With the introduction of semi affordable thermal optics, hunting predators at night has seen some incredible growth in popularity over the past decade or so. More hunters are diving into the thermal game and seeing the advantage of hunting coyotes at night. Technology, it seems, has given a decisive edge to those who wish to chase predators under the cover of darkness.
Despite my initial lack of interest in thermal technology when it first came out, I also decided to see what the hype was all about. After doing some research, I purchased a thermal scope in 2022. Hands down, it was the priciest hunting item I had ever purchased. After spending a year hunting behind it, I ended up selling it because it simply didn’t fit the way I night hunt predators.
I began hunting predators at night back in the mid ’90s. Back then we used Q-Beam spotlights that were powered through a cigarette adapter to your truck. To keep from drawing the attention of the two-legged variety, we’d color the lens red to be more discreet. For a while, those got the job done, but they were heavy, got hot and didn’t give off nearly as much light as we would’ve liked.
After searching, I stumbled on a company called Lightforce out of Australia. They produced hunting lights specifically designed for the nighttime predator hunter. Their units utilized halogen bulbs and lightweight, ergonomic lights that were perfect for night hunting. I ended up acquiring three different setups, the 170 gun-mounted light and the 170 and 240 handhelds. All the lights came with a red lens and a long power cord.
My hunting group used those lights for well over a decade and had great success with them. The only downside was that they still needed to be powered by a truck battery via the power cord. Lightforce did sell a battery pack, but it was too bulky for my taste and didn’t last for a full night of hunting. So, for several years we kept a spare battery in the bed of the truck used specifically for powering the Lightforce light.
New Technology
Before thermal optics became the next big thing, two other improvements in night hunting technology drastically improved the way I hunt. The development of lithium-ion batteries and the availability of LED lights was an absolute game changer for our night hunting group.
The lithium battery technology puts more power into a smaller, lightweight, rechargeable battery, powering our handheld field lights for a full night of hunting. The LED lights were brighter, didn’t get nearly as hot and didn’t drain the batteries we used to power them. Coupling the two, we had amazingly compact field lights, but we had yet to find a suitable scanning and hunting light that utilized the two improved technologies. Then I found Wicked Hunting Lights.
How I Hunt
For the first 15 years or so, we’ve essentially hunted predators at night the same exact way. Since we’re talking about dark environments, uneven terrain and firearms, safety is our No. 1 priority. To maintain safe conditions, we do everything the same way at each stand and keep our night brigade to a two-man team; a shooter and caller/light operator.
Traveling the desert back roads at night, we’d quietly ease up to a spot we had scouted during the day. The shooter gets out, grabs the unloaded rifle and shooting sticks and stages himself at the back of the truck, at times sitting on the tailgate. The guy on the light would exit the vehicle once the shooter was in position and climb into the bed of the truck. Once the lighter was in position, the shooter loads the rifle and places it on safety.
Standing in the truck bed and using the Lightforce light, the light man powers up the spotlight with the red lens and does a safety scan. This is done so we can make sure we haven’t parked near a campsite, another vehicle or homestead. If we see anything other than open desert terrain, we load back up and find another spot.
Once it’s clear, the light man starts calling. I like the simplicity and ease of hand calls for night calling. I carry a few of my favorites on a lanyard within easy reach, and I don’t have to worry about dead batteries, bright remotes or fumbling for buttons. Scanning with the light in one hand and the call in the other, I scan the surrounding area looking for eyeshine while I call. With the Lightforce lights and open terrain, it’s not unusual to see an interested predator’s eyes out at 300 yards or so.
Obviously, with an elevated perch and the light, the caller will almost always see the eyes first. Once a target is spotted, I signal the shooter with a low whisper or lightly snapping my fingers. The shooter carefully maneuvers to where the spotlight is pointed and positions himself under the beam of the light. I then lower the light and place it next to the shooter’s head, just above the shoulder so he can see the eyeshine as well. Using the hand calls, I’ll continue coaxing the animal in until we get a positive identification. Sighting down the beam of the handheld light, the shooter can find the animal and take the shot.
Using this method, I’ve known for quite a while that the weak link in the process is getting the shooter to see the approaching animal’s eyeshine using only one source of light. Depending on terrain, at times, the animal might be visible to the light man, but tough to see by the shooter. Regardless of the occasional struggles, with some repositioning and additional calling, we’d usually make it work.
Changing the Game
As hunters, we always look to improve our methods and evaluate advances in technology to increase our odds of success. When I started looking into Wicked Hunting Lights, I liked what I saw. Utilizing lithium batteries and LED lights, their assortment of night hunting gear seemed to fit perfectly for how we hunt.
Instead of a handheld scanning unit, Wicked Lights offers a well-made and comfortable headlamp. This frees up the lighter’s hands and essentially lights up wherever the caller is looking. The light is powered by two 2,900 mAh lithium-ion batteries and has adjustable intensity, and the user can switch between red, green and white light with ease. The power of the Wicked Headlamp lights up critters out to 400 yards and the batteries easily last for a full evening of hunting.
Bridging the light gap from the lighter to the shooter, Wicked Hunting Lights offers a scope-mounted light that’s just as strong as the head lamp. The unit is powered by a single 2,900 mAh lithium-ion battery, and like the headlamp has adjustable intensity and multi-color light options. The scope-mounted light comes with an on/off toggle switch and uses a simple scope adapter with a quick release for mounting.
When we made the shift from Lightforce to Wicked Hunting Lights in 2017, we noticed several things almost immediately. As the caller, I didn’t need to juggle the scanning handheld light and the hand call. With both hands free, and lighting up wherever I was looking, I found I wasn’t as fatigued as the evening unfolded. I didn’t have to step around cords or large batteries, and almost instantly I knew I’d never night hunt with a handheld light again. The light was plenty bright enough and lasted the full evening. Toggling between red light and white, our scanning headlamp can serve a dual purpose by assisting in recovering downed animals using the white light out in the field.
The scope-mounted light was easy to use and lit up the entire field of view in the scope. The shooter no longer depended on the handheld light to locate the called critter. With his own light source, the shooter didn’t need to fully align himself with the lighter or worry about the spotlight back lighting the scope. Once eye shine was spotted by the light man, the shooter could move over under the red beam, turn on their own light and instantly find the called critter.
Early Proof of Success
A few years ago, my buddy, Jose De Orta and I headed out under a new moon to do some night calling. It was our first trip with the Wicked Light setup. Not only did I want to call in Jose’s first bobcat, but we wanted to evaluate the gear during an actual night hunt.
The first few stands were blanks, but we started getting into some rocky habitat, surrounded by sage that I knew was perfect for bobcats. To fulfill our main goal, I kept Jose on the rifle. When he was set up, I got in the bed of the truck, did a safety scan and then started calling.
During the second series of calls using my Dan Thompson PC-3 call, I spotted eyes 200 yards out. “Right here!” I whispered. Jose quietly moved over under the headlamp beam and switched on his scope light. The eyes were bright, and I knew it was a cat. He was peering at us from behind a boulder and Jose didn’t have a shot. I also knew I could probably get him closer. I got back on the call and started pushing urgency through the reed. The cat started coming our way.
Call squeaks kept him moving and he finally checked up and stopped at 70 yards. Jose squeezed off a shot with his .204 Ruger and dropped the cat right there. Jose’s first ever bobcat was on the ground.
We ran another mile down the road and switched places. Even though I was on the rifle, I stayed on the call and let Jose use the headlamp. Less than two minutes in, Jose gave me a soft whistle. I looked up and saw him lighting up some boulders 100 yards to our left. I moved over and switched on the scope light. Within seconds, a bobcat jumped up on the largest rock and sat there looking toward us. I placed the crosshairs on its chest and squeezed the trigger, dropping it there. Two stands, two cats, and the new gear performed flawlessly.
No matter what gear you use to hunt the night, I believe it must seamlessly fit the way you hunt. Despite seeing the advantages of thermal scopes and seeing in the dark without lights, using that technology didn’t allow me to hunt the way I was used to. Honestly, using the red light allows me to get a better idea of what the terrain looks like while I’m calling, and I can identify targets quicker.
I will always night hunt predators under a red light. It’s how I started and what I’m used to. I feel comfortable calling and searching the terrain for interested predators under the red hue, and it just feels right as the beam washes over the desert terrain. The top gear I use costs a fraction of what the state-of-the-art thermals cost and in my opinion are equally as effective. If you’re looking to try something a little different, or just the way it was before thermals arrived, try shining a red light for predators at night. I guarantee nothing will beat the excitement you feel when you suddenly spot those glowing eyes looking your way.
Light Up the Night
The Sniper Hog Lights Hyperion 66 hunting light is packed with features turn night into day.
Made from aircraft-grade aluminum and hard anodized to resist scratching, the Hyperion 66 from Sniper Hog Lights is a great tool for hunters who prefer to work the graveyard shift when targeting predators. Key features include adjustable focus so users can switch from a flood beam to spot beam for just the right amount of light on the target. The dimmer tail cap has a dial on the back end that can be turned up or down to control the brightness of the light and a red indicator On/Off light is integrated into the tail cap. Interchangeable (optional) light modules are available so users can easily change the color of the light. The base package comes with one Hyperion 66 light with dimmer tail cap, one light module installed in the light of the user’s choice (Red, Green, White, IR) and one lens cover to protect the lens when not in use. A host of options can also be purchased at additional cost, including protected batteries and charger, Predator Pro mount, push button On/Off tail cap, tail cap with wired slide dimmer switch, Pro light handle, heavy-duty waterproof carry case and up to four additional color light modules. MSRP: $155/Base price. Visit www.sniperhoglights.com for a list of options and pricing.
