A flashlight is a fairly commonplace thing for each of us. We have it on our phones, or it lies among our tools. It allows you to find lost trinkets in dark corners, insert a key into a keyhole in the dark, or even play with your pet. But besides this, it becomes beneficial during night hunting.
Many challenges and difficulties accompany this type of leisure, but many hunters prefer it despite everything. If hunting requires vigilance, then night hunting doubles this indicator. You must ensure you have all the essential documents confirming your right to play in a particular region and carefully collect the necessary equipment. Every detail requires a responsible attitude. And although such a thing as a flashlight seems like a trifle, we assure you that it is one of those things that you need to pay special attention to. Not only does it help to illuminate the area, but it also does an excellent job of disorienting the target.
Types of Lights Every Night Hunter Needs
In the modern world, the range is vast in many different models of lights - handheld and headlamps, camping and tactical, bicycle and underwater. And you need to know how to navigate all this variety. After all, each model of flashlight has its purpose.
A common mistake among novice hunters is to buy the most potent flashlight as if this will solve all problems. But this opinion is wrong.
Firstly, there are many nuances in using a flashlight under certain conditions, and secondly, with the necessary knowledge, it is easier to navigate the vast number of existing options.
Here are some of them: handheld lights, weapon light attachments, headlamps, feeder lights, and blood tracking lights. They differ from each other not only in power and shape but also in terms of their functionality, color, etc.
Handheld Lights
A simple handheld flashlight is always a good idea to have on hand. It can be either the primary type of lighting or a backup option in your reserve. The power and other properties of the device will depend on the specific model you choose. Modern versions have several modes and additional functionality that can be useful. It is appropriate to use it for scanning the terrain and orientation in space, for example, after you have hunted the game. At such moments, it's essential to have bright, regular lighting to see the scale of the work.
Some craftsmen find it appropriate to attach this type of flashlight to a weapon, but we would like to point out that this is not practical for the following reasons. The recoil of a gun can be so strong that the shot may damage an unsuitable flashlight, as they are not adapted to such operating conditions. For such cases, use unique, powerful under-barrel lights for hunting.
Weapon Light Attachments
This type of flashlight has a special attachment that can be used to fix it to the barrel of your weapon. The convenience of such models is that the hunter's hands are entirely free. This means you can simultaneously illuminate the area around you (without losing sight of the target) and shoot. Additional comfort is provided by the remote trigger button, which is installed conveniently for the shooter and allows you to avoid constantly reaching under the barrel of the weapon to turn on the flashlight.
But despite its advantages, remember that you should have a flashlight of another model in your reserve. This type can also inspect the area, but you must constantly move the weapon. Therefore, it will be much more helpful when you have already found the game and are aiming at it.
Headlamps
This is one of the most versatile headlamps. It was initially designed for miners and archaeologists, but its compactness and mobility quickly found its way into many other areas where you need to keep your hands free.
And night hunting is no exception. It is comfortable to scan the area. Modern models differ in colors, modes, and power. Therefore, finding the model that meets your needs will take time and effort.
Feeder Lights
Using a feeder light as bait is a popular hunting method. The hunter can set it up in a particular area while the sun still shines. And when darkness falls, he can sit in an ambush and wait for prey.
But how to hit the target in this case? This is where feeder lights come in handy, installed in the city with a feeder.
There are different options. For example, those installed on the feeder shine from top to bottom. Others are attached to a tree or pole and shine horizontally. Solar panels and some disposable batteries power some lights. There are also those with portable controls.
Using this type of lantern, you have all the advantages you can imagine. First, if the light goes off early, a wild boar, for example, has time to get used to it, and because the light is steady and does not appear abruptly, the risk of scaring the animal is reduced. Secondly, your hands are free, and nothing interferes with your ability to control your weapon. When you look through the scope, your target is already illuminated. And this increases your chances of going unnoticed at a certain distance and returning home with your prey.
When choosing such a device, you should consider its power and the area it can illuminate so that you can see the animal. Pay attention to a model that shines from top to bottom, has a soft diffused light, and has a lighting area of 30-50 pounds.
Blood Tracking Lights
You may be an excellent shot. However, remember that hunting at night is a challenge. And you may encounter some difficulties in shooting. Your task is to ensure that the animal dies quickly and cleanly. But there are cases when a wounded animal starts running away from you, and now your job is to find it. This can be done by traces of blood left on the ground. To increase the efficiency of the search, hunters use flashlights to track blood.
However, this concept needs to be more accurate. Many people know, and you've probably seen in movies, unique ultraviolet lamps used at crime scenes and immediately notice that blood sparkles like fluorescent paint. But this is different. Ultraviolet light shows the presence of certain liquids on certain surfaces. However, it will likely be useless in the forest when trying to see a bloody trail on the grass. Therefore, which flashlight to achieve this goal depends on many factors. Including the season and what the ground is covered with.
What is the best color light to not spook animals?
We have seen that flashlights differ in their appearance; you can find models that are more or less powerful, and they have different purposes. However, another significant factor is to consider when choosing a flashlight. And we are talking about the color of the light. It should be noted right away that you should have several in your reserve during night hunting. Flashlights that have white light, red or green.
The first option will provide you with an excellent opportunity to inspect the area and navigate in space in the dark, in which case you can give a noticeable signal to your colleagues, disorient the game, and illuminate the result of the hunt. But all the other manipulations. It would be best to use flashlights with green or red lights when looking for or chasing an animal.
Why: The answer to this question is quite simple. The range of color perception by animals is much smaller than that of humans. And this light reduces the likelihood of scaring them if you are close.
However, much debate exists about which of the two colors is better for hunting. Well, it depends on the animal you will hunt because each animal's retina works differently. For example, if we talk about a deer, its eye cannot see red light. This means that this option will be more practical for you, you are less noticeable, but you have enough visibility to take aim and make a successful shot. At the same time, for hunting, for example, wild boar, you may opt for the green color.
But most hunters prefer the red color for several reasons. First, a green flashlight is inappropriate in a dense green forest because it reflects off the green plants and creates a spot of light in front of you. Secondly, red light keeps your eyes adapted to the dark. Therefore, turning off the flashlight will not affect your ability to see as much as it would with the green one.
When choosing a flashlight, the main thing to remember is that there is no unique option that would suit all occasions. It would be best always to have several backup options to ensure your safety and success in night hunting. They should differ in light color and power, battery life, and model type.