Infrared Lights
An infrared illuminator floods a scene with IR light that's invisible to the naked eye but lights it up clearly through night vision or IR-sensitive cameras—useful for predator and varmint hunting after dark, or for weapon-mounted use with night vision optics. Impact Guns carries long-range IR hunting kits like the Predator Tactics Coyote Reaper, rated to 800 yards, alongside compact weapon-mounted illuminators from Armasight and Steiner built for night vision devices.
Read our full Infrared Lights Buying Guide ↓
Infrared Illuminator vs. Infrared Laser — Different Tools
An illuminator floods a wide area with IR light so a night vision device can see the whole scene, similar to a floodlight. A laser instead projects a narrow aiming beam. Some products on our Infrared Lasers page combine both functions in one unit, but the dedicated illuminators here are built purely for scene lighting, not aiming.
Predator and Varmint Hunting with IR Illumination
Coyotes, hogs, and other night-active predators don't see infrared light, which lets hunters illuminate a field or tree line without spooking game the way a visible spotlight would. A long-range unit like the Predator Tactics Coyote Reaper XXL, rated to 800 yards, is built specifically for this kind of after-dark hunting rather than close-range tactical use.
Weapon-Mounted IR Illuminators for Night Vision
Compact units like the Armasight Watchman and Steiner SPIR mount directly to a weapon rail alongside a night vision optic, illuminating whatever the optic is pointed at. These are typically shorter-range than dedicated hunting IR lights, since they're built to support close-to-moderate range night vision use rather than lighting up several hundred yards of open field.
Range and Beam Pattern: What '800 Yards' Actually Means
A stated range like the Coyote Reaper's 800 yards describes how far the IR light remains bright enough for a night vision device to pick up a usable image—not a hard cutoff. Actual usable range depends on your night vision device's own sensitivity, atmospheric conditions, and how reflective or dark the target and terrain are.
Pairing an IR Illuminator with Night Vision
An IR illuminator only does its job paired with a device that can see infrared—a dedicated night vision monocular or scope, or a camera with IR sensitivity. Without one of those, the illuminated area looks completely dark to the naked eye, since the light itself is invisible without help.
Choosing Between a Handheld and Weapon-Mounted IR Light
A handheld or vehicle-mounted long-range IR light like the Coyote Reaper is the better choice for scanning a wide field before ever raising a rifle. A weapon-mounted illuminator like the Armasight Watchman or Steiner SPIR makes more sense once you're aiming, since it lights up exactly where the gun and optic are already pointed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between an infrared illuminator and an infrared laser? An illuminator floods a wide area with IR light so a night vision device can see the whole scene, like a floodlight; a laser is a narrow aiming beam. Some products combine both in one unit.
Do I need night vision to use an IR illuminator? Yes—since the light is invisible to the naked eye, you need a night vision device, IR-sensitive camera, or similar optic that can detect near-infrared wavelengths to see the illuminated scene.
What is the Predator Tactics Coyote Reaper used for? It's a long-range IR hunting light rated to 800 yards, built for predator and varmint hunting after dark and paired with a night vision or digital night-hunting scope.
See Also: Infrared Lasers • Night Vision • Thermal Scopes