Question for night hunters
- Thread starter Bowhunt
- Start date
Bowhunt
Active member
Thanks Noname. I thought about posting there. I have visited there several times and found that alot of guys are using night vision and thermal rigs that cost more than most of my first vehicles! LOL. Not looking to invest that kind of scratch....just interested in getting a couple decent lights and giving it a try.
NoName1
New member
Understood, but there is still a good bit of discussion on lights. The other upside to that is a few of the vendors/site sponsors that can specifically answer questions and will give you personal first hand opinion on what is best for your situation, scenario and budget...Night Eyes and Boondock Outdoors are good about that.
Rhett Steele
Active member
I have the Night Eyes red scope light and scan with a K-Bob light with a red lens. I have more luck in the daylight. I have called in several critters at night but it's tough. Trying to get better because it seems that is when I have the time to do it, assuming the kiddos go to bed quick. The Night Eyes light will light up a field for a 200-250 yd shot easily.
Bowhunt
Active member
Originally Posted By: NoName1Understood, but there is still a good bit of discussion on lights. The other upside to that is a few of the vendors/site sponsors that can specifically answer questions and will give you personal first hand opinion on what is best for your situation, scenario and budget...Night Eyes and Boondock Outdoors are good about that.
Awesome....thanks!
Awesome....thanks!
Bowhunt
Active member
Originally Posted By: Rhett SteeleI have the Night Eyes red scope light and scan with a K-Bob light with a red lens. I have more luck in the daylight. I have called in several critters at night but it's tough. Trying to get better because it seems that is when I have the time to do it, assuming the kiddos go to bed quick. The Night Eyes light will light up a field for a 200-250 yd shot easily.
Thanks. I'll definitely have a look at those. Our hunting conditions are probably very similar since I live in IL. Good luck!
Thanks. I'll definitely have a look at those. Our hunting conditions are probably very similar since I live in IL. Good luck!
Rhett Steele
Active member
Southern Il or northern? The southern 1/3 of Indiana is nothing like the north. I hunt heavily timbered areas with small fields in the creek bottoms and on some of the ridge tops. Coyote hunting is hard in the south compared to the northern areas. Too much cover for them where I'm located. I hunt some with a buddy from up north, a ten acre woods surrounded by ag fields is pretty easy to call to vs. an ag field surrounded by 1000 acres of timber. Good Luck and straight shooting!
Byron South
New member
Night hunting can be very productive as the predators are much more active after dark. However the skill set that it takes to capitalize on this takes time to develop. It is best if two guys work as team. One light man and one shooter. Or better yet both run a light and then once an approaching predator is spotted one man go to the gun.
If you have never hunted much at night it can be a BIG learning curve. It is best if you can go with a guy that is successful so you can get up to speed faster. Many new night hunter make a lot of mistakes that can be easily avoided. For example most guys use to much light. The best lights have a rheostat so you can adjust the intensity down so that it will just pick up the eyes of an approaching predator. Once he is inbound you can then slowly increase the light for a positive ID and to shoot.BE AWARE ALL KINDS OF ANIMAL COME TO THE CALL AT NIGHT.
Quick tutorial...First of pick a spot that is fairly open so that you can see the animal approaching from a distance. I like at least 100 yards but 2-500 is better. I turn my light on before I start to call and never turn it off until I leave the stand. You can't see an approaching animal without the light on. As you begin to call quickly scan 360 and see what looks your direction as now everything is looking. with the light off you won't see this. Keep scanning and calling. As a predator comes to the call you will pick up his eyes. Once you do keep the light steady on him..It is important that you keep everything behind the light as he will see everything in front of the light. Many people can't believe that a coyote will approach a light like this. Here in Texas we call them all the way to a one ton truck hidden behind a light. This is very simple and works you just have to get accustomed to it and have a good calling buddy that you can work well with and you will have lots of fun. Just don't shoot someone livestock or a deer.
Biggest mistake new guys make is turning the light on and off. It's like calling with your eyes closed. No worky to well. Plus if you have a coyote coming and suddenly turn a light on he will spook almost every time.
By the way....I'm convinced the color of the light makes no difference but the intensity does. Invest in a good light with a rheostat and you will see what I mean.
Hope this helps.
Byron
If you have never hunted much at night it can be a BIG learning curve. It is best if you can go with a guy that is successful so you can get up to speed faster. Many new night hunter make a lot of mistakes that can be easily avoided. For example most guys use to much light. The best lights have a rheostat so you can adjust the intensity down so that it will just pick up the eyes of an approaching predator. Once he is inbound you can then slowly increase the light for a positive ID and to shoot.BE AWARE ALL KINDS OF ANIMAL COME TO THE CALL AT NIGHT.
Quick tutorial...First of pick a spot that is fairly open so that you can see the animal approaching from a distance. I like at least 100 yards but 2-500 is better. I turn my light on before I start to call and never turn it off until I leave the stand. You can't see an approaching animal without the light on. As you begin to call quickly scan 360 and see what looks your direction as now everything is looking. with the light off you won't see this. Keep scanning and calling. As a predator comes to the call you will pick up his eyes. Once you do keep the light steady on him..It is important that you keep everything behind the light as he will see everything in front of the light. Many people can't believe that a coyote will approach a light like this. Here in Texas we call them all the way to a one ton truck hidden behind a light. This is very simple and works you just have to get accustomed to it and have a good calling buddy that you can work well with and you will have lots of fun. Just don't shoot someone livestock or a deer.
Biggest mistake new guys make is turning the light on and off. It's like calling with your eyes closed. No worky to well. Plus if you have a coyote coming and suddenly turn a light on he will spook almost every time.
By the way....I'm convinced the color of the light makes no difference but the intensity does. Invest in a good light with a rheostat and you will see what I mean.
Hope this helps.
Byron
Last edited:
DiRTY DOG
Well-known member
Day vs night effectiveness is roughly equal for me, depending on the terrain and target. I prefer the day, but night is pretty neat sometimes.
I prefer to hunt alone at night. I know how to do it well and my kill ratio is very high. But when I hunt with others at night our kill ratio drops to around 50% and that ticks me off.
The biggest thing is in my area, predators usually shy away from two spotlights that are on at the same time. So both of us will be scanning and when one sees eyes, the other guy is supposed to shut his light off. But my hunting partners don't shut their lights off. I get it, it's natural to want to see the eyes. By the time they shut their light off it's too late, the critter has already been spooked by the two lights and they typically will not come closer. Operating the lights incorrectly in general hurts success, like shining the light on your partner, spill light, and not scanning quickly or effectively.
When I hunt alone at night, I have no problem getting predators to come close.
I prefer to hunt alone at night. I know how to do it well and my kill ratio is very high. But when I hunt with others at night our kill ratio drops to around 50% and that ticks me off.
The biggest thing is in my area, predators usually shy away from two spotlights that are on at the same time. So both of us will be scanning and when one sees eyes, the other guy is supposed to shut his light off. But my hunting partners don't shut their lights off. I get it, it's natural to want to see the eyes. By the time they shut their light off it's too late, the critter has already been spooked by the two lights and they typically will not come closer. Operating the lights incorrectly in general hurts success, like shining the light on your partner, spill light, and not scanning quickly or effectively.
When I hunt alone at night, I have no problem getting predators to come close.
Josh Pearson
New member
Night hunting has been a tough learning curve for me but from the mistakes I've made and what I've seen in the field Byron's advice is spot on.
I do only hunt at night,NY and MA states,
Never been able to call a coyotes during a day,don't mean morning half and hour after sun rise or half and hour before or after sunset but day,never did,don't know why.
But I always go out at night and I have been very successful to bring them in.
I do own a thermal optiks as a spotting scope and also Rifle scope so no Lights for me and let me tell you,it is a different world to go out at night and call them.
I feel like in Montana during a day,lol
Never been able to call a coyotes during a day,don't mean morning half and hour after sun rise or half and hour before or after sunset but day,never did,don't know why.
But I always go out at night and I have been very successful to bring them in.
I do own a thermal optiks as a spotting scope and also Rifle scope so no Lights for me and let me tell you,it is a different world to go out at night and call them.
I feel like in Montana during a day,lol
Bowhunt
Active member
Originally Posted By: Rhett SteeleSouthern Il or northern? The southern 1/3 of Indiana is nothing like the north. I hunt heavily timbered areas with small fields in the creek bottoms and on some of the ridge tops. Coyote hunting is hard in the south compared to the northern areas. Too much cover for them where I'm located. I hunt some with a buddy from up north, a ten acre woods surrounded by ag fields is pretty easy to call to vs. an ag field surrounded by 1000 acres of timber. Good Luck and straight shooting!
Kinda North central. Lots of open fields but big blocks of hardwood timber everywhere.
Kinda North central. Lots of open fields but big blocks of hardwood timber everywhere.
Bowhunt
Active member
Originally Posted By: Byron SouthNight hunting can be very productive as the predators are much more active after dark. However the skill set that it takes to capitalize on this takes time to develop. It is best if two guys work as team. One light man and one shooter. Or better yet both run a light and then once an approaching predator is spotted one man go to the gun.
If you have never hunted much at night it can be a BIG learning curve. It is best if you can go with a guy that is successful so you can get up to speed faster. Many new night hunter make a lot of mistakes that can be easily avoided. For example most guys use to much light. The best lights have a rheostat so you can adjust the intensity down so that it will just pick up the eyes of an approaching predator. Once he is inbound you can then slowly increase the light for a positive ID and to shoot.BE AWARE ALL KINDS OF ANIMAL COME TO THE CALL AT NIGHT.
Quick tutorial...First of pick a spot that is fairly open so that you can see the animal approaching from a distance. I like at least 100 yards but 2-500 is better. I turn my light on before I start to call and never turn it off until I leave the stand. You can't see an approaching animal without the light on. As you begin to call quickly scan 360 and see what looks your direction as now everything is looking. with the light off you won't see this. Keep scanning and calling. As a predator comes to the call you will pick up his eyes. Once you do keep the light steady on him..It is important that you keep everything behind the light as he will see everything in front of the light. Many people can't believe that a coyote will approach a light like this. Here in Texas we call them all the way to a one ton truck hidden behind a light. This is very simple and works you just have to get accustomed to it and have a good calling buddy that you can work well with and you will have lots of fun. Just don't shoot someone livestock or a deer.
Biggest mistake new guys make is turning the light on and off. It's like calling with your eyes closed. No worky to well. Plus if you have a coyote coming and suddenly turn a light on he will spook almost every time.
By the way....I'm convinced the color of the light makes no difference but the intensity does. Invest in a good light with a rheostat and you will see what I mean.
Hope this helps.
Byron
Thanks Byron.....all good stuff! This is the kind of info I'm looking for. Sounds like you've been very successful......but is you success rate greater at night or during the day?
If you have never hunted much at night it can be a BIG learning curve. It is best if you can go with a guy that is successful so you can get up to speed faster. Many new night hunter make a lot of mistakes that can be easily avoided. For example most guys use to much light. The best lights have a rheostat so you can adjust the intensity down so that it will just pick up the eyes of an approaching predator. Once he is inbound you can then slowly increase the light for a positive ID and to shoot.BE AWARE ALL KINDS OF ANIMAL COME TO THE CALL AT NIGHT.
Quick tutorial...First of pick a spot that is fairly open so that you can see the animal approaching from a distance. I like at least 100 yards but 2-500 is better. I turn my light on before I start to call and never turn it off until I leave the stand. You can't see an approaching animal without the light on. As you begin to call quickly scan 360 and see what looks your direction as now everything is looking. with the light off you won't see this. Keep scanning and calling. As a predator comes to the call you will pick up his eyes. Once you do keep the light steady on him..It is important that you keep everything behind the light as he will see everything in front of the light. Many people can't believe that a coyote will approach a light like this. Here in Texas we call them all the way to a one ton truck hidden behind a light. This is very simple and works you just have to get accustomed to it and have a good calling buddy that you can work well with and you will have lots of fun. Just don't shoot someone livestock or a deer.
Biggest mistake new guys make is turning the light on and off. It's like calling with your eyes closed. No worky to well. Plus if you have a coyote coming and suddenly turn a light on he will spook almost every time.
By the way....I'm convinced the color of the light makes no difference but the intensity does. Invest in a good light with a rheostat and you will see what I mean.
Hope this helps.
Byron
Thanks Byron.....all good stuff! This is the kind of info I'm looking for. Sounds like you've been very successful......but is you success rate greater at night or during the day?
NoName1
New member
Bowhunt...you have Byron South giving you personal first hand advice and tips...it doesn't get any better than that right there man!! I have his Modern Predator Hunter and Coming to the Call DVDs taking turns on a constant play loop when I'm working in my shop at night. I can just about quote him at this point, lol.
DoubleUp
Well-known member
Originally Posted By: Byron SouthNight hunting can be very productive as the predators are much more active after dark. However the skill set that it takes to capitalize on this takes time to develop. It is best if two guys work as team. One light man and one shooter. Or better yet both run a light and then once an approaching predator is spotted one man go to the gun.
If you have never hunted much at night it can be a BIG learning curve. It is best if you can go with a guy that is successful so you can get up to speed faster. Many new night hunter make a lot of mistakes that can be easily avoided. For example most guys use to much light. The best lights have a rheostat so you can adjust the intensity down so that it will just pick up the eyes of an approaching predator. Once he is inbound you can then slowly increase the light for a positive ID and to shoot.BE AWARE ALL KINDS OF ANIMAL COME TO THE CALL AT NIGHT.
Quick tutorial...First of pick a spot that is fairly open so that you can see the animal approaching from a distance. I like at least 100 yards but 2-500 is better. I turn my light on before I start to call and never turn it off until I leave the stand. You can't see an approaching animal without the light on. As you begin to call quickly scan 360 and see what looks your direction as now everything is looking. with the light off you won't see this. Keep scanning and calling. As a predator comes to the call you will pick up his eyes. Once you do keep the light steady on him..It is important that you keep everything behind the light as he will see everything in front of the light. Many people can't believe that a coyote will approach a light like this. Here in Texas we call them all the way to a one ton truck hidden behind a light. This is very simple and works you just have to get accustomed to it and have a good calling buddy that you can work well with and you will have lots of fun. Just don't shoot someone livestock or a deer.
Biggest mistake new guys make is turning the light on and off. It's like calling with your eyes closed. No worky to well. Plus if you have a coyote coming and suddenly turn a light on he will spook almost every time.
By the way....I'm convinced the color of the light makes no difference but the intensity does. Invest in a good light with a rheostat and you will see what I mean.
Hope this helps.
Byron
What he said. Byron took a good bit of time writing this up for you and you need to pay close attention to what he said. That coming from one of the very best predator hunters in the entire USA should tell help you and everyone else on the learning curve.
If you have never hunted much at night it can be a BIG learning curve. It is best if you can go with a guy that is successful so you can get up to speed faster. Many new night hunter make a lot of mistakes that can be easily avoided. For example most guys use to much light. The best lights have a rheostat so you can adjust the intensity down so that it will just pick up the eyes of an approaching predator. Once he is inbound you can then slowly increase the light for a positive ID and to shoot.BE AWARE ALL KINDS OF ANIMAL COME TO THE CALL AT NIGHT.
Quick tutorial...First of pick a spot that is fairly open so that you can see the animal approaching from a distance. I like at least 100 yards but 2-500 is better. I turn my light on before I start to call and never turn it off until I leave the stand. You can't see an approaching animal without the light on. As you begin to call quickly scan 360 and see what looks your direction as now everything is looking. with the light off you won't see this. Keep scanning and calling. As a predator comes to the call you will pick up his eyes. Once you do keep the light steady on him..It is important that you keep everything behind the light as he will see everything in front of the light. Many people can't believe that a coyote will approach a light like this. Here in Texas we call them all the way to a one ton truck hidden behind a light. This is very simple and works you just have to get accustomed to it and have a good calling buddy that you can work well with and you will have lots of fun. Just don't shoot someone livestock or a deer.
Biggest mistake new guys make is turning the light on and off. It's like calling with your eyes closed. No worky to well. Plus if you have a coyote coming and suddenly turn a light on he will spook almost every time.
By the way....I'm convinced the color of the light makes no difference but the intensity does. Invest in a good light with a rheostat and you will see what I mean.
Hope this helps.
Byron
What he said. Byron took a good bit of time writing this up for you and you need to pay close attention to what he said. That coming from one of the very best predator hunters in the entire USA should tell help you and everyone else on the learning curve.
Have you thought about just going to NV equipment. Can buy some really good gen 2+ scopes and scanning equipment that's not terribly expensive. More so than just lights but so much better. Seeing coyotes at least 1/3 of the time at night and approaching 1/2. No comparison on success. Having so much more fun.
Dead Mission
New member
I feel you can call in a coyote at any time of the day if you do your homework. That being said, I do most of my hunting at night because I have the most success at that time. It is easier than ever to find an affordable red or green "predator light" to mount of your gun. I always have a scan light that I run constantly. If you don't run it constantly, a coyote can come and go within a few seconds and you will never see them. Try to not backlights yourself, your equipment, or your partner. Don't skyline yourself with the moonlight, barn or pole lights.
After you get some night time hunting under your belt, you will be able to identify a predator from domestic animals or deer pretty easy. You can tell by the way the walk or run in to approach, distance between the eyes. Predators do not stick around long, if the eyes don't move for a while, most likely a deer. Always remember to never shoot until you can positively identify your target.
Hopefully some of this helps!
After you get some night time hunting under your belt, you will be able to identify a predator from domestic animals or deer pretty easy. You can tell by the way the walk or run in to approach, distance between the eyes. Predators do not stick around long, if the eyes don't move for a while, most likely a deer. Always remember to never shoot until you can positively identify your target.
Hopefully some of this helps!
lyotehunter
New member
i have night hunted for close to 50 years with nothing more than aircraft landing lights on top the truck,and my hunting buddy and i have together killed over 2000 coyotes.while doing this if we got out and day called we at times got more in the day.if it was way below zero the days were better for example.and when an animal was lit up you had to keep the light on it or most of the time they would run.and we tried red also and most of the time it made little difference.i have had coyotes run almost to the truck with the light on them all the way,and if you have ever used landing lights you know how bright they are,the average distance we shoot coyotes at is 250yds.
Bowhunt
Active member
Originally Posted By: case-nhHave you thought about just going to NV equipment. Can buy some really good gen 2+ scopes and scanning equipment that's not terribly expensive. More so than just lights but so much better. Seeing coyotes at least 1/3 of the time at night and approaching 1/2. No comparison on success. Having so much more fun.
just want to get started with lights. Definitely don't mind extra investment if I see that an equipment upgrade means a higher success rate. I don't even have lights right now.....that is why I asked this question. If night hunting can be even more productive than day time....then I am willing to invest in some night hunting equipment. If I start with lights and have some success and can see that better equipment will most likely up my numbers, then I will certainly dive into the thermal and or NV game.
just want to get started with lights. Definitely don't mind extra investment if I see that an equipment upgrade means a higher success rate. I don't even have lights right now.....that is why I asked this question. If night hunting can be even more productive than day time....then I am willing to invest in some night hunting equipment. If I start with lights and have some success and can see that better equipment will most likely up my numbers, then I will certainly dive into the thermal and or NV game.