Hunting is an exciting sport that some people enjoy doing. It’s a sport that gives you an adrenaline rush.
Night hunting can be even more exciting because of the activity levels of animals. You are more likely to be successful when hunting at night.
However, night hunting can also be challenging. You need to hunt in poor visibility conditions that could make it hard to detect animals and identify their whereabouts.
Here is a simple guide if you are wondering how to be a better night hunter.
How To Be A Better Night Hunter – Simple Guide To Follow
Follow this guide to ensure that you become a successful night hunter. Night hunting indeed comes with many challenges. However, when done correctly, night hunting can be a rewarding experience.
Remember to follow the below tips to ensure you get the best night hunting experience.
Speak With Other Experienced Hunters
Experience can always help you see things from a different angle. It’s the same with hunting. Those with a lot of experience in night hunting will be able to give you an insight into this whole subject.
Experienced hunters will also have unique stories of their hunting trips in the past. Their encounters will teach you a few lessons on hunting successfully at night.
They will give you tips and advice which you will not be able to learn otherwise. You can join them on their hunting adventures and learn the techniques and a few tricks they use to become successful.
Equip Yourself With The Right Gear
Night hunting is ideal for stalking your prey in the dark and getting close enough for a clean shot. However, none of this is possible if you don’t have the right hunting gear.
Here are some of the essential hunting gear that you should have.
The right ammunition
As much as you need a good air rifle for hunting, you must also use the correct ammunition. For instance, you might need to use a heavy bullet that will penetrate through the animal’s hide, especially when hunting deer.
On the other hand, a lighter bullet will be sufficient if you’re hunting animals like rabbits and squirrels.
A good light source
Will help you see the path ahead. However, it could also alert the prey of your presence.
Therefore, you need to use a light source suitable for night hunting. Examples are red-dot sight or night vision sights – more on this later. These lights give you good vision at night without giving away your position.
Other hunting gear
Here is a list of hunting equipment you should carry at night.
- Weapon – Rifle or crossbow with ammunition or arrows
- Quiver
- Knife
- Rangefinder
- Flashlights or night vision lights
- Food and water
- First aid kit
- Night vision binoculars
- Camera
Find A Suitable Location And Have Patience
At night, it’s difficult to see your prey. Therefore, you need to find a suitable location with a good view of the open terrain. A clear and broad view will be advantageous in your search for prey.
Even after finding a good spot, getting your first prey could take a long time. That is why hunters need to have patience.
Another critical fact to note is to know when to go hunting. There are times when large numbers of animals roam around, while at other times, there are fewer. So, it’s vital to plan your hunting trip at a time when there are a lot of animals out there.
Use The Correct Lighting
Lighting plays a vital role in night hunting. You can’t use just about any light source available. For best results, you need to use the correct lighting, apt for night hunting. Animals are very swift runners; you can easily miss the game due to insufficient lighting.
Many hunters make the mistake of using white light due to its sharpness. However, white light is inappropriate for hunting as it scares away the game, including foxes, bobcats, and coyotes. Therefore, these animals won’t come close enough for you to get a good shot.
The recommendation is to use red light, which softens the bright light and reflects a soft glow that illuminates the animal’s eyes. Target the light a little above the animal’s head so it won’t run away.
Use Night Vision
There are several night vision scopes in the market if you can afford them for your hunting trip. These include night vision scopes, riflescopes, or thermal imaging devices.
These are devices that are specifically designed for night hunting. These devices make things clear and bright in low-light conditions.
However, these devices are costly, so many hunters avoid buying them. However, if you are a frequent night-hunter, you should consider investing in these devices.
The thermal scope is ideal to use if you are chasing the game. The thermal heat mapping in these devices increases your visibility.
The rifle scope is perfect when the hunter and prey are both static. It needs only a tiny amount of light to increase the visibility of the game.
The night vision scope gives you a large field of view and is tough to withstand heavy recoil.
Hunting Call
Hunting calls are an excellent way to attract prey. It is a method that has been in use for thousands of years. In hunting calls, hunters mimic the sound of other animals to call the game.
It is an excellent technique for hunting at night due to limited visibility and concealed prey. Traditional methods use mouth calls that professionals used at the time.
However, now you also get digital call devices that are useful in this regard too.
The right call will bring the game closer. So, as soon as it is in sight, all you need to do is to aim and shoot.
Dress Appropriately
Dressing appropriately is crucial for successful night hunting. You need to wear dark clothing that will blend with your surroundings.
You could also wear camouflage face paint to conceal your identity even more. It will keep you from being noticed by animals, thereby not signaling your presence.
Ensure you wear comfortable clothes and shoes, so you don’t make a noise while stalking prey.
Use Scent-Free Products
Animals are extremely sensitive to smells, more so than humans. It is their way of detecting predators. Therefore, you must ensure not to hide your position while hunting at night.
You can use scent-free soap to remove all traces of human scent in your body. You can also use scent-free detergent to reduce odor when washing your clothes.
Another product is a scent-free deodorant that you can apply to your underarms to reduce your scent further.
Final Thoughts
Hunting at night is an excellent way to catch prey, as it is when you’re most likely to see them. Becoming a better hunter at night is not challenging if you follow this simple guide.
Make sure you are well-equipped with gear specifically meant for use when hunting at night. Using the correct equipment with the right tactics will help you be successful in your night-hunting trips.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Better To Hunt At Night?
It’s better to hunt at night as it is when you’re most likely to see animals and get most of your kills. Many hunters recommend nighttime as the best time to hunt specific prey, including deer.
Why Do Hunters Use Red Lights At Night?
Red lights are suitable for hunting at night as they provide better eyeshine, which helps locate animals better than other colors.
