Owning the Night

By Donnie Acheson

When it comes to night hunting coyotes, thermal and night vision scopes are among the most game-changing tools you can acquire. Both types of optics use cutting-edge technology to illuminate the night and detect heat signatures, giving the hunter unparalleled advantages in low-light or no-light conditions. A few years ago, Iowa legislation made it legal to hunt with thermal and night vision (excluding infrared during the deer gun seasons). This opened up a new type of coyote hunting for Iowans.

But let’s face it—entering into the world of thermal and night vision optics can feel overwhelming. With so many models, specifications, and technical information to wade through, even knowing where to begin can seem like a challenge. Whether you’re trying to decide between thermal imaging and night vision, the choices can leave you more confused than confident. I’m going to share a little bit about what I have learned through my new journey of using thermal and night vision, and hopefully, it can give you a place to start. 

My First Experience 

My friend, Brett, called me up and asked if I wanted to go coyote hunting with him at night. I wasn’t sure what that entailed, but soon learned he had this mechanism on his gun called a thermal scope. I looked through the thermal scope and was astonished at what I could see at night; it was quite a life-changing experience for me. He went on to explain to me that he started night hunting with night vision optics (infrared), and has since switched to thermal. I, not knowing the difference or even what he was talking about, asked him to explain the differences. Soon, I learned night vision is the ability to see in low light conditions, so it makes it possible to see at night with the aid of some light, and that light is usually infrared. You can see better at night than with the naked eye alone, but if you add light to it (infrared light), then you can see a vast distance. It depends on the power of the scope and the infrared, but it is possible to see several hundred yards. It’s so exciting to be able to see so clearly at night.

Infrared Optics

Per my friend Brett’s advice, he recommended thermal scopes as a way to see things a little brighter and easier. There are conditions that could make the night vision better, and there are conditions that make the thermal scope better. Let’s talk about the night vision first. One of the large advantages of night vision is typically much less expensive than a thermal scope. You can get a scope with a good, high-quality infrared light attached to the scope and it would typically be far less expensive than a thermal. One of the advantages of infrared is it lets you see and identify the exact image that you’re looking at, similar to looking through a daytime scope. For example, you can see a coyote, and you can tell for sure that it is a coyote and not a dog. When compared with thermal, at times you are just seeing a bright image. Infrared can help clearly define the outline and help you clearly identify that animal as a coyote. One of the drawbacks to infrared scopes is that it is not as easy to locate that animal as it is with thermal. Another drawback is the infrared light must stay lined up with the scope to illuminate the target and the crosshairs at the same time. Like in the daytime, you’re looking for an animal, and it might move and blend in with the timber. With thermal, you’re looking for a bright image. Because thermal is detecting heat differences, warm-blooded animals show up really brightly and are much quicker and easier to spot than with night vision. 

Thermal Optics

Now, let’s talk about thermal. Thermal is, in my opinion, slightly easier and quicker to use. You simply see a bright object, and then you look at it and identify if you are looking at a possum, a raccoon, or a coyote. That image stands out brighter than anything else, and it’s easier to find when you’re scanning or looking. Thermal is helpful when getting your scope on your target and shooting that animal. Unless that animal is in heavy grass or brush, it will be illuminated with the thermal optics.

Are More Expensive Options Worth It?

Now, as with everything that’s manufactured, there are different levels, different grades, and different styles. In both infrared and thermal you typically have a gun-mounted scope or a hand held monocular or binocular. A scope is a fixed, mounted on your scope, and with a handheld monocular or binocular optic, you can look at everything around you, and you don’t have to use your gun. This is paramount as you don’t have to look down the barrel. You are simply scanning by hand. It is really nice to have both if that’s possible. 

The differences in both cost and performance on infrared and thermal optics are typically the more you pay, the clearer and the further distance you’re able to see. Higher-end options, in particular, have the technology to allow you to identify from a few yards to hundreds of yards. With my thermal, I can locate and identify coyotes about a mile away. And well, let me change that. It’s easy to locate a thermal animal about a mile away, and it’s easy to identify it about a half a mile away. Therefore, the higher the grade of the monocular or scope, then the further distance you can correctly identify what you’re looking at. 

Lessons Learned While Hunting

I was hunting in western Iowa, western Iowa has big rolling hills, and you can see a mile away when the crops are out. I was using my thermal, which is my preference for hunting in southern Iowa. However, where I was currently hunting, we were struggling to positively identify what we were seeing. We needed infrared, in this case, to help identify the difference between a coyote and a dog at 800 yards. Infrared technology in that particular instance may have been better, because you’re looking at huge open fields with very little obstruction. So, it’s easier to identify that animal out in the open in western Iowa, whereas in southern Iowa, where it’s steeper hills and timber, I would have preferred my thermal scope and monocular. 

Another thing I’ve learned is in my case, in southern Iowa, is absolutely necessary to have a good tripod for your gun.  So, if you get a thermal or an infrared scope, you really need to have a good tripod. Depending on your terrain and where you are hunting, you might use a bipod, but a lot of times you’re shooting several hundred yards away, and a tripod really helps you make a great shot on the coyote.

Today’s technology, virtually has allowed humans to be able to see at night. We’ve never been able to see as clearly or as far as what the technology now allows, and it’s changing by the month. Previously, there were just a few manufacturers. Now, there are lots of manufacturers. I’m still learning, and this is just based on my experiences hunting with infrared and thermal over the last few years. Ultimately, it depends on your terrain, hunting conditions, and budget as to what the best fit is for you. Both night vision and thermal are total game changers and are exciting and totally addicting.