Best Scope for AR15 Coyote Hunting

Hunting predators is a rewarding and exhilarating experience. This is because, like varmints, coyotes can be cunning and as clever as you are.

Coyotes are tough, smart, and very fast. They manage to be destructive to game animals and even livestock due to their canny instincts. 

Why Will the Best Scope for AR15 Serve You Best When Hunting Coyotes?

Coyotes are a menace to upland birds, young deer, and furbearers such as rabbits. When using your AR-15, a coyote hunt can be an enjoyable and satisfying pastime if you have the requisite scope equipment.

With the best scope for AR15 coyote hunting, you can hit the sneaky canines. But they are smart, stealthy, and at all-times cautious, meaning your gear has to be up to the task.

The best scope for AR15 coyote hunting must accommodate the fact that coyotes are fast, small, and will likely only appear during the low light conditions after dark or before dawn.

With a good optic, your AR15 becomes a versatile coyote target acquirer. Using a scope that’s not conversant with these willy-nilly animals will only have you leaving the woods empty-handed.  

These versatile models include; 

Overall Best Scope for AR15 Coyote Hunting: 

Vortex Optics Viper HS-T Riflescope

This is a multi-configuration scope that combines target acquisition and tactical shooting to make your AR15 a versatile hunting weapon. The Vortex Optics Viper HS-T has a VMR-1 MOA reticle perfect for extended range target holding and accuracy.  

A barrel length of 15.5 inches features on this second focal plane riflescope that’s fully multi-coated, with extra-low dispersion lens. This adds color fidelity and resolution.

XR and Armortek coatings enhance light-gathering while protecting the lens from scratches. Target style turrets are exposed and constructed to give finger adjustable clicks the precision and repeatability you’ll require to acquire coyote targets.

Temporary elevation corrections can be dialed-in for reliable return to zero with the CRS Zero Stop. The Vortex Optics Viper HS-T has a 4X zoom for versatile magnification, while the side parallax focus adjustments allow for optimal parallax removal and image focus.  

You can properly adjust the reticle to your requirements using the fast focus eyepiece on this optic. This 2^nd focal plane sight is made from one single piece tube, argon purged and O-ring sealed for fog and moisture proofing.  

This is a simple yet versatile riflescope whose performance on your AR15 translates to coyote hunting on-target shooting. 

Pros 

• Convenient magnification view fiber optic for a reference point that’s highly visible
• Turret rotations with an indicator for a highly tactile rotational reference point
• Ease of adjustment and repeatability with premium components such as the erector spring system
• Harsh condition zoom magnification changes accommodated by precision glide erector system
• Made from a single block of aviation grade aluminum for rigidity and durability
• Recoil and impact-proof due to rugged construction
• Hard anodized low glare matte finish to conceal your position when hunting coyotes

Cons 

• Imported and not distributed by the manufacturer

Best Premium Scope for AR15 Coyote Hunting: 

Nightforce SHV 4-14x50mm F1 Riflescope

This is an illuminated MOAR reticle scope with a 56mm objective lens. The Nightforce Optics 5.5-22×56 NXS Riflescope is the king of the tactical optics, offering coyote hunters all the low light versatility they may need. 

A pricey option, the NXS Riflescope, is by far the best AR15 hunting scope available. Nothing about this sight says budget, and its ruggedness is legendary with the military and law enforcement shooters that worship it.

With this Nightforce Optics rifle scope, your AR15 has a companion that makes coyote hunting effortless. 

Surviving abuse aside, this is a light-gathering and night vision scope that offers various objective lens size adjustments and magnification.

This 2^nd focal plane scope features tactical 250 MOA zero stop turrets and a 3mm tube.  Nightforce Optics has a MOAR illuminated reticle, and it’s sealed tight for fog and waterproofing. 

Pros

• 56mm objective lens
• 2^nd focal plane magnification
• The reticle is MOAR, illuminated and easy to adjust
• Long elevation and windage adjustment capabilities
• Low light condition usage optimization
• Fast focus eyepiece 
• Water and fog moisture proof

Cons 

• Pricey 

Best Budget Scope for AR15 Coyote Hunting: 

Leupold VX-3i 3.5-10x50mm Riflescope

As one of the most respected optic makers worldwide, Leupold continues to earn a reputation for quality and standard durability. Though not exactly cheap, the Leupold VX-3i 3.5-10x40mm Riflescope is my budget selection for hunting coyotes with an AR15 rifle. 

Rest assured that these optics will face the most adverse hunting conditions and still pick out that varmint from a long-range. The scope is armed with the DiamondCoat II lens coating that’s proprietary and offers optimal contrast and light-gathering abilities.

The Leupold VX-3i 3.5-10X40mm Riflescope also gives you top-notch abrasion and scratch resistance.  

You can stay out on the stand longer, shoot very late and bang the scope around without worrying about sustaining your zero. 

Pros

• Matte finish and duplex reticle 
• Shock, water, and fog proof
• DiamondCoat 2 lens coating for abrasion resistance and high light gathering
• Click adjust for elevation or windage with a finger on precision ¼ MOA
• Aircraft-grade aluminum construction that guarantees performance with hard recoil or impact

Cons 

• Missing dedicated parallax adjustment 

What to Look for When Buying the Best Scope for AR15 Coyote Hunting

For your AR15 semi-automatic rifle, there are many high-end options for the best coyote hunting scope. But picking the right optic for the job at hand can be somewhat daunting if you’ve got no idea what to look for.

To begin with, you’ll have to define your target needs. A 3-9X and a 40X target sight are both perfectly suited for coyote hunting but under different circumstances. 

Since you are shooting coyotes from a distance, there will be no need for high priced red dots or holographic scopes. 

Factors to Consider When Buying an AR15 Coyote Hunting Scope

For effective coyote hunting with your AR15, you will need to be looking into; 

Scope Magnification

When choosing any scope for the AR15, the most subjective and also very contentious part is selecting the right magnification for coyotes. 

Your environment, shooting skill level, and how well your AR15 rifle zeroes will determine the scope’s magnification.

Environment stands for terrain, whether in open fields, covered swamps, or in thick woodland. If, like me, you hunt these varmints from deep southern wetlands as I do, you’ll have to stay off the close-range optics.

The most you can make in such circumstances is a shot at 300 yards. However, most of your shooting isn’t going to exceed 150 yards, and a 3-9X scope will perform fine. 

If you are shooting coyotes out in the Great Plains of the Western Country, shots that go as far as 400 yards might be common. I have shot coyote sized targets at 800 yards with my AR15, but an ethical kill will require that you don’t reach out that far. 

A magnification of 14-20X will land you an accurate shot at far ranges since you can easily spot the small critters.

I prefer the 4-14X optic due to its variableness and wide enough view that helps spot coyote targets slinking through high underbrush. At ranges of 300 plus yards, you can be assured that such an optic selection will land a coyote onto your lap.

Light-Gathering and Clarity 

A coyote won’t cooperate and come out in broad daylight where you can pick it off from the comfort of your tree stand. Instead, these predator scavengers come out around dusk or pre-dawn when the light is poor. 

If your AR15 scope can’t pull enough light for you to see the coyote, you won’t even know it’s there. A good optic will pull ample lighting for that half hour’s accuracy before or after sunset shot.

For instance, an illuminated reticle will make such low light conditions shots clearer and thus easier to make.

If you are hunting coyotes at night, you’ll require a scope that can handle shooting under the spotlights. If night hunting is legal where you are, a scope with a large objective lens has opportune light gathering capabilities.

Objective lenses are on the side of your scope that’s facing the target. Your objective lens size will be in millimeters and is the last number on your scope’s specifications.

If you get a sight with the designation 4-16X40, it means that your objective lens is 40 mm in diameter. 

Low light optics must also have high quality and clear glass, which excludes the bargain bin sights at your local gun shop. Not only should the scope have an objective lens of more than 40 mm, but it should also be from a renowned sight manufacturer to guarantee quality.

Reticle 

The best target reticles for coyote hunting with your AR15 will help estimate windage, bullet drop, and distance or range.

Even without how reticle works, you can opt for BDC or Mil-Dot varieties for hitting coyote targets in varied scenarios and unmeasured ranges. Knowing how an MRAD or MOA sight reticle works is less important than being familiar with your rifle, leaning on elevation and windage plus using consistent ammo. 

Construction Ruggedness

I have worked more hours on a tree stand that I’d care to relate, calling out the coyotes. The essentials of the best scope for AR15 coyote hunting should include ruggedness. 

This means that your optic won’t get knocked around until it loses zero or the glass becomes scratched up. A quality scope brand that has a solid warranty and good brand reputation will be the protection you need to ensure that your optic stays workable and scratch-free.

Conclusion 

With the above insight in mind, it’s time to check out my recommended options, which will fulfill effective coyote hunting traits. I can vouch for the choices I’ve arrived at, having tested and used the reviewed optics to down some unsuspecting coyotes. 

Tobias

36 years old, been hunting and fishing my entire life – love the outdoors, family, and all kinds of hunting and fishing! I have spent thousands of hours hunting hogs and training hunting dogs, but I’m always learning new stuff and really happy to be sharing them with you! hit me up with an email in the contact form if you have any questions.