Coyote hunting is very popular. Some do it as a pastime and others do it for population control. Regardless of why you’re interested in it, hunting coyotes at night can be a lot of fun and very effective. In this article, we’ll talk about some of the most important things to consider before going out looking for coyotes after dark.
As always, make sure the laws and regulations of the governing jurisdiction allow coyote hunting at night as well as anything else mentioned in this article or on this website.
How to Scout for Coyotes Before Hunting at Night
Since you have decided to tackle night hunting, you probably aren’t new to hunting in general, so you likely already know the importance of pre-scouting the area before setting up for the hunt. This applies to virtually any type of hunting – collecting as much data as possible is a formula for success in most goal-oriented activities, after all.
While scouting is important anytime you’re hunting, it is essential for night hunting for two reasons: it allows you to determine the best place to get set up for the hunt in terms of locating the game, but it also helps keep you and others safe.
When scouting, you’re largely looking for evidence that coyotes are active in the area. You should also make note of locations to set up when you return for the actual hunt after dark. You’ll need an area where you can see a decent distance, but generally not as far as you might want to during the day since you probably won’t be taking as long of shots at night. Of course, the distance you’ll be able to shoot will depend on the equipment you use – that is, whether you use lights or night vision/thermal optics, which we will discuss later in the article.
Another factor that can dictate how far you can shoot, thus how much it matters to set up where you can see a long way, will depend on the weapon you use. We’ll also touch on this in a little bit, but obviously, if you choose to use a rifle, you’ll be able to shoot much further than if you use a shotgun or bow.
Something else to consider in choosing your location to set up in terms of distance is that coyotes can see very well, even at night. So, it might actually be more strategic to choose a spot that does not afford you a great seeing distance. If you’re in a large field but can only see so far because of the lighting you’re using, the “it can’t see me if I can’t see it” principle may not apply. So, sitting in an area that is not as visually open may be strategic when night hunting coyotes. But this largely depends on the other factors mentioned, so this is why you should do plenty of scouting during the day to ensure you’re in the right place for your planned style and method of night hunting.
Finding the best place to set up for hunting coyotes at night is only one important reason to scout during the day. Hunting can be dangerous at any time, but when you factor in the element of darkness, things become more serious. You can read more about potential night hunting dangers and some tips for avoiding them in my article on the potential dangers of night hunting, but for purposes of this article, we just focus on the importance of knowing your surroundings.
It’s imperative that you familiarize yourself with the overall layout of the land during the day when there’s plenty of light. If you’re new to the area, make sure you make note of any near-by houses or other buildings. Even if you are familiar with the area, remember things look very different in the dark. Not only will this help keep others around you safe, it will help mitigate the risk of getting lost.
Methods for Hunting Coyotes at Night
There are a number of methods that can be effective for hunting coyotes at night. The most popular method is using various calls, but state and local law permitting, a few other effective methods include using bait or setting up on heavily traveled trails.
For purposes of this article, I’m going to split these methods up into two categories: (1) how to coyote hunt at night using a call; and (2) how to coyote hunt at night without a call.
(1) Hunting Coyotes at Night Using Calls
The most popular, and arguably the most effective, method is utilizing various callers to locate and lure the coyotes in for a clean shot.
For some types of predator hunting, it is only useful to use calls that mimic the sound of a prey animal in distress. For example, a call that sounds like a rabbit in distress. These types of calls put any predator within hearing distance on alert that there is a potential easy catch in the area.
While those calls are important for coyote hunting, calls that mimic other coyotes are also a must to add to your needed gear list before heading out on your first coyote hunt. You can find which calls I recommend below, but for this section, we are focused on how to hunt coyotes at night with a caller.
If you have followed my recommendation for thoroughly scouting the area during the day before your first night hunting session, you will already know the general area in which you can expect the coyotes to be.
I recommend heading out to the area you previously marked as your starting point and simply sitting quietly for a moment. If you’ve been camping or tracking a deer in the woods after dark, you have most likely heard coyotes howling in the distance.
Being aware of coyotes’ propensity to howl at night can be very advantageous to the hunter. Not only does it let the hunter know the coyotes are in the area, it can be a great way to accurately pinpoint the coyotes’ location. This will allow the hunter to determine where to set up to begin calling – not only will it tell you if you need to move closer, but it can help you set up to control for the current wind direction.
After sitting quietly for a while, if you do not hear any howling, you can use a call that mimics a coyote howl. This often results in a response howl, which tells you where the coyote is. Howling can also be an effective method for calling the coyote right to you. There are various types of howls that send different messages to the coyote, so it’s important to know which howl to use and when. Again, I’ll give you my recommendations for the best coyote howler calls below, but it is important to know what you’re doing when making these calls as they can make or break you. Check out my article that goes into detail on how to use these calls if you need more information.
Once you’ve located the coyotes, as I said above, you can use a howler call to try to lure them in. But if this doesn’t work or you prefer to use other methods, a predator call that mimics a distressed prey animal can work great.
Regardless of the call you use, you will want to be very still and quiet when calling and after. The coyote will likely be on high alert when it approaches, so be very conscientious of their heightened senses of smell, sight, and hearing.
(2) How to Hunt Coyotes at Night Without a Call
Calling can be very effective, but it’s certainly not necessary. It can also be difficult depending on the environment in which you’re hunting. Brushy terrain or rolling hills can make it difficult to call in a coyote because it will have to be close before you know it is there. This makes it hard to keep the coyote from seeing or smelling you and fleeing before you even know it’s in the area. Here are a few strategies that you may be able to use in addition to or in the place of using calls.
- Coyote Hunting Over Bait at Night
The first alternative method to using calls is using bait. Like always, make sure it’s legal to use bait to hunt coyotes in the governing jurisdiction. Assuming you are legally allowed to use bait, you can scout the area during the day, as suggested above, for an area where you know coyotes will find the bait source. Then, set up your bait where you think the coyotes will be comfortable approaching but in a place where you can strategically set up to remain stealthy. Using a game camera can be a great way to get an idea of how many coyotes are in the area and how often they are visiting your bait. See the next section – the recommended gear section – of this article for my suggestion for a good game camera.
If you’re using a rifle, sitting back a reasonable distance from the bait source can help cloak you from the coyote’s keen senses. However, since we are talking about night hunting, we can’t forget the most obvious obstacle – darkness. You’ll have to be able to see the target, so keep that in mind when choosing where to set up. If you choose to invest in thermal or night vision optics, you may not need to worry about lights too much. But if you don’t want to spend thousands of dollars to have a successful coyote hunt, there are great light options for bait and feeders.
I already wrote in-depth about how to hunt over bait at night in my hog hunting guide article, most of which will apply to coyote hunting as well; check it out here. Or, if you just want to know my top picks for feeder/bait lights, check out my “Top Picks” guide.
- Hunting on Trails
Coyotes, like many other animals tend to travel the same routs when moving from one area to another. It can be effective to find a trail or even an old road and set up on it and wait. It’s a good idea to scout these trails during the day and look for signs of coyote activity. Coyotes have a tendency to leave feces in the middle of the trails they travel, so keep an eye out for that. Sitting up on a trail can also be a good strategy in combination with calling.
- Spot and Stalk
When hunting around large fields or other open spaces, you may be able to sneak around and use various optics to scan an area and see the coyotes from a far distance. Then you can slowly move in for the shot. You might even take the shot from where you spotted the coyote in the first place if you’re using the proper firearm set up, you’re comfortable with long-range shooting, and it’s safe to do so.
- Other Methods
There are other methods for hunting coyotes at night without a caller such as making drives, if you’re hunting in a group, and even using dogs. However, these methods can be difficult and even dangerous at night. In addition, using dogs may not be legal in many jurisdictions, so I recommend trying to stick to the methods discussed above.
What Gear you Will Need for Hunting Coyotes at Night
This is not an exhaustive list of the gear you may want to use. But here are a few things to consider picking to help you on your hunt in the dark.
(1) Lights (optional and must-haves)
It’s difficult to hunt at night without some light. You can use thermal or night vision optics, but you still need at least a good hand-held light. But if you plan to use lights for shooting and canning the area, you may want to invest in a few different lights such as a hand-held light for scanning, a weapon-mounted light for shooting, a blood tracking light, etc.
Light color is important too. Check out this article for my recommendations of what types of lights night hunters should consider, here. And you can read all about proper light color choice in this article.
(2) Thermal/night vision (optional)
As I said above, in my opinion, having at least one light is a must anytime you’re out in the woods at night. However, thermal or night vision optics are is totally optional and certainly not necessary for a successful and enjoyable hunt; whether you want to take your night hunting adventures to this lever is up to you.
Thermal and night vision obviously allows you to see in the dark without using a light. This can certainly help you maintain a higher level of stealth when hunting at night. Like anything, though, there are pros and cons to using these optics. If you are interested in reading more about using thermal/night vision vs lights for night hunting, check out my article on how to hunt wild hogs at night, with this link. Most of the night vision and thermal optics information in that article applies to coyote hunting as well.
(3) Callers
This one can be optional depending on your chosen night hunting method. If you plan to only hunt over bait or on a trial, you may not need any type of call. But I recommend at least carrying a howler regardless of the hunting method you choose. This way you will have a way to get the coyote’s attention if you need to while minimizing the risk of spooking it.
- Types of Calls – Howlers vs prey in distress calls
There are two primary general categories of calls that can be effective when hunting coyotes: Howler calls and distress calls. Howlers allow you to mimic other coyotes while distress calls are for mimicking a prey animal, such as a rabbit in distress.
Howlers can be used somewhat universally while distress calls are more specific to your preferred hunting method. If you plan to hunt on a trail or over bait, a distress call may not be needed or even desired. However, if you plan to use calls as the method of bringing the coyote in range for a shot, distress calls can be a critical part of your hunting gear. As mentioned above, I like to have a howler on me regardless of my hunting method, just in case I need to try to get the coyotes attention.
- Types of Callers – Electric vs hand-held
Once you decide what type of call you want to make, you need to decide how you want to make it. You can buy hand-held callers that you blow into and make the call with your mouth, or you can get electronic callers. Electronic callers can technically be “hand-held,” too, but more sophisticated ones can be set up several feet away from you and controlled by a remote or even your cell phone.
Electric calls are obviously easier to use and require less practice to perfect, but they can be expensive and may not be legal in some jurisdictions, so make sure you double-check the governing regulations for this specific issue.
(4) Other Gear
- Decoy
Decoys can be effective when hunting in wide-open spaces, such as a field. It can be strategic to place a decoy out where you’re planning to do your calling. Amazon has a good looking coyote decoy. Check it out, here.
It can also be effective to set up a device that mimics movement similar to that of a small animal in distress. These can be strategic when using distress calls. Here’s a link to an example of one on Amazon.
Finally, you can even use decoys of the prey animal, such as rabbits or fawn deer.
- Camouflage
This one may seem obvious. But it’s actually not clear whether camouflage is needed at night. It certainly doesn’t hurt to take the extra precaution. But if you’re interested in the question of whether camouflage is necessary for night hunting, check out this article I wrote on the subject, here.
- Game camera
This one, again, will largely depend on your chosen hunting method. But if you’re using bait or hunting on a trail, a game camera is a good way to get an idea of what’s in the area. Since coyotes are often very fidgety, thus move a lot and quickly, I recommend a camera that can capture the moving target quickly and clearly.
Suggestions: This is a good choice camera for coyote hunters because it has a fast trigger speed and an adjustable detection range, so you can adjust depending on how far or close you expect the target to be. It’s also relatively inexpensive.
Advantages of Hunting Coyotes at Night
The primary advantage of hunting coyotes at night is the fact that they are largely nocturnal. Coyotes do move during the day, but the majority of their activity is at night. Obviously, this fact improves the hunter’s odds of seeing one at night vs during the day because they are more likely to pass through the hunter’s area of observation.
But it’s also strategic to consider a coyote’s behavior at night. As mentioned above, listening for a coyote’s howl can be an effective way to locate the coyote’s general whereabouts. If you’ve spent much time in the woods at night, you know you’re much more likely to hear a coyote’s howl after dark than during the day. Thus, their propensity to be more vocal at night certainly gives a night hunter an advantage over a hunter that hunts during the day exclusively.
Best Weapon for Hunting Coyotes at Night
If you’re going to have a successful hunt, it’s vital to choose the proper weapon. There are a number of factors that may dictate the type of weapon you use for night hunting coyotes – one of which may be the governing laws and regulations. But assuming you do have some legal leeway to choose from more than one option, here are a few things to consider in terms of weapon choice before heading out to the field.
The three most obvious categories of weapons are rifles, shotguns, and bows. While it is certainly possible to hunt at night with a bow, it can be a challenge. This article will primarily focus on firearms as it relates to coyote hunting, but if you do think you’re up for the challenge of combining bow hunting with darkness, check out my article on how to set up a bow for night hunting.
- Rifle
The most obvious advantage of a rifle is the long-range aspects. If you plan to hunt in open environments where you’ll likely be shooting more than 100 yards, a rifle is definitely recommended. Luckily, some of the most flat-shooting and most popular rifle calibers are perfect for coyote hunting because they shoot a small built and provide minimal knockdown power so that the hide isn’t damaged more than necessary. A few of the most popular rifle calibers for predator hunting are the .223, 22-250, and .243. All three of these rounds, combined with proper barrel length and good optics, can easily accommodate shots well over 400 yards.
- Shotgun
The shotgun is best used at close range when the target is moving. This might be best for hunting on trails or even over bait if you set up close to the bait source. One disadvantage of using a shotgun is their tendency to damage the coyote’s hide. However, there are many types of shotgun ammunition and various calibers to choose from which can mitigate this problem. The 20 gauge is one popular shotgun caliber for predator hunting. Many hunters may not even care about this because much of coyote hunting is done as a means of population control.