“Now, when y’all look through them thermal scopes, y’all should see that hothands glowin’ up thurr on tha’ targit” Brad drawled.
This was the first experience my friends and I ever had with thermal or infrared technology, and to say we were giddy would be an understatement. After 12 long hours in a Chevy 1500 from the WI-IL border to the MO-AR border, we were finally at our destination—a hunting operation near Des Arc, MO. And boy, were we ready to lay the smack-down on some hogs. Once the zeros had been checked on our ARs chambered in 7.62x51, we used the downtime to scan the empty cornfields and cattle pastures for feral hogs.
Sticker Shock and First Hunts
At about midnight, after plenty of trash talk and excitement, we were warned the light rain might make for a slow night.
“Hey Brad!” I shouted from the back seat.
“What’s up?” he responded.
“What’s one of these thermals cost, anyway?”
“Well,” he drawled, “some’a the nicer ones run ya five, six grand. Them’re bout two ta three per.”
Well damn, I thought. I suppose I’m not getting one of these, ever.
We never did shoot a hog on that trip—even with three nights of hard searching. That would change the following year, when I put one of those 7.62x51s right through the earhole of a one-hundred-pound sow. That pig ate so well, it started my love affair with wild pork.
Building the Perfect Hog Hunting Setup
Fast forward to February 2024—I convinced a good friend to drive 22 hours from Chicago to Waelder, Texas, to chase down some bacon. It was here that my Sightmark story began. I had a custom AR-15 built in 6.5 Grendel and asked my local gunsmith to keep it light and mobile. If you're near Monroe, WI, I highly recommend Randy at Dark Horse Arms.
Choosing the Right Night Vision Scope for Hog Hunting
I researched hog hunting optics heavily before the trip and landed on the Sightmark Wraith HD 4-32x50. Two big reasons: the affordable price and the excellent video recording. Though it lacks audio recording*, I add voiceovers or music anyway. The scope's through-device footage sealed the deal.
First Shots and Performance in the Field
We left Chicago at 10am and reached camp 22 hours later. I checked my zero with the Wraith HD—it worked perfectly. That night, low-light testing began. My friend had some button issues with his Wraith 4K Max, but I personally preferred the HD’s simpler controls. The video quality was amazing. You can watch the footage on my YouTube channel, “Hunt Trap Fish!”.
Results: 11 Hogs Down and Freezers Full
Over the next two days, we shot 11 hogs. Four were taken with lever guns (.30-30 and .45-70), and the remaining seven were dropped using my 6.5 Grendel topped with the Wraith. We brought home about 300 lbs of wild pork each. I’ll probably use the Wraith HD again during WI deer season. I plan to add a quick-detach battery pack and may remove the IR flashlight to avoid any DNR issues. Still, the scope truly shined on this Texas hog hunting adventure, and I can’t wait to return to hill country next year.
* Newer models such as the Wraith 4K Mini and Wraith Thermal can record both video and audio.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost range for thermal scopes used for hog hunting?
Thermal scopes used for hog hunting can range from five to six thousand dollars for the nicer ones, while some are priced around two to three thousand dollars.
What are some recommended locations for hog hunting?
Locations like Des Arc, MO and Waelder, Texas are recommended for hog hunting, as they offer opportunities to hunt feral hogs.
What is a recommended hog hunting setup?
A recommended hog hunting setup includes a custom AR-15 built in 6.5 Grendel, paired with a night vision scope like the Sightmark Wraith HD 4-32x50 for optimal performance.
How many hogs were shot during the hunting trip to Texas?
A total of 11 hogs were shot during the hunting trip to Texas, with four taken using lever guns and seven taken using a 6.5 Grendel rifle topped with the Wraith HD scope.
What modifications are suggested for the Wraith HD scope for future use during deer hunting season?
For future use during deer hunting season, adding a quick-detach battery pack and potentially removing the IR flashlight are suggested modifications to the Wraith HD scope to avoid any DNR issues.
