After sunset, diurnal animals go to rest from a hard day and gain strength for tomorrow’s struggle for survival. They are replaced by animals that prefer a nocturnal lifestyle. These representatives of the fauna are distinguished by their special behavior and the ability to remain invisible. In this regard, hunting for such animals is an extremely difficult task that requires great patience, caution and the availability of special equipment.
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Animals can you hunt at night
Surviving in the wild is very difficult. Many animals could not stand the competition and in the process of evolution began to lead their way of life not during the day, but at night. This allowed them to avoid exposure to adverse weather (such as intense heat during the day), reduced the likelihood of encountering competitors, and improved their chances of survival. The nocturnal lifestyle of some species made it possible to hunt in the dark. This process has its own characteristics, but in terms of fascination it is not inferior to a similar activity in the daytime. To truly enjoy it, you need to learn in advance which animals you can hunt and how to do it correctly.
Common animals that can be hunted at night:
Coyote.
These mammals are the main target of most night hunters. They are ideal for beginners who are just starting to get familiar with the features of hunting in the dark. Professionals also like them, they always behave in a special way and force hunters to adapt to the behavior of a particular flock. To try to shoot a coyote at night, you need to pre-select the ideal place to hunt. This should be done during the day, as at this time of day it will be easier to inspect the surrounding area. Next, you should wait for darkness, be patient and take high-quality optics with you. It is she who will help to find the elusive carrion predators in their habitats.
Wild boar.
This mammal is often hunted. It is distinguished by the ability to quickly adapt to environmental conditions, actively reproduces and easily finds food for itself. All this leads to a rapid increase in the population of wild boars, which cause great harm to agriculture and the environment. To control their population, hunters are allowed to kill these mammals for most of the year. Hunting for wild boars is best at night. It is at this time that they are busy foraging, which makes them the most vulnerable. Wild boars have excellent hearing and can also run fast. These qualities force the hunter to approach the target as carefully as possible at a distance of a shot, so as not to frighten off the detected flock.
Deer.
This noble mammal can be a good trophy for any fan of night hunting. It is distinguished by the good taste of its meat, which is considered one of the most useful for humans. Before preparing to cook steaks, you need to shoot a deer. It is best to do this immediately after sunset or a few tens of minutes before dawn. It is during this period of the day that deer are most active and it will be easy to spot them even from a long distance. An important feature of these animals is their developed sense organs. Thanks to this, deer can see well even in the absence of lighting, feel the slightest smells coming from a person, and hear a whisper from a distance of several hundred meters. All this complicates the task of the hunter and requires maximum caution from him. If you make a mistake and let the deer discover itself, then in a few seconds the animal will be out of reach. To prevent this, you need to choose a suitable place for a sit-in in advance. It should be located near deer trails, which can be found by a large number of characteristic hoof marks.
Hare / Rabbit.
These mammals are common in almost all regions of our planet. They are very fast, cautious and have developed sense organs (they hear well and have an excellent sense of smell). As a result, it is very difficult to shoot them. To increase the chances of success, you need to wait for the night. At this time of day, hares and rabbits leave their holes for a long time in search of juicy grass and become the most vulnerable. If you want to shoot an eared one, then stand against the wind. Otherwise, your smell will reach the animal, and it will quickly hide in a safe place. You also need to approach the distance of the shot as quietly as possible. Any rustle (even a very quiet one) can become a signal for the flight of a mammal. Do not forget about the excellent speed qualities of hares / rabbits. Therefore, it is important to go hunting with weapons that can shoot very long distances.
Fox.
Red predator is a desirable trophy for any novice and experienced hunter. She prefers to lead a nocturnal lifestyle, when her main targets (rabbits, hares, rodents) go out to search for food. At this time, foxes can travel long distances and follow the victim for several hours. To shoot such an animal, you need to be as careful as possible. Foxes have a unique sense of smell and excellent hearing, so it will be very difficult to approach them within a shot. To increase your chances of success, you need to use special devices (for example, whistles) that imitate the sounds made by rabbits, hares and rodents. Without them, it will be almost impossible to get the coveted trophy.
Bear.
This animal is one of the most dangerous for humans. Every year, many travelers, naturalists and people living in bear habitats die from its paws and powerful jaws. Therefore, before you go hunting, you should pay maximum attention to safety. You also need to use modern optics, which will allow you to see the mammal in advance and track the trajectory of its movement. Most often, for night hunting for a bear, ambush is arranged in places where the animal feeds. The best places will be located near natural shelters, which will disguise the hunter and make him invisible to the bear. An alternative would be to sit on a tree, located at a height of more than 5 meters. In addition to everything, one should also remember about the excellent sense of smell of a bear. Because of this, the hunter definitely needs to mask his smell with something.
Raccoon. This relatively small predator prefers to seek food after sunset. Almost all individuals of this species lead the same way of life, which slightly simplifies the task of hunters. At the same time, raccoons are distinguished by developed intellectual abilities. Thanks to this, they quickly adapt to environmental conditions and do an excellent job of avoiding dangers. To find this predator in the night forest, you need to acquire special optics and learn how to make attractive sounds. Only in this case the animal will be able to approach the distance of the shot. Also, do not forget that raccoons prefer to live near various water bodies. In this regard, hunters need to be extremely careful not to encounter larger nocturnal predators that have expressed a desire to quench their thirst.
Wild cats.
These graceful predators are perfect killing machines. They deal with their prey in cold blood and often occupy the top rung of the food chain. To hunt wild cats, you need to know the characteristics of their behavior. These animals are very careful, silent and accurate. They can sneak up close to their prey and still not make a single sound. Also, most wild cats have a unique sense of hearing and smell. This allows them to pick up the scent of a potential victim and person. It is better to hunt such predators after midnight. Most often, by this time they manage to get their own food, after which they become more vulnerable.
Conclusion
Hunting nocturnal animals is just as interesting as daytime hunting. Therefore, do not miss the opportunity to enjoy this process, as it will give a lot of unique sensations and provide an opportunity to develop new skills. In order for such a hunt to become truly successful, it is necessary to carefully prepare for it, as well as study the habits and characteristics of all nocturnal animals. All this will give the hunter a tangible advantage over the game and increase the chances of getting a good trophy.