Anyone out there used night vision rifle scopes to hunt coyotes?

I am doing some coyote control on some large ranches which do not want any bobcats shot, not to mention they also have some ocelot, an extreme no-no! This is no problem in good daylight, but night hunting is a bit dicey.

If the target will stand still long enough, I can make positive ID at 75, maybe 100 yards with the (350 yard) rifle mounted Optronics night blaster. Can stretch that to 150 yards with a million or so CP hand held spotlight. Would really like to reach out to at least 200-250 yards and wonder what kind of range could be expected with a night vision rifle scope.

Does anyone have any varmint hunting experience with NV scopes? If so, would really appreciate the benefit of your experience.

Regards,
hm

night vision weapons sights come in 3 variations. cheap, expensive, and don't ask. seriously, the 1st gen stuff you get for say 300 or so will allow you to shoot on a moonlite nite to about 50 yards or so, 2nd gen isn't much better maybe 75-80 yards and at about $1500. the good stuff - 3rd or even 3 1/2 gen. that will allow you a 200 yd shot is going to set you back perhaps $5000. without a bright moon the 1st gen needs an infrared light source, which can be done cheap. also the laws regulating their use change from state to state. actually in use i find that a good 3rd gen monocular or bino is great to find things, and then turn on the light for shooting.

butchloc:

quote:

night vision weapons sights come in 3 variations. cheap, expensive, and don't ask.

Have been looking at some NV gear in Cabela's and have found 2nd gen.rifle scope for $1500 and a 3rd gen. for $2100. The only monoculars they seem to have are 1st gen., one for around $225.

They also list a Weaver digital NV monocular stating it performs "like gen III" @$220, but they do not list any Gen II or III monoculars/binoculars. Have you had any experience with the digital NV?

Any ideas as to other sources?

quote:

in use i find that a good 3rd gen monocular or bino is great to find things, and then turn on the light for shooting.

Assume you use a call in conjunction w/the NV scope?

At night, I hunt off a swivel chair that fits the receiver hitch on my pickup. The seat is 5' off the ground and the areas I hunt are usually broken, low scrub brush; sagebrush, etc.
Using red lenses on the lights, I have no trouble finding the eyes out to 3-400 yards. By holding light high and catching the eyes only in the halo, the varmints are not usually spooked. Had thought about using the lights to locate, then switch the light off and turn on the NV. My problem is in positive target ID before making the shot.

Thanks for the feedback. Any other ideas wll be welcomed.

Regards,
hm

much of the cabellas stuff is russian & russian stuff is way way far behind u.s. russ 2nd is about like u.s. 1st. the 1st gen uses tube technology and has a lifespan of about 600 hrs and decreases effectivness throughout its lifespan. 2nd gen increases the lifespan to about 1500 hrs, but uses the same tech. 3rd gen goes solid state, has virtually unlimited life and does not decrease. 3 1/2 gen if another step up and is really really neat stuff, but $$$$$ have a friend that has a 3 1/2 gen weapons site that we play around with but its somewhere in the 15000 range. the ITT u.s. stuff is probably the best for the dollar. the 3rd gen monocular is about 1500 and about double for the binos. Get it with the optional infrared lightsource and it'll do what you want on dark nights. ID your target with it and then when ready to shoot turn on the light. One interesting note on this, we tried looking at elephants with this set up and when we turned on the infrared they turned and looked at us and walked towards us. evidently they can see infrared.

Thanks for the info, butchloc. Appreciate the heads up on Russian scopes; didn't know the ATN was Russian.

Interesting about the elephants seeing infrared.

Regards,
hm