Night lights for a beginner?

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EasternWash

New member
Hey guys, I was interested in trying out some night hunting for coyotes. What is the minimum you would go in the field with as far as lights go? Sounds like you need a scan light...and a kill light? What colors are the best...red, green? Is white ok or does that spook them? I basically have no idea so I was hoping for a quick rundown. thanks for the help!

Joe
 
red flood type beam to scan and green scope mount to shoot with . old days good old QBeam spotlight with long extension cord and a Red lens filter and a coffee can shroud on the front of spotlight . then high mount killin chair in pickup bed with spotlight mounted on chair. not many critters could get away from that combo . now high tech LED flashlights and NV
 
You can get away with just buying a spotlight. Battery powered can run down rather quickly, or you can make an extension plug and run it outside of the pickup like Alan mentioned. A red filter won't spook the coyotes as easily, but ive called in several with white light. If you want to try it and keep the costs down go out and get you a corded spotlight and a red lens and have a buddy go and one of you run the light and one of you shoot. The coffee can is a good idea to keep the spotlight from shining your pickup if you have an extra one around just cut the bottom out and tape it on.

Good luck and have fun!
 
I was about to ask the same question, will one light work or is two lights better(1 scan light and 1 kill light). I have read numerous times that when the kill light is turned on, it will cause a coyote to bolt(don't know how true this is). My partner and I are thinking to just go with one good scan light. One scan and one shoot. We have been calling for a few years and do ok, just new to the night time thing.
 
It gets pretty tiring trying to scan with a light on the rifle, but if you are willing to just have one shooter, then the scanner can hold the light and do the calling. In that case I would recommend one of the variable rheostat controlled lights also with focusable lens to go from flood to spot. I used the Coyote Light and the Sniper Hawg LR66 when I was using lights and both of them were strong. I expect the Wicked Lights are strong as well. Several dealers here can help you out.

Most important things I found were (1)keep the scan light going all the time, (2) Use the minimum power to just light their eyes while scanning, (3) as they start coming to the call, increase the power and focus slowly so as not to burn them with that sudden bright light.

Most people try to use too much power and spook the coyote.
 
Just bought the new ScanPro by Wicked Hunting, is this light bright enough to use as a kill light. Can you identify and shoot safely with it up to 60 yards? If not does any white spotlight work to quick shine and shoot them with or will they run immediately? I have white spotlights but don't want to spend anymore on a good kill light yet.
 
You won't have a problem with ID at 60 yds with the ScanPro. I will go so far as to say that with a good scope you can ID beyond 100 depending on conditions and your eyesight.
 
I use the wicked light with the red led. The wicked is a strong light, like the above mentioned quality lights. I have never used a scan light, but have been thinking of getting one. Pro' and Cons?? Anybody??
 
Yes the shooting light is great for ID and getting a solid shot off but its too bright for scanning. I did not believe it at first. I used to scan with my night eyes gun light and when I went to the headlamp I realized that waaay more predators were willing to commit to the call when I didnt have that gun light hit their eyes first. I run my head lamp on 50% power and can see eyes out at 500 yards (weather dependant) plus the headlamp is great for shotgun shots. It took me a year to justify spending the money on another light but it was way worth it. And the new night eyes headlamps have some really awesome features
 
Thanks for all the responses guys. I think have the kill light covered, I already had a green sniper hog light for my bow that I'm pretty sure I can mount on my gun. Now my dilemma is choosing between scan lights. Think I'll probably go for a head lamp since I plan on doing some solo hunts..I'm leaning towards either the night eyes or the wicked. Hopefully here before to long I'll be posting up pics of my first night kill. Thanks again!

Joe
 
Just a little more info, idk how your hunt areas are, but I'm hunting in mostly desert and 90% of my coyote and cat hunts are at night, just to add to the guy's information, true, best to have a spotter and caller while the other is the shooter, but in my neck of the woods I always carry a couple of small white lights in my pockets because the chances of losing the animal after the shot has been taken, looking for a downed animal is much easier with a white light than any other color. Plus, on quite a few hunts, I've gone out and recovered my animal and then another is spotted, I've learned my lesson by trying to recover one, then have the opportunity to shoot at another, while trying to retrieve the second, I have lost the first because of the terrain. So, I will use one of my small lights and lay it on the first yote/cat..most cases, yotes and go and retrieve the second, as many of you know, it's quite easy to get turned around where everything looks similar. This method I have used many times, especially by myself and will ensure you find your first kill...jmho
 
Originally Posted By: reaper4Night eyes lights are for me. Their headlamp scanning light is awesome and the gun light is perfect.

What he said.
 
Just use your spotlight without a filter, a red filter cuts so much of your light out and plenty of people have proven that it doesn't matter. Go to youtube and watch carnivore tv ( best predator hunting show ever) and watch "night crew steps up there game." It's crazy how much light they put on the animals and they still charge. Just keep the eyes in the halo until your ready to shoot and you can use anything.
 
Originally Posted By: T3XANJust use your spotlight without a filter, a red filter cuts so much of your light out and plenty of people have proven that it doesn't matter. Go to youtube and watch carnivore tv ( best predator hunting show ever) and watch "night crew steps up there game." It's crazy how much light they put on the animals and they still charge. Just keep the eyes in the halo until your ready to shoot and you can use anything.

I never viewed the show but I am guessing they are not hunting here in the north east. It doesn't work like that here.
 
I really really like my night eyes gun light. But I started with a vrl-1 shooting kit that I got from cabelas for $100 and it has worked for me quite well..I picked up the night eyes from a member here and love it...the corded pressure switch is the best out IMO, and the slide on halo shield works excellent. These Cree led lights are so small and handy that I wouldn't even consider a spot light with a filter.
 
My gun light is my scan light. Got mine from stalk tech. It doesn't have a filter that cuts out all your light, but instead has a cree led green or red bulb. They have YouTube vids on it if you wanna check them out, I highly recommend them because they have the same bulb as the crazy expensive lights but half the price.
 
I'm kinda curious what exactly makes a predator light, a "predator light". I have several high power flashlights and outdoor specialty lights that I can't imagine the ones I've seen advertised being any brighter. My Serfas mtb light is about 1800 lumens.
The only difference I'm seeing is the filters.

Someone enlighten me before I dump $100+ into a light that I already have.
 
Originally Posted By: T3XANJust use your spotlight without a filter, a red filter cuts so much of your light out and plenty of people have proven that it doesn't matter. Go to youtube and watch carnivore tv ( best predator hunting show ever) and watch "night crew steps up there game." It's crazy how much light they put on the animals and they still charge. Just keep the eyes in the halo until your ready to shoot and you can use anything. awe, nope! I'm not a big fan of that show, but then again it's "YouTube" you may have not hunted much at night, but I do, white lights definitely affects the yotes reaction, you don't need to completely light up the entire dog, just catch their eyes, then let the light mounted light on the weapon and scope do the rest!!! Jmho, white light is the worst light to spot with, unless your doing "lazy hunts" from the back of a pick-up. Setting stands is a different world!
 


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