Kirsch
Active member
I've been experimenting with a PVS-14 on a Crye Nightcap. I went with a Nightcap because I could slip it over almost any head-covering as I might be using when 70° all the way down to -30°. I don't shoot with it on. I only use it to navigate to and from a stand. Another consideration as Kino mentioned is driving without headlights which can help also. Once on the stand, I use thermal for scanning and shooting. Is it worth it? To some yes, and to some no. I 100% believe it spooks less coyotes. Now that I have become accustomed to using it, when I use a light of any kind on my approach, setting up a stand, or putting out the call, I feel like I am broadcasting to everything around that I am there.
If I had to put a number on it, I think being able to use no lights makes about a 10-15% difference in the number of coyotes I harvest. This is only an estimate, and I do believe it will vary considerably based on terrain and many other factors. I have been using it long enough to get a pretty good comparison in my area. I have had many opportunities to shoot coyotes before setting out the call that I normally would have spooked if using a light. To some 10% isn't enough to mess around with night vision and to others it is.
If I had to put a number on it, I think being able to use no lights makes about a 10-15% difference in the number of coyotes I harvest. This is only an estimate, and I do believe it will vary considerably based on terrain and many other factors. I have been using it long enough to get a pretty good comparison in my area. I have had many opportunities to shoot coyotes before setting out the call that I normally would have spooked if using a light. To some 10% isn't enough to mess around with night vision and to others it is.