Hello Folks -

I now have permission to hunt coyotes on a friend's property in VA at night. I have been doing the dusk/dawn thing. What I would like to know is what would be more effective; a red-light lamp (like the Optronics Nightblaster) or a nightvision scope. Naturally, I already have a scope on the rifle, and I'd like to keep in in place and add to that one or both of these options. Are their other options?

Thanks in advance.

Well the light would certianly be much less expensive, those night vision scopes are on the pricy side. The generation 1 and even 2 scopes don't give a really clear image and the electronics in them has a shorter life than the newer generation 3 equipment.

Hi Bob -

Your comments are encouraging :) You're right, the Gen 1 scopes are several times what a powerful varmint light runs. But I figured it only makes sense to have the equipment I need to get the job done. I think I'll start with the light, get a powerful one, and see how my scope behaves with it. Thanks for your post.

Peace

The Optronics Nightblaster 350 was a major diappointment. I wonder if they set up a photon detector 350 yards away and when one hit, they declared it a 350 yard light. It was good for about 100 yards. It also faded very quickly. And of course it it got very, very hot.

Since we are trying to reduce the local yote population for a variety of reasons, and hunting at night is darn fun, I invested in an ATN 3rd gen 4-12x80 day/night scope that will be mated to a Rock River 16" bull-barrelled A4. Sportsman Guide had the scope on sale at 50% off. The scope comes this Wednesday and then I'll head back to VA in a couple of weeks to put it to the test.

I'll post then the results. In Western VA (Alleghany/Bath region) they have a substantial yote problem, loads of deer, some bear, and of course lots of rabbits. Some turkey. Have yet to see or hear of seeing elk or boar. The farm where I hunt used to be loaded with turkey. Then the yotes decimated that population. Plus they attack fawns, calves, and of course small pet animals.

We're trying to hone our skills and experience base so that we can set up a ministry. We'd like to set up a non-profit varmint elimination service that we can use as a platform to share the Gospel, reduce the pests of course, and have some fun at it as well. One can hunt yotes at night in VA all year and in MD during fur-bearer season.