Night Hunting

[Ledd Slinger]

I’ve been doing a ton of research on optics and gear for hunting foxes and coyotes at night. I have ordered a Pulsar Digisight Ultra LRF 4.5-18x scope and some extra accessories for it. (ie; external additional battery pack and the Pulsar X850A and X940A IR lights). Integrated rangefinder in the scope will read out to 1100 yards and display it in the view of the optic so good to go there. A good thermal optic would be better but I’m not ready to spend 4-6 times the amount of money I just spent on this NV Pulsar.

I’ve also settled on a good solid tall 40mm leg carbon fiber shooting tripod with 54mm ball head and sturdy arca rail rifle clamp so I think I have my shooting platform pretty well covered.

My question is, what other pieces of gear would you guys recommend?

I know the standard attachable Pulsar IR lights aren’t super powerful and are maybe good for about 250-ish yards in complete darkness situations. I have been doing a bunch of research on more powerful 850nm lights since those will reach out farther than 940nm. Pretty much narrowed it down to the “Wicked Lights” brand at the is point but still open to recommendations and advice. With a little bit of ambient light from a partial moon or a bright starry sky, this scope shouldn’t need any IR light assistance but figure I’d better have a good long range IR light on hand.

Thanks for any help in advance.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Disarm the bells and chimes for the doors and ignition key on your pickup. They will drive you crazy at night trying to be quiet.

 

[rickiesrevenge]

Handheld thermal for scanning while calling.

 

[boltfluter]

Ledd,
Let us know how you like it after you use it hunting, very interested as I have several coyotes he'll bent on killing my favorite tom cat. Lead mcmuffin inbound! They are smart enough to be ghosts in daylight!
Paul

 

[Larryh128]

Ledd,
Let us know how you like it after you use it hunting, very interested as I have several coyotes he'll bent on killing my favorite tom cat. Lead mcmuffin inbound! They are smart enough to be ghosts in daylight!
Paul

A guy I know puts a bait out about 100 yds from his "shooting" window. Puts a green hog light over it. Green light on there's a critter there. Some have gone so far as to hook up a driveway alarm from the bait to the house.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

I use 2 IR illuminators with my Wraith the factory one set half zoomed, and a Streamlinght super tac. The tac is a spot type beam. I have it mounted in a weaver ring directly above the Wraith, easy to see 400 yards with the two emitters. Focusing the scope is important for max range. I run the factory one forward low along or under the barrel depending on the rifle. I use a hand held thermal for looking. Only turn on the lights/scope for shooting as in below zero weather I haven't found a rechargeable battery that will last long(1-2 hrs run time). I have noticed the occasional coyote will look when the IR beam first lights them, if they do I raise it for a few and drop again. Repeat until they ignore it. Not sure if what is happening, maybe something in their eye structure, with reflection? Any moisture in the air or brush/grass in between you and the target will/can be an issue for digital night vision(reflection washing the image). Wish I could afford a good thermal sight. Record your shots, and make sure the rifle and target are motionless. Record your sighting in, review your shooting form. I use a dark target with a white bullseye during the day for sighting in.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Yeah a scanning thermal would be great.

I know in doing a bunch of research that some animals can see the slight red glow from 850nm IR lights which I’m assuming is what you’re using. 940nm IR lights are completely invisible to any animal, even those that see color such as birds, but the trade off is that the 940nm light has a reduced range for illumination because it’s also harder for NV optics to pick it up.

 

[RegionRat]

Disarm the bells and chimes for the doors and ignition key on your pickup. They will drive you crazy at night trying to be quiet.

I got a new truck mid September. It was so hard to find one that I really shouldn't complain, but... Didn't get much time to study everything and found myself needing to learn how to silence all the bells and whistles for elk/deer season. Almost every time you blink, these new rigs want to ring, beep, flash lights, etc., and the noise makers are buried in firmware that doesn't give you a setting or switch to turn them off.

They don't make it easy to turn one of these new trucks into a quiet hunting rig, that's for sure....

 

[nmjwolf]

Some really warm clothes…at least in South Dakota

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

Almost forgot, some thermal scanners do not allow eyepiece focusing. If you need readers it is a big problem transitioning between scanning(reading glasses) and shooting, and in cold weather with a facemask glasses may fog.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Some really warm clothes…at least in South Dakota

I live in Montana

 

[Ledd Slinger]

So I think I’ll dedicate my custom Sako 6mm Creedmoor for the task of night hunting. I know 223 or 204 cal semi-autos are usually the choice but with considering the fact that long range shots will occur on these hunts, I think a good long range round on a good bolt action rifle will fit the bill quite well.

Picked up 2,000 of the new 100gr Sierra Tipped Game King “Game Changer” bullets. Should get pretty good speed from these in a 6 Creed and with a .515 BC they should be more than adequate for some of the longer range shots.

 

[Oso]

Hog Light performs very well with minimal IR footprint (animals won't notice the glow of the light when looking back at you. Worth getting the adjustable power cap. Two options of IR bulbs (select the IR 940mm) and also other colored lights (white, green, red) that you can select.

https://sniperhoglights.com/66lrx-flashlight-package-with-1-4-colors/

 

[nakneker]

Tagging in. Been wanting time get into this for awhile.

 

[Geezedtee]

I got a new truck mid September. It was so hard to find one that I really shouldn't complain, but... Didn't get much time to study everything and found myself needing to learn how to silence all the bells and whistles for elk/deer season. Almost every time you blink, these new rigs want to ring, beep, flash lights, etc., and the noise makers are buried in firmware that doesn't give you a setting or switch to turn them off.

They don't make it easy to turn one of these new trucks into a quiet hunting rig, that's for sure....

Yup, all the beeps and permanent running lights are a real pain in the ass. sadly, as you say, they can't be turned off! I leave my remote key fob in the vehicle before I get out. That stops the bells and beeps. i'm looking for some flexible rubber magnets sheet to attach to the bonnet and drape over the lights, but so far haven't found any.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Hog Light performs very well with minimal IR footprint (animals won't notice the glow of the light when looking back at you. Worth getting the adjustable power cap. Two options of IR bulbs and also other colored lights that you can select.

https://sniperhoglights.com/38lrx-flashlight-package-with-1-4-colors/

Yeah I looked at those but don’t like the idea of having to swap out LED lamps or having to purchase an extra dimmer.

The Wicked Lights A67ir 3 in 1 hunting light is a pretty slick setup. Nice light and has a lifetime warranty too. Should be powerful enough for getting shots at longer distances. Comes with a heavy duty adjustable mount and everything else you need. This one has a 67mm bezel and they make a little bit smaller version of this with a 51mm bezel but it’s out of stock everywhere. So I’m going with the A67ir

 

[Kracken McGraw]

So I think I’ll dedicate my custom Sako 6mm Creedmoor for the task of night hunting. I know 223 or 204 cal semi-autos are usually the choice but with considering the fact that long range shots will occur on these hunts, I think a good long range round on a good bolt action rifle will fit the bill quite well.

Picked up 2,000 of the new 100gr Sierra Tipped Game King “Game Changer” bullets. Should get pretty good speed from these in a 6 Creed and with a .515 BC they should be more than adequate for some of the longer range shots.

View attachment 1321197

I think you will like those bullets. I loaded some for a 6x47L, getting my drops at 500 yard steel they hit it with a lot more authority than my regular 107 SMK.

 

[17cal Fan]

Bought a programmer a year ago for my new to me 2017 F350. Primarily to kill the horn honk when you get out and close the door with the truck running. Like when you are opening a gate. Brilliant Ford!

 

[Carl S]

I’ve been doing a ton of research on optics and gear for hunting foxes and coyotes at night. I have ordered a Pulsar Digisight Ultra LRF 4.5-18x scope and some extra accessories for it. (ie; external additional battery pack and the Pulsar X850A and X940A IR lights). Integrated rangefinder in the scope will read out to 1100 yards and display it in the view of the optic so good to go there. A good thermal optic would be better but I’m not ready to spend 4-6 times the amount of money I just spent on this NV Pulsar.

I’ve also settled on a good solid tall 40mm leg carbon fiber shooting tripod with 54mm ball head and sturdy arca rail rifle clamp so I think I have my shooting platform pretty well covered.

My question is, what other pieces of gear would you guys recommend?

I know the standard attachable Pulsar IR lights aren’t super powerful and are maybe good for about 250-ish yards in complete darkness situations. I have been doing a bunch of research on more powerful 850nm lights since those will reach out farther than 940nm. Pretty much narrowed it down to the “Wicked Lights” brand at the is point but still open to recommendations and advice. With a little bit of ambient light from a partial moon or a bright starry sky, this scope shouldn’t need any IR light assistance but figure I’d better have a good long range IR light on hand.

Thanks for any help in advance.

I do quite alot of night time shooting.mainly foxes and you will benefit by having a thermal spotter.i use a pulsar XP50 PRO.expensive but excellent.there are lots of thermal spotters that will do the job for you.good luck.

 

[5spd]

Go to a local mechanic, have them disable all chimes, lights to manual, not automatic.
Thermal scanner is a requirement.
Dress warm if it's going to be cold, insulated boots, heated vest from Amazon works wonders for upper body.
For another 1k you can have a nice thermal scope for around $2500.
A good IR makes a big difference with the digisight rigs.
Try to keep overall weight low as possible as attaching lights, battery packs can add up fast. Extra batteries if no pack is used.
I run a pulsar xp38 thermal, xp19a scanner & a flir scout 2 scanner as backup.
That 100g bullet will slam em down, good choice.