Need advise on coyote/fox set up

[Rome]

My cousin took me ‘yote hunting at night a few weeks ago and I had a blast. I have an AGM rattler (256 core) that I used to scan. I have a pair of NODs (pvs31) and a IR laser/illuminator (Wilcox Raid XE).

Basically, I was scanning with the thermal and planning to shoot under nods with the laser. The thermal was solid for seeing “something” in the field at range, but I wouldn’t have taken a shot with just the thermal as it could’ve easily been a dog, without seeing it through nods.

So I guess my question(s) is…what adjustments should I make? Just get a nicer thermal? Dedicated thermal scope? I thought about mounting the thermal in front of my scope on the rifle but I don’t know if that’s the best answer? I couldn’t pick up nearly as much under nods as I could the thermal.

My cousin is just really getting started in this as well, so he’s leaning on some of his buddies who did this regularly, but this is a whole different world to me. Any insight would be a huge help.

 

[weekender7]

I you need to distinguish between a dog and a coyote, thermal is probably not your answer. If you have really good thermal, 640 or better, with experience you can usually tell the difference, but what's going to happen while you gain that experience @#$%^&. If you are worried about shooting someone's pet where you hunt, you should go with quality NV with a strong IR supplement to shoot with.

 

[satchamo]

256 resolution you used is really low. You definitely aren’t gonna identify much with it. 384 is a big step up and and 640 will blow your mind. I’ve been out of the game a while but I’d be looking at a Bering super hogster with an adm mount that will hold zero. You can scan and shoot with a setup like this. I ran the SH as a scope for a while then upgraded my scope and scanned with a Bering and it worked great.

 

[omicron1792]

Honestly NV is obsolete with a decent or above thermal. Get a rifle mounted thermal and go forth. Pulsar. Rix. Pard. Are some brands do look at

 

[waspocrew]

^^^^ Good advice above

I've had a thermal for 2 years now. Where I hunt out at our ranch, I'm not worried about a neighbors dog.

I started with a Burris 400 res (basically 384) scanner and a iRay Rico MK1 640 scope. Eventually found myself scanning with the rifle a lot more as it had a better picture. Took the plunge last year and picked up a Pulsar 640 Telos scanner. It's been an excellent combo.

If you're testing the waters and don't want to commit to a thermal set up, keep your current thermal for a scanner and pick up an AGM Neith or DNT Zulus Digital NV scope for your rifle. With a good IR light, you can see 200+ yards. I would advise against a clip on for an "everything" scope. Stuff happens fast at night and to be fumbling around trying to mount your scanner onto the rifle really isn't ideal.

 

[weekender7]

Honestly NV is obsolete with a decent or above thermal. Get a rifle mounted thermal and go forth. Pulsar. Rix. Pard. Are some brands do look at

I 100% totally disagree with the above and even more so for someone just getting into predator hunting.

 

[Rome]

everything you guys are saying makes sense. Upgrading the thermal to a 640 core sounds like the best/least complicated answer

 

[omicron1792]

I 100% totally disagree with the above and even more so for someone just getting into predator hunting.

Hey. Disagree away!

I went that route too. Started with night vision. Then cheap thermal scanner.

100’s of coyotes later I wish I had just started with a good thermal scanner and rifle thermal.

 

[weekender7]

And you hunt around a lot of house dogs, people's pets?

 

[mrkronyak]

Thermals can't be beat, but they cost $$$$.

 

[omicron1792]

And you hunt around a lot of house dogs, people's pets

I don’t have any fear of shooting a dog accidentally. No.

 

[4Truck]

Most of my spots don’t have the concern of shooting a wandering dog.

I too started with NV, and made the jump to thermal. Gonna sell my PVS setup sooner or later cause it never gets used.

Currently run a Bering Super Hogster as a scanner and a Super Yoter on the gun. Great combo that I use a couple nights a week. I would argue that you can tell the difference between a dog and a coyote, but I wouldn’t want to chance that mistake in your position.

 

[omicron1792]

Here is a great option. Pard makes a multi spectral scope that has day, night vision, and thermal. I actually have one of these and it works great. It has a built-in illuminator also. I will tell you I never use the night vision portion, but it could be useful in your situation.

Pard TD62-70 Multi-Spectral Riflescope - Optics Trade Blog

At IWA 2024 fair, our team stopped by PARD's booth. Among their new products, we also checked out the Pard TD62-70 Multi-Spectral Scope.

www.optics-trade.eu

 

[Rome]

I don’t know that I need to upgrade my NV. It’s a really nice set of bino’s with high specs and the it laser illuminator can punch out several hundred yards for clarity. Only real reason to change anything with my NV would be to get a NV scope or clip on.


I think getting a dedicated thermal scope to pair with my current NV set up probably makes the most sense.

Is my logic flawed in thinking this?

 

[omicron1792]

I don’t know that I need to upgrade my NV. It’s a really nice set of bino’s with high specs and the it laser illuminator can punch out several hundred yards for clarity. Only real reason to change anything with my NV would be to get a NV scope or clip on.


I think getting a dedicated thermal scope to pair with my current NV set up probably makes the most sense.

Is my logic flawed in thinking this?

If you’re gonna stick with NV then you would want a thermal spotter then NV scope for shooting. NV not nearly as good for scanning.

 

[waspocrew]

If you’re gonna stick with NV then you would want a thermal spotter then NV scope for shooting. NV not nearly as good for scanning.

Agreed . OP - I'd do a better thermal scanner and a NV scope. Thermal (a good scope like a 640 res) will pick up heat signatures way out there. Obviously, detection range and ID range differ, but a thermal scanner is the way to go.

It seems more and more thermal companies are popping up - Nocpix (backed by iRayUSA) seems to have some pretty affordable options for scanners and scopes.

Nocpix - iRayUSA

irayusa.com