3/28/2017 11:19:37 AM EDT
[#36]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I have to admit, I am a little shocked so many of you guys are scared/uneasy in the dark. There ain't no boogie monsters, no "bigfeets", or dogmen in the woods and horror movies aren't reality. Depending on where you are I would only be worried about snakes, gators, and grizzly bears. Damn fellas, with NV on you are the king of the woods, fear nothing - you are the apex predator (but you may occasionally smell like an apex skunk when you step on one )!!Unless there are some really mutated wolves out there, I'm not worried about animals at night, just people. I'll have to do a full write-up sometime about the poacher I found on my land who was using red saran-wrap flashlight filters as redneck-nightvision. But even in that situation, IR lights, lasers, and NODs, I was the apex predator. He didn't hear or see me stash the firecracker string near him, and didn't see the lit cigarette I used as a timing device. He only looked when he saw the fast-burn-fuse light, and by that time, it was waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too late for him to react. |
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Posted: 3/28/2017 11:53:08 AM EDT
[#37]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
It's because we've come to rely upon our sight... Which is really bad practice. Smell and Sound are the two biggest advantages that you can have while hunting during the daylight, why wouldn't you want to use them at night too? Unless there are some really mutated wolves out there, I'm not worried about animals at night, just people. I'll have to do a full write-up sometime about the poacher I found on my land who was using red saran-wrap flashlight filters as redneck-nightvision. But even in that situation, IR lights, lasers, and NODs, I was the apex predator. He didn't hear or see me stash the firecracker string near him, and didn't see the lit cigarette I used as a timing device. He only looked when he saw the fast-burn-fuse light, and by that time, it was waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too late for him to react.
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Posted: 3/28/2017 12:58:29 PM EDT
[#38]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
THAT WOULD BE AWESOME ON VIDEO. |
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Posted: 3/28/2017 1:08:06 PM EDT
[#39]
Quoted:
Took my shiny new White Phos unit out in the field for the first time this weekend.... Didn't exactly go as planned. I'm generally very comfortable on my place at all hours of the day or night, but I didn't account for the freak out factor that being almost totally dark would bring. In short, I think the animal life I encountered was equally unnerved and their movements were even more alien and spooky than I'd expected. This combined with the loss of peripheral vision and flying solo made me cut my venture short. Any tips on controlling nerves and gaining confidence in this enviro? I should mention that I have a robust hog population that also gave me pause....
Thanks Reach into pants. Check for balls. If present, squeeze to awaken. If absent, list shiny new White Phos on EE. |
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Posted: 3/28/2017 1:58:38 PM EDT
[#40]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p496/NGI_Sam/13381075_193364274393540_1726490571_n_zps2z3ptkxe.jpg watch out man, there is shit out there you cannot combat. I don't suppose you could ask him if I could borrow those! I'm sure he wouldn't mind given his current status! Lol |
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Posted: 3/31/2017 2:13:03 PM EDT
[#41]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Check out the YouTube video on monocular vs. binocular NVGs from Telluric Group also.  Failed To Load Title |
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Posted: 3/31/2017 3:12:28 PM EDT
[#42]
Start mowing your lawn under NV. That'll get you used to gauging distance -- and possibly replanting your wife's flowers, lol.
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Posted: 4/2/2017 3:10:11 AM EDT
[#43]
Like almost anything, the more time you spend under your NODs, the more comfortable you'll become with them. I've only been using mine for right at 6 months, but have become way more proficient with this new found super power than I was in the beginning.
Spent the initial time navigating my property in the dark, and learning to manipulate the controls/etc. Did things like battery swaps, helmet adjustments, and other various seemingly simple tasks that aren't. Once I was comfortable with those things I moved onto shooting. Got my IR laser sighted in and then started blasting steel in the dark. Next moved on to driving vehicles. This was the hardest part for me. Looking out of only 1 eye with a limited FOV makes even putting down a rural road a challenge. Anyway, I stuck with it and am now ripping around from coyote set to coyote set with ease and having an absolute blast! Just stick with it, try and relax, and have fun. You are now an apex predator with wizard powers! 
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Posted: 4/2/2017 3:53:33 AM EDT
[#44]
do some sprints, then do some sprints from cover to cover. then do some sprints from cover to cover while presenting.
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Posted: 4/3/2017 9:21:23 AM EDT
[#45]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I have to admit, I am a little shocked so many of you guys are scared/uneasy in the dark.
Not that I'm afraid of the dark, I've grown up hunting and walking to and from the field in total blackness. For me it was the unnatural eeriness of actually being able to see in what should have been total darkness that was strange at first. |
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