Avid hunters will often hunt well into the night to satisfy their hobby with the darkness as their main obstacle in their success. Fortunately, modern science and technology have unlocked many of the secrets of night optics with the result being the wide range of night vision rifle scopes available in the market to choose from by these avid hunters.

These are simply rifle scopes that are equipped with the capacity to "see" into the darkness. As such, you can also use rifles and other types of hunting guns during the night with near-perfect accuracy as if you were hunting during the day. Of course, you must choose the right type of night vision rifle scope for your personal use and we have the steps to do so.

Price Range

First off, you must set your price range especially as rifle scopes equipped with night optics technology can be relatively expensive. Choices range from a few hundred bucks to several thousand dollars depending on the magnification power, resolution and other features. Keep in mind that, as with most products and services, you get what you pay for in night vision rifle scopes.

Distance Covered

Then, you should decide on the distance that the night vision rifle scope will cover in the course of its use. If you are a far shooter, then we suggest choosing a rifle scope with higher magnification. If you are a near shooter, then a low power scope is the better choice. Each one, however, has pros and cons especially where magnification and illumination is concerned - choose one over the other so as to narrow down your choices.

Type of Target

However, it is not just distance that you want to take into account when choosing from among numerous night vision rifle scopes. You must also determine the types of target in your sights so that the proper power of the scopes can be chosen. The following general rules in magnification apply in scopes with and without the night optics technology:

• Squirrels 4x magnification

• Varmints 4 to 12x

• Big game in dense environments 1.5-4x or 2-7x

• Big game in relatively open to wide open environments 3-9x or 2.5-10x to 4-12x or 6-18x

Time of Use

Your choice of a night vision scope will also depend on the time of use. We must note that there are three kinds of generations in night vision rifle scopes with each generation corresponding to the degree of darkness in the environment where it will be used. The general rule is that the higher the generation level, the higher its "seeing" capability in the darkness. Thus, if you intend to hunt late at night, then go for generations 2 and 3.

Convenient Features

Also important in choosing the best night vision scope for your use is the presence of features that will make it more convenient to use the tool. Look at the sighting system accuracy, which can come in red and green. Look for push-button operation to improve usability. Look for removable infrared illuminator. Look for water and fog resistance.

In the end, the best night vision rifle scopes are the ones that can function in the most effective and efficient manner while on the field. It will be your personal choice so choose well if only to protect your investment.