Best Thermal Setup for Feral Pig Hunting

Feral pigs are big, they move in mobs, and they turn up in scrub, crop and creek country where you need to see wide and react fast. A thermal setup for pigs looks different to one built for long-range foxes. Seeing the whole scene beats raw reach. Here's how to get it right.

Short answer

For feral pigs, go for a wide field of view and a fast refresh rate so you can track a moving mob and read everything in front of you. A 640 sensor on a 35mm-class lens is an excellent pig combination. The wide view keeps several animals in frame, and a 50Hz refresh keeps a running pig smooth. A thermal monocular or clip-on adds flexibility for scanning thick country and swapping between rifles.

What pig hunting demands

• Mobs, not singles. Pigs usually come in groups, so a wide field of view lets you see the whole mob, pick your animal and keep an eye on the rest. This is where a 640 sensor's wider view at a given lens genuinely helps.
• Close, fast and in cover. Pigs are often engaged at shorter range in scrub and crop, and they're moving quickly. A fast 50Hz refresh keeps a running pig smooth rather than smeared.
• Big, hot targets. Pigs throw a strong heat signature, so finding them isn't the hard part. Reading the scene and placing the shot is. That favours field of view and image clarity over maximum range.

Building a pig setup

The scope

A 35mm-class scope with a 640 sensor is the pig sweet spot. The wider field of view from the 640 keeps a moving mob in frame and makes picking your target easier, while the 35mm lens stays wide enough for scrub and crop work. A 50Hz refresh is worth having for fast, close engagements. If most of your pigs are at distance in open country, a 50mm lens adds reach. For typical scrub work though, don't give up field of view chasing range.

Scanning and flexibility

A thermal monocular lets you scan thick country quickly and find the mob before you move in. If you run more than one rifle, a thermal clip-on is worth a look. It converts a day-scoped rifle to thermal without re-zeroing (see our clip-on guide).

Sizing by distance and cover

Pigs are big, they don't move around much, and you can usually get in close, so you've got more options than you might think. What you need depends on how far you shoot and how thick the country is.

By shot distance

• Under 75 m. A 25 Hz scope will do. The image won't look pretty, but you're shooting minute of pig. Don't expect head shots, but engine room shots are easy. A 25 mm, 50 Hz scope handles engine room shots out to about 100 m.
• Head and neck shots. Start with a 35 mm lens. The extra magnification lets you neck shoot out to about 80 m, and anything you add on top just makes the job easier.
• Sensor. A 640 sensor for pigs under 150 m, and a 384 with at least 3.5× magnification over 150 m. The 640 gives you a wide view up close, so it's easier to keep track of a pig when it runs, and follow-up shots on a mob are easier too.

By cover

• Monocular, thick bush. 13 mm at minimum. You get a wide view, which is great for picking up heat out to about 100 m.
• Monocular, open country. 25 mm at minimum. Pigs are a big heat source, so you'll detect them well over 500 m and identify them at around 300 m.
• Scope, thick bush. 19 mm at minimum for a wide view, good out to about 70 m.
• Scope, open country. A 25 mm lens with at least 3× magnification suits shots under 100 m. A 35 mm or bigger lens stretches that to 250 m and beyond.

A realistic word on shots

Pigs are tough and the shot placement window is unforgiving, so the priority is clear identification and a steady, well-placed shot, not reaching as far as the spec sheet suggests. Detection range is where a pig shows up as heat. The distance at which you can identify it and shoot ethically is much shorter (see our detection range guide). Always check your state's regulations too. Thermal is legal to own across Australia, but some states restrict its use for hunting, particularly on public land.

FAQ

What's the best thermal scope for pigs?

A 35mm-class scope with a 640 sensor and a 50Hz refresh. The wide field of view keeps a moving mob in frame and the fast refresh tracks running pigs smoothly.

Is a 640 sensor worth it for pigs?

Yes, more so than for some other game. The wider field of view at a given lens genuinely helps when you're reading a mob and picking a target up close.

Should I use a clip-on or a dedicated scope for pigs?

Either works. A dedicated thermal scope is the simplest. A clip-on suits hunters who want to convert an existing day-scoped rifle to thermal without re-zeroing.

Do I need long range for pigs?

Usually not. Most pig work is closer and faster than fox hunting. Put field of view and refresh rate ahead of maximum range unless you specifically hunt open country.

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