Anyone hunt coyotes using night vision devices?

[hps1]

I am looking for night vision optics to be used in coyote control. The ranches I am working have both exotics and endangered cats (ocelot) making positive target identification absolutely imperative.

Since I have no expereience w/night vision devices, and there are no local dealers to answer questions or where one might actually look through various models, these are probably dumb questions, but........here we go.

The endangered cats I am worried about are ocelot; about the same size as coyotes. I can currently make positive ID w/rifle mounted light @ 100 yards or a bit more. Usually hunt with a partner who can switch on a 2 million candlepower spot, also w/red lens that enables us to ID out to 150 yards or so if the animal will cooperate a bit. Depends on animal's surroundings and how long he will stand when hit with the light. We can see eyes out to 3-400 yds, but unable to ID.

My night hunting is done either from a swivel chair mounted on back of pickup truck or from a stationary position on the ground. We set up and call a few minutes, then switch on the light and sweep the area w/halo of light, looking for eyes. Then try to ID and make the shot before the animal spooks and runs.

I am told that coyote/cat eyes glow in infrared light, so I would think an IR binocular or monocular would be useful to locate if the instrument will make the ID possible out to a couple hundred yards. Once located and identified, would then switch on the rifle mounted light, pick up the eyes for the shot. Having already identified target w/IR, target aquisition w/light would be much quicker. Does this sound like it would work in your experience?

1) Has anyone used the Weaver Nightview "digital" monocular?

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=677901

Or the Bushnell 5 x 42 Stealth View:

http://www.bushnell.com/products/night_vision/specs/26-0542.cfm


Weaver makes no statement as to range; Bushnell lists "viewing range" as 1-600 ft. and claims images comparable to gen 2+. If the Bushnell will ID @ 200 yds, @ $340 from Midway, sounds like it might be more cost effective than regular NV scopes, but is a special order item and cannot be returned if not satisfactory.

Both use self contained infrared illumination which brings up the next question:

2) Would a separate (more powerful) infrared light source improve range/clarity on this type of scope? I would assume so?

Thanks in advance for the benefit of your experience.

Regards,
hps

 

[dfaugh]

I can get (and I sell) a variety of NV devices, some with magnification, some without. Most are Gen I, but that makes them alot less expensive. What we do here, is use the NV to identify potential target, then we hit 'em with a high-powered spotlight, and take the shot using regular scopes (coyotes will usually stand still, even when hit with the spotlight). I can get NV scopes(Gen II or III), but they are very expensive.

 

[ArmedBear]

These guys do.

http://www.minutemanproject.com/default.asp?contentID=23

 

[hps1]

dfaugh:
Have posted this question on several boards and apparently not too many have hunted w/NV as replies have been scarce. I broke down and bought a Gen III ATN rifle sight which was delivered yesterday. Took it out last night and, so far, I am unimpressed.

Picture is quite grainy. I doubt I could positively identify a coyote @ 100 yards. Can see tree lines, telephone poles, etc. at 2-300 yards, but looking at a grain field, could not see clear enough to see heads of grain @ 100 yards, therefore, doubt it will be much help in identification. I could see a roadsign (out of focus; cannot sharpen image) at about 50 yards, but could barely make it out in avialable light without scope.

Suppose it could be used by the troops to identify a man an 100 yds, maybe a bit further, especially if there was movement of the target; perhaps I expected too much? I could focus on and see sunflowers rather clearly at about 30-40 yards, especially when IR light turned on.

What has been your experience in this regard? Thanks.

Regards,
hps

 

[exar]

I don't know much about hunting with night vision but you are dead on about the IR causing the eyes to glow. My security cameras emit IR light and when animals or my cat walk up to the window from the outside, my cameras can see them anyways, but good God, those eyes are like flares on IR. Even beyond the range of my cameras, looking into the darkness, you can clearly see some big fat glowing eyes even when I can't see anything else at all.

 

[dfaugh]

What has been your experience in this regard? Thanks.

Well, any of the Gen III stuff I've seen (that cost $2000-3000) works WAY better than that, (are you sure its Gen III?). The Gen I stuff is still better than that, it just has 2 problems (compared to the Gen II or III stuff):

1) It doesn't work all that well in really low light, but works pretty good if you have a IR lightsource.

2) If you expose it to bright light, you'll burn out the optics. This shouldn't be a problem with Gen III stuff.

A Gen III scope should give you very good image at 100 yards, and probably out to 200, maybe even 250. If not, there's either something wrong with it, or its very poor quality.

 

[hps1]

A Gen III scope should give you very good image at 100 yards, and probably out to 200, maybe even 250. If not, there's either something wrong with it, or its very poor quality.

The scope is Gen. III and even came w/detachable IR light, which really brightens things up for what appears to be about 100 yds., maybe a bit more. Only problem is can't focus the image beyond probably 40 yds.

After reading your reply, I called ATN. The Tech said I should be able to put up a target at 200 yards, maybe 250 and see the rings on it. If not, there is something wrong with the scope and to send it back to factory. He also stated I should be able to tell the difference between coyote and bobcat @ 200-250 yards, especially w/IR light.

Plan to go to the rifle range tonight and check it out on a target at known distances; it is difficult to estimate range in the NV scope. It is only 3x so doubt I will be able to see the rings on the target, but if I can sharpen up the bullseye will be happy.

Thanks for reply.

Regards,
hps