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By Chad Annon Everybody wants access to land. Not everybody deserves it. I’ve personally seen both sides of this. I know guys that get invited back year after year. Landowners trust them, and they’ve got more places to hunt than they have time for. They do things right, and it shows. And I’ve also seen guys burn every piece of ground they touch. They don’t communicate, tear stuff up, bring people that weren’t invited, go back to spots that weren’t theirs to begin with… and th

By Chad Annon Over the last few years I’ve heard the same thing more than once. “Coyote hunting got harder because everyone has thermals now.” Sometimes the comment is aimed directly at me because I started selling thermal scopes in 2022. I understand where the frustration comes from. Predator hunting has definitely changed over the last few years. Coyotes in a lot of areas are seeing more pressure, and some of the easy stands we used to have aren't as easy anymore. But there

Lessons Learned From Running the Alpha Games Predator Hunting Tournaments By Chad Annon Predator hunting tournaments are a little different than regular hunting. A lot of guys can kill coyotes all year long, but when tournament time rolls around things change. By then the season has been in for a while. There are fewer coyotes around, the ones that are left have seen some pressure, and you’re dealing with smarter, more cautious animals. That’s when every stand and every deci

By Chad Annon Night hunting looks easy on social media. A thermal video pops up. A coyote comes running. Shot breaks. High fives. What you don’t see is the missed shots, dry stands, educated coyotes, lost permissions, and long drives home at 3 a.m. wondering what you did wrong. The truth is this: Most hunters struggle their first year night hunting. Not because they aren’t capable — but because they underestimate how different it really is. Let’s break down why. 1. Starting W

By Chad Annon When hunters shop for a thermal scope, resolution gets most of the attention. But after that question is answered, the next one always comes up: “What base magnification should I get?” 2x? 3x? 4x? Here’s the honest answer. For most serious coyote hunters running fields and mixed terrain… 3x base magnification has become the most preferred setup. And there’s a reason for that. What Is Base Magnification? Base magnification is your starting zoom level before tou

By Chad Annon When hunters start comparing thermal optics, the conversation eventually shifts away from resolution numbers and into something more practical: “How far can I actually tell it’s a coyote?” Detection range is one thing. Identification is another. And that’s where resolution really starts to matter. Detection vs Identification (Big Difference) Thermal manufacturers advertise massive detection numbers — 1,500 yards, 2,000 yards, sometimes much more. That only means

Writer: Chad Annon Buying your first thermal scope for predator hunting can feel overwhelming. Resolution numbers. Base magnification. Pixel pitch. NETD ratings. LRF. Recording features. App connectivity. I hunt predators in real-world conditions — humidity, rolling hills, wood lines, mixed ag ground. Not showroom lighting. Equipment performs differently when the air is thick and coyotes hang up at 180 yards. What works on paper doesn’t always work in the field. It’s easy to

When it comes to predator hunting at night, one of the most common questions hunters ask is whether thermal optics or night vision is the better choice. Both technologies have their place, but they work very differently and excel in different situations. Understanding those differences is the key to choosing the right setup and avoiding an expensive mistake. How Thermal Optics Work Thermal optics detect heat signatures rather than visible light. Every animal, person, or objec