stand approach, flash ligt or first light?

[mathews8pt]

I almost always use a red headlamp while walking in.  It seems that i am much quiter and it is much safer.  I have never had a deer react to my red light either.

[adkmountainken]

wow, i am jealous, i wish i could find my way to my stand with NO light but it is nearly impossible on the ridge i hunt. i know it well but would brake my butt with all the limbs, rocks and streams.

[Dave Lay]

Originally posted by adkmountainken:
wow, i am jealous, i wish i could find my way to my stand with NO light but it is nearly impossible on the ridge i hunt. i know it well but would brake my butt with all the limbs, rocks and streams.

same here, i have tried the no light thing alot but had a pretty bad eye injury from a dang unseen stick in the eye, I think Roger Rothhaar always slipped in at first light, i personally just cant do that, so i use a light sparingly and try to be in stand at least 30 minuites before any hint of light

[eflanders]

Originally posted by Dave Lay:
 

Originally posted by adkmountainken:
wow, i am jealous, i wish i could find my way to my stand with NO light but it is nearly impossible on the ridge i hunt. i know it well but would brake my butt with all the limbs, rocks and streams.

same here, i have tried the no light thing alot but had a pretty bad eye injury from a dang unseen stick in the eye, I think Roger Rothhaar always slipped in at first light, i personally just cant do that, so i use a light sparingly and try to be in stand at least 30 minuites before any hint of light [/b]

I am not much of an early morning guy but always stay out until total dark.  Candidly I really have a hard time getting up so early, but if I do, I usually use a light going in and out.  I haven't tried the colored light thing so I am going to try that this weekend.  The colored light thing seems to make sense to me regarding the eye /light adjustment factor.

[GRINCH]

I hunt on the ground,just my preference,after killing two rattle snakes last year I go in at daylight.

[Mint]

Considering I have some slob hunters by me that shoot before legal light I always use a headlamp on the lowest setting. they use climbers so i have no idea where they will be set up. I'd rather spook a few deer than get shot by these idiots.

[doug77]

I use a head lamp with a green lens.

doug77

[Hopewell Tom]

I use a flashlight with a red light. Supposed to not be seen by deer, but don't know about that. Use it because I have it and the light is less intense.

I like to be settled about 30 minutes before shooting light.
 Really neat time there in the last bit of black, feel like a hunter.

[backyardbowhunter]

I use a light too. To dangerous where I hunt to get to my stand without one before shooting light. If you're going to spook deer you'll do it with or without a light if it's dark.

[cahaba]

I go in during light. Have not seen many deer at first light. I can be twice as quiet when I can see and like to stalk hunt to my stand.

[Jim Keller]

I use a light with red lens and cat eyes

[Earl E. Nov...mber]

Actually if I remember my night vision classes in the ole US Army, is
1. Wait about 2-3 minutes for your eyes to acclimate to the dark.

2. Never look directly at what you are trying to see. Rather look past it, and use your periphial (sp)vision to see shapes and objects.

3. Move slow and keep your eyes moving and don't stare.

4. Use a flashlight even once and you start all over.

We use to tape the lens of a flashlight and leave just a pin hole for those times you just absolutely need a bit of help.

[Bill Skinner]

I checked flashlight but I don't use one.  I also hunt from the ground, so I'm not climbing in the dark.  I love sitting against a tree and hearing the forest wake up around me.  Plus, it lets everything settle down for a while before first light.

[Earl E. Nov...mber]

Got to luv Google

 http://www.wikihow.com/See-in-the-Dark

[Sam McMichael]

I use the light. Even in daylight, I clump like a horse, so I would not be signicantly quieter by waiting. Instead, I try to be on stand about 45 minutes befor dawn breaks. This lets the woods settle back down.There is something special about watching the woods come alive when that first bit of daylight shows.

[Roger Norris]

I go in early, but usually don't use my light until I am settling in.

[StickBowManMI]

I stopped going in when it was totally dark because I could hear the deer running away as I walked in . I have been more successful by hunting my way into my stand during First Light. That way you may be able to avoid spooking deer out of your hunting area.

[Rod in SC]

Ive been coon hunting using super bright lights and have gotten close to deer many times and even seen them stay bedded from 50-75 yds away.  Ive also used the very dim red light approach and had deer snort at me.  I was just out tracking a deer a couple weeks ago with a bright light  and a spike let me walk by at less than 50 yds. He never ran just would walk a ways and stop and look.
 Im not convinced that you wouldnt be better off using a very bright light while approaching the stand. This would be true especially if youre hunting deer close to roads where they see car headlights regularly. I think that maybe because of cars they have become accustomed to very bright lights but not necessarily little sissy lights sneaking around.  And there aint no way Im slipping around in the half dark with no light around here. Bubba would put a hole in me for sure! 8-)

[Bowwild]

OBXarcher provides excellent advice about a small light helping to keep you from being mistaken for game by someone making bad decisions!  

Here in KY several bow hunting days are overlapped by firearms seasons; Youth Rifle, MZZL, General Firearms, another December MZZL, and then another Youth rifle after Christmas.  I of course wear the obligatory orange and I will have a small light on to "help" from giving someone something tragic to remember the rest of their lives.

[Brock]

unless absolutely pitch black or in really really thick mess...I get there early enough to let my night vision come around...and then slowly work my way to stand without any light.  If I need it to see an obstacle or ensure the stand doesnt have a wasp nest hanging under it or a coon on the seat...a quick flash of a green LED light works.  Most of the time I can get there without any light...just the thick forest or swamp I need it and then sometimes the cateyes are enough with ambient light.