I recently had the opportunity to test out one of Pulsar’s handheld monocular devices, the Axion XQ30 Pro. This unit ticks a lot of boxes for people wanting to get into a scanner-type thermal optic. With a $1,499.99 price point, it is on the lower end of the thermal device spectrum as far as cost. But don’t let the price fool you into thinking you are getting an inferior product. Keep in mind it still bears the Pulsar name, which stands for quality and boasts a 5-year warranty. It’s a great lightweight device—conveniently compact and as handy as a pocket on a shirt. Speaking of pockets, not only will the Axion XQ30 Pro fit into the palm of your hand, but it will also easily slide into your jacket or cargo pocket.

If you are new to hunting with a rifle-mounted thermal scope, there is a bit of a learning curve which peaks at an “aha” moment when you think to yourself and realize, "I really need a handheld scanner." After you’ve hunted a bit with just the rifle-mounted scope, it doesn’t take long to realize just how much you need a second device to scan with. Allow me to explain just what I’m getting at.

Speaking from experience, I went through what I call the three stages of “I can make this work” while predator hunting. If you aren’t hunting and shooting off of sticks, you’ll spend your night shouldering the rifle to scan. Raising it up and lowering it down, raising it up again and lowering it down again. After a few minutes of shouldering and scanning, you will start to feel the weight of your hunting platform. With tired arms about to fall off, you will then progress to the next stage: using a tripod.

I figured that the tripod would solve all my problems. With the rifle held securely atop my tripod with my Reaper Grip, I could easily scan for coyotes. Only then, I found myself walking in a circle around the tripod. On the occasions where the ground was dried vegetation, it was a noisy evolution. Slowly tromping a half circle behind the tripod wasn’t working for me.

On to the next stage: I deduced that if I used a quick detach mount for the thermal scope, I could scan with it and then replace it back on the rail and shoot. It sounded good in theory, but the application left a lot to be desired. Although it was easy to scan, trying to reattach the device in the dark was tough, and with the added pressure of a pair or trio of coyotes coming in hot, it was even tougher. Attempting to do all of this and run the FOXPRO with the remote was nearly impossible, especially since, for accuracy's sake, the scope had to go back in the exact same spot on the rail from which it came off.

To assist in the process, I made a backstop. It consisted of a piece of “L”-shaped metal that I attached to the rail just behind the scope. That allowed me to simply set the scope on the rail and back it up until it hit the backstop, then throw the QD levers and lock it down. With this, I could hit the correct alignment every time. This too seemed like yet another great way for me to “make it work,” but it had its drawbacks as well. In the time it took to spot the coyotes and mount the scope back on the rifle, the coyotes were in a completely different place from where I had spotted them. If you repeat this a few cycles and blow a few stands, this gets old very quickly.

And now we get to the “aha” moment. You realize that life would be so much better if you only had a handheld scanner as part of your setup. You could leave the scope on the rifle and scan in any direction. While I mostly hunt alone, there are few occasions when I hunt with someone, and when I do, being able to scan in any direction without fear of pointing a barrel toward anyone is a huge plus. It doesn’t need to be the top-of-the-line device; you just need something that’ll tell you there’s something out there. Positive identification happens with the rifle scope before taking the shot—as it should.

The Axion XQ30 Pro is the perfect answer to the question that new hunters haven’t yet realized they need to ask: Should I get a scanner? The answer is yes! This little unit will definitely get you into the game and make your hunts go so much smoother, all without breaking the bank. I can assure you, as handy as the Axion is, you’ll use it for so many other things when not in the field hunting. Farmers and ranchers are using the Axion for checking cattle. Electricians are using it to look for electrical shorts. The list of uses for this solid and modest unit is a long one. It’s like the old saying goes, “I didn’t know how much I needed it until I got one.” And soon after that, you’ll be saying, “I don’t know how I ever got along without one.” I can attest that I have my scanner in my hands nearly every day. If not for hunting, it’s nightly for checking the lawn for the ever-invasive armadillo, raccoons in the trash, or deer at the feeder. So if you are on the fence about picking up a handheld scanner, my suggestion to you is to climb on down and get yourself the Axion XQ30 Pro. You won’t be disappointed.