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 — situational awareness beats raw reach. Here's how to get it right.

Quick answer

For feral pigs, favour a wide field of view and a fast refresh rate so you can track a moving mob and read the whole scene. A 640 sensor on a 35mm-class lens is an excellent pig combination — the wide view keeps multiple animals in frame — with a 50Hz refresh for smooth tracking. A thermal monocular or clip-on adds flexibility for scanning thick country and switching rifles.

What pig hunting demands

• Mobs, not singles. Pigs often come in groups, so a wide field of view lets you see the whole mob, pick your animal and stay aware of the others. This is where a 640 sensor's wider view at a given lens genuinely helps.
• Close, fast and in cover. Pigs are frequently engaged at shorter range in scrub and crop, moving quickly. A fast 50Hz refresh keeps a running pig smooth rather than smeared.
• Big, hot targets. Pigs throw a strong heat signature, so detection isn't the challenge — 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 target selection 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 — but for typical scrub work, don't sacrifice 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 considering — it converts a day-scoped rifle to thermal without re-zeroing (see our clip-on guide).

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 appears 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 — 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 selecting 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. Prioritise field of view and refresh rate over maximum range unless you specifically hunt open country.

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