Anyone with livestock will tell you that coyotes can be a serious nuisance. They’re smart, persistent, and since they often work as a pack they can take down animals much larger than themselves including cattle, goats, and sheep. It’s also quite common for them to go after household pets.
One of the quickest and most effective ways to remove this threat from your livestock and property is shoot the little bastards.
Since coyotes tend to blend in with their surroundings a good scope can be of immense help, especially in low-light situations. Here are some of the best scopes for coyote hunting. These will work with anything from a .22 to an AR-15.
Top 5 Rated Scope for Coyote Hunting
| Name of Product | Objective Lens diameter | Magnification | Reticle | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
   | 32mm | 2.5-10x | FFP | $$$ |
  | 32mm | 2-7x | BDC 150 | $$$ |
  | 40mm | 3-9x | Firedot TMR | $$$ |
  | 56mm | 3-12x | V-brite | $$$ |
  | 42mm | 4.6x | 6 types of reticle(specified in individual review) | $$$ |
Best Scope for Coyote Hunting with an AR-15: Vortex Viper HS-T
OK it might be overkill, but this is one of the top scopes for any type of hunting. The Viper HS-T has a VMR-1 reticle that is perfect to provide accurate shots at extended ranges. This makes it ideal for coyote hunting as they’re incredibly difficult to sneak up on.
Its XR coatings and multi-coated lens results in improved light gathering capability and protection. Additional features include a fully waterproof single piece tube and exposed target-style turrets for accurate finger-adjustable clicks.
Viper’s riflescope consists of a one-piece tube which is O-ring sealed and filled with inert gas (argon) to prevent moisture in the tube of the scope therefore preventing it from fogging up. Apart from that, it is waterproof and shockproof as the lens are tightly secured in position so it can withstand recoil and strong impacts.
This predator hunting scope is constructed from aircraft-grade aluminum with hard anodized finish and low glare matte, making it extremely tough and sturdy. The low glare matte finish minimizes glare especially during a bright sunny day. It has a scratch-resistant coating that protects the exterior lenses from scratch, dust and dirt.
Not only that, it uses a first focal plane (FFP) reticle where when the magnification changes, the size of the reticle will increase. This reticle comes in handy as it keeps a same relationship between reticle position and target position despite being zoomed in between magnifications. Therefore, it is easier to adjust trajectory over longer distances. Also, the reticle has an illuminated red dot that is beneficial during low light conditions.
This product has a magnification power of 2.5-10x so you can adjust the size of your object by zooming in and out according to your preference and the distance of your target. The objective lens diameter on the other hand is 32mm thick.
Furthermore, the turret measurements of this varmint hunting scope allows accurate and fast dialing of shots hence you can easily make adjustments on the windage and elevation settings. Also, this product comes with a CRZ (Customizable Rotational Stop) zero stop feature which prevents the dialing of more than one rotation below your zero hence this scope holds zero well.
The extra-low dispersion (XD) glass of this product increases the resolution and color fidelity of your sight picture hence producing the sharp, vivid and crisp images of your target. Therefore with such clear picture, you are able to aim better when hunting. The lens on the other hand are multi-coated to increase the light transmission in it thereby providing maximum brightness to your scope.
Features:
- CRZ zero stop feature
- FFP reticle
- Extra low dispersion glass
Nikon P-Rimfire BDC 150 Riflescope
P-Rimfire features Nikon Eco-Glass lenses which are made without lead or arsenic and coated with multiple layers of anti-reflective compounds. The lenses are also multi-coated to improve the light transmissions in the scope thus producing a clear and bright image of your target.
Apart from that, it utilizes the BDC 150 reticle which has unique open circle aiming points from 50 to 150 yards. It is especially designed to match the trajectory of .22lr rimfire cartridges as well as provide bullet drop compensation similar to that of other Nikon BDC reticle scopes. Also, the reticle is clear as the crosshairs are thin and easy to see when aiming
This product offers a precise ¼ inch at 50 yards target-style hand-turn adjustments which ensures quick and easy turret adjustment and dialing. With this, you can also adjust the windage and elevation simply by using the turrets. These elevation and windage adjustments has a zero reset feature in which the turrets can be zeroed by lifting up and rotating it rather than changing its position.
Moreover, this product has a solid construction and build quality therefore it is durable and can withstand strong recoil and impact, making it extremely shockproof. The scope is also waterproof and fogproof thus it can withstand any sort of weather and temperature when hunting.
The magnification on the other hand comes with magnification power of 2-7x in which you can zoom your target image from a minimum factor of 2 to a maximum factor of 7 meanwhile the objective lens diameter of this product is 32mm. Besides that, it has clear glass hence giving you a clear and crisp sight picture of your target.
Furthermore, this predator hunting scope holds zero well and is easy to sight in. Its open tower adjustment makes it easy to re-zero according to your preference. Not only that, this product has a great eye relief so you can get a full viewing angle of your target when hunting. It also can be used with a Nikon Spot-On app that calculates the ballistic range of your target so you can estimate the yardage with ease.
Features
- Nikon Eco-glass lenses
- BDC 150 reticle
- Used with Nikon Spot-On app
Leupold 115370 Mark AR MOD Riflescope
This varmint hunting scope features a fire-dot TMR reticle. The Tactical Milling Reticle (TMR) expands on the existing mil-dot reticle to allow enhanced ranging and shooting precision in which its subtensions apply from the center of the reticle to the center of the first dot of your reticle. It has a green illuminated dot with adjustable brightness. Therefore, it is great to use under low light conditions.
Apart from that, this fire-dot TMR reticle turns off automatically after a certain period of inactivity hence you can cut cost on the battery as it won’t drain out easily. This scope has a fantastic eye relief that gives you an excellent view of your target as well as in terms of safety, it provides a safe distance between your eye and the scope incase of a recoil.
Furthermore, this scope is multi-coated (4 coatings) to enhance light transmissions in the scope thus providing a bright and high clarity sight picture of your target. A clear glass and great optics also results in an excellent sight picture so you can aim well and take a shot with improved accuracy and precision.
The tube of this product is filled with second generation argon and krypton gas hence improving its waterproof and fogproof performance so it can be used under any weather conditions. The magnification on the other hand has a power of 3-9x with an objective lens diameter of 40mm. Thus, you can utilize the high magnification power to hunt coyote especially at longer ranges.
Moreover, the turrets can be instantly reset to zero with ease so you can easily dial and make windage and elevation adjustments before taking a shot. The turrets also gives nice audible clicks so you are aware of the yardage for instance as the adjustments are being made.
Also, this scope holds zero well even after many rounds of shooting. It is easy to sight in on the other hand and ensures your shots are of tight groupings so you can maintain shots of high consistency and accuracy.
Features:
- Firedot TMR reticle
- Quantum optical system
- Instant rest to zero turrets
Vortex Optics Crossfire II Hoghunter Riflescope
Hoghunter’s scope consist of a hard anodized single aircraft-grade aluminum tube. This one-piece tube is nitrogen purged and O-ring sealed to ensure the best waterproof and fog-proof performance as all moisture is removed from the scope. Hence, it can be used for any weather conditions.
Furthermore, this product is fully multi-coated with anti-reflective coatings to increase the light transmissions on all air-to-glass surface. This especially comes in handy during low light conditions as this feature will ensure that maximum light is gathered to brighten your sight picture.
Equipped with a V-brite reticle, it has an illuminated center dot for better low-light performance as well as a second focal plane which maintains the same size of reticle when magnification is applied however you should always be aware of the compensation for bullet drop.
The reticle is bright and of high clarity hence can be used when hunting coyote at nighttime. The illuminated dot of this scope comes in two colors which are red and green. Apart from that, this product has clear optics and ability to focus reticle so you can not only get a good sight picture of your target but also improve your aiming during hunting.
Despite being a little too heavy compared to the standard scopes, this scope offers precise yardage distances from 15 yards to infinity hence reducing the parallax at longer ranges. This ensures the accuracy of your shot at longer ranges when hunting. Also, this product comes with a fast-focus eyepiece that allows for quick and easy reticle focusing so you can get a better aim at your target.
Moreover, the magnification power of this product is 3-12x which will give you a good field of view of your target and an enlarged sight picture especially at longer ranges. Besides that, this product holds zero well even after many rounds as well as is easy to sight in to get an accurate shot.
Features:
- V-brite illuminated reticle
- Fast-focus eyepiece
- Fully multi-coated single tube
Sightmark Photon XT Digital Night Vision Riflescope
Update: Sightmark’s digital night vision scope is equipped with a built-in sound recording system and invisible LED IR illuminator. Featuring a one-shot zero function, it comes with a 2x digital magnification and has a Wifi remote view using its high-tech pulsar stream vision.
This scope for coyote hunting is equipped with a digital reticle with option of 6 reticle styles and with three different colors which are white, red and green. These digital reticle options include 2 crossbow reticle if you are crossbow hunting, 2 duplex reticle for varmint or coyote hunting, a mil-dot reticle for range-finding and estimating holdover and a German-style reticle. All these reticles have illuminated dots in which their brightness can be adjusted.
Apart from that, it is specifically designed for nighttime use which has low light conditions however it also can be used during the daytime. It has a high resolution display thus producing a high clarity and crisp sight picture. Also, it has a built in 810nm LED IR illuminator that contributes to its bright optics as well as is resistant to bright light exposure.
This product is durable and has a solid construction. The setup of this scope on the other hand is a little complicated at the beginning nevertheless you can watch tutorial videos online to guide you. It is easy to sight in this scope with simple digital windage and elevation adjustment and it also holds zero well.
Moreover, this unit powers on instantly and silently hence not providing any noise that will attract the attention of your coyote to be aware of your presence. The adjustment button and knobs also respond quickly with ease. Besides that, the extra feature on this scope is the video output button which enables video recording when you are hunting.
Not only that, this scope is shockproof and fog-proof as it is equipped with O-ring seals and purged with inert gases to prevent moisture in your scope. Also, it has a magnification power of 4.6x so you can get a magnified image of your target which comes in handy especially when hunting at longer ranges.
Features:
- Video recording feature
- 6 digital reticle options
- High resolution display
- Built in LED illuminator
Key Considerations when Purchasing a Scope for Coyote Hunting:
- Magnification power.
- Type of reticle.
- Objective lens diameter.
Magnification
The magnification power depends on the minimum and maximum zoom factor of how much the sight picture of your target is enlarged. Magnification is essential especially when you plan on hunting varmints are longer ranges.
The key to choosing the ideal magnification depends on your environment, shooting conditions and distance from your scope to your target. The right amount of magnification is important so that you can get a wide field of view and an enlarged image as well. Therefore, you can improve the accuracy of your shot during hunting.
Type of Reticle
The type of reticle varies based on the aiming points and dot or crosshair placement in the open circle of your reticle. These dots or crosshairs displays the position of your target so you can get a better aim at your target.
Different types of reticle have specific purposes during hunting such as the BDC reticle offers unique aiming points that improve your precision and provide bullet drop compensation. Others on the other hand are illuminated which comes in handy during low light condition. Hence, a bright and clear reticle is an important feature to look for in your scope.
Objective Lens Diameter
Scopes that have large objective lens diameter would make a great addition to your varmint (coyote) rifle. Although it would be a little heavy, a larger diameter objective lens gathers more light in your scope that will result in a bright and clear sight picture. Hence, your image quality will be maintained especially under low light conditions which is mostly the time the coyotes come out.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, choosing the top rated scope for coyote hunting is no easy task. Many important factors should be taken into consideration to choose the right scope well-suited to you and worth your investment. Getting yourself a backpack for your comfort when you go out to hunt is a must. I hope that my review will help you to make the best choice!
Enjoyed the review. My only issue is that $$$ doesn’t tell us anything. The Vortex PST is over $500 and the Nikon under $175, certainly not apples to apples comparison.