Trad Gang
Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Bowwild on August 21, 2010, 08:37:00 PM
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A buddy of mine, Jim turned me on to this several years ago. We use small red lights (I use LED he uses a red filter) to help us manuever in the dark to our stands. The deer don't notice the red light like they do white light.
Bass Pro has a really cool one made for Military helments. It is about $59 but has white, red, green, and blue LED. It is very compact and olive green. Has big clip for hat bill.
I think I'll turn the blue one on when I'm returning from the stand with a tag filled!
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Yes sir, been using red lights for years now :thumbsup:
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I've been using a streamlight headlight for a couple of years, with green LEDs. I really like it, when you turn it off, you haven't lost your night vision like with a white light.
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I really don't worry about it.. Unless you are really close to your deer, they will pay little heed to a light (Ever look around while out in the country at night? There are already a multitude of lights out there, from farm lights to car head lights etc etc.)
If you are close enough to spook them with a light, you are probably going to spook them anyway.
The good thing about a red light (or a green one)is it doesn't dilate your eyes and ruin your night vision.
Unless it is really dark as no moon and no stars, there is typically enough light to see the trail with if you let your eyes adjust, and move slowly.
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use no light, and save your night vision. I have a hunting buddy thatmust always have a light with him no mater what. I think he is scared of the dark, but that is another subject. He uses one of those head lights, and no mater what color he has on, it invariably ends up pointing straight in your eyes, and then you can't see. Just learn how to operate without one, and life will be much simpler.
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I agree with Grapes, though in my younger days, about 40 years ago, I was known to rubber band red celophane over the lense of my double D flashlight for navigating in the dark.
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I use a green light. Same principal. My eyes do not adjust as well as some, I guess.
I really can't see that well in the dark and have taken enough spills without a light that I won't walk thru the woods without one now.
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Originally posted by Earl E. Nov...mber:
I really don't worry about it.. Unless you are really close to your deer, they will pay little heed to a light (Ever look around while out in the country at night? There are already a multitude of lights out there, from farm lights to car head lights etc etc.)
If you are close enough to spook them with a light, you are probably going to spook them anyway.
The good thing about a red light (or a green one)is it doesn't dilate your eyes and ruin your night vision.
Unless it is really dark as no moon and no stars, there is typically enough light to see the trail with if you let your eyes adjust, and move slowly.
x2
I use a light more often than not, but I don't worry about spooking anything and I still see a lot of nice deer.
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I tend to use moonlight whenever I can and use a red lense when it is overcast or moonless.
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I like the safety factor with a red lens of being identified as a human traveling to and from my hunting location and not tripping over stuff. You never know who's out there.
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I don't worry about it too much myself.If it is a place I am really concerned about using a light I just wait until daylight to go in.Light or no light most times a deer has you pegged if you get close enough anyway.
I am more worried about spotlighters and dummys to cross a field at night with no light than I am about spooking a deer anyway. :scared: jmo
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Originally posted by Grapes:
use no light, and save your night vision. I have a hunting buddy thatmust always have a light with him no mater what. I think he is scared of the dark, but that is another subject. He uses one of those head lights, and no mater what color he has on, it invariably ends up pointing straight in your eyes, and then you can't see chit. Just learn how to operate without one, and life will be much simpler.
You obviously don't have snakes and alligators where you hunt 8-)
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Originally posted by Biggie Hoffman:
Originally posted by Grapes:
use no light, and save your night vision. I have a hunting buddy thatmust always have a light with him no mater what. I think he is scared of the dark, but that is another subject. He uses one of those head lights, and no mater what color he has on, it invariably ends up pointing straight in your eyes, and then you can't see chit. Just learn how to operate without one, and life will be much simpler.
You obviously don't have snakes and alligators where you hunt 8-) [/b]
X2 for me. :scared: The terrain I hunt resembles a jungle more than open farm country. Lots of stuff to get hurt on...plus lots of standing water. BTW: anyone know if there are studies that show which is better, red or green, as far as being less likely to spook deer?
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Red can help but it is important to move quickly and quietly. I think crashing around due to not having enough light can be worse in spooking deer than the light itself. Another note, don't use to much light as it will affect your eyes and ability to dialate in poor light conditions. I also try to avoid having to hurry.
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Good point, Biggie. I don't have snakes (at least not poisonous ones) and gators where I hunt. Would probably use a light in those areas.
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When I'm hunting established stands at the home area I rarely need a light. However, if I'm hunting unfamiliar areas, especially in zero moon I like to use a light (sometimes I cover the lense with my hand and only let thin rays come through my hands. I want to be quiet and keep stuff out of my eyes.
Also, if I'm leading someone to a stand that isn't familiar with the area I want them to use a light to be quiet and comfortable.
When I hunt during firearms season I make sure I have a small light to help keep tresspassers from shooting me. When I lived near Newton, Kansas a turkey hunter was killed about 1 mile from me by a tresspasser.
Spotlighting (casting the rays of a light over fields) is illegal here in Kentucky except for a farmer checking cattle. Landowners got tired of poachers (and a few recreational viewers)from casting headlights over their houses -- some had their houses shot by these lovely people.
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If there is a hole in the woods I'll find it...or more like they find me. I'll use a light or head into the woods when it is "just" light enough to see shapes (trees). I have always heard the green and red lights were good.
Seems like there is always something on the ground that wasn't there last time. If it is, I will find it and fall over it. :knothead:
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My favorite "walk in" light is a small Petzel head light with a red filter that flips down to protect your night vision. It is a big help climbing in the dark. LED provides long battery light and it is more rugged than the clip on the bill type.
I pay lots of attention to wind and where the deer are likely to be (so as not to bump them)in planning my approach. A goof on either of those things will spook them more than a flicker of light - in my opinion.
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I've got a green pen light. It looks like a camo'ed ink pen. It's made out of aluminum, it's water proof, and runs on one AAAA battery. It's had the same battery in it for the past 3 years. I think it's a Stremlight, but not sure. You can use the clip and slid it on the side of your cap bill if it's a really dark night. Most of the time I just point it at the ground behind me, so I don't get clipped by a centerfire rifle while walking out of the woods or field I'm in. I have very good night vision, I mostly just carry it for safety.
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I like to use reflective tacks tacked to tree trucks. Work great with a white light. I've never used them with a red light. Might have to try that.
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i dont use a light unless im on a blood trail.
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I never thought that deer were spooked by lights, after all they see headlights and other lights all the time. I just use a flashlight if I spook deer it's because they winded or heard me.
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I have had small deer walk Up to me when going to stand, When using my head light that has red & white light… Either one could be on and the deer still was just eating and walking my way… I had the wind in my face, Boy did they jump when I said "Hello There Tender Viddles"
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I use a miner style Energizer LED that I got at wally world for less than $10. Just slides on your head and turn it on. Has red and white leds in it. I wouldn't suggest using the led style for blood trailing though. I tried it once and you can't see blood with it for some reason. But I agree that the red lights are the way to go.
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Originally posted by Red Boar:
Originally posted by Biggie Hoffman:
Originally posted by Grapes:
use no light, and save your night vision. I have a hunting buddy thatmust always have a light with him no mater what. I think he is scared of the dark, but that is another subject. He uses one of those head lights, and no mater what color he has on, it invariably ends up pointing straight in your eyes, and then you can't see chit. Just learn how to operate without one, and life will be much simpler.
You obviously don't have snakes and alligators where you hunt 8-) [/b]
X2 for me. :scared: The terrain I hunt resembles a jungle more than open farm country. Lots of stuff to get hurt on...plus lots of standing water. BTW: anyone know if there are studies that show which is better, red or green, as far as being less likely to spook deer? [/b]
One trip over a highwall and it's over! Not to mention finding your way through all the multiflora bushes would be a little tricky. I use a Petzl headlamp with a white light until I get over the highwalls and close to my stand. Then I flip the red lens into place.
Biggie, scared of a little ol snake are you?
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Mike, That's exactly what I do with my Petzl Tac-tikka :thumbsup:
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I'm a retired wildlife biologist. I recall (but wouldn't swear to it) that deer can't see the red light.
Night Wing, my buddy uses the tacks and ties along his trails and the red light works well to light them up. This friend will even take a rake to the woods after leaf fall to clear debris out of the trails he walks in on to help him move quickly (some of the walks in are nearly a mile)and quietly.
Where I hunt there are no headlights in the woods. Of course the deer are used to such lights when they are around roads and houses. However, just like they expect to smell people when they get around our homes, they don't expect it in their core areas. They probably don't expect bright lights in the "woods" either.
However, having written all this, I can't say I've ever spooked a deer with a light, even with white light. But the reason is because I wouldn't know if it was from my sound, my form, my odor, or my light that caused the spook?
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I'm not convinced that deer can see "any" artificial light... Get in your stand dark early and test this.. Make no noise and if the wind is right simply shine a light at deer.. No reaction on any I've done this to unless they see their shadows...
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Originally posted by Bowwild:
I'm a retired wildlife biologist. I recall (but wouldn't swear to it) that deer can't see the red light.
Night Wing, my buddy uses the tacks and ties along his trails and the red light works well to light them up.
Thanks for the confirmation.
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Nor you have those nice teddy bears called Grizz,following you along the trail.
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Tell em Biggie. Like to see them webs, with spiders attached, before they wrap around my face too.
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Originally posted by Grapes:
use no light, and save your night vision. I have a hunting buddy thatmust always have a light with him no mater what. I think he is scared of the dark, but that is another subject. He uses one of those head lights, and no mater what color he has on, it invariably ends up pointing straight in your eyes, and then you can't see. Just learn how to operate without one, and life will be much simpler.
That is what I do. No lights until you are blood trailing. If I use a light it is only on the way out or in an unknown area.
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I've been poked in the eye by branches enough that unless the moon is very bright I use a red headlight. All it takes is one unseen gopher hole to end your season. I rolled my ankle on a loose rock last season even while using a light. Besides, as someone mentioned, I like the other hunters to know I'm a human in case they want to cheat the legal first light and shoot at sound.
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Ever since I had a compound shooter draw on me in the dark I use a light. I thought I was safe being 80 yards from the edge, good thing his bow squealed like a wounded rat when he drew it back. Another time a friend of mine waited until total darkness before he moved, because we were invaded by a father and son with in line muzzle loaders. He heard a double metallic click and instantly yelled, just to hear the groaning from the pair about how they thought he was a deer. Private land is no guarantee that you won't be at risk. In our part of the state it is not uncommon to have early season muzzleload road hunter taking long shots at deer out in fields from the roads. For those who wish to get defensive about sharing seasons with the high powered muzzle guns, so be it. The situation is what it is. Back when we just had the late season with the cap and ball crowd it was not much of an issue, they were a different type of hunter than some that I see now. The light makes hunting safer, at least I would like to think they know that deer don't have lights.
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one good stick in the eye and i went back to using a light... usually a red lens but just to keep from totally losing my night vision
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Have to agree with "Biggie" on this one. No gators, but rattle snakes are no fun when you can hear them, but not see them. Safety is also a consideration, especially when hunting public land in rough country. Might give the red lens a try.
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A couple of years ago I was sitting in the stand late one evening when a lone doe wondered in. She was milling around and eating, so I decided to wait a while to let her move on. She didn't until it was well past dark, so I thought it would be a good idea to test this theory. I turned on my red light and shined it directly at her. She didn't even seem to notice it, just kept right on eating. Then I switched over to the white light. She blew, jumped, and looked right up at me. I turned it off for a few minutes to let her calm down, then turned on the red light again, with no reaction. White light was the same story as before.
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I think it was either Gene or Barry Wensel who had written here back a bit ago where they intentionally were lighting deer (maybe hogs) to see reactions, and if I remember correctly, there was little or no reaction....
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I second the green LED lights. I've had stare-down contests with does using those things when going to my stand in the morning at less than 20 yards. If I were a less than ethical hunter, I could have added a half a dozen deer to the freezer.