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Flashlight/Headlamp for Entrance/Exit

sep0667

sep0667

Land of the Whitetail
How do you feel that using a small flashlight or headlamp impacts the deer on making entrances to and from the stand in the dark? Does it matter if its just a plain white bulb or is a green or red LED better? There is a thread in the trail cam forum about the IR trail cams and the red light from them, do you think that if it mainly seems to be ok from a trail cam that it is ok from a headlamp?

I will be hunting a peice of property for the first time this weekend and have only been in there twice to hang stands and check the trail cam once, both several weeks ago. The way I plan to access the stands have me taking a route that is probably 1/2 to nearly a mile to get into them in order to avoid bumping deer and for the wind and I'm a little worried about just trying to wonder in there in the dark come Saturday morning.
 
Well, when there's no moon out, I'll walk most of the way back to my tree with a white flashlight, then the closer I get I use one of those ball cap clip lights in either green or red. I tend to get to my tree super early in the morning, so I don't feel I do any damage with the white light. Plus, it's easier to spot those Iowa mountain lions stalking me with the white light.

If we have a full moon, I rarely use a flashlight going to my tree or when there is a good blanket of snow on the ground.

If you mark a trail through the timber with the reflective trail tacks you push in tree's, a red cap light works the best on those.. Just be sure to mark both sides of the trees, so you can find your way in and out..
 
I think if you can get into your stand without a headlamp without stepping on sticks and falling on stuff and hurting yourself, that is the best way to go. I have tried it before and ended up making more noise trying to get in without a light and spooking more deer than if I walked in with a 2 million candlepower spotlight. Personally I wouldn't use a white light, I think if it is easily visible to us it will be easy visible to the deer. I picked up a Coleman LED headlamp from Wal-Mart for like $13 that has red, blue, and white light. The red light is just enough to see in front of you and very hard to see at a distance. It has worked great for me so far and I have snuck out of field edge stands with deer feeding not too far away and they didn't see it.
 
Headlamp...... Lights effect the deers ability to see you and decipher what you are. Hence the fact you can often times walk up to them with a light on. Also wearing a headlamp allows you to be able to see where you are stepping reducing unwanted sounds. The photoreceptors and rods and their eyes allow them to see well after dark, and IMO the light will reduce their ability to tell what you are, much like if you were walking up to someone in the dark and they were shining a flashlight in your eyes. As long as they can't smell you, you will be fine. Entrance and exit routs are much more crucial than walking to stand with a light on.
 
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I just quit going in so early all together. 30-40 minutes before first light there is still enough like to clearly see.
 
I always use a regular flashlight to get to my stand in the mornings.I usually dont start seeing the deer until after 8 anyways.
 
Granted, all spots are different, but I too usually go in, without a light, at the time that I can be just settled in a little before shooting light. I like to be able to see deer ahead of me and be able to let them pass, or if its a buck I am hunting, drop and start hunting there and maybe change the game plan.Most of my spots, no matter how early I would go, will always have deer there and I would rather not scent up an area for an hour or so before light.
 
I posted on the thread in the trail forum too but I use a headlamp with the red light and several times (including this past weekend) I've come face to face (less than 10 yds) from deer with the red light on. I can see their "red" eyes moving up and down looking at me trying to figure out what I am while I'm froze in my tracks. They usually stare for a few minutes and calmly walk away. Never spooked one that way.

The other reason I like the headlamp, if I am having trouble seeing and turn on the white spotlight, you can aim it down ward at the ground to it's not shining straight or up wards in the distance. Don't know if that makes any difference at all but I tell myself it does haha.
 
Just go in at pink light no need to sat for an hour in the dark. Stay in your stand
an extra hour in the light .
 
IMO if the deer are close enough to see your light, then they can definately see you stumbling around without it. go ahead and use the light if it makes your entry quieter. Or like others mentioned, wait until you can see to go to your stand. It will feel more awkward, but if you still-hunt in to your stand, you can be certain that you won't bump deer so much.
 
LED lamps don't penetrate the dark as far as regular bulbs. But illuminate well for a short distance. That what I use anyways.
 
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