Traveling with Night Vision Scope?

[mstewart44]

Does anyone know if you can travel into and out of Africa with a Digital Night vision Scope on my rifle? This one works both day and night, not just at night like a Gen I or Gen II true night vision.

I have a Pulsar Digisight N550 I want to take for some night hunting for the small cats. Does anyone have any experience or knowledge with this subject?

 

[BRICKBURN]

I would be worried about the other countries along the way as well. If you happen to transit any other country during your flight.

I'll be interested to see a reply to your question.

 

[mstewart44]

Straight flight from ATL to JNB. Going in June. I had a woman today with the US Dept of Commerce tell me I needed an export permit for my scope??!! Like... my REGULAR scope!! I've hunted in RSA twice before with my last recent trip last year and I've never needed an export permit for my scope.

 

[enysse]

Well US customs recommends registering binoculars, rangefinders and scopes. I have listed them before on the 4457 form. I would definitely do it for a night vision scope...might make a big difference!

 

[bluey]

looks the goods that scope mstewart ,
it looks as tho you put your eye right up to the eye piece hey?
ive heard of these little rippers but thought they were b.s
and you say they work day and night ?
how far can you see in the dark with one or do you need infa red light to make them work .
they would certainly be good fun on foxs and cats and dogs .
I hope your trip works out great and are sitting on the edge of my seat to read how it unwinds ,keep us posted mate

 

[Bobpuckett]

looks the goods that scope mstewart ,
it looks as tho you put your eye right up to the eye piece hey?
ive heard of these little rippers but thought they were b.s
and you say they work day and night ?
how far can you see in the dark with one or do you need infa red light to make them work .
they would certainly be good fun on foxs and cats and dogs .
I hope your trip works out great and are sitting on the edge of my seat to read how it unwinds ,keep us posted mate

I'm with you on this one bluey, never thought of night vision scope for africa sounds like fun, mstewart44 please keep us up to date on this one.

 

[bluey]

gday bob how are you mate?
I wonder if you could hunt leopard with this gizmo (I have no doubt that you could but legally ) id really like to play with one of these little rippers
after I asked old mate on here I went and looked through the site he put up .
they certainly look like fun .

 

[tap]

Its illegal to take night vision out of the country. Anything gen II or over that isnt designated as exportable. Most night bision isnt. Read the rules on most manufacturers websites. However if u stick them in a bino bag most cbp officers wont know they are a non exportable item. However u could get the random agent that knows the law and in which case its gonna be pretty ugly.

 

[spike.t]

never quite worked out this non exportable thing with certain items such as night vision and acog type sights. you see them in the usa but cant export them, but get back to say the uk or other european countries and there they are for sale.........only the same price in sterling as usd , i.e. if its $3,000.00 in the states its usually ï½£3000.00 in the uk making all that type of stuff a lot more expensive. we have a flir thermal imager on the reserve for anti poaching and they are amazing pieces of kit. they will even pick up your barefoot footprint for a short period if you walk across a tiled or wood floor.

 

[Bobpuckett]

gday bob how are you mate?
I wonder if you could hunt leopard with this gizmo (I have no doubt that you could but legally ) id really like to play with one of these little rippers
after I asked old mate on here I went and looked through the site he put up .
they certainly look like fun .

Hey bluey howz it going, like tap said in most cases here in the states we can't export them I don't know what your laws are down in Oz but I think they would work great for leopard at night if they can be inported to the country your going to be hunting, they work pretty good here at night for Coyote.

 

[greyfox]

I think it's a legal question best answered by a lawyer. IMO your are not EXPORTING, you are taking it with you and returning with it. It is your personal property.
I think the "exporting" would deal with COMMERCE or selling the item.
The question is suppose you took a night vision device and "lost" it, it would probably be like loosing a firearm, certainly not worth the risk.

It will be interesting to get the definitive answer,

GreyFox

 

[bluey]

Hey bluey howz it going, like tap said in most cases here in the states we can't export them I don't know what your laws are down in Oz but I think they would work great for leopard at night if they can be inported to the country your going to be hunting, they work pretty good here at night for Coyote.

it goes well bob
im not at all sure how legal they are down here , ive heard of them but never really seen them before .the ones that ive heard people talking about ,you have to use an u v spotlight with to make them work
then the blokes that's got the firearm can see like daylight .
im sure there would be cool models like this bad boy around but ive not heard or seen them .
id like to play with one but , it would be fun on a 22 around the old dump to keep the foxes and cats in check ,or on the bunnies at some great distances
I don't think you would be able to have them down here with out an argument with the licencing office

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

Does anyone know if you can travel into and out of Africa with a Digital Night vision Scope on my rifle? This one works both day and night, not just at night like a Gen I or Gen II true night vision.

I have a Pulsar Digisight N550 I want to take for some night hunting for the small cats. Does anyone have any experience or knowledge with this subject?

I bought the Pulsar N750 at the outdoor shows in Dortmund, Germany this year. Took it in its bag, and kept it in my hand luggage for the entire trip. I was not asked once about it. They are certainly not illegal in South Africa. Best you ask the authorities, but my opinion is that you should have no problems at all.

Take care and update us should you get an answer.

Best Regards,
Marius Goosen

 

[greyfox]

I actually did a little research just fo rfun and I can find NO WHERE that says you can or cannot take into RSA, I think the issue is LEAVING USA, also, what kind of batteries does it take, the airlines do not allow lithium batteries so that may be a consideration.

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

I actually did a little research just fo rfun and I can find NO WHERE that says you can or cannot take into RSA, I think the issue is LEAVING USA, also, what kind of batteries does it take, the airlines do not allow lithium batteries so that may be a consideration.

Takes "AA" batteries. He can buy batteries once he gets here.

 

[spike.t]

I actually did a little research just fo rfun and I can find NO WHERE that says you can or cannot take into RSA, I think the issue is LEAVING USA, also, what kind of batteries does it take, the airlines do not allow lithium batteries so that may be a consideration.

greyfox you can travel with lithium batteries on planes. they must be in your carry on baggage or your person. they must be not loose so their terminals cant come into contact with other metal objects, so the original packaging if the box is full, or you can pack them in individual small bags, or put tape over the terminals to insulate them. they are banned by some airlines in checked baggage , but some are ok as long as they are not loose. you can also buy after market specialist plastic carriers for lithium batteries.

 

[KencoArms]

I bought the Pulsar N750 at the outdoor shows in Dortmund, Germany this year. Took it in its bag, and kept it in my hand luggage for the entire trip. I was not asked once about it. They are certainly not illegal in South Africa. Best you ask the authorities, but my opinion is that you should have no problems at all.

Take care and update us should you get an answer.

Best Regards,
Marius Goosen

I have to get my two rifles and silencer signed on the 4457 form I will ask customs I’m waiting to take my Wraith HD

 

[rookhawk]

I would be worried about the other countries along the way as well. If you happen to transit any other country during your flight.

I'll be interested to see a reply to your question.

This.

I was detained in Dubai with my ten-year-old son by the police for about 2 hours. They chastised me for having scopes in both of our carry-on baggage. I explained that they were quick detach mounts, that i do it to protect my optics from damage, and that they are not ITAR regulated like night vision or thermal.

They didn't understand English very well, but it didn't matter. They thought I was violating ITAR.

I wouldn't even THINK about traveling outside of the USA with night vision or thermal. In most of th world, this stuff is regulated in the same schedule as claymore mines and stinger missiles under ITAR rules...don't do it.

 

[rinehart0050]

This.

I was detained in Dubai with my ten-year-old son by the police for about 2 hours. They chastised me for having scopes in both of our carry-on baggage. I explained that they were quick detach mounts, that i do it to protect my optics from damage, and that they are not ITAR regulated like night vision or thermal.

They didn't understand English very well, but it didn't matter. They thought I was violating ITAR.

I wouldn't even THINK about traveling outside of the USA with night vision or thermal. In most of th world, this stuff is regulated in the same schedule as claymore mines and stinger missiles under ITAR rules...don't do it.

Yeah- its also problematic because items like thermals and IR sites are frequently covered by International Military Sales rules (as in, not allowed to export in any way unless its the government doing the exporting).

 

[Ike85123]

Export Information about Night Vision and Thermal Vision optics | ATN corp

All you need to know about US Government Export Restrictions and Export Regulations for Night Vision and Thermal Vision optics

www.atncorp.com