Night Hunting

[wackmaster]

Has any one done this.We tried it the other night and seen nothing .We could hear yotes howling but could not get any to come any tip would be sweet

[yotesniper]

Call like you normally would but not as long, use a red or amber lense on your spotlight, it doesn't scare them off as bad as a white light.

[Fishhunt223]

Use a spotlight with a red lens so that it is out of the visible light spectrum of coyotes and cats.  Hike into your area and start calling or turn on your e caller and shine the light all around you every few minutes.  The red light will make the eyes of the animal glow.  Most hunters use a flip up lens to "burn em" with white light as they are taking the shot.  Most of my shots are made within 40 yards so I like to use a shotgun with #4 buckshot.  Make sure you are looking in every direction because coyotes will not always come in down wind in the dark.  Good luck
Travis

[jdb]

Ive never been but would love to go I got an awesome spotlight if anybody needs a partner let me know. JB

[wackmaster]

Thanks guys we did use spotlights with red lenses and called normal and hit the red light every 2 min.It was fun i was hoping for a bobcat would come in I will hit it again after elk season

[SpokaneSlayer]

Make sure you read the regs on when you can night hunt.  Taken from the small game section: 

Night Hunting and Hound Hunting
During Deer and Elk Hunting Seasons
Bobcat, raccoon, and coyote may be hunted at night during established bobcat and raccoon seasons, EXCEPT that: it is unlawful to hunt any
wildlife at night or wild animals with dogs (hounds) during the months of September, October, or November in any area open to a centerfire rifle
deer or elk season. The use of hounds to hunt black bear, cougar or bobcat is prohibited year round except during commission authorized hunts.
There is no longer a hound license.

I prefer to use hand calls at night so they are looking right at you.  +1 for the tip of swinging the light full circle.  I had a fox come in from directly downwind in CA. 

[tlbradford]

Run the light continuously, do not shut it on and off.  You are invisible when you are in the shadow of the light, but when you shut it off you will be seen.  Also use a reflector or shield to keep any of the light's backwash from lighting up a gun barrel or equipment.  Here is a link to a previous post with a great article on night hunting.

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,36.15.html

[bearmanric]

i bought my night hunting rig today. it is a savage mod 10 predator 223 put a BushnellElite 6500 2.5x 16x42 30mm scope. will be shooting 55 gr vmax's. for light's i like streamlight stinger Hp and bought a stinger ultra today. they charge back up fast in the Rig have flip cover red len's for them. i will be calling high coung mostly. close shooting for bobcat's. i'll be my call's and several Foxpro's. i dont leave the light on. i scan back and forth. 10 ft off ground just tp catch eye's. cant wait to start soon. Rick

[deaddog]

i bought my night hunting rig today. it is a savage mod 10 predator 223 put a BushnellElite 6500 2.5x 16x42 30mm scope. will be shooting 55 gr vmax's. for light's i like streamlight stinger Hp and bought a stinger ultra today. they charge back up fast in the Rig have flip cover red len's for them. i will be calling high coung mostly. close shooting for bobcat's. i'll be my call's and several Foxpro's. i dont leave the light on. i scan back and forth. 10 ft off ground just tp catch eye's. cant wait to start soon. Rick

Sounds like a cool shooter, got pics, I would sure like to see it.

[bearmanric]

Here it is. awsome trigger. Rick

[deaddog]

NICE shooter, those bush 6500 are a incredible scope, looks like a dog killin machine to me.

[wackmaster]

We hunted a area that no other season was going on .I made sure we were by the book.Nice gun bear

[klickriverchromer]

we did too see animals!!  called up couple deer w/ the fawn in distress call

[robb92]

Did it a couple of times when I was in England and had a blast. Been spot lighting here on base when the deer team was active and we were clearing deer out from in between the runways at night.

[Bofire]

If you use an electronic caller set it at your feet, you want the animals to look straight at you, so you can see the eyes.
Carl

[tlbradford]

If you use an electronic caller set it at your feet, you want the animals to look straight at you, so you can see the eyes.
Carl

Haha.  Sounds like common sense, but an easily overlooked and absolutely critical point.  Probably the number one mistake for those using an electronic call that are used to daytime scenarios.  Great advice Carl.

[ICEMAN]

Crap, I just learned so much from reading this thread that I feel like getting a light and giving it a try...