Unless you have an "iron sights" setup on your airgun or powder burning rifle then you are probably going to want some sort of optics to dispatch your coyote. The distance you intend to shoot at may help decide what kind of magnification you might want to use. I usually prefer something which has a magnification level starting between 2-4x and which can move up to 12-16x. Everyone will have an opinion on their desired magnification levels but I like models that have a very low power option so that I can scan a wide area to track a coyote and then dial up for the shot.
Image from Sightmark Wraith 4K Mini
One of the first decisions you will be confronted with is to use three types of scopes:
- Thermal
- Night Vision
- Traditional Daytime Glass Optics Scope
All thermal and night vision scopes I have ever seen can be used in either day or night condition and present an image on a small computer screen to the eye piece. You will usually pay more for increased magnification levels and image resolution. There are even products that you can attach to your scope and provide night vision for example but I am not going get into them here.
Night vision scopes always come with an IR (infrared) light to cast down range and illuminate a target. This light may be an external device in flashlight form or even built into the scope. Typically that is a 850nm rated beam of light and is what most security cameras can pick up from their night vision lenses. You will also see people discuss using 940nm rated lights and use them because they believe the animal has less of a chance at detecting the source. The 940nm lights are supposed to cast their light at a more limited distance but be completely invisible to humans at the source and are often used by military or law enforcement. Keep in mind we are talking about coyotes not humans and I have not been able to ask any coyotes if they can see one light beam easier than another. If I was to guess, it would be that they could (or even cannot) see either one equally.
If you want to learn more about the differences between 850nm and 940nm lights you can begin with understanding what is termed the "Visible Spectrum" where it is stated "A typical human eye will respond to wavelengths from about 380 to about 750 nanometers." Before you buy an after market 940nm light make sure it works the way you expect with your scope. I don't recommend them because the 850nm lights I have received with my scopes has always been adequate.
Back to night vision scopes. These scopes will have a day mode which is usually full color and a night mode which will be in black and white. When in night mode you can still shoot during the day without the IR light and during dawn or dusk when light conditions are limited. In night mode you will also be able to pick up light down range from security cameras or other light sources. If having a laser rangefinder is important you will want to look at products on the market that can provide this feature.
Thermal optics are going to come with a heavy price tag but there are some great options on the market today. Usually these optics present a 2 tone and/or even a multi-colored image. Better resolution and faster refresh rates make for a superior experience and costs more money. I really like the thermal optics but you'll have to do your own research to see what you can afford versus what you need. Aside from scopes on the rifle, it can be handy to have a thermal monocular in your toolbox. My conclusion after using a handheld thermal was that I found it much easier than getting behind and panning left and right with a rifle, including the baggage of it's accessories upon a bipod or tripod. Thermal monoculars can be used to locate critters hiding behind bushes or even the body of a coyote you just eradicated.
Here are some ideas for optics you might consider on your coyote:
- Athlon Ares line of scopes
- Vortex Viper line of scopes
- Element Optics scopes
- Sightmark Wraith and Wraith Mini day/night vision scopes
- ATN X-Sight 4 & 5 line of day/night vision scopes
- ATN Thor Series of thermal scopes
- AGM Rattler or Adder thermal scopes
- Pulsar Thermal Scopes
- Pard NV008(LRF)
To get more tips about how you can deal with rogue coyotes see A Guide to Controlling Coyote in Urban Environments.
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