The best thermal scope for coyote hunting
Quick answer: the AGM RattlerV2 35-384 ($1,795) is the best thermal scope for coyote hunting, with a 384x288 sensor that identifies a coyote farther out than the budget picks. On a budget, the RattlerV2 25-256 ($995) is the value pick owners run on coyotes inside 300 yards, and the wide-view 19-256 ($795) is the best scanner for finding them. All three are covered in full on our best thermal scope guide.
Coyote hunting at night is two jobs: scanning wide to find heat, then identifying the animal and placing the shot, usually inside 300 yards. That rewards a thermal with a sensitive sensor to separate a coyote from a cool background, enough resolution to confirm what you are looking at, and a field of view wide enough to sweep a field. Here are three in-stock picks and how to choose between them.
Our picks for coyote hunting
Best overall: AGM RattlerV2 35-384 3-24x35mm
$1,795.00 $1,975.00 5.0/5, 29 reviews on OpticsPlanet
For coyote hunting where identification matters, this is the pick. The 384x288 sensor and sub-20 mK sensitivity resolve enough detail to tell a coyote from a deer, dog or calf before you shoot, and the 35mm lens with a 3x base magnification gives the reach to do it at distance. It ships with a quick-detach mount that returns to zero, two rechargeable batteries for 11 hours in the field, 10 reticles with caliber zero profiles and shot-activated recording. The AGM RattlerV2 series is featured in Outdoor Life\'s 2024 Best Budget Thermal Scopes guide, recommended for predator hunters who want the higher base magnification.
Best value: AGM RattlerV2 25-256 25mm
$995.00 $1,095.00 4.8/5, 33 reviews on OpticsPlanet
This is the value pick most coyote hunters should start with. One verified owner sums it up: it is "perfectly suited for hunting hogs and coyotes within 200 to 300 yards." Under $1,000 you get a 256x192 sensor, a 50 Hz refresh rate for smooth scanning, two rechargeable batteries and a quick-detach mount that holds zero. It is easy to run for a first-time thermal hunter, and it detects and identifies coyotes across the ranges where most are actually shot. Step up to the 35-384 only if you want to identify them farther out.
Best scanner and budget: AGM RattlerV2 19-256 19mm
$795.00 $875.00 4.9/5, 24 reviews on OpticsPlanet
For finding coyotes, this is the one. Its low 2.5x base magnification and wide 49-foot field of view at 100 yards let you sweep a field or treeline fast, which is the harder half of predator hunting. It shares the 256x192 sensor and 50 Hz refresh of the 25-256 in the lightest, cheapest body here, with two rechargeable batteries and an IP67 weather rating. It is a close-range shooter, best inside about 150 yards, so many hunters run it as a dedicated scanner alongside a magnified scope, and the batteries interchange with the other AGM picks.
Prices verified July 14, 2026 on the OpticsPlanet product pages; confirm the current price on the retailer page. Scores are our editorial opinion; owner ratings are shown attributed. Always confirm night-hunting and thermal-optic regulations for your state before you hunt. See how we evaluate.
What a coyote thermal actually needs
- Sensitivity and resolution to identify. A low NETD and a 256 or 384 sensor let you confirm a coyote (not a deer or a dog) before the shot. The 384-resolution 35-384 does this farthest out.
- Field of view to scan. Coyote hunting is mostly finding heat. A lower base magnification and wider field, the 19-256\'s strength, make sweeping a field faster.
- Detection range for the distances you hunt. Most coyotes are shot inside 300 yards; all three picks detect and identify well within that band, with the 35-384 reaching a little farther.
- Battery life and a mount that holds zero. All three AGM picks include two rechargeable batteries and a quick-detach mount, so you scan and shoot through a long night without losing zero.
See all three ranked in our best thermal scope guide, or hunt by day with our best rifle scopes and best hunting rangefinders.
FAQ
What is the best thermal scope for coyote hunting?
The AGM RattlerV2 35-384 (about $1,795) is the best thermal scope for coyote hunting because its 384x288 sensor and sub-20 mK sensitivity let you identify a coyote, rather than just detect heat, farther out. For most predator hunters the value pick is the RattlerV2 25-256 ($995), which owners use on coyotes inside 200 to 300 yards, and the wide-field 19-256 ($795) is the best budget scanner for finding them in the first place.
What thermal resolution do you need to identify a coyote?
A 256x192 sensor detects and identifies coyotes reliably inside about 200 to 300 yards, which covers most predator shots. A 384x288 sensor, as in the RattlerV2 35-384, resolves finer detail so you can positively identify a coyote (rather than a deer, dog or livestock) at longer range before you shoot. For coyote work the combination of higher resolution and a low NETD sensitivity number matters more than raw magnification.
How far can you shoot coyotes with these thermal scopes?
Owners consistently report taking coyotes inside 200 to 300 yards with the RattlerV2 25-256 and 35-384, with the sharper 384-resolution 35-384 stretching identification a little farther. The wide-view 19-256 is better as a close-range and scanning tool, roughly inside 150 yards. Detection range is longer than identification range on any thermal, so you will spot heat well before you can confirm the animal.
Do you need a wide field of view for coyote hunting?
A wider field of view helps for the scanning half of coyote hunting, sweeping a field or treeline to find heat, which is why the low 2.5x base magnification and 49-foot field of view of the RattlerV2 19-256 make it a great scanner. Once you locate a coyote, a higher base magnification like the 35-384's 3x helps you identify and place the shot. Many hunters carry a wide scanner and a magnified shooter, and all three picks share the same AGM battery.
More: best thermal scopes overall · best hunting rangefinders · best rifle scopes.