Re: Need IR or Thermal advice
A good thermal setup can be used in leu of a NV. Everything gives off a different heat signature, trees, grass, dirt road, field, animal, etc. The trick is to have a good enough quality to pick up these slight differences. And the good ones make it easy to see areas/objects.
But, good thermals are VERY expencive.
For all around use, NV is probably the way to go. Its only downside is that it can not pick up an animal behind objects (animal in tall grass) where a thermal will. But with an IR torch, you can extend its range pretty far.