Best Light For Coyote Hunting At Night Reviews 2021
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Love the thrill and rush of coyote hunting at night? Yes? Well, that's awesome, but first, you should ensure that you are fully prepared and kitted out for your night-time expedition. When hunting at night, it's obvious you're going to need an adequate light or thermal scope to ensure you can actually see what you're doing. However, if you're a hunter you'll know that stealth is the key, you can't just go about flashing a light all around the place as you'll spook your potential target and end up wasting a whole day's hunting. Coyote hunting in the night is no different; you need a specific light to make sure you can spot but not spook them.
There are 2 colors of lights that hunters use typically, green and red. These colors have less of an effect on the animals and are less aware of one of these colors shining at them. Although red is harder for the animals to see it can also make it harder on the human eye to spot something with it. Green colored lights are usually used for hog hunting, while red is usually used when hunting coyotes and predators at night-time.
The focus of this review is on red hunting lights for night-time coyote hunting, with the aim of helping you make an informed decision when purchasing one. The market has lots of different options, so we've rounded everything up and put together our reviews and picks of the best coyote hunting lights for at night, so let's dive in.
Top Rated Coyote Light Comparisons
Image | Light | Verdict | Manufacturer Distance | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 500 yards | |||
 | Most Powerful Gun and Hand Light | 500 yards |
The Best Lights For Coyote Hunting At Night Reviews
From the well-known manufacturer Predator Tactics, they've come up with this hunting kit with everything you need for coyote hunt at night. There are 2 options you can choose from, the green or red color light. We recommend and have reviewed the red Coyote Reaper flashlight kit for rifles and scopes.
When purchased, you receive a nice looking carry case with everything you need to get started straight away with for your predator hunt. The case includes your selected color of hunting light (red in this case), adjustable rail mount, on/off remote switch tail cap, pressure switch, battery extension tube, battery charger, x2 18650 rechargeable batteries and a 5-year warranty on the LED bulb itself.
The features and specifications listed by Predator Tactics for the red model are as follows:
- Interchangeable Red LED bulb – Can be switched to another color
- Up to 500-yard identification
- Matte Black Finish
- Halo shield
- Push button tail cap
- Adjustable focus
- Intensity control with memory pressure switch
- Waterproof
- Silent On/Off functioning
Because the Coyote Reaper is such a popular and well-reviewed coyote light, there’s plenty of opinions out there on it. After testing and actually using this model, we have our own opinion on what was good and what wasn’t as good when using it.
We’ll start with the positives that shine through with this light. The actual beam that it produces is stronger than all the other models listed except the Wicked W403IC. Although the manufacturer states that it has the ability to see up to 500 yards, from our testing we believe that it would stretch to 300 yards at best for identification. The intensity control switch is a great additional feature, and thanks to its memory capabilities you can save your light setting, this means that you can turn your light onto the right setting when initially setting up at your hunting location without spooking the coyote.
When you hold the Coyote Reaper, you can feel that it’s well made and built to last. This is backed up by the fact that the Predator Tactics have offered an unconditional, lengthy 5-year warranty on the LED light itself, a lifetime warranty on the shell of the light and a 1-year warranty on the accessories. This is reassuring and gives you peace of mind that you’re covered with your investment and shows the manufacturers trust in the product. The mounts provided are also nice and straightforward to attach and use, meaning that you can get your Coyote Reaper light attached to your rifle or scope in no time. Something else that we need to highlight as being a standout from other models is the battery extension tube. Although this light runs off 1 battery, the extension tube allows you to attach it so that a second battery can also be used, giving you the advantage of having the runtime of 2 batteries without having to switch the first battery out.
With all that good stuff being said, there some things that we will honestly state as letting it down slightly. We’ll start with our small gripe about the distance that the beam can comfortably do for predator identification. As mentioned above, Predator Tactics have stated that it should be able to cover up to 500 yards, from our review footage we believe that you’ll struggle to see any further than 300 yards with the light. Though this is not a big negative as most hunters won’t be hunting beyond 300 yards, we have to put it out there that you should not rely on it to do up to the 500 yards stated. We found that the smaller halo shield that it sports typically meant that compared with the bigger halo shield on the Wicked W403IC model, that the brightness of this light was a little weaker.
*Please note that we were NOT sent this product or sponsored in any way, we bought this light ourselves and sent it to a hunting gear reviewer to give his honest opinion. You can find his YouTube channel here.
Overall the red Predator Tactics Coyote Reaper light is a very well rounded light. Although it isn’t as strong as the Wicked Light model on our list, it should be more than suitable for anyone looking to hunt coyote up to 300 yards. It has lots of nice features included with the kit and comes in a little cheaper than the W403IC. A great gun-mounted or handheld investment overall for the money.
Pros
- Quality manufacturing
- Trustworthy guarantee provided
- Memory intensity control a nice addition
- Lots of extra handy features
- Easy to mount
- Interchangeable bulbs – Switch out to another color if you want
- Great battery run-time
- Battery extension tube
- Light and easy to carry around
Cons
- Will not reach the manufacturer stated 500 yards – we reckon up to 300 comfortably
- Smaller halo shield means the light is less bright than the W403IC
- Not as strong a beam as the Wicked Light W403IC
Verdict: Best Overall Kit and Features
Our #1 red coyote night hunting light is undoubtedly the Wicked W403IC. If you know your hunting, then you must know the manufacturer Wicked Lights. This is Wicked Lights’ gun mounted and handheld flagship model and does not disappoint. Let’s take a look and why we’ve rated it so highly and what you’re buying into.
You can either purchase the one single light in the night hunting kit option or, you can purchase the pursuit pack which includes 2 interchange colored lights – one handheld and one gun-mounted. Assuming you’re buying the single red light kit, you will receive your purchase in a nice hard case which includes x1 red LED intensity controlled light, battery charger, x2 rechargeable batteries and an adjustable scope mount. Included with the purchase you receive a 3-year limited warranty.
Wicked Lights specifications and features for this light are as follows:
- Eye Reflection – up to 500 yards
- Useful beam distance Red – 300 yards
- Red LED light bulb
- Full intensity controlled tail cap
- Interchangeable bulbs – can be switched out for another color
- Zoom focus – Change from zoom to flood
- Aircraft grade aluminum
- Operation temperature: -30 ~ 120 degrees Fahrenheit
- Water resistant
Because this our top choice, we obviously have plenty to rave about with this coyote hunting model, though there are a few small downsides to consider when buying it. Let’s see what we love and what we don’t like as much.
What do we love? Well, the fact that we’ve rated it the #1 light on our list says that we rate it highly overall. We do, but the main reason is that the beam that this light can generate is the best we’ve seen yet from our tests. Wicked Lights claim that the light suitable for identifying targets up to 300 yards, but we reckon in our experience that they’ve understated it a little, and you should actually be able to see coyote up to 450-500 yards away. The zoom and intensity control features are both excellent and allow you to adjust the light to suit your hunting environment and conditions. This model is constructed from Aircraft grade aluminum and can withstand nearly any type of impact or damage (see here for video) you throw at it. A quality, robust design that’s built to last. The W403IC comes with 2 rechargeable batteries but uses only 1 power up the light. You get a good runtime of around 2 hours+ per battery, so that should give you a good solid 4 hours+ with both batteries (not on full intensity continuously). The adjustable scope mount is another plus and makes attaching and detaching your light to the gun very simple and straightforward.
There genuinely isn’t much that we can mention regarding negatives with this model from Wicked Lights. We can’t even put the price as a negative point as although this is the most expensive model on our list; it merits its price tag in every area. The only gripe we have is with the short warranty offered with the light, we would like to have seen a longer warranty offered considering the price it demands.
Overall the W403IC has everything you would want in a light, and if you’re serious about your coyote hunting and have the cash to spend, then this should be your number #1 choice. The quality of the beam it gives out is unmatchable.
Pros
- Serious power in the beam providing up to 450-500 yards coverage easily
- Full control over the beam with intensity control and focus
- Solid construction
- Good battery life
- Adjustable scope mount
- Excellent range of accessories and features
- Can change the bulb out for other colors
Cons
- Price – As mentioned, not a negative as worth every penny, but may not be for people on a budget
- Warranty - We would have liked to have seen a longer warranty offered considering the price
Verdict: Most Powerful Gun-Mounted & Handheld Red Light
With Wicked Lights leading the way in the predator light world, the ScanPro is their head torch light for coyote hunting. Wicked Lights have set the bar high with their flagship W403IC gun-mounted model. However, the ScanPro headlight does not disappoint. It uses the exact same LED bulb that you will find in their top W403IC gun model and is our top choice if you’re looking for the best coyote hunting head torch. Let’s get into what it offers.
When you buy the Wicked ScanPro headlight, you will receive it in a neat looking soft-sided carry case that holds the light and accessories comfortably. The case contains your LED headlamp, battery charger, 2x rechargeable batteries and a rubber halo shield. With your purchase, you will also receive a 1-year warranty for the batteries/chargers and light housing, whereas you are covered with a 3-year warranty with the actual LED itself.
The manufacturer specifications and features for the light are as follows:
- Eye Reflection – up to 500 yards
- Red full intensity control LED
- Zoom focus – change from spot to flood
- Interchangeable light – allows for switching to another colored light
- Adjustable headband
There are lots to like about this light especially the fact that it sports the exact same LED as our #1 choice – the Wicked W403IC model. With that being said, let’s look at what we like and what we don’t like with it.
We’ll start with the positives as there is a lot of them. Firstly, the beam that the light gives off itself is undoubtedly the best and strongest we’ve tested. You should be able to spot coyote up to 400 – 450 yards with the beam. The intensity control is a very nice additional feature that’s great for adjusting the beam to match the conditions. The manufacturing quality again from Wicked is of the highest order and is designed to last you many coyote hunts, a very impressive build that oozes class. We found the battery life to be pretty impressive and lasted a good 6 hours at the very least when fully charged (not using full power for the whole runtime). The rubber halo shield is also very effective at reducing side light and ensuring that you get a good, focused beam. Although the halo shield is a great addition over a more standard hunting headlight, it does mean that even although it sports the same LED as the W403IC, the shield will essentially mean that you won’t get quite as bright a light as the handheld or gun-mounted model.
This leads us to what lets this coyote light down slightly. As mentioned above, the halo shield means that the beam that it puts out is not going to be as strong as the original light without the rubber shield. Therefore if you need the full strength beam, then you may be better purchasing the W403IC handheld or gun-mounted model (there’s also a combo kit that includes both). This is also one of the most expensive red coyote hunting headlights that you can buy on the market – though worth if it if you’re looking for the very best. One thing that we would also like to see is a longer warranty with this model considering the price you pay for it.
Pros
- Light- A great beam that should comfortably pick up coyote up to 400-450 yards away
- Comfortable and adjustable headband
- Solid construction and build quality
- Intensity control is a desirable feature
- Plenty of adjustable settings
- Battery life is great
Cons
- Expensive – Though worth if you want the best headlight
- Warranty a little short
- Halo shield means a little less powerful than the original W403IC LED
Verdict: Best Red Headlight
Appearing again on our list is the trusty Orion manufacturer, with the M30C 377 Yards 700 Lumen Red being one of the strongest lights you'll find. Orion states the beam as being 700 lumens, and able to reach up to 377 yards comfortably, which seems to be the case. This is an incredibly powerful coyote night hunting beam and is one of the strongest red beams we've reviewed. Easily attachable to your gun scope or barrel, you have the choice of 3 different brightness settings for your hunt. You get 2 sets of batteries which is handy in case you need a backup one while you're out.
What an Orion M30C 377 has to offer:
- Red light
- 3 brightness settings
- 2 rechargeable batteries and a charger
- Pressure switch
- 700 lumens
- Suggested up to 377 yards
- Waterproof
- Dimension: Head diameter: 2.5 inch, Tail diameter: 1 inch, Length: 6 inch
- Weight: 7.6 oz
This purchase is not for every hunter and budget; this is for someone serious about their coyote hunting at night time and looking to make a proper investment. A slight let down for the M30C was the fact that the angle of the beam is not adjustable, being able to adjust this should really be part of the price. This model also weighs more than your average coyote light on the market, so this needs to be taken into consideration.
If you're looking for something a little different for your coyote night adventures, then you should take the Orion M30C seriously when deciding. Check out some more reviews from actual buyers of this model online, and you'll find that they echo exactly that.
Pros
- Extremely bright
- Covers a huge distance
- Strong, quality manufacturing
- Battery lasts a while
- Easy to mount
- Ready to use out of the box
Cons
- Not for every budget
- A little heavier
- The angle of the beam is not adjustable
Verdict: Alternative Pick
From Orion, this 273-yard red coyote hunting flashlight offers a great hunting solution for long-range. It comes with everything you need to get started straight away, including a different selection of mounts. Again there are 2 color options, green and red, with the red model being our choice for coyote hunting.
Here at the specs and what comes with an Orion Predator H30 Red purchase:
- Military grade red light
- Battery and charger
- Selection of scope and barrel mounts
- 10-year warranty
- Maximum Brightness: 300 lumens
- 4 brightness settings
- Waterproof
- Suggested Beam Distance: 273 yards
- Weight: 4.76oz
One thing like most of the beams you get for night-time coyote hunting is that the range sometimes is a little less than the manufacturer states, and this is no different. Although it depends on your environment when using it, we believe you should be able to get 150-200 yards use out of it comfortably. You may need to purchase a backup battery if you're out on long hunts, as the purchase only comes with one battery.
Thanks to the selection of different brackets and mounts it comes with, it can be mounted on most guns and scopes. Although this is an excellent gun light for coyote hunting, sometimes the attaching of it to some scopes and mounts can be a little tricky.
Pros
- 10 Years Warranty
- Reliable and long lasting
- Military grade - waterproof and impact proof
- Crisp beam
- Straight out the box use
Cons
- The range is a little shorter than the manufacturer states, quite common with most lights though
- Only comes with one battery
- Mounting and dismounting sometimes tricky
Verdict: Budget Pick
Recommended Additional Accessories
18650 Rechargeable Batteries
An extra set of rechargeable 18650 batteries won't got a miss. If you got a battery charger provided with your model, then you purchase an extra pack of 2 for cheap enough.
Depending on how long you intend to be out using your light and the sort of battery life it offers, having some spare batteries with you on a hunt is always reassuring.
Things To Consider When Buying A Good Predator Hunting Light
There are many things to consider when choosing what kind of hunting light is right for you. Here's our breakdown of the most important things to consider when looking to purchase a good night coyote light:
Type of Light
There are several types of hunting lights on the market, choosing the right one depends more on your style of hunting and environment than anything else. The 3 main lights are gun-mounted, handheld, and headlamp. Let's break each type down for you and help you decide which is the right choice for your coyote hunts:
Gun Mounted
As the name suggests, it's simply a beam that is attached directly to your weapon. They are safe to use and fit securely on your weapon with the mounts provided. This is the most common type of light used by predator hunters and allows one to switch from a scan to kill light while having the gun ready in your hand for the shot. But they do come with several disadvantages. The main problem is that when you want to cast the light around, you are essentially waving a loaded weapon around, which is breaking rule number one of hunting. If you choose a gun light, make sure you are also using a shooting stick, this will limit your area, but ensure that you and those with you stay out of harm’s way.
Handheld
These allow some real flexibility; you can cast them safely in any direction without worrying about your rifle. Being handheld also means it is easier to try and catch the coyote in the halo of the light which you can’t do with a rifle-mounted beam. Using one, however, will mean that you can't hold your weapon at the same time for a kill.
Head Torch
These are another popular choice for most predator hunters. You can look around and still keep your rifle in a safe position; they also allow you to focus directly on the coyote when aiming your gun. They are an excellent choice if you're looking for a quick scan to kill switch of lights. The only drawback is if you are using a white light and need to catch the coyote in the halo, you’ll have to adjust the angle which can be troublesome.
Color of Beam
We recommend a red beam for coyote hunting, though some hunters prefer the color green. We would, however, advise you not to use a standard white beam as it can easily spook your target. Our reviews of the top 5 models on the market above are all reviewed as red lights, though most, if not all of them can be purchased in the green version, with some of them even having interchangeable bulbs. Check out our full reasoning behind recommending red over green further down the post.
Red is our color of choice.
Range / Brightness
You're obviously going to want a light that can comfortably handle the range that you are hunting at. Depending on how your scan to kill light setup is, you're probably not going going to be shining the beam past 300 yards, with most predator hunters using them from 100-200 yards typically. Some manufacturers state that their lights shine up to 500 yards, though through our research we've found it's usually closer to 300 yards. If a model shines up to 300 yards as a scanning light, then that should be more than adequate for spotting coyote at night. If 300 yards is not bright enough for you, then you're probably not at a reasonable enough range to make a safe kill. Check out the brightness and lumens of each model reviewed above on our list, also be sure to check out video footage of any potential models to ensure they are bright enough and can adequately handle your hunting range.
Battery Life
Most of the top models come with rechargeable batteries when you purchase them, however, some of the cheaper models require you to purchase batteries separately. The quality of batteries that you purchase or receive with your light will obviously have a bearing on how long you get from the beam. Though this is true, you'll still want to find out the average runtime that each model provides with a standard battery, as they all vary in terms of runtime. As part of our suggested extra purchases for your night coyote beam, we've recommended some 18650 rechargeable batteries to carry along with you as a nice backup.
Construction Quality
We've ensured that all the spotlights that made our list are manufactured with real quality. You want something that's sturdy, can be thrown around and can take a bit of a bash, and on top of all is built to last a long time. Our picks have all these qualities and designed to last many nighttime predator hunting trips. Some of the lower-end, cheaper lights that you will find on the market won't make it through more than a few coyote hunting trips, so bear this in mind when deciding whether to spend that little bit extra on a model.
Mounting Difficulty
If you do decide to go for a weapon-mounted light, then you'll want something that's easy to mount and dismount. Most good models come with mounting brackets and attachments that make the process very smooth.
Though, some mounting brackets are more tricky than others to use, so be sure to check above on how easy we think each pick is to mount to your coyote weapon.
Features
Do you just need a standard coyote spot or kill light that does the job, or do you want something with some extra features to help? The more expensive, top of the range picks have intensity control features and more options in terms of adjusting your beam focus from zoom to flood and vice versa. If you think these extra controllable features can benefit your style of predator hunting, then go for it. Though be prepared to pay extra for a light with these extra features and consider if you actually need them or not.
Budget
This leads us on to a big one. Though our list typically has higher-priced lights, we have ensured that these are the very best nighttime coyote lights that money can buy on the market, as well as ensuring that they are worth the money that they command. We've tried to strike the balance between real quality and what each light is actually worth. If you have the budget and are looking to make a serious investment in a red nighttime predator hunting light, then our list is perfect for you. Although we do have one budget pick, if you're looking for cheaper, lower-end, entry type lights, then we suggest checking out some other reviews online. It all comes down to preference and what you're willing to spend or invest in your coyote adventures.
Why Red Over Green for Coyotes?
While many hunters suggest a green light while coyote hunting is the best choice, red lights are typically more common for a number of good reasons.
Directing the light while taking a shot is clearly important for safety, but what about finding the coyote in the first place? A red light is more suffused and mellow so it won’t detract from your natural night vision as much. If you have to take time to get your night vision back each time you want to scan the area, chances are you’re going to miss the opportunity.
Predators scan. Pretty much every hunter uses a green light for feral hog hunting; real predators, however, take in the landscape and look for harsh delineations to give them a better sense of the surrounding (this is the same reason good camouflage gear comes with ruffled parts to break up the unnatural, straight lines). A green beam casts a starker shadow of the surroundings that may give the coyote pause for thought.
Red light tends to cut through damp air and light brush better than green light. It also has the advantage of not being as reflective. If you are hiding out in the brushes, the last thing you want is the light to be reflecting back onto you; it creates a “make or break” moment when the coyote comes into view. Red light is more natural to the environment and casts less of a reflection keeping you well-hidden and allowing you the opportunity to take your time and make a good, clean kill.
Your best chance of spotting these stealthy creatures is to catch the eyes. While a green light will give you better distance vision, using a red light really makes the eye reflection stand out. It also helps that you don’t have to worry about positioning it to get the halo effect which if done badly will spook the coyote.
Top Tips for Hunting With A Light
- Keep the light slightly above the predators head. With a good enough red light, you should be able to catch the glint of the eyes at 500 yards, if you’re using a caller, keep the light steady as movement will cast new shadows.
- Using callers. There is a vast range of callers available, some electronic and some more traditional ones. Using a combination of lights and callers at night can provide a great hunting opportunity for you.
- Make sure you know the terrain. By visiting the hunting ground in the daytime, you can check for not only a good spot to set up, but also be on the lookout for any potential dangers. It’s no good going to collect a kill if you fall down a shaft or break an ankle on loose rocks.
- Communications. If you are hunting on or near someone’s land, they’ll likely have the best information on where the coyotes move to and from. The insider information can give you a great head start. If you are hunting with friends, make sure you all know which angels you’re taking and where everyone is aiming their rifle. Always safety first!
Night hunting coyote can be incredibly rewarding and fun. Following a few basic safety procedures will ensure you can keep coming back to do it again and again. The tools to help you succeed are available, easy to buy or make, and they do give you a useful leg up in luring, identifying and making a successful shot.
Final Word
Well, that's it for our top nighttime predator hunting light reviews. Some people like to make Predator Tactics Red Coyote Reaper hunting more complicated than it is, just follow some general principles that you use for all types of hunting. Have your gear ready before you go out, know the area and keep any noise down to a minimum. This is why it's important to have the right color of light for your coyote night hunts, as you can't just go around with a standard light shining it everywhere. From the list above, we recommended the Predator Tactics Red Coyote Reaper; it's versatile, affordable, and the has the right features.
We hope that you can now go out and make an informed purchase based on our reviews of the best lights for coyote hunting at night.
