The best thermal scope for coyote hunting
Quick answer: the AGM RattlerV2 35-384 (around $1,600) is the best thermal scope for coyote hunting when you need to identify the animal before the shot. Against the RattlerV2 25-256 (around $800) it has a 384x288 sensor with 2.25 times the pixels of 256x192, a 20 mK (sub-20) sensitivity rating against 35 mK, and an AGM-rated detection range of 1800 yards against 1250. The 25-256 is the value pick at about half the price, with the deepest owner record here and one owner calling it suited to coyotes within 200 to 300 yards. The 19-256 (around $700) is the scanner: its 49-foot view at 100 yards is the widest of these picks, but one owner finds detail hard to make out past 100 yards. All three are covered in our AGM RattlerV2 review.
Coyote hunting at night is two jobs: scanning wide to find heat, then identifying the animal and placing the shot. The first rewards a wide view at low base magnification; the second rewards sensor resolution and sensitivity. All three picks share AGM's RattlerV2 body, quick-detach mount and recording features, so the choice comes down to lens and sensor.
How we reviewed them: a research-based roundup built from the retailer's spec tables, AGM's published ratings and the owner-review record. We have not used these scopes ourselves. Prices verified October 14, 2026 on the OpticsPlanet product pages; confirm the current price and availability 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.
The 3 coyote thermal scopes compared
| Pick | Price | Owner rating | Sensor | NETD | Lens, magnification | View at 100 yd (base) | Detection range | Battery | Recording |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RattlerV2 35-384 | around $1,600 | 5.0/5 from 29 reviews on OpticsPlanet | 384x288 | 20 mK (sub-20) | 35 mm, 3-24x | 40 ft | Up to 1800 yd (AGM rated) | 11 hr, 2 included | Video and audio, shot-activated |
| RattlerV2 25-256 | around $800 | 4.8/5 from 33 reviews on OpticsPlanet | 256x192 | 35 mK | 25 mm, 3.5-28x | 37 ft | Up to 1250 yd (AGM rated) | 11.5 hr, 2 included | Video and audio, shot-activated |
| RattlerV2 19-256 | around $700 | 4.9/5 from 24 reviews on OpticsPlanet | 256x192 | 35 mK | 19 mm, 2.5-20x | 49 ft | Up to 950 yd (AGM rated) | 11.5 hr, 2 included | Video and audio, shot-activated |
NETD is the sensitivity rating: the lower the number, the more cleanly a warm coyote separates from a warm background. Detection ranges are AGM's own ratings and are not identification ranges. The retailer's spec tables print 1200 m of detection for both the 35-384 and the 25-256, and 950 m for the 19-256, while AGM's own figures are the ones in the table. View at 100 yards is at each scope's base magnification.
Our picks for coyote hunting
Best overall: AGM RattlerV2 35-384 3-24x35mm
3-24x · 35mm germanium lens · 384x288 sensor · sub-20 mK NETD · 50 Hz · 10 reticles · QD mount · Wi-Fi app · 11 hr rechargeable
around $1,600exact price on OpticsPlanet
The coyote scope for hunters who need to be sure of the animal before the shot. Its 384x288 sensor carries 2.25 times the pixels of the 256x192 picks, its NETD is rated 20 mK (sub-20) against 35 mK, and AGM rates its detection to 1800 yards against 1250 for the 25-256. The 35mm germanium lens starts at 3x. It ships with the custom ADM quick-detach mount, two rechargeable batteries rated for 11 hours, 10 reticles with zero profiles, shot-activated recording and a Wi-Fi app. The AGM RattlerV2 series is featured in Outdoor Life's 2024 Best Budget Thermal Scopes guide, where this higher-magnification model is recommended for predator hunters. One owner identifies coyote-sized animals out to 150 yards and deer to 250 yards with it, so treat the extra pixels as margin, not as a long-range promise.
Pros
- 384x288 resolution with a sub-20 mK NETD rating, for clearer target identification than the 256-resolution RattlerV2 models
- A 35mm germanium lens and 3x base magnification give real reach, with AGM-rated detection out to 1800 yards
- Ships complete: a custom ADM quick-detach mount that returns to zero, two rechargeable batteries (11 hours), a charger and a carry case
- 10 reticle options with multiple caliber zero profiles, shot-activated recording and a Wi-Fi app for a phone
Cons
- Priced well above the 256-resolution RattlerV2 models, the trade for the 384 sensor and higher magnification
- Magnification above the 3x base is digital zoom, so the image softens as you zoom in, as with all scopes in this class
- The proprietary lithium-ion battery has no AA or CR123 fallback, so you carry spares rather than buying cells in the field
- The 3x base magnification gives a narrower field of view than the 19-256, so it is a shooter first and a wide scanner second
Best for: predator hunters who keep second-guessing a heat signature at distance. If you mostly sweep fields to find coyotes, the 19-256 has the wider view; if price leads, the 25-256 does the same job at shorter range.
Key specifications
| Manufacturer | AGM Global Vision |
|---|---|
| Magnification | 3-24x (3x base, digital zoom) |
| Objective | 35 mm germanium |
| Sensor resolution | 384x288 pixels |
| NETD | 20 mK (sub-20) |
| Refresh rate | 50 Hz |
| Detection range | Up to 1800 yd (AGM rated) |
| Battery | Lithium-ion rechargeable, 11 hr, x2 included |
| Mount | Custom ADM quick-detach |
| Weight | 1.13 lb |
| Warranty | AGM manufacturer warranty |
“The AGM rattler v2 is a very nice scope for the money. I had been looking at several different options and decided on the rattler v2 because of the options it has, the convenience of the large buttons on top, and the price range. I like this scope so much I will definitely be purchasing another one for my next setup.”
T.J., verified owner (IA) via OpticsPlanet
Best value: AGM RattlerV2 25-256 25mm
3.5-28x · 25mm germanium lens · 256x192 sensor · 35 mK NETD · 50 Hz · 10 reticles · QD mount · Wi-Fi app · 11.5 hr rechargeable
around $800exact price on OpticsPlanet
The coyote thermal most hunters should start with, at about half the price of the 35-384. It runs a 256x192 sensor at 50 Hz behind a 25mm lens with a 3.5x base, AGM rates its detection to 1250 yards, and it ships with two rechargeable batteries rated for 11.5 hours and the ADM quick-detach mount. It also has the deepest owner record of these picks, 4.8/5 from 33 reviews. One owner calls it "perfectly suited for hunting hogs/coyotes within 200-300 yards" and says he positively identified a coyote at 150 yards; another says he can clearly recognize coyotes at 200 yards. The trade against the 35-384 is image: fewer pixels and a 35 mK sensitivity rating against 20 mK.
Pros
- Under $1,000 with a 256x192 sensor and a 50 Hz refresh rate, double the 25 Hz of the original Rattler it replaces
- One owner calls it "a working man's thermal for the money", and another calls it "perfectly suited for hunting hogs/coyotes within 200-300 yards"
- Two rechargeable batteries (11.5 hours), a quick-detach mount that holds zero, and a case are all in the box
- The most-reviewed pick here at 4.8/5 across 33 owners, plus 10 reticles, zero profiles and a Wi-Fi app
Cons
- The 256x192 sensor gets grainy as you climb past the 3.5x base into digital zoom, an honest owner note
- The 3.5x base magnification is a little high for walking and scanning, where the wider 19-256 is easier
- Not built for long-range night work; owners keep shots inside about 300 yards
- A proprietary rechargeable battery, so you carry spares rather than buying cells in the field
Best for: a first coyote thermal for shots inside about 300 yards. Step up to the 35-384 if you need to identify farther out, or drop to the 19-256 if you mostly scan.
Key specifications
| Manufacturer | AGM Global Vision |
|---|---|
| Magnification | 3.5-28x (3.5x base, digital zoom) |
| Objective | 25 mm germanium |
| Sensor resolution | 256x192 pixels |
| NETD | 35 mK |
| Refresh rate | 50 Hz |
| Detection range | Up to 1250 yd (AGM rated) |
| Battery | Lithium-ion rechargeable, 11.5 hr, x2 included |
| Mount | Custom ADM quick-detach |
| Weight | 1.08 lb |
| Warranty | AGM manufacturer warranty |
“Twice as good as the original 25/256 for the same price. Battery life is great, image quality is significantly better than the original, and all of the features are an improvement. This thermal is perfectly suited for hunting hogs/coyotes within 200-300 yards.”
Verified owner (OK) via OpticsPlanet
Best scanner and budget: AGM RattlerV2 19-256 19mm
2.5-20x · 19mm germanium lens · 256x192 sensor · 35 mK NETD · 50 Hz · wide 49 ft FOV · IP67 · QD mount · 11.5 hr rechargeable
around $700exact price on OpticsPlanet
The scope for finding coyotes. A 19mm lens at a 2.5x base gives a 49-foot view at 100 yards, against 37 feet for the 25-256 and 40 feet for the 35-384, so a sweep of a field or treeline covers more ground per pass. It shares the 256x192 sensor, 35 mK rating and 50 Hz refresh of the 25-256, ships with two batteries, the ADM quick-detach mount and an IP67 rating, and at 1.06 lb it is the lightest and cheapest of these picks. The cost is reach: AGM rates detection to 950 yards, and one owner says that past 100 yards it is hard to determine details. One 35-384 owner keeps his 19-256 as a scanner and notes both use the same battery packs.
Pros
- The lowest price here, the honest entry point into thermal
- The widest field of view of any pick here (49 feet at 100 yards) and the lowest 2.5x base magnification, so it is the best scanner and buddy scope
- Owners rate its image as good as or better than an ATN Thor 4 and praise it for never glitching
- Two rechargeable batteries, a quick-detach mount and an IP67 weather rating; at 1.06 lb the lightest pick
Cons
- The 19mm lens and 256x192 sensor limit usable range; one owner finds details hard to make out past 100 yards
- Best for close-range and scanning, not long-range night shooting
- Magnification above 2.5x is digital zoom, so it softens as you zoom in
Best for: scanning, a buddy scope, or close-range calling setups inside about 100 to 150 yards. Pair it with, or step up to, the 25-256 or 35-384 for the shot at longer range.
Key specifications
| Manufacturer | AGM Global Vision |
|---|---|
| Magnification | 2.5-20x (2.5x base, digital zoom) |
| Objective | 19 mm germanium |
| Sensor resolution | 256x192 pixels |
| NETD | 35 mK |
| Refresh rate | 50 Hz |
| Field of view | 49 ft at 100 yd (widest here) |
| Battery | Lithium-ion rechargeable, 11.5 hr, x2 included |
| Sealing | IP67 waterproof |
| Weight | 1.06 lb |
| Warranty | AGM manufacturer warranty |
“This is a nice entry level thermal scope. It has high screen resolution, good refresh rate. It has as good or better image quality as a Thor 4. It has never glitched. Return to zero mount and all accessories are included in a nice carry case. It is no wonder these are some of the highest rated thermals for entry level units.”
Myles Smith, verified owner (AR) via OpticsPlanet
What a coyote thermal actually needs
- Resolution and sensitivity to identify. The 35-384 runs 384x288 at 20 mK (sub-20); the 25-256 and 19-256 run 256x192 at 35 mK. More pixels and a lower NETD are what let you tell a coyote from a dog or a calf before the shot.
- A wide view to scan. At base magnification the 19-256 shows 49 feet at 100 yards, the 35-384 40 feet and the 25-256 37 feet. One 25-256 owner finds its 3.5x base a little much for walking around.
- Identification range, not detection range. AGM's detection ratings run from 950 to 1800 yards, but the owners quoted on this page identify coyotes at 150 to 200 yards. Plan your setups on that.
- Run time and a mount that comes off. All three ship with two rechargeable batteries (11 to 11.5 hours, AGM rated) and AGM's custom ADM quick-detach mount. The battery is proprietary, so carry the spare rather than planning on store-bought cells.
For 640 and 1280 resolution scopes with built-in rangefinders, see our best thermal scope guide; for lower price ceilings, the best budget thermal scope. By day: best rifle scopes and best hunting rangefinders.
FAQ
What is the best thermal scope for coyote hunting?
The AGM RattlerV2 35-384, if identifying the animal before the shot is what you are paying for. Its 384x288 sensor has 2.25 times the pixels of the 256x192 picks, it is rated at 20 mK (sub-20) against 35 mK, and AGM rates its detection to 1800 yards. It is also the dearest of the three. For most predator hunters the value pick is the RattlerV2 25-256, which one owner calls "perfectly suited for hunting hogs/coyotes within 200-300 yards", and the 19-256 is the cheapest of the three and the best scanner, with a 49-foot view at 100 yards.
What thermal resolution do you need to identify a coyote?
Both sensor sizes here are used on coyotes, and owner reports vary with conditions and with what each owner counts as identification. One 25-256 owner says he can clearly recognize coyotes at 200 yards; one 35-384 owner puts his no-question identification of coyote-sized animals at 150 yards and deer at 250 yards. On paper the 384x288 sensor puts 2.25 times as many pixels on the scene as 256x192 and pairs them with a lower NETD rating, which is the margin you buy for telling a coyote from a dog or a calf. Magnification above the base is digital zoom on all three, so it does not add detail the sensor did not capture.
How far can you shoot coyotes with these thermal scopes?
Plan on identification range, not detection range. AGM rates detection at 1800 yards for the 35-384, 1250 for the 25-256 and 950 for the 19-256, but detection means seeing heat, not knowing what it is. One 25-256 owner shot a coyote at 400 yards but says it was almost impossible to identify at that range and that he positively identified it at 150 yards first. One 19-256 owner says that after 100 yards it is hard to determine details. Treat the 19-256 as a scanner and close-range scope, and the 25-256 and 35-384 as the shooters.
Do you need a wide field of view for coyote hunting?
A wider view helps the scanning half of coyote hunting, sweeping a field or treeline to find heat. At base magnification the RattlerV2 19-256 shows 49 feet at 100 yards, against 40 feet for the 35-384 and 37 feet for the 25-256. Once you find a coyote, the 3x base of the 35-384 or the 3.5x base of the 25-256 helps you identify it and place the shot. One 35-384 owner keeps his 19-256 as his scanner and notes that both use the same battery packs.
Can these thermal scopes record a coyote hunt?
Yes. All three RattlerV2 picks list video and audio recording, Shot Activated Recording and a Wi-Fi hotspot for the AGM app. All three also ship with two rechargeable batteries: AGM rates the 25-256 and 19-256 at up to 11.5 hours and the 35-384 at up to 11 hours.
More: best thermal scopes overall · best hunting rangefinders · best rifle scopes.