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Best color light for night hunting coyote?

Boss21

Junior Member
So I'm just starting to hunt coyote and was looking to do some night hunting. I just don't know what color light to use I here lots from red and green and also white light.. With my little experience and somewhat horrible eye sight I was looking at a white light for the extra reach and the fact I have a streamlight that dims, but I also don't want to spoke any yotes off iv seem some hunt using white light just not sure plus on a budget any help?? Also I mainly hunt out of a platform stand that's a ways up. And I hunt with a savage axis .223
 

Bigslam51

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
25,778
127
Stark County
I'd go with red or green and stay away from white light. They can be called in during early mornings and in the evening also. Try using a fawn distress this time of year.
 

hickslawns

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
39,720
248
Ohio
Welcome to TOO. Think I would recommend first or last light myself. When I night hunt them, it is with a snow on the ground and good moon.
 

Boss21

Junior Member
Now I just read that the human eye is more sensitive to the green light so would that mean I would be able to see it better at further distances. I'm just afraid is I use a red light and can pick up the eyes but not have enough light to make the shot through my scope I don't know only done a little coon hunting at night before and was using a friends light and the head lamp had a red filter on it. I could see it but again don't think there would be enough light to make the shot through my scope
 

hickslawns

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
39,720
248
Ohio
I use white. One reason. I won't take a shot unless I know what I am shooting. Red/green simply reduce visibility quite a bit. Red light I have used and could never make out more than the eyes. Is that enough for you to know what you are shooting? Wasn't for me. Guess I would rather spook off a coyote with a white light than not be able to see my target. I have a pretty dang good scope with 30mm tube 95+% light transmission. Still not enough. Still not a true night vision scope. I cannot personally justify dropping thousands of dollars into a night vision scope or IR scope. Just me.
 

giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
Welcome! I've never used them, but I've heard lots of good things about green laser light for night hunting. Seems like you can find the green laser lights pretty cheap and it'd be worth trying. They will run from white light 90% of the time. I'd start by researching the benefits from using a green light over the other colors, then I'd find something to fit your budget to get you in the door. Only your eyes will tell you how your eyes are going to react to it, thats not something any of us can answer.
 

giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
Let me change the wording on white light a little bit. For an affordable light, they will run from it 90% of the time. You have to have a REALLY bright white light for them to not react to it by running. For some reason once the light it so bright, they don't seem to be able to see it. I've got a couple pretty bright hand held flashlights (800+ lumens) and a crazy bright light bar on my truck, and when the light is directly pointed at the animals it doesn't even reflect light from their eyes. When this happens, they don't seem to react much to the light. Almost as if it blinds them or something. Not sure what happens honestly, but its nice that animals don't jump in front of my truck anymore.
 

Boss21

Junior Member
True and with dogs that run loose on landowners property I would rather be safe than sorry I could try using the lightning have and see where it goes from there the white light won't spoke them off before I get the shot off hopefully
 

Bigslam51

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
25,778
127
Stark County
I also want to add that I don't like hunting yotes at night, I'm like Phil in that all I could make out was the eyes. This past season my buddy and I called in a few at first light. I'd just rather hunt them at dawn or dusk.
 

Boss21

Junior Member
Just ordered a couple lights one red one green will test them out and see how they work they both have cree bulbs in them so hopefully good lights