Best night vision scopes for bow hunters

Best Night Vision Scope for Crossbows [2021 buyer’s guide]

Are you thinking about trying to bow hunt at night and need a scope for your crossbow that has night vision capability?
 
I can remember after my first year of bow hunting, a fellow bow hunter from my area told me about his first night hunting experience. He raved about the feeling of looking through the scope, being in the pitch dark and harvesting deer during the dark.
 
From his story, I had to give night hunting a try. These days, especially when the weather is warm, I make it a point to hunt at night at least once a month.
 
While researching for my own night vision scope, I picked out the best night vision scopes for crossbow for the money, and wrote this article from the research I did for my own hunting experience.
 
If you’re interested, the scope I ended up getting is the ATN X-Sight LTV Ultra Night & Day Scope. It’s the best duel day and night scope on the list.

Best Crossbow Night Vision Scopes

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Best Night Vision Scopes for Crossbows

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Scopes

Specs


Best on the Market

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ATN ThOR-HD 384 4.5-18x
best crossbow scope for night vision is the ATN ThOR-HD 384 4.5-18x, 384x288, 50 mm


✅ Night vision

🏋️‍♂️ Weight= 2 lbs

👍 Rifle and crossbow compatible

Best Top-Notch Scope For the Money

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OpticGuru ATN Thor 4 Thermal Scope
Best top-notch scope for the money is the OpticGuru ATN Thor 4 Thermal Scope


✅ Night vision

🏋️‍♂️ Weight= 2.2 lbs

👍 Rifle and crossbow compatible

Best Day and Night Scope

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ATN X-Sight LTV Ultra Light Day & Night Vision Scope
Best day and night scope is the ATN X-Sight LTV Ultra Light Day & Night Vision Scope


✅ Night vision

🏋️‍♂️ Weight= 3 lbs

👍 Rifle and crossbow compatible

Best Under $800

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ATN X-Sight-4k Pro Edition Smart Hunting Scope
Best night vision scope for crossbows under $800 is the ATN X-Sight-4k Pro Edition Smart Hunting Scope


✅ Night vision

🏋️‍♂️ Weight= 2.2 lbs

👍 Rifle and crossbow compatible

Best Under $400

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Burris Ballistic Plex Hunting scope
Best night vision scope for crossbows under $400 is the Burris Ballistic Plex Hunting scope, 2X-7X-32mm


✅ Night vision

🏋️‍♂️ Weight= 0.8 lbs

👍 Rifle and crossbow compatible

Best Under $200

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Hawke Sport Optics 12221 XB1 Vari-Speed SR IR Crossbow Scope
Best night vision crossbow scope under $200 is the Hawke Sport Optics 12221 XB1 Vari-Speed SR IR Crossbow Scope


✅ Night vision

🏋️‍♂️ Weight= 0.81 lbs

👍 Rifle and crossbow compatible

Best Under $100

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UTG 3-9X32 1" BugBuster Scope
Best night vision crossbow scope under $100 is the UTG 3-9X32 1" BugBuster Scope


✅ Night vision

🏋️‍♂️ Weight= 0.87 lbs

👍 Rifle and crossbow compatible

Night Vision Scope Buying Guide

Information to know before buying

What is a night vision scope?

A night vision scope is a piece of optics that you attach to your crossbow to give you long-distance sight at night.

How does a night vision scope work?

Scopes that are designed for night vision capabilities use optico-electronic technology that allows the bow handler to shoot in dark and even nearly pitch-black environments.

Night vision scopes work through using a built-in infrared illumination piece that acts as a flashlight by providing additional illumination when the human eye can see barely anything at all.

Why do most people buy night vision scope?

One thing that is excellent about scopes, is that they are compatible with rifles as well as crossbows.

People buy night vision scopes for different reasons. The most common reasons are the following:

  1. Kill wild coyotes to protect dogs, chicken and other animals
  2. Extend the hunting abilities to hunt nocturnal animals

Are night vision scopes compatible with rifles?

Yes, the scopes listed on this page are all compatible with a rifle as well as a crossbow.

best Night Vision Scopes Review

Best on the Market

Pros

Cons

This ATN Thor-HD is truly a special scope. With it’s Smart HD Optics Technology, this scope catches heat energy from the prey by using its 384 x 288 sensor.

This scope converts the images that it captures and creates the perfect target to hit dead on.
I was amazed to discover that the scope clearly shows animals up to 300 yards away. Imaging being set up at night and hunting from hundreds of yards away. The experience is amazing.
 
Features:

Ballistic Calculator: This device uses the environmental data surrounding the hunting land to provide the shooter with an exact range and perfect reticles to nail the hit you’re looking for.

Range Finder: This build-in machine makes your life easier, period. There’s no additional equipment to carry from spot to spot. This range finder calculates the distance, so you don’t have to guess.

Record HD Video: The camera that comes included with the scope captures high-resolution images and video. There is an SD card that is required, and unfortunately that is not included with the purchase of the scope; however, SD cards are reasonably priced, and this camera allows you to record your hunting adventures without the need for another camera.

Includes:

  • Ballistic smart laser rangefinder
  • Extended battery pack
  • Smart tacticle remote control

Who’s this scope is best for?

When you want the best night vision scope for crossbows, the ATN Thor-HD is your best bet. If you’re a YouTuber or someone who wants to record your shots, you’ll be able to do so with the built in HD video camera.

BowScanner's Review:
5/5
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Best Top-Notch Scope For the Money

Pros

Cons

This OpticGuru model is hands down the best high-quality scope for the money.

One of the main reasons is that it is powered by ATN’s obsidian IV Dual core. This gives the shooter an increased sensitivity and better aim for long-distance shots.

The OpticGuru model has a silent shutter, so there’s no sound before the break of the trigger.

 

Features:

Obsidian IV Dual Core Processor and Gen 4 Thermal Sensor: This combination gives you the best sights between black and white to color. The HD resolution looks great.

Smart Rangefinder: In just two clicks, this rangefinder gives the shooter the exact distance between the end of the optics lens and the object being targeted.

Ballistic Calculator: The point of impact is adjusted automatically through mechanism’s own environmental data that it collects

Ultra Low Power Consumption: No need to worry about battery life. This scope gets a solid 16 hours of active use. This batter is rechargable, too.

Dual Stream Video Recording: Amazing technology that lets you stream wifi to record videos, which has zero impact on the scope’s sight.

Who’s this scope is best for?

If you’re looking for the highest-type of quality scope that gives you night vision capabilities for your crossbow, and want the most bang for your buck, this OpticGuru is the choice to go with.

BowScanner's Review:
5/5
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Best Day & Night Scope

Pros

Cons

Powered by the ATN Obsidian LT Core, this ATN X-Sight LTV optimizes for low-light circumstances.

A truly ergonomic design with a vivid and crisp clarity during the day AND the night.

This is the kind of scope that gives you exactly what you’re looking for and doesn’t add extra fluff that you don’t want.

The battery life lasts for 10+ hours and is able to mount on any platform with the standard 30 mm rings.

 

Features:

Quick Detach Mount: Allows you to easily move the scope from one gun or bow to another by detaching the rail instead of the the entire scope.
 
ATN IR850 Pro: Uses infrared technology to further illuminate the hunter’s vision.
 

Who’s this scope is best for?

As stated in the introduction, this is the scope I purchased for my own night hunting. I did this to extend the times I could shoot, and I highly recommend this scope. Customer service is excellent, and that means a lot to me. The scope itself works great. If you’re looking for a no-thrills, minimalistic scope that works well, here it is.

BowScanner's Review:
4.5/5
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Best Scope under $800

Pros

Cons

This X-Sight night vision scope combines technology with classic style to give the best of both worlds.

The Dual Core processor provides an excellent sight for low light with its 4K sensor and the 4k Pro shoots high-quality images.

If imagery is important to you and you’re looking for something that’s clear and not pixelized, but you want something under the $1,000, and actually under the $800 range, this scope will provide you with the experience that you’re looking for.

Speaking of quality, this Ultra HD Sensor provides not only a high resolution, but also fast optics with wonderful coloring.

In order to make sure you get your money’s worth, the producers and designers of the X-Sight scope has created an incredible ballistic calculator to make sure you hit your shot every time. Good for short, long, and longer range shots, you’ll be good to go with this technology.

This scope gives you the freedom to shoot during the day AND the night. There is a night vision mode that enhances low-light sights.

At the top of the battery life, this scope offers up to 18+ hours of active shooting time. No more wondering if you charged the batter last night, because you’ll be good to go with this one for nearly the entire weekend trip.

The next time that deer comes and you jump to the scope and bow, you’ll never worry whether you’ve turned the camera on. An awesome Recoin Activated Video comes standard with this scope. What’s amazing is that it automatically begins recording directly before you are about to take a shot.

With this scope, you’re able to stream video at half the price of the other higher priced scopes that allow the same feature.

 

 

Who’s this scope is best for?

If you’re a hunter who has a lot going on and have forgotten to charge batteries before, PLUS you want to record your shots, this is absolutely the scope for you. The long battery life and Recoin Activated Video with automation are going to be features that you really value.

BowScanner's Review:
4.5/5
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Best Scope under $400

Pros

Cons

An excellent night vision crossbow scope at under $400!

This is a hard-working, simple, quick, and deadly accurate scope

This scope features a Ballistic Plex, which you’ll notice is a simple and effective trajectory-compensating reticle for hunters.

The sealment is tight and creates a waterproof scope, so you won’t worry when the rain comes.

Although this scope is made for night shooting, it makes for a great day scope too.

 

 

Who’s this scope is best for?

For the simple hunter who wants a good working, middle-range priced scope that will preform during the day and night, this Burris Ballistic Plex makes for a great pick.

BowScanner's Review:
4.5/5
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Best Scope under $200

Pros

Cons

With 11 layers of multi-coated optics, this very cheap scope still gives you a very clear image.

There is a 1″ mono-tube chassis to keep the scope working for many years. This is a rugged scope.

A glass-etched illuminated XB1 SR reticle means that it can handle bow speeds from 250 to 425 feet per second.

The aim points of the reticle begin at 10 yards and reach out until 100 yards. The markings bracket off from 4 and 8 inches with aim marks that stretch 1.5 inches.

An excellent feature of this scope is that the simplicity of the scope makes it extremely easy to zero to hit the target each time.

This is the best night vision crossbow scope for beginners, because it is so easy to set up.

 

 

Who’s this scope is best for?

A great choice for beginning bow hunters and people who want a clear, quality scope for under $200.

BowScanner's Review:
4/5
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Best Scope under $100

Pros

Cons

This Hawke scope is well worth the money. It’s a quality scope at a great price.

This is a well-built and durable scope. My friend had this scope for two years and never came across function problems with the scope.

This scope’s optics are clear and are really impressive at the price point that this Hawke scope is marketed at.

It has an adjustable magnification system that is very user friendly.

 

 

Who’s this scope is best for?

When you’re looking for the best budget night vision scope for bow hunters, click the link below to check it out further!

BowScanner's Review:
4/5
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Conclusion

Having a scope that can allow you to extend your shooting hours into the night will give you more opportunities.

When it comes to picking the best night vision scope for your bow, consider price, weight, and the optics.

Do you want a technical scope, or a simple scope?

Grab a scope and get some night shooting in, you’re going to really enjoy it!

BowScanner

Don't forget to pack these on your next trip

Best Crossbow Night Vision Scopes

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