| Night hunting laws vary greatly. Please check your | | | | If hunting with a rifle I prefer to use a scope mounted |
| state and local hunting laws before hunting at night. | | | | light. A light mounted on a rifle this way will allow you to |
| Hunting coyotes at night can be very effective and | | | | scan the area with the light and be ready to shoot |
| challenging at the same time. | | | | when the time is right. When using a shotgun I prefer |
| Some of the advantages for night hunting coyotes | | | | to use a head mounted light positioned so that when |
| include: | | | | sighting down the barrel I can see the coyote and the |
| - Coyotes and other predators are more active at | | | | sight beads at the same time. |
| night. They're usually on the move in search of prey | | | | The technique: |
| for their next meal. This can be an advantage when | | | | I prefer to call and shoot from a standing position using |
| using a distress call. | | | | an extended monopod. You do not need to be |
| - Human activity is low and coyotes feel more secure | | | | concerned with positioning yourself against a backdrop |
| and less cautious and may respond to calling with less | | | | like daytime hunting. Coyotes cannot see beyond the |
| apprehension. | | | | source of the light. |
| - Often times, the wind is lower at night making it less | | | | Remember that your shots will need to be fairly close |
| likely that a coyote will detect your scent. Although, | | | | for target identification and safety so position your |
| you still need to be concerned with wind direction. | | | | stand with that in mind. You will still need to use all your |
| Now the disadvantages: | | | | daytime hunting skills when night hunting. |
| - You can't see as far at night and target identification | | | | You will want to scan the area quickly and keep the |
| can be difficult. | | | | beam moving in an effort to catch the eyes of an |
| - There is always a safety issue at night especially if | | | | approaching coyote as soon as possible. Keep the light |
| you're hunting with partners. | | | | on while calling. If glowing eyes are spotted, direct the |
| - Usually you will have to carry more gear such as | | | | outer edge of the beam or the halo on the eyes. You |
| batteries and lights making your movement a little | | | | want to give just enough light to keep the eyes |
| more difficult. | | | | glowing. Do not focus the main beam on the coyote |
| - If your light goes out or your batteries go dead your | | | | until it is time to confirm the target and shoot. When |
| hunt is over. | | | | the eyes are close enough to identify and shoot drop |
| - You will need to call the coyotes in much closer | | | | the main beam on the coyote and shoot. Before you |
| because safe shot distances are much less compared | | | | move from your position take some time and really |
| to daytime hunting. | | | | concentrate on the area of the shot and get a good |
| The gear: | | | | mental picture before you try to retrieve your coyote. |
| Most hunters will use some type of red light which will | | | | Terrain can look a lot different at night. If you have a |
| reflect off the coyote's retina. | | | | partner, have them go retrieve the coyote while you |
| Although some hunters will disagree, white light tends | | | | aim the light at the point of the shot. |
| to spook coyotes. Lights can vary from handheld | | | | Night hunting for coyotes can be very exciting and |
| spotlights and flashlights to gun and scope mounted | | | | productive as long as you don't mind missing a little TV |
| lights or large spotlights mounted on vehicles. | | | | and some sleep. |