Sickened - need recommendtions on light for tracking

[EHK]

Had an unfortunate situation this past weekend.  I shot a buck with about 20 minutes of legal shooting light left on Friday night.  The shot was a little forward.  Penetration was not great and neither was the blood trail, but I found the arrow 20 yards from where I shot him and it looked promising.  My buddy and I trailed as far as we could, but eventually just could not pick up the trail anymore.  Went back first thing Saturday morning and found the buck lying 40 yards from where we stopped looking.  Unfortunately, the hind end had been eaten out of it by something.  When I started processing, the meat had a very off smell to it - almost rancid.  Even the backstraps which had not been touched by whatever got to it smelled bad.  What a horrible feeling to have taken an animal's life for naught.  Even more sickening to think that I was 40 yards away from recovering it in the first place.

I'm convinced that with something brighter than my mini-mag, I would have recovered that deer on Friday evening.  So, does anyone have any recommendations as far as bright flashlights for tracking?

[Bud B.]

I wish I could say I haven't been there, but I have.

As far as a light goes, anything bright enough to allow good sight on the night leaves and vegetation. Also, a bright light that can pick up the glow of their eyes at a distance is good too.

And maybe get to know someone who owns a tracking dog.

I'm sorry it happened to you.

[joe ashton]

the protein was not wasted, those 'yotes won the lottery.
  Wal-mart is selling some very bright lights these days. 150 200 lumes and even more.

[Preston Lay]

Look at felix also known as main beam, sold by the wensel's at brothers of the bow. Super bright and small.

[Sharpend60]

Nothing is wasted in the wild.
Thats why it is called hunting.

Not 'getting' or 'killing'

Your best is all you can do and maybe, get a better light.

Go with a high end headlamp.
Petzl, Black diamond or Mammut. You would be shocked how bright they can be.

[pdk25]

Hard to beat a good old propane lantern.  Spreads a diffuse light that for me makes it easier to pick out the blood.  I am spoiled with a good tracking dog, so mostly I don't even try to track at night anymore.

[4dogs]

I just brought up a thread called aa or aaa  flashlight......check it out.

[Ladams]

The fenix Is the best light i have ever owned,
several settings and very compact,
Wensel brothers sells it and they call it the Mainbeam.
Larry

[Lost Arra]

Fenix here

HL 30 on my head
LD 22 in my hand
I like AA's. Eneloops and a good charger plus you can buy AA's anywhere.

[Stumpkiller]

I highly recommend the Fenix PD-30.

Or Brothers of the Bow "Mainbeam" (similar)

 http://www.brothersofthebow.com/html/merchandise.html

You just can't believe how good these lights are until you have used them.  Four intensity settings and great battery life.

[huntingarcher]

You just can't believe how good these lights are until you have used them.  Four intensity settings and great battery life.

X2,I have the Fenix PD-32 and it's the best light I have ever had.

[YORNOC]

I carry a mini mag to and from the stand, but keep a full size mag light and a 1,000,000 candle power spotlight charged in the truck at all times during the season. Been there too many times, it has found our deer too many times to count. You can never have too much light, everyone involved should be packing some serious lumens.

[Tom Leemans]

Fenix PD30 - Worth every dime! Available from Brothers of the Bow (Wensels) as well as other sites, but they're not making any money off of them.

[stevewills]

sure fire single led,1.5 volt....i love it and the batteries last forever

[wtpops]

I found a blood tracking light the last time I was out hog hunting. I  never really thought about buying one of these. Well just so happens I hit a hog that evening it got dark in the middle of the trailing and I was having trouble seeing the blood so I pulled out the light I found a d was amazed at how it lit up the blood it maid the tracking g so much easer it was a gerber blood tracking light. It will be in my pack from now on.

[Will Cocke 2]

Well this is the way I look at it.  It could have been way worse you could have pushed him and never found him.  Sometimes a brighter light is not the answer for you it was. If I am not a 100% confident that the shot was dead on the money I do not even look for them til the next morning.  Nothing will make you sicker than jumping a bedded buck and never finding him.  When in doubt back out.  You did the right thing.
Streamlight Stinger DS LED is the best light ive used . Primos ph-6 flashlightIs also an excellent light last foreverand really bright

[ddauler]

Fenix PD30 great lil light

[ddauler]

Oh yea and it ain't for naught critters gotta have somthing to eat they will clean it up quick. That said it really is tough to loose one.

[MnFn]

gas lantern

[Jon Stewart]

Glad this came up as I am also looking for a good light. Thanks for all the suggestions.