Coyote hunting is a pretty fun activity I love to do during my free time. And since they’re nocturnal animals, it’s actually best to hunt them during the night, when they’re awake and outdoors! But I know how difficult it is to hunt at night, especially when you don’t have the proper knowledge and equipment.Even I was confused at first, so you’re not alone! That’s why I did my research and want to share my experiences with you on how to hunt coyotes at night. So read on as I show the right tips and equipment you need to begin your hunts now.
How to Hunt Coyotes at Night
There are three major things you need to learn when hunting coyotes at night.
Tips and Techniques
Here’s a known hunting technique that’s helped me figure out how to plan out my hunts:
1. Figure Out the Location
The ideal hunting condition depends on the day and when you’re hunting. I don’t recommend you hunt during windy days, as this can have coyotes smell your scent and run away based on the wind. I also recommend that you hunt nearby sheep ranches or in areas where varmints and small rodents stay in.
2. What Are the Hunting Conditions?
I highly recommend that you hunt coyotes during cold and calm nights, without ANY noise or inclement weather. I would choose comfortable hunting areas where I’m able to see whatever’s around me. When I’m already settled in the proper position, that’s when I start the hunt!
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3. Can You Use a Dog?
This is a good (and controversial) tip only if you have a well-trained hunting dog. You can use them as bait, having them lure coyotes to come to you. Just make sure that they can outpace coyotes and that they follow your commands well.
The Equipment You Need
Nighttime hunting’s challenging enough, so you need the right type of equipment to view and aim better. Prepare the following important equipment:
1. Camouflage
This is a crucial thing you need, even win hunting at night and in the dark. Coyotes have an amazing sense of sight, so you’ll need better camouflage as you stay hidden from their senses. This prevents them from spotting you and running away.
2. Rifle With Scope
I highly recommend that you use a rifle with a proper scope to hunt and kill your coyote. However, other weapons are also good choices, such as a shotgun, especially when hunting under thick covers. Your choice of weapons will give you better chances of success win shooting and killing coyotes.
3. Call
Calls are one of the best ways to attract coyotes, letting them go to your hunting area. I recommend that you get accurate electronic calls, which offer more variety in the sounds you do. Hand calls are also great so you don’t worry about batteries.
4. Gloves
It’s highly recommended to hunt coyotes during cold and calm nights, so temperature drops and you’ll need warmth. Warm thermal hunting clothes are required, but gloves are crucial to keeping your hands warm. Plus, it prevents your hands from being too obvious when under the moon.
5. Scouting Kits
Scouting kits such as trail cameras can help you identify where coyotes are most likely to stay in. It gives you more accurate pictures to plan out your hunt! Furthermore, quality binoculars are needed so you have a wider view of your chosen hunting area.
How to Spot and Hunt at Night
Now that you know about how to plan and what to prepare, the next step’s all about what to do. When you’re on the field and ready to hunt some coyotes at night, follow these tips:
- Because coyotes are nocturnal animals, they see better during the night, putting you at a disadvantage. So what you can do to spot them better is through using lights.
- For those in small hunting areas with more moisture and thicker covers, use a red light. However, if it’s an open field without any moisture, green lights are better to help you scan around the area.
- If you use calls, do NOT switch the light on and off, which alerts the coyotes. Also, never point a light at your hunting partner’s direction, if you have one.
What if you don’t have a light?
- Then you’ll need to prepare beforehand, walking around the fields during the day. This is the time to identify all areas coyotes would frequent, usually by the watering holes. Make sure that you map everything out when doing so.
- I also recommend that you use sounds that indicate prey distress, which attracts your coyote.
- Make sure that you have the recommended thermal coyote scopes as well, ensuring you can see and take your shot accurately. I would use scopes with high magnification and bigger objective lenses (50mm), or with illuminated reticles.
For more information, check this helpful video with extra tips on how to go coyote hunting at night:
Wrapping It Up
Hunting coyotes at night doesn’t need to be so difficult and tricky as long as you know what to do! From what to wear down to how to spot coyotes, you can begin catching some on your next trip.
I hope this article on how to hunt coyotes at night helps you for future hunts! So don’t wait any longer and begin utilizing these tips now.
If you have any questions or want to share your experiences on how to hunt coyotes at night, then comment below. Your thoughts are much appreciated!