Coyote vision at night
- Thread starter Krockus
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varminter .223
Well-known member
On a dark night they don't see any better than we do. Add a little bit of moonlight though and I think their vision starts to come on before ours does. On a dark night you don't have to worry about them seeing you if you're in dark clothes. I think they rely solely on hearing and smell when there is a lack of moon. On a dark night they might be able to see better at 10 yards than we do but they should be dead by then.
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I will second everything varminter posted. Its crazy what you can get away with in the middle of a wide open field when there is no moon. A couple experiences I had on super dark no moon nights definitely has me believing their vision absolutely sucks under those conditions. Any type of moon up keeps me in the shadows or at the least something behind me to break up my silhouette.
Kirsch
Active member
I agree mainly, but a coyote must be able to see better than a human on totally dark nights. They still can navigate, jump over or slip under fences, etc. A human sure can't do this without some type of help. I am just splitting hairs but the others are right that you can get away with more movement, and require less of a backdrop, the darker it gets.
Mr. Poppadopalis
New member
I disagree with a anybody that says Coyotes cannot see any better than humans at night.
Coyotes, Cats and Domestic dogs have more Rod Receptors. Basically they have the equivalent to Night Vision.
It is best to stay in the shadows when hunting them at night. If you have any light behind you such as a farm yard light etc...they will see your movement. Kinda like when they see your IR Glow. If your IR glow is not moving they will not be as spooked.
Coyotes, Cats and Domestic dogs have more Rod Receptors. Basically they have the equivalent to Night Vision.
It is best to stay in the shadows when hunting them at night. If you have any light behind you such as a farm yard light etc...they will see your movement. Kinda like when they see your IR Glow. If your IR glow is not moving they will not be as spooked.
Bradsbirds
Member
There is a small (@ 15 acres) mowed field surrounded by woods that I hunted a couple nights last winter. I stood near the middle of the field each time and killed a pair both times. This one came in behind me one of the nights. He trotted along the brushline about 100 yards by the time I turned around 180 degrees, switched from the scanner, got the gun on him and started the camera. As you can see, he was only 40 yards away by then. He was looking my direction and acted like he saw "something" but was not alarmed and took the time to pee before trotting down into the brush. There are a couple houses back in that direction so I did not shoot.
I have no idea how their eyes work, but I've hunted in wide open fields at night and killed coyotes under 100 yards.
Video:
I have no idea how their eyes work, but I've hunted in wide open fields at night and killed coyotes under 100 yards.
Video:
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spotstalkshoot
Well-known member
If you are walking, they will see you farther than you can see them.
Mr. Poppadopalis
New member
Originally Posted By: spotstalkshootIf you are walking, they will see you farther than you can see them.
They see any slight movement day or night! Sit still as best you can at all times.
They see any slight movement day or night! Sit still as best you can at all times.
tawnoper
Active member
Originally Posted By: Mr. PoppadopalisI disagree with a anybody that says Coyotes cannot see any better than humans at night.
Coyotes, Cats and Domestic dogs have more Rod Receptors. Basically they have the equivalent to Night Vision.
This.
Any animal with eye shine will see much better in the dark than people can.
I've watched many coyotes come racing in on a dark moon night when I couldn't see my hand in front of my face.
Coyotes, Cats and Domestic dogs have more Rod Receptors. Basically they have the equivalent to Night Vision.
This.
Any animal with eye shine will see much better in the dark than people can.
I've watched many coyotes come racing in on a dark moon night when I couldn't see my hand in front of my face.
Mr. Poppadopalis
New member
Originally Posted By: tawnoperOriginally Posted By: Mr. PoppadopalisI disagree with a anybody that says Coyotes cannot see any better than humans at night.
Coyotes, Cats and Domestic dogs have more Rod Receptors. Basically they have the equivalent to Night Vision.
This.
Any animal with eye shine will see much better in the dark than people can.
I've watched many coyotes come racing in on a dark moon night when I couldn't see my hand in front of my face.
Tawnoper,
Here is the big question, did you kill them;-)
Coyotes, Cats and Domestic dogs have more Rod Receptors. Basically they have the equivalent to Night Vision.
This.
Any animal with eye shine will see much better in the dark than people can.
I've watched many coyotes come racing in on a dark moon night when I couldn't see my hand in front of my face.
Tawnoper,
Here is the big question, did you kill them;-)
varminter .223
Well-known member
We flat out walked into range and shot them
tawnoper
Active member
Originally Posted By: Mr. PoppadopalisOriginally Posted By: tawnoperOriginally Posted By: Mr. PoppadopalisI disagree with a anybody that says Coyotes cannot see any better than humans at night.
Coyotes, Cats and Domestic dogs have more Rod Receptors. Basically they have the equivalent to Night Vision.
This.
Any animal with eye shine will see much better in the dark than people can.
I've watched many coyotes come racing in on a dark moon night when I couldn't see my hand in front of my face.
Tawnoper,
Here is the big question, did you kill them;-)
haha...sometimes.
Coyotes, Cats and Domestic dogs have more Rod Receptors. Basically they have the equivalent to Night Vision.
This.
Any animal with eye shine will see much better in the dark than people can.
I've watched many coyotes come racing in on a dark moon night when I couldn't see my hand in front of my face.
Tawnoper,
Here is the big question, did you kill them;-)
haha...sometimes.
K-22hornet.
New member
I believe coyotes can see much better in low light than humans can.Re-read what Mr. P wrote about rod receptors. Coyotes have more rods, to enhance their low light vision. Humans have more cones, to enhance our color perception.
Out where I typically hunt, it is wide open spaces, with visibility measured in miles, I quit getting out there before dawn after I noticed my early morning success ratio was not good. I think coyotes could see me from way out there while I was walking across the prairie in the dark and watch me get set up.
Instead, I now get out there at about 8am and hunt till dark.
Coyotes have to be able to see well enough in the dark in order to chase down their next meal. I don't believe they would be able to catch a rabbit in the dark, on hearing and scenting abilities alone. And nobody respects a coyotes nose more than me, lol.
copy & paste:A lot better than we do, says Paul Miller, clinical professor of comparative ophthalmology at University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dogs, he says, “can probably see in light five times dimmer than a human can see in.”The light-sensitive compounds in the retina respond to lower light levels. And the lens is located closer to the retina, making the image on the retina brighter.
But the canine’s biggest advantage is called the tapetum. This mirror-like structure in the back of the eye reflects light, giving the retina a second chance to register light that has entered the eye. “Although the tapetum improves vision in dim light, it also scatters some light, degrading the dog’s vision from the 20:20 that you and I normally see to about 20:80,” Miller says.end of copy&paste.
Out where I typically hunt, it is wide open spaces, with visibility measured in miles, I quit getting out there before dawn after I noticed my early morning success ratio was not good. I think coyotes could see me from way out there while I was walking across the prairie in the dark and watch me get set up.
Instead, I now get out there at about 8am and hunt till dark.
Coyotes have to be able to see well enough in the dark in order to chase down their next meal. I don't believe they would be able to catch a rabbit in the dark, on hearing and scenting abilities alone. And nobody respects a coyotes nose more than me, lol.
copy & paste:A lot better than we do, says Paul Miller, clinical professor of comparative ophthalmology at University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dogs, he says, “can probably see in light five times dimmer than a human can see in.”The light-sensitive compounds in the retina respond to lower light levels. And the lens is located closer to the retina, making the image on the retina brighter.
But the canine’s biggest advantage is called the tapetum. This mirror-like structure in the back of the eye reflects light, giving the retina a second chance to register light that has entered the eye. “Although the tapetum improves vision in dim light, it also scatters some light, degrading the dog’s vision from the 20:20 that you and I normally see to about 20:80,” Miller says.end of copy&paste.
