how often do you guys run your lights? techniques used? just a curious question and a good topic of convo

spotlight is on all the time, the light I mount on the rifle I turn on when I am ready to make the shot, the headlight I only use when I am hunting very dense areas and need to rely on a shotgun.

I run the light the entire stand. It allows you to pick up a predator quick and keep the light on them. Otherwise, you miss out on some coming in, then shock them when the light hits them. I use a rheostat and run on dim, then work the intensity up slowly while they are coming in. It conditions them to the light slowly and doesn't seem to phase them at shooting distance.

PS. I don't own a single red filter, either.

Tony

Scan with my hat light going in and on stand, of course, then use the gun light to shoot. I also scan when I'm leaving as well, never know when a latecomer might show up. The other obvious point is to leave as quietly as you went in, especially if you didn't shoot anything.........

John

Lights on the entire time.

I disagree with the philosophy of leaving the light on all the time. Since animals can see it no matter what the color (except infrared), it seems to me tantamount to leaving your caller running all the time. I scan quickly every 1-2 minutes with the rheostat on low.

Whats everyone using for a scanning light and how are you powering it.
I am looking for a better scanning light. I use a $13 headlamp that actually does decent.

Really? How does that work out for you? I have heard of folks doing it before, but it just seems weird to me.

I use my Lightforce Walkabout turned down low or a two (CR123) battery HID or LED flashlight with a red filter.

I would like a lightforce.

It all depends on how much natural light is available. When it is good and dark, light on all the time and very dim. When it is bright, hardly on at all.

My headlamp is great for 80 yards on dark nights. I mainly hunt wooded area's. I can rarely see past 300 yards if im lucky.

Kizmo,

Remembering that a critter has about 6 times the night vision that we do, I believe in using the light most of the time out there. Once it's used to scan and then turned off (Which I WILL admit I do from time to time if I don't see anything, but remain on stand to call again), especially on a bright night, there is the chance that if they are coming after they've pinpointed your calling, they might see you moving around and spook out if your light ain't on....just my humble .02..

Regards,

John

I think there's a greater chance of a constantly moving light "broadcasting" off into the distance tipping them off. As well as they can see in the dark, I believe they might interpret a constant light as coming from a vehicle. Where I hunt, vehicles = danger to them, since they get shot at by the ranchers. With all the cows and calves where I hunt, there is plenty of movement going on all the time.

I hunt tight areas. I keep my headlamp on full time. It has two little red LEDs (two eyes). I go in with it and out. At any distance you can not see a thing....until a critter comes. Then those two red orbs glow like fire. I helps to cut through the brush. Brush doesn't light up because of the distance but the eyes sure do. When it's within range, I switch on my gun light.........BOOM!

I noticed the same thing. The red led's don't light up the brush. But when I turn on the white led, the light seems to reflect off the brush.

Wave lengths baby!