Night Hunting

[YoteSmoker]

I have been thinking about trying night hunting for coyotes for a little while now. Lights are illegal on public land here in Colorado unless you apply for a permit from the division of wildlife that is only good for a certain time period and location. Under a full moon, do you think it is possible to call and shoot coyotes. Do you think I'd be able to see my crosshairs? My scope is a Monarch 5.5-16 power with a fine duplex. I would most likely try this on the Pawnee grasslands, so heavy cover would not be an issue. What do you think?

[TXNinVA]

Under a full moon, do you think it is possible to call and shoot coyotes. Do you think I'd be able to see my crosshairs? My scope is a Monarch 5.5-16 power with a fine duplex. What do you think?

JMO, I doubt you'll be able to ID and shoot without some light at any range though a scope(even my 50 mm on 3x I don't shoot without light). I use a scope with a lighted center dot. A light (red prefered) will do fine to illumenate a target but you will have only a few second to make the shot in most cases, a non-lighted reticle won't provide the fast aquisition you'll need for that.

I don't like the spot lights that mount to your gun for wieght and carry reasons, but cabelas and bass pro sell them, as well as other. I'd try some night shooting at dusk before ou spent any money though, the night is a whole new ball game.

[Catfish]

Is nite vision illegal too?

[Jim in Idaho]

Night hunting without lights, on a full moon night, and with snow on thje ground is very effective. You can easily see a coyote, on open ground at 100 yards. The problem is seeing the crosshairs against the coyote's body, but just centering the image in the scope will usually result in a hit at the ranges you'll be shooting at. I've also used the little crosshair illuminators they used to sell...don't know if they're still sold or not. They had a fiber-optic tube that shined a tiny light into the scope eyepiece, and the light reflected off the crosshairs. Bear in mind that the coyotes are very spooky in the moonlight....almost as much as during the day....they don't like being out in the open, so much stealth is required. If calling....the calling should be very soft...sound carries very well on cold nights. Loud calling will result in zero coyotes moved.

[Cobra]

We can't use CFs at night (yet?) in Michigan for 'yotes. Limited to RFs and shotguns, which I prefer with Dead-Coyote loads. Lights are legal but prefer not to use them. Once your eyes get adjusted to it a snow covered field isn't that hard to see things in, even without a big full moon. Just need to stay away from thick cover areas, hide well, keep the approach/shooting areas open. A partner covering your 6 is essential. Amazing how close they can get when you're set up right.

[amafrank]

We used to night hunt coyotes in New Mexico with no scopes or night vision. 3 dot glow in the dark sights work very well even on nights with little moonlight. Most of the hunting is done at very short ranges, less than 100yd. Spotlights were not permitted but night vision was and when all that russian night vision equipment came in it gave us a bit more range. Most of the time we were at one location waiting for them rather than looking for them. We had a dump pit used for dead cattle that was a very good bait area....I do know others here in indiana that are calling them in close too and hunting at night with no lights or night vision. All are using open night sights or battery lighted reticles. I've got some night vision but don't really hunt much anymore....

Frank

[gonzo gunner]

i'm thinking about setting up a savage model 12 .223 in a black b&c stock with a night vision scope on it. i want it for the yotes we have running around here at night. i think this would be great fun with a good scope.

[Sonny Pruitt]

[QUOTE=YoteSmoker;76614 Under a full moon, do you think it is possible to call and shoot coyotes. Do you think I'd be able to see my crosshairs? ?[/QUOTE]


Under a full moon with snow cover is excellent, just breakup your outline in something and start calling. Your problem will be those crosshairs of yours, you won't find em.


Leupold makes what they call a Heavy Duplex, it is a thick and bold, heavy crosshair that just jumps out at you under these circumstances and because of the thickness it helps center up what you are targeting. Also I use the Bushnell 3200 and 4200 in their Firefly reticle, I don't illuminate the F/F crosshairs, they are thick enough, like the Leupold Heavy Duplex and don't need to be lit up at all.

Try it some night on a full moon even without snow, just around your yard or something. As long as there is no ground clutter, you will see how easy it is.