Choosing the best thermal riflescope for coyote hunting can be a strenuous activity as they are so many in the market. They all have different qualities, some better than others. Having knowledge of the important factors and features to look for is therefore paramount when purchasing a scope for your rifle.
A thermal scope helps you to minimize the chances of missing the target as it has a ballistic calculator and good optics. Thermal imaging makes it easy to focus on a target, the scopes also have no limitation; they can be used during the day and the night.
The waterproof nature of most of these scopes makes them possible to use in rainy conditions. The beauty of thermal scopes is that they help a shooter detect their targets even without physically spotting them. This is because they detect heat energy at a distance.
Below are the best thermal riflescopes for coyote hunting.
Thermal riflescopes for coyote hunting
1) The OpticGuru Thor LT Thermal Rifle Scope
The OpticGuru Thor LT Thermal Rifle Scope is pocket-friendly and is equipped with a state-of-the-art heat detection sensor that allows you to detect animal body heat at night or in dense smoke, fog, and bushes. The scope is lighter than an average scope making it portable, efficient, and well balanced on your rifle.
The scope uses a low power consumption (internal li-Ion battery life of 10+ hours). In addition, it does not require any visible light to produce a sharp image. The 30mm tube is made from hardened aluminum alloy that is strong and recoil-resistant.
Key features
- It is easy to mount
- Lens size of 24mm
- Lightweight
- Has a one-shot zero-length: 14.8 x 4.2 x 3 inches
- Weight: 1.39 pounds
- Maximum magnification of 8X
- Powered by 1 lithium-ion battery
2) Pulsar Thermion Thermal Riflescope
The Pulsar Thermion Thermal Riflescope has an ultra-modern design and technology in the thermal imaging field. The scope starts up quickly, a feature that allows it to save time hence prolonging its time of use.
This enables a shooter to switch it off and on any time he needs it. The scope is mounted on 30mm scope rings and does not require any specialized equipment.
The recoil rate is 6000 joules and gives an excellent execution on larger calibers. Its construction is from lightweight metal giving it a rugged nature. The scope records videos and images in MPEG-4 and .jpg and has a 16-GB memory to store the videos and pictures.
Key features
- WI-FI Integration with IOS and Android devices using the Stream Vision 2 mobile app
- Color palettes to offer display options that are customized (white hot, black hot, red hot, rainbow and ultramarine, violet, red monochrome, and sepia)
- Digital zoom up to 8X
- It is IPX waterproof-rated
- Picture-in-picture
- Full-colored HD AMOLED Display
- Customized reticle options
3) ATN Thor LT Thermal Rifle Scope
The ATN Thor LT Thermal Rifle Scope is lightweight for easy balancing of your rifle. The 30mm tube is made from hardened aluminum alloy and is designed to withstand the pressure of high-caliber weapons hence making it recoil-resistant.
It has an internal Li-Ion battery of 10+ hours. It operates at temperatures of -28 degrees Celsius to 48 degrees Celsius.
The heat detectors make it possible to see targets at night, fog, smoke, or heavy vegetation. You can make a shot by just moving the zero reticles to your first point of impact.
It has a traditional ergonomic design with an eyepiece that gives a traditional scope feel with an eye relief of 3″. It is also equipped with an HD display of 1280 x 720p.
Key features
- It is lightweight and easy to mount
- One-shot zero
- Low power consumption
- Length: 11.5 x 2.2x 2.2 inches
- Weight: 1.4 pounds
- Magnification: 3-6X
- Included accessories; eyecup, USB cable, scope cover, and lens tissue
- Eye relief of 90mm
- Weather-resistant
- Has a 3D Accelerometer
4) Trijicon Teo Reap-IR Mini Therma
Made in the USA, the Trijicon Teo Reap-IR Mini Therma Teo IRMS-35 Reap-IR Mini Therma has a reticle digital readout on the lower-left corner of the screen. The scope is made of a 6061 aircraft-grade aluminum material that provides extra strength and durability.
The stadiametric range helps a shooter estimate the distance of the target. It also has a multi-directional thumbstick control that is rugged, and weatherproof. It has a 640×480 thermal sensor to see targets in darkness, smoke, or foggy areas. The easy zero helps to get targets faster.
Key features
- Weight: 4.47pounds
- Length: 11.61 x 9.61 x 4.8 inches
- GASIR objective lens
- Manual user focus control
- Nitrogen filled for fogproofing performance
- Waterproof and shockproof
- Included eye guard
- Stadiametric rangefinder
- 60 Hz magnification
- 1x optical/8x digital display
- Reticle digital readouts
- Edge detect mode
- Picatinny rail interface for easy mounting
- Has a rugged battery compartment
- Micron technology
5) ATN OTS-HD, Thermal Viewer
The ATN OTS-HD thermal viewer has a built-in rangefinder that helps a shooter detect a target quickly. The scope has a 640×480 pixel HD resolution that helps a shooter detect an animal’s thermal heat at night, in foggy areas or bushes. The E-zoom helps focus on targets at a distance with clarity.
It has an E-compass that helps you find your way while hiking or hunting. The 3D Gyroscope helps provide clear pictures and reduce natural handshakes while focusing. The scope allows high-resolution video recording and photos and also WI-FI streaming. This helps you share your hunting trip with family or friends.
It also has a shortcut menu to be able to retrieve your most-used commands. The important scales of the 3D rotation are found at the edge of the screen. This prevents interference with your vision.
Key features
- Has E-zoom, E-compass, and E-barometer
- 3D Gyroscope and E-compass
- Has an OTS-HD next-gen barometer that gives you precise data to dial in everything
- Has a WI-FI and Bluetooth module
- Can record HD video
- It is weatherproof
- Length: 8.81 x 3.14 x 3.16 inches
- Weight: 1.85 pounds
- Sensor: 640 x 480
- An objective lens of 50mm
- Magnification of 2.25X
- Eye relief of 65mm
- Has a MicroSD card from 4 to 64GB
- It is powered by 4 AA batteries, 1.5V
- Has a three-year warranty
6) Leupold LTO Tracker 2 Thermal Viewer
The Leupold LTO Tracker 2 Thermal Viewer has a persistent performance and is suitable for competition, hunting, or on the battlefield. The scope is very light, can sense heat on a target and blood trails during the day or night, and will help you survey your surroundings, or even track a game.
It has a detection distance of 750 yards. It has six color palettes, suitable for any environment, suitable for harsh terrain/weather and its aluminum and gorilla glass display makes it durable.
The scope has a Beacon mode which allows the user to recalibrate the screen to suit daytime use. The scope is 100% waterproof, fog-proof, and shockproof. It has a digital zoom of 7X.
Key features
- Length: 7.34 x 2.62 x 4.25 inches
- Weight: 1.15 pounds
- It is powered by 1 CR123A battery
- Has a high-resolution of 390×390 display
- Has a gorilla glass display
- Six different thermal color palette options
- 7x digital zoom
- Field of view: 18x
- Dimmable display
- Manual gain control
- Compact design
- Operating temperature: -40 Fahrenheit degrees to 572 Fahrenheit degrees
Choosing the Best Thermal Riflescopes for Coyote Hunting
The zoom function
Sometimes, the target is too far away or too small. Choose a riflescope that can help you zoom in closer to enlarge the target and get an accurate shot. Any coyote hunter needs to acquire the target with precise accuracy. Some scopes zoom the target eight times while others zoom it seven times.
The zoom function is mostly found in the front lens. It is recommended to choose a scope with a higher magnification power but keep in mind that the higher the magnification power, the higher the price. In the end, the price will be worth the value of the scope
Battery usage
Coyotes are mainly found in mountains and forests; environments where you can recharge your devices. With this in mind, it is crucial to choose a scope that can retain power for hours. Some scopes keep power for more than ten hours and others some up to eighteen hours. Choose a scope that is battery-saving. Consider replacing your batteries when they start losing energy or getting old.
The record function
Everyone likes to keep memories of the fun times during expeditions and trips. The good news is that thermal rifle scopes have the record and stream functions to capture the hunting experience. There are two types of functions.
The first makes it possible to stream real-time images to any phone connected to the scope. The second makes it possible to record the hunting experience on an SD card that is inside the scope.
Sensors
Choose a scope that is fogproof and that can see in darkness. Coyotes are mostly active at night. You, therefore, need a scope that has impressive sensors to quickly zero in on a target without having to spot it physically. Choose a scope that can sense a target from a distance.
Built-in rangefinder
This helps you to get the precise range where the target is. It gives the shooter the exact location of your target. The long shooting rangefinder works hand in hand with the zoom lens and ballistic calculator to give an accurate position of the target. Invest in a scope with a built-in rangefinder to get excellent performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can thermal scopes be used during the day?
Yes, they can. The specialized lens identifies the infrared light the object gives off and a detector uses this energy to form a clear image of the target. Infrared energy travels in daylight as it does in the nighttime. Hence the lens can be used at any time.
- Why are thermal scopes so expensive?
The scopes require advanced technology and materials while manufacturing them. This makes the prices higher than other rifle scopes.
- Can thermal scopes see through the fog?
Yes, they can. The infrared light can travel through fog though its potency will be minimized. The distance traveled by the infrared light will be shorter since mist interferes with the heat energy. Despite the foggy weather reducing the distance, a shooter can still see through the fog.
- Can thermal scopes see through walls?
No, they cannot. Infrared light cannot go through walls but will instead be reflected. The vision is said to be impaired.
Final Thoughts
Most thermal scopes have extraordinary features that are perfect for hunting. To avoid purchasing impersonated products, consider the specifications, features, factors as well and the model of the rifle scopes.
Thermal rifle scopes are perfect for day and night hunting and prevent wastage by helping a shooter hit the target with accuracy. The advantage of using thermal scopes is the additional security of the surveillance camera and a recoil mechanism to keep your scope shockproof and durable.
The scopes are perfect for hunters who love night trips, tourism, and zooming things. We hope the suggestions given on the best thermal rifle scopes for coyote hunting will help choose a scope that will give you value for your money.
Related article: 7 Best Cheap Night Vision Riflescopes Review