Budget thermal imaging setup for woodland surveillance - does it actually work?

Right, I've been messing about with a second-hand FLIR E4 thermal camera I picked up for £280 off eBay, and I'm trying to work out if it's worth the faff for tracking movement on the Yorkshire moors. The battery life is absolutely grim - barely 90 minutes - but the image quality is surprisingly decent in low light.

Has anyone else tried budget thermal gear for cryptid work? I'm considering pairing it with a motion-triggered trail camera setup to catch anything bipedal. The idea is to leave the gear running overnight and review footage in the morning. Seems more practical than sitting in a hedge getting eaten alive by midges.

Alternatively, should I just save up for a proper setup? What's everyone using out there?

That FLIR model is solid for the price, mate. I've got the E5 and it's been brilliant for spotting warm bodies moving through undergrowth. The trick is mounting it on a tripod with a weatherproof housing - costs about £40 from Amazon - and syncing it with your motion triggers. You'll want a decent external battery pack too, or you're changing batteries every hour like a muppet.

Honestly? Thermal imaging won't help you find a Bigfoot. This isn't Skinwalker Ranch. If you want to track large primates (which don't exist in Britain, obviously), you need good old-fashioned fieldcraft: plaster casts, hair samples, scat analysis. Spend your money on a proper zoom lens and a spotting scope instead.

Second the FLIR E4 recommendation. I've had mine for three years and it's paid for itself in peace of mind alone. Mounted it in a weatherproof box on a tripod, runs off a solar panel setup. The battery life issue is real though - consider a 20Ah power station. Costs about £120 but you'll get 12+ hours easily.

Spend your money on a proper zoom lens and a spotting scope instead.

I'm using an older AGM Vox8735 handheld unit combined with a Bushnell trail cam. Total investment was about £350. The thermal picks up heat signatures 100m away if conditions are right, and the trail cam logs the timestamp. I've been reviewing footage weekly - mostly deer, foxes, and very confused hikers. No Bigfoot yet, but I'm patient.