This is a short video I put together to show why thermal generally will not be useful for following blood trails of downed or wounded game...
Using Thermal To Follow Blood Trails?
- Thread starter Brian Shaffer
- Start date
Navygator
LSB Active Member
First, excellent video. I can see where blood trails would be tough to track.
It has been awhile since I used thermo, but I would think blood would stay warmer on the ground longer given that the truck probably cools to ambient quicker (it is cooler than the ground) and the metals tranfers heat much better.
That said, instead of 15 seconds on the truck, you may get 30 seconds on the ground. Still, a short time.
Thoughts?
It has been awhile since I used thermo, but I would think blood would stay warmer on the ground longer given that the truck probably cools to ambient quicker (it is cooler than the ground) and the metals tranfers heat much better.
That said, instead of 15 seconds on the truck, you may get 30 seconds on the ground. Still, a short time.
Thoughts?
That truck door IS the ambiant air temp. The huge piece of sheet metal sucks the heat out of the liquid (blood) pretty fast.
I have been able to see hog blood swipes on the thick pinestraw for up to several minutes (guessing 2.5-3) after the animal drug/skidded across it.
The ambiant air temp those nights was approx. 55deg. Zero wind and humidity about 70%. --- pruhdlr
I have been able to see hog blood swipes on the thick pinestraw for up to several minutes (guessing 2.5-3) after the animal drug/skidded across it.
The ambiant air temp those nights was approx. 55deg. Zero wind and humidity about 70%. --- pruhdlr
The metal was, or was close to it, as was most of the grass you see in the image, all ambient temperature and all looking about the same color in thermal. Metal does heat sink well. However, notice that you don't see in residual blood spray on the ground. That stuff cooled quick. I have other videos where I have shot hogs and you can see the blood spray from them as the run, spray onto grass or the ground, and immediately fade. Blood does not stay warm for long or distinctively warmer than the surrounding environment for very long at all. The smaller the splatter/spray, the quicker it reaches ambient temp.
There is good reason you don't see folks tracking blood trails with thermal.
There is good reason you don't see folks tracking blood trails with thermal.
Now that is interesting. I bet that would hold together better hence hold heat better.
