Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Hiking in and out in the dark

This is why I don't carry a headlight. I use a flashlight instead. Holding a flashlight low to the ground makes it harder for game to see and easier to pick up the height of what's in front of you. I use white light. It reflects off my hunter orange and makes it easy to see what I am for a hunter. Under normal conditions, I hike to and from the stand with a 2 AA flashlight hooked between my fingers of whatever hand is on my rifle sling. Lately, I've been using a flashlight with a built-in 'biner that hooks to my possibles bag, my belt or my suspenders.

With my hunting spot in CO I try not to use any lights at all unless I need to, but it is also about 10 minutes from where I park to where I start to hunt (I like to go after the game other people overlook and walk right past). Then I just stand at the edge of where I want to begin, and listen, while waiting for hunting light. Normally enough light out that I can generally see what I need on the way in, dark adaptation takes 30-45 minutes at first, then if you do turn on a light, can take anywhere from 5-45 minutes to get it back depending on intensity and duration. If I do use a light, I prefer red.

Climber3256: I use an adjustable white light head lamp and use the lowest setting for travel in the dark.
I have walked right up on both Moose, Deer and Elk at times (by right up I mean 40 - 50 yards) when they could easily have moved off prior to my getting that close?
I suggest you get a light with adjustable beam brightness - which ever color you choose.
Best of luck with whichever you choose.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

If I lived in snake country there would be no sneaking in and out, light or not, just a steady trail of gunfire to and from the truck.

I've used both headlamps and flashlights and prefer the flashlight. I can keep it on the trail instead of flickering all over the woods as I'm moving my head around.

I'm with Steelhead. Old Ephraim hangs out in a lot of the places I hunt, and if I bump into HIM and things get serious, I want to be able to SEE his ass and hope my bright white lite blinds him;)

I like having both and mainly use the flashlight for the reasons you mention. It is nice to have a small clip light on the bill of my cap if needed for places where I use both hands and especially if gutting one after dark.

Flashlights do have some advantages but I don't carry one because I prefer a headlamp and try to carry as little as possible. I like hands-free. Taking apart an elk or deer after dark with a flashlight in your teeth sucks.

As does climbing a steep hill in brush, etc.

My thoughts as well....flashlights are for the house and truck

Sounds similar to me. If there is any moon, I usually can start walking in about a half hour before legal shooting time. If there is a full moon, I could walk in anytime. I can't remember the last time I turned on a light walking in, once I am off a road. No snakes or grizzlies in my area.

I quit hiking at night without a bright white light when a few years ago, I was going back to my truck in the dark, something ahead of me just didn't look right. Turned out it was a big skunk, headed my way.

BTDT and it sucks. Plus you slobber all over the flashlight. Pass on the flashlight for in woods applications.

I put clips on all my flashlights so they can attach to a hat brim.....

Yeah but they're always attached to your rifles during deer season, what's up with that?

We don't have whitetails here so almost no hunting is done from stands other than bears over bait. Our hiking in the dark is mostly on trails to get back from the road a ways or coming out at the end of the day. The exceptions, of course, are when we get something down late in the day. For this kind of hiking in the dark, we very seldom need both hands free.

On the first and last days of deer season on public land around here, a strobe light, cowbell, and knee cymbals are about right.

More cowbell!!