their varmint rifle, there is no need to purchase one. The other advantage with this system is that the point of impact doesn’t change. Your rifle is already sighted in – the NV device just lets you see better in the dark. An issue I have encountered with


some brands of night vision is getting the unit to hold zero. I would sight in my rifle at dusk and slightly beyond, only to find that a week later it is off by a foot at 100 yards or less. This is not the case with the Digisight 550. It holds zero, day or night. Period! While I am on the subject of distance, a 100-yard shot, in the dark, is a long shot. I have shot prairie dogs at over 400 yards on a bright Wyoming afternoon, but in the dark, everything changes. I know that a number of companies will tell you their night scope is capable of placing shots on a coyote at 300 yards or so in the dark. The unit may be capable, but the reality of night hunting is that most shots are much, much closer. I find a 140-yard shot in the dark to be about the maximum I would consider. You not only have to hit your target, but you must be sure of it. Target identification is critical to safe shooting. There also is the fact that bobcats are not legal targets in New Hampshire. In Maine, you can hunt bobcats, but not at night. More than once a ’cat has come into the bait. We make it a habit of looking for the tail, which gives a coyote away. Other areas may have their own set of cir- cumstances. Hunting near farms would make it necessary to be sure you are looking at a coyote and not the farmer’s dog. This is easy to do in the daylight, but not so easy at night. Again, this is where a good night vision device comes in handy. If you can afford it, a pair or single night vision unit helps scan for potential targets without having to strain your vision looking through the rifle scope all night. Something like the Litton ITT night vision binocular or other hand-held night vision devices help. It also has a larger field of view and makes spotting incoming coyotes faster. Like everything else, there is a learning curve. Once you try this form of night


hunting I am sure you too will be “hunting coyotes in your sleep.” Good hunting and be safe.


Morning trail cam photos (middle and bottom) show that coyotes may have company at the bait pile. Crows and ravens also are scavengers.


www.varminthunter.org Page 147


Coyotes feel more comfortable coming in to a bait at night, but a hunter that's prepared can surprise a coyote even in the darkness.


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