Coyote Hunting with Night Rigs
Coyote Hunting with Night Rigs
The impact of predation on overall deer herd health is a complex issue. The specific predators that have the greatest impact on fawn survival can vary depending on location and habitat type. In Iowa, we’re talking mainly about coyotes and bobcats. Research consistently identifies predation as a leading cause of fawn mortality.
Studies by the MeatEater website, citing data from 1971 to 2018, found predation responsible for 64% of fawn deaths analyzed across various studies. We know this study wasn’t solely in Iowa, and it didn’t account for our predators, or more specifically your predators. What we can conclude is that coyotes thin the herd.
The emergence of night vision and thermal optics has revolutionized predator hunting, opening up a whole new world of possibilities. As of the past few years with the legislative changes, we can now legally hunt coyotes at night. We are going to explore night vision options, as well as a couple questions you should ponder and see if they are a good fit for you.
When Will You Hunt?
So obviously if you’re looking at night vision, infrared, or thermal options, you’re wanting to hunt at night. The real question should be: Do you want to hunt coyotes with your night rig during Iowa’s deer seasons? The Iowa rules and regulations state: “A person may use an infrared light source to hunt coyotes as long as the infrared light source is mounted to the method of take or to a scope mounted on the method of take. HOWEVER, no person shall use an infrared light source to hunt coyotes during any established muzzleloader, bow, or shotgun deer hunting season”.
So, if Iowa’s Youth Season opens September 21st and Late Muzzleloader Season goes until January 10th, that’s just about 4 months out of the year. During those 4 months, if you have an infrared scope on your gun, you can’t legally use it to hunt coyotes at night. This makes thermal scopes look a little more attractive than the infrared because the thermal can be used all year round.
How Much is Your Budget?
Night vision technology gives hunters two distinct options: thermal scopes and infrared scopes. Infrared technology tends to be a little cheaper. While more affordable than thermal scopes, a decent IR scope is still a significant investment. If you have a set budget, you might exhaust it on one decent thermal scope, or you can buy a few infrared options for multiple users. So, you and a buddy, a spouse, a kid, can all get set-up with an economical infrared rig for the price of one decent thermal scope.
Infrared scopes rely on existing infrared light sources, like moonlight or ambient infrared illumination. Their effectiveness reduces in situations with minimal infrared light. The effective range is often shorter for infrared scopes compared to thermal scopes or daytime optics, especially in adverse weather conditions like fog or heavy rain.
When it comes to overall performance, it’s hard to argue that thermal is king. Thermal scopes have become a game-changer for nighttime and low-light situations. Unlike traditional scopes that rely on ambient light, these detect heat. Thermal has an upper hand when it comes to foggy mornings, it outperforms traditional infrared technology and allows hunters to see thermal despite the fog. You can see approaching animals with absolute clarity, ensuring a safe and effective hunt.
Higher-end thermal scopes offer additional features that enhance the hunting experience. For instance, some scopes have rangefinders built in so you can range your coyote. Upper-end scopes also will allow you to spot targets at impressive distances. They’re awesome features, and you’re going to pay for the technology too.
I warn you; not all scopes are equal. A cheap thermal side-by-side with an upper end one may have you regretting your frugal decision. Generally, the more expensive scopes allow you to see more detail about what you’re looking at. This way you can distinguish between an opossum and raccoon. More economical options do not have the detail of the upper-end scopes.
Operating a thermal or infrared scope effectively requires practice. There is definitely a learning curve, and you need to set aside some time to get comfortable with your scope before using it. Whether you purchase an infrared scope or a thermal scope, prepare to set aside a few hours for practice and adjustments.
by Nathan Graham
September 2024
