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Honest Review of the Sightmark Wraith HD 4-32x50 Digital Day-Night Scope with Quick-Release Weaver Mount and IR Illuminator
As an avid hunter who spends countless hours in the field, I recently had the opportunity to test the Sightmark Wraith HD 4-32x50 digital day-night scope. After several weeks of use in various conditions, I’m ready to share my thoughts on this optic, including its strengths, weaknesses, and overall performance.
Advantages
Exceptional Image Quality:
The 4-32x magnification range is incredibly versatile, allowing me to spot targets at both close and long ranges. The HD sensor delivers crisp, clear images during the day, and the night vision performance is impressive. The 1920x1080 resolution ensures that even in low-light conditions, the image remains detailed and usable.
Day-Night Versatility:
This scope truly shines in its ability to transition seamlessly between day and night use. The built-in IR illuminator is a game-changer for nighttime hunting, providing enough illumination to identify targets clearly even in complete darkness. The IR settings are adjustable, so you can tailor the brightness to your environment.
Quick-Release Weaver Mount:
The included quick-release mount is a fantastic feature. It allows for easy attachment and detachment from my rifle, making it simple to switch between optics or store the scope securely. The mount is sturdy and maintains zero even after repeated removal and reattachment.
Customizable Reticles:
The Wraith HD offers multiple reticle options, which can be customized to suit different hunting scenarios. Whether I’m tracking fast-moving game or taking precise shots at stationary targets, having the right reticle makes a noticeable difference.
Durable Build:
The scope feels solid and well-constructed. It’s waterproof and fog-proof, which is essential for hunting in unpredictable weather conditions. I’ve used it in rain and heavy dew without any issues.
Disadvantages
Battery Life:
While the scope performs admirably, the battery life is a bit of a letdown. On a full charge, it lasts about 4-5 hours with the IR illuminator on, which means you’ll need to carry spare batteries for extended hunts. A power bank or external battery pack is a must for longer trips.
Weight and Bulk:
The Wraith HD is noticeably heavier and bulkier than traditional scopes. While this isn’t a dealbreaker, it does add some weight to your rifle setup, which can be a consideration for hunters who prefer lightweight gear.
Learning Curve:
The digital interface and settings can be overwhelming at first. It took me some time to familiarize myself with the menu system and adjust the settings to my liking. A more intuitive user interface would make this scope more beginner-friendly.
Price Point:
While the Wraith HD offers excellent features, it’s not the most budget-friendly option on the market. For hunters on a tight budget, the price tag might be a deterrent.
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New initiative targets Colorado mountain lion hunting
What will the future of Colorado mountain lion hunting look like? A new petition filed with the Colorado Supreme Court is asking for a proposed ballot to be blocked that would request voters to approve a “statewide ban on hunting mountain lions, bobcats and Canada lynx.” Opponents say that the measure is “misleading” and multiple mistakes were made by the Colorado Secretary of State’s Title Board prior to getting the measure approved for the November 2024 ballot, according to The Colorado Sun.
However, last week, a second initiative, Initiative 101, was filed that requests a limit (not ban) to hunting mountain lions, bobcats and lynx in an effort to curb trophy hunting. If approved, this limit would require “every carcass – excluding usable meat – to be turned over” to prevent “mounting, displaying or preserving wildcats as ‘souvenirs of their hunts.’”
Initiative 101 does allow a two-week mountain lion and bobcat season at the end of December. Both measures ask for the complete ban of Canada lynx hunting; however, the lynx is not legal to hunt and retains federal protections under the Endangered Species Act.
Initiative 101 “still honors the intent of the original initiative by calling out trophy hunting as a problem,” said Samantha Bruegger, the manager of the Cats Aren’t Trophies campaign. “Both initiatives really get at banning trophy hunting of mountain lions and bobcats.”
This isn’t the first time mountain lion, bobcat and Canada lynx hunting has been in the crosshairs of anti-hunting groups. However, two years ago, a bill to ban this type of hunting didn’t even pass its first committee hearing, according to The Colorado Sun.
Mountain lion hunting has been carefully regulated by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) for decades. In fact, in order to obtain a license, hunters must complete a specific mountain lion education course. Every year, CPW adjusts harvest caps to maintain a healthy population with the 2023-24 hunting season cap set at 674 animals. Last year, hunters killed 386 mountain lions, according to The Colorado Sun. Further, each harvest must be reported within 48 hours with an additional five days to bring the carcass into a CPW office for inspection and an official seal that allows the hunter to keep the hide.
“There are 350 certified biologists and scientists who are in their position at Colorado Parks and Wildlife to create science-based wildlife decisions that benefit wildlife, species and the people as well,” said Dan Gates, a hunting policy consultant who serves as executive director for Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Management. “Most people agree that they don’t want the pool boy doing brain surgery just because he has an opinion.”
Regardless, the plan, according to Bruegger, is to keep both ballot initiative active to gather enough signatures to put both on the 2024 ballot.
The current mountain lion season runs April 1 to 30, and from December through March.
CNW- The Government of Antigua and Barbuda has denied its representatives on the International Whaling Commission (IWC) are assisting with efforts to repeal the whaling ban.
Whaling is the process of hunting whales for their usable products such as meat and blubber, which can be turned into a type of oil that became increasingly important in the Industrial Revolution
In a statement released yesterday, the government said, “Cabinet has NOT agreed to repeal the moratorium on whale hunting and is unaware of any statement to the contrary.”
The government of Antigua and Barbuda issued the statement after international media outlets and marine charities reported that Antigua and Barbuda had proposed the repeal of the moratorium on whaling alongside Japan and several other nations.
Marine wildlife protection charity, OceanCare, claimed Antigua and Barbuda and countries which support the lifting of the ban proposed that whales be seen as a food source to secure food and nutritional security.
OceanCare’s Director of International Relations, Nicolas Entrup, remarked, “Instead of wasting precious time with decade-old debates about fabricated scenarios such as sustainable whaling and false solutions to ‘food security,’ the IWC should urgently address the most pressing issues: climate change and plastic pollution.”
“Both the IWC’s Scientific Committee and Conservation Committee have performed exemplary work in highlighting these issues and pointing the path toward their resolution. This spirit of the Florianópolis Declaration is the path forward for a modern IWC focused on conservation.”
Ambassador Lionel Hurst, chief of staff for the Prime Minister’s Office, indicated during today’s post-cabinet media conference that 48 countries had proposed the resolution, which is always on the agenda for the IWC’s annual convention.
Hurst said Antigua and Barbuda usually stands “on the right side of history” when it comes to environmental matters”
The depletion of some whale species to near extinction led to the banning of whaling in many countries by 1969, and to an international cessation of whaling as an industry in the late 1980s.
