Top 7 Best Scopes For Hunting Coyotes Of 2023: Complete Buying Guide, Expert Opinions, And Reviews

Preparation for the hunt is about more than getting your guns and ammunition checked. It also includes choosing the best rifle scope with the right features and qualities to give you an edge over coyotes. 

That’s why I have reviewed the best scopes for coyote hunting that are currently on the market. 

 From top-of-the-line scope models to budget-friendly units, these reviews will help you find the perfect rifle scope for your next hunting trip.

Top 7 Best Scopes For A Seamless Coyote Hunting Experience

1. Bushnell Optics

Generally, Bushnell tools are made with durable materials that last for decades. The Bushnell AR Optics scope is not an exception to this great feature. This device is designed to make your coyote hunting experience seamless in all possible ways.

A three-fold magnification of the coyote from the Bushnell lens is more than you will need to have a clear view of the field and focus on the moving prey.

When combined with a red dot, the scope lens is quality and clear enough to target a coyote.

Other distinctive features include its ambidextrous design- An attribute that allows the device to be used with both right and left hand without a hassle.

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Cons

2. Vortex Optics Crossfire II

A great rifle scope should have maximum zoom, wide FOV, and image quality. The Vortex Crossfire II is one of the few rifle scopes that maximize almost all of these great features. Experts widely accept it as the best vortex scope for hunting.

Vortex scope is versatile for almost all hunting. There should be no shooting range that wouldn’t be covered by this sçope. The magnification of its 40mm objective lens can be adjusted between 4-12 readings.

It is also built to withstand the wild. Vortex features a single piece tube constructed with anodized aero-grade aluminum that makes it durable, shock, water, and fog proof.

With its adjustable objective for accurate image focus and anti-reflective lens for bright and clear views, the Vortex crossfire II will surely take your hunting experience to a better level.

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3. Sightmark Wraith HD Digital

Digital night vision is cutting-edge revolutionary technology in the riflescope and hunting industry. Its ability to convert the aimed object to an electric signal that can produce a sharp image is top-notch and relevant for a seamless coyote hunting experience.

Sightmark Wraith HD digital rifle scope is one of the devices that utilize this technology. It features a 50mm objective lens with a magnification that ranges between 4-32× and an HD sensor that can produce an image of up to 1920-1080 pixels. 

Unlike traditional rifle scope that produce foggy images during the day, the scope works perfectly both day and night. You can easily hit the left arrow to toggle between both modes. 

At night, the 850 nm infrared illuminator enhances the night images for a clear field of view up to 200 yards. When it comes to targeting your sighted coyote, you have the luxury of 10 different reticles and nine color choices that can match your needs.

Another perk is its capacity to record your hunting experience with the HD image capture and video recording functions. Cool right?! A day in the wild with the Sightmark Wraith HD digital rifle scope will surely deliver a positive hunting experience.

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Cons

4. Nikon Prostaff P3 Predator

The Nikon ProStaff P3 is a complete and versatile scope for coyote hunting.  It features a 40mm long 4-12× magnifying objective lens with a reticle that is well adjusted for every bullet drop.

Nikon optics are known to have the best predator scopes. The ProStaff P3 lens is multi-coated for up to 98 percent light transmission between the object and the eye. This allows for a crystal clear image even when hunting coyotes at night. With this, you won’t have to worry about low light conditions even on a hazy or foggy day.

Other noteworthy features include the zero-reset turret with a stretched string tuning knob for quick adjustment.

Generally, Nikon takes pride in its scope and optics. So, an investment in this product is guaranteed to give you the best value for its price. 

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5. Night Owl Optics NightShot

If you have been searching for a perfect on-budget answer to your hunting needs, Nightshift riflescope is what you need.

The Night Owl rifle scope is specially made for the dark without disregard for daylight vision. It features a 3× magnification over a range of 100 to 200 yards that will produce a high resolution 640 by 480 display of your targeted prey. With the in-built infrared illuminator, night turns to a day. 

Well regarded as one of the best scope for coyote hunting, the body of night owl scope is sturdy as well as aesthetic. It is well designed to withstand rifle recoils of up to .30 caliber and non-magnums. It also includes a weatherproof casing to protect the lens. 

With the Night Owl’s compact, lightweight design and excellent optical quality, it is undoubtedly the best night vision scope under a low budget for coyotes. 

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6. ATN Thor 4

The Thor 4  ATN is a digital, easy to use a riflescope with 21st-century features that make coyote hunting very easy. Features such as the ballistic calculator nullify factors like wind, temperature, humidity, angle to the targeted animal and ensure that you hit them on every occasion. 

The optics are made up of next-generation ultra-sensitive sensors capable of capturing crystal clear images with good resolutions even in the dark. This feature combined both the dynamic and adjustable potentials of the smart Mil-Dot Reticle to make sure you never miss a short at the furthest range.

Also, the thermal imaging scope can work both day and night. It has an adjustable magnification of 1.25-5x. Your hunting experience just got more adventurous. Thor 4 not only records your hunting videos to an SD card, but it also streams the videos to your mobile. Moreover, this scope is equipped with a Li-ion battery that lasts for over 18 hours of continuous operation.

Other notable features are the 30mm standard ring mount, comfortable eye-rings, and many more make the high-end scope worth its price many times.

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7. Hawke Vantage IR

Hawke Vantage scope combines the best in performance and price to produce a sturdy riflescope with clear optics for hunting coyotes and other prey in the wild. This IR version has 2-7 x object magnification through a 32 mm diameter objective lens.  The lens is coated with 11 different layers for clarity.

The riflescope offers several benefits, but it is exceptionally interesting for use in coyote hunting. With its 4x magnification and robust design, the Hawke Vantage solves problems with recoil, along with providing your shooting experience with excellent precision. Also, its image quality is good as compared to other riflescopes in the same price range.

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How To Choose a Rifle Scope For Coyote Hunting

 In this buyer’s guide for the best scope for coyote hunting, you will learn how to choose a good scope for coyote hunting and what features to consider. 

Searching through the vast number of rifle scope brands could be intimidating to the uneducated and uncertain. With so many brands and models on the market today, not to mention factors like magnification power, size, distance, weight, etc., it could be overwhelming. 

While it is hard to pick a specific scope for coyote hunting, consider making your choice on these main factors.

1. Your Budget

The type of scope you will buy should not be based on what is supposedly fashionable at the moment but on the features that will suit your specific needs.

Different scopes in the market come with varying functions. However, it’s crucial to buy from a reputable brand with quality products for both their high-end and budget buy products.

When you buy a product manufactured by a reputable brand, you can be sure that it will be a high-quality unit at an affordable price.

2. Magnification and Lens diameter

A lens with low or no magnification defeats the purpose of a rifle scope for hunting coyotes and other prey.

The extent of object magnification is often inscribed on the rifle scope as a “number” then “×” followed by the objective lens diameter in millimeters.

For example, a 4×50 rifle scope means that the object viewed through the scope will be magnified four times. And a 50 mm diameter ensures enough light is transmitted from the targeted animal to form a clear image. The higher the diameter, the more light can be collected from the targeted object and its surroundings.

You should also note that some scopes have an adjustable magnification rather than a fixed value. This implies that they can be adjusted to different magnification levels within its range. For example, a 4-12× scope has its maximum magnification at 12 and a minimum at 4× the object.

Adjustable lenses come in handy when you need more brightness than magnification, especially at night. This is because as magnification increases, brightness diminishes. A fixed scope will not allow you to vary the magnification to increase image brightness.

3. Field of view

Good scope for coyote hunting and other animals should have a field of vision that is wide enough and at the same time gives a close view of the game.

Field of view is what you can see around your target at 100 yards through the rifle scope. And as a rule of thumb, As the magnification level increases, the field of view decreases. If a hunter wants to see more area and not just the target, they will focus less on magnification and more on the field of view.

However, you should avoid a scope that tunnels in and out as magnification is increased. The effect will cause a feeling of “tunnel vision” while looking through the scope. This effect is known as the tunneling phenomenon.  Targeting prey with this type of scope will be aberrant.

4. Reticles

The reticle is the pattern used to aim at the target when looking through a rifle scope. The reticle is located in the center of the circle or dot and is used to aim or adjust your aim, especially when shooting long distances. It comes in different varieties ranging from simple crosshair to BDC reticles that compensate for bullet drop. Other types are the German reticle, Modern range finder, Mil-dot, and so on. 

Reticle designs can be confusing since they come in all shapes, sizes, and styles. Taking a simple approach to your reticle design can ensure success when you are on the hunt.

Also, modern reticles are often illuminated for use in low-light or daylight environments. Illumination is provided with a battery. Infrared illuminated reticles help in targeting coyotes when hunting at night.  

5. Bullet drop compensation (BDC)

Riflescopes with bullet drop compensation have a pattern that accounts for how far bullets drop over a distance in their object targeting. 

Such reticles have different aiming points under the main crosshair that gives a reasonably accurate estimation of the shooting bullet’s deviation.

With a BDC riflescope, it is easy to aim at your target. Without having to perform any calculations or adjustments, there are different aiming points and markings that can allow you to estimate  varying distances easily.

6. Parallax compensation

Parallax error is the apparent movement of objects and reticles when you move your head or eye. The error occurs when the axis of the eyeball and the reticle axis are not parallel. This is called transverse parallax error. Longitudinal parallax error occurs because of movement in the eye as it looks across the reticle.

A scope with parallax compensation aims to correct this error by aligning the image focal plane with that of the reticle. This happens when the light rays transmit, refract, and stop precisely on the reticle focal plane.

This feature is necessary for concise targeting while hunting coyotes in the wild since you are doing a lot of head and body movement. 

7. Turret

Have you seen a little knob on or beside a rifle scope with graduations? Yes, that is the turret. The often black adjustable knob is a crucial component of a scope. It’s used for zeroing an optic, adjusting for bullet drop compensation, and parallax adjustments.

An ideal turret should be at a visible part of the scope, easy to adjust at your fingertips. This ensures that you can accurately compensate for parallax and BDC even when you’re on the run.

Also, turrets can be graduated in Milliradian (MIL) or Minute of angle (MOA). MOA is a measurement in degrees; an MOA is 1/60th of a degree, while a MIL is 10 centimeters at 100 meters. 

Although MIL is fast gaining recognition scope users, there are no right or wrong way for turret measurements and adjustment, and the choice is based on preferences and conveniences.

FAQs

1. What are the best times to hunt coyotes?

Hunting at night or in the early morning hours is one way to have a better chance of seeing a coyote because that’s when predators are on the prowl. Moreover, the first and last light of the day is also primetime to hunt.

2. Where is the best place to hunt a coyote?

You can hunt predators in about anywhere from far forest to farms as far as you have access to hunt there. During the dark, coyotes are more likely to be seen in the open, but as the daylight appears, they tend to find solace in the thick bush and woods. This knowledge can help guide you on how to hunt successfully.

3. Can you repair a rifle scope?

A good rifle scope may be expensive but last for a long time. However, in a few cases, you might have to do some routine maintenance of your scope. These include regular lens cleaning with alcohol and protecting it from moisture and dust.

Also, avoid using oils that might damage the interior. In the event of a scope breaking during your hunting trip, you can have it repaired by the manufacturer as they have the right tools and capabilities to do so.

Conclusion

After you check out our reviews, guides, and recommendations, now is the best time for you to buy the best scope for coyote hunting. No matter if you are an experienced or newbie, if you want to buy the best rifle scope for coyote hunting, this is the best guide for you. Keep shooting!