When the path becomes the goal - On the Grisons high hunt with two Pulsar thermal imaging devices
12.1.2026
Translation: machine translated
Pictures: Claudio Viecelli
This year I'm also testing two thermal imaging devices from Pulsar - or rather, we're testing. While I have the Pulsar Merger LRF XT50 with me, my colleague Marco is taking a close look at the Pulsar Oryx LRF XG35.
My smartphone shows 04:00. I don't think I've slept particularly deeply. The first day of hunting has arrived, the day that Graubünden hunters look forward to for a whole year. I get up and urgently need coffee. My hunting friend Marco also crawls out of bed. We packed our hunting rucksacks the evening before. Now we prepare coffee and provisions. We boil water to take hot bouillon with us in our thermos flasks.
The time flies by and it's already 05:00, time for me to set off. A one-hour hike to around 1850 metres above sea level lies ahead of me. It is pitch dark. I can only see as far as my headlamp illuminates the forest. I have the Pulsar Merger LRF XT50 switched on around my neck. The weight of my rucksack and rifle, the steep ascent and the intensity I've chosen leave no room for big thoughts. I look at the ground and concentrate on putting on my heavy mountain boots as silently as possible.
The morning dewdrops on blades of grass and mushrooms glisten in the light of the headlamp, as do the small drops of spider threads that regularly stretch in front of my face. It's tedious, but they also signal to me that I'm the first on the single trail.
The first sight
Suddenly, a branch cracks in the forest in front of me. In a flash, I grab the thermal imaging device and point it in the direction of the sound. I recognise a heat signature between the trees, but can't yet identify the animal exactly. Is it a doe or even a stag? I stand still, don't move and watch. I rest my eyes and arms from time to time, but then the heat signature disappears. After just a few minutes on the Bündner Hochjagd, I have my first sight, a moment that is by no means a given.
About five minutes later, I reach a clearing where I have often seen wild animals. I carefully switch off my headlamp and pick up the thermal imaging device. Something red appears on the screen on a blue background, an animal is lying in the centre of the clearing and resting.
I watch it for a minute until it gets up. Still undecided as to what exactly I'm looking at, I record a video. I've never managed to capture anything like this before: a chamois buck urinating and then grazing its way out of the valley. A marvellous sight that I would have missed without a thermal imaging device. Unfortunately, the weather worsened as the day progressed, so I didn't get to see anything later.
In the days that followed, I kept seeing wild animals early in the morning as I climbed up to my favourite spot. I often come across the combination of hind and calf, which is protected in Graubünden. Nevertheless, the observations are impressive.
The Pulsar Merger LRF XT50 impresses with a high resolution of 1280×960 pixels, which makes observing wildlife an experience. In the top left photo you can see how sharp and high-resolution the image is. You can even see the individual needles of the larch trees in the left-hand section of the image.
The integrated and removable battery together provide 7200 mAh, which, according to the manufacturer, gives a runtime of around six hours. I use the device for two to three hours a day until shortly before sunrise and the battery consumption was in line with the specifications. The device shows its strengths particularly in the early hours of the morning, when the temperature difference is at its greatest. Within seconds, various animals on the alp can be recognised, from wild animals and small birds to cows.
The Merger LRF XT50 also has an integrated laser for measuring distances up to 1500 metres with an accuracy of ±1 metre. I compared the measurement with my Zeiss binoculars and found no difference. However, as I know my hunting area well, I personally rarely use the distance measurement. For me, the thermal imaging device is primarily used for observing and spotting game.
Comfort and operation in practice
I find the automatic switching on and off of the display when the device is moved towards or away from the eyes particularly convenient. This means the binoculars are not constantly shining brightly in the dark and minimises the risk of spotting things. The ergonomic binocular shape with 15 mm eye relief ensures comfortable viewing and reduces fatigue. The great advantage of the Merger LRF XT50: Night blindness is significantly reduced as both eyes can work with equal relaxation. The eye adapts more quickly to the darkness and observation is calmer and less strenuous.
Marco feels the same way with the Oryx LRF XG35 as I do with the Merger LRF XT50. He also appreciates the high resolution and the clear heat signatures. Above all, he appreciates the compactness and low weight of the monocular. Marco is travelling with a thermal imaging device for the first time. However, he quickly learnt the layout and functions of the control buttons and managed to produce a spectacular video.
Why take a thermal imaging device on a hunt?
For me, hunting is above all about spending time with myself and nature. It's a break from everyday life and civilisation and a retreat into simplicity that teaches me to appreciate basic human needs again when you sit in front of a wood stove and feel the warmth after a frozen day of hunting. It teaches humility and gratitude towards nature. When my headlamp fails halfway through the forest, I realise how clumsy I am without artificial light and that I can only wait until dusk to continue on my way without an accident. I also experience this gratitude when I see and observe game. The graceful movement of a stag from one part of the forest to another or the sight of a doe and calf.
The thermal imaging device comes into play for observation. At dusk, it offers a clear advantage over the eye and binoculars, as animals stand out clearly from their surroundings due to their warmth. During twilight, I was able to recognise the eyes of the animals through the conifers and anticipate their exit from the forest at an early stage. This makes it easier to prepare for a possible hunting situation, but does not necessarily lead to more game being shot.
A thermal imaging device can also be very helpful when searching for game that has been shot or shot at. Finding shot or dead game quickly is not only important for reasons of hygiene, but is also part of every hunter's moral and ethical responsibility. The assumption that it is easy and quick to find shot game often does not correspond to reality, as rough terrain, high vegetation, steep slopes, unclear perspectives in the terrain and the time of day can make tracking significantly more difficult.
Commonalities and differences
The Pulsar Merger LRF XT50 and the Oryx LRF XG35 are from the same generation of devices, but are aimed at different areas and scenarios of use. The Merger LRF XT50 sets the standard in thermal imaging observation, while the Oryx LRF XG35 impresses with its compactness and robustness.
You can find a comparison of the product data here.
The Merger has a microbolometer with a resolution of 1280 × 1024 pixels, which results in finer structures and smoother edges at high magnifications. The Oryx XG35 employees 640 × 480 pixels, but still delivers an excellent image at medium distances thanks to the modern 12 µm pixel pitch, but does not achieve the level of detail of the XT50.
The Merger XT50 uses a 50mm F1.0 lens and starts at 2.5x magnification, making it particularly impressive at long distances. The Oryx XG35 has a 35 mm F1.0 lens, also with 2.5x magnification, but is therefore more of a versatile all-rounder with a somewhat shorter range. Accordingly, the detection distances are 2300 m for the Merger and 1800 m for the Oryx.
Both devices have an integrated ballistics calculator, which can be precisely configured via the Stream Vision Ballistics app and thus provides support for hunting applications.
Two devices, two concepts
The different approach of the two devices is also evident when observing. The Merger LRF XT50 follows the classic binocular design and therefore offers a more relaxed viewing experience than the compact Oryx LRF XG35 monocular, which can be operated with one hand.
Both devices have an integrated laser rangefinder with a range of 1500 metres. The devices differ in terms of battery life. The Oryx XG35 achieves up to twelve hours with an internal and APS5 battery, while the Merger LRF XT50 lasts six hours.
Conclusion
The two devices differ mainly in terms of form factor, weight and binocular or monocular design. The button arrangement on the XG35 is more compact and designed for one-handed operation. Both devices come with a carrying case and strap. The monocular is certainly handier for hunting: It weighs only half as much, which makes it more attractive and cost-effective for mountain hunters.
The purchase of the respective device depends heavily on the personal purpose. The Merger LRF XT50 really comes into its own when you are observing a lot and for long periods of time. The binocular design makes the viewing experience very relaxed. No need to squint, and the image appears calmer overall. The handling also corresponds to that of classic binoculars and therefore immediately conveys a sense of familiarity. The Merger is therefore an excellent choice for sitting hunters who appreciate maximum viewing comfort. However, the high resolution and comfort come at a price.
For mountain or stalking hunters who rely on quick detection, the Oryx XG35 offers a lightweight and uncomplicated solution. The value for money is very good, and the Oryx is ideal for use purely as a work tool. It is uncompromisingly practical and designed to function reliably in everyday hunting. Due to its size, it also fits in the pocket of a hunting jacket or the outer pocket of a hunting rucksack.
The advantages of thermal imaging devices are obvious. Thanks to them, observations of wild animals very early in the morning and at dusk have increased significantly. Especially in low-light periods, they make it possible to spot animals that would not be recognisable to the naked eye or with binoculars. Even on days when there is otherwise no game to be seen, which is often the case in Graubünden. That's why I no longer go hunting in Graubünden without a thermal imaging device.
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