Hiking out at night.

[RadSav]

I have been in some country that once it gets dark you better be to a trail or know exactly where you are to get out. Areas with lots of drop offs,slides and cliffs its not smart to be finding your way out in that stuff best to sleep there.

Had a friend in NY walk off a cliff trying to get in on some turkeys before light.  That's pretty darn dark!!  Spent two weeks in the hospital.  He said that Christmas he got about a dozen flashlights with red lenses

[D-Rock425]

I like it.  Normally walk out in the dark every evening I bear hunt.  Like rad said it's the 2 legged things I'm most worried about.

[boneaddict]

If this makes you feel any better, if a cat is going to eat you, they will do just fine during daylight hours.   They really don't need it to be dark.   It is unnerving when you know they are there but can't see them, or you do see the demon eyes.  That's always fun.   I cut up a bear one night in firelight while 50 yards away, a bear ate huckleberries in the moonlight, completely carefree of my presence.   He then followed me all the way to my truck with a backpack full of meat on.  He hung back about 75 yards or so the whole way.   I even fired a shot.  He didn't budge.

[blindluck]

I always carry a 22 for protection from bears and cougars, If one is going to attack shoot your buddy in the leg then run.

[Bob33]

I've done it many times with no problems. A headlamp is mandatory. A GPS is comforting and extremely helpful, particularly if going off trail. I never worry about critters.

[Bean Counter]

I always carry a 22 for protection from bears and cougars, If one is going to attack shoot your buddy in the leg then run.

Just spit my coffee out!

[quadrafire]

I used them tacks to mark my way in and out that glow when light hits them,caution don't put them side by side with a 3 inch gap,holy moly batman,I about freaked when them two beady eyes were staring at me,,lol when not using them keep the light from messing with your eyes and use the gps

Rasbo that is Hilarious 

[7mmfan]

Have a good head lamp and extra flashlight, just like everyone else said. I agree with holding the light low, below your waste. It doesn't mess with your night vision as bad, and it also doesn't bounce around, which can cause you to become a little disoriented. I hike more often than not without any light at all. Humans have piss poor night vision, but you will be amazed at what you can see if there is even a hint of ambient light, even just bright stars or a sliver of moon.

More importantly, time spent in the woods, in the area you're hunting, learning and remembering landmarks and way points is critical. If you don't know your way around, having 100 lights in your pack is no help. Don't program yourself to rely on lights and a gps to find your way out, because all electronics fail at some point.

[DOUBLELUNG]

I have been in some country that once it gets dark you better be to a trail or know exactly where you are to get out. Areas with lots of drop offs,slides and cliffs its not smart to be finding your way out in that stuff best to sleep there. I carry my head lamp plus a small flashlight and have my iphone in case

My favorite places to hunt usually involve threading between rimrocks and canyons to get into a roadless canyon.  I GPS my track in during daylight, and follow it back out; if I lost my GPS, I would have to spend the night out, but otherwise I just use the backtrack feature.  Headlamp, mini maglight, GPS and spare batteries for all is a must.  It is 1lb well worth the weight - but not a substitute for being prepared to spend a night out (wool hat and gloves, space blanket or throw-away plastic painter's tarp, extra fleece layer, fire starter)

[bearpaw]

My guides and I spend a lot of time in the mountains in the dark for all types of reasons. Most nights there is some moon and it's usually easier to see and walk in the moonlight without using your light. Your eyes adjust better without artificial light beams and shadows. When I need light I use it, other wise I keep the light off.

When out on nights with no moon it can be very dark, I know that I can't see anything on those types of nights especially if it's cloudy and in heavy cover when star light is mostly non-existent. I've learned a few things about these nights the hard way. Carry a headlamp and extra batteries in your pack instead of a flashlight so you don't have to carry a flashlight with one hand. If for some reason you don't have a light find yourself a good walking stick about 6 or 7 feet long and use it just like a blind person uses their walking stick. Let the stick be your eyes so you don't walk off a drop off, stumble over a big rock or log, or walk into a standing tree. I've done all those things and it's not fun, thankfully I never fallen too far or hit my head too hard.

Another major consideration is protecting your eyes, especially if you don't have a light. Twice I've had to see a doctor and get medication and an eye patch due to brush scratching my eyes badly while walking out in the darkness. If riding horses I've learned to hold one arm in front of my eyes when riding through brush and I've found that the same thing works well when walking through heavy brush in the dark. Just hold an arm in front of your eyes and go for it. Since aging I've had to start wearing glasses, they are a hassle to wear but a real benefit for protecting your eyes in the brush.

Animals
As a rule you get much closer to animals with less care required at night. I don't really understand why animals feel safer at night, that's when most predators are at their highest activity level. For the most part these predators are afraid of humans, especially in areas where they get hunted. But there are exceptions to every rule it seems. Black bear and cougar are less likely to be fearful of humans in parks or wilderness areas where they have not experienced hunting pressure. If confronted by a predator raise your arms and holler loudly, do not run or act in fear, my experience (so far) is that wild animals will turn tail and run.

Wolf Country
Wolves are said to prey test, I know this happens with cattle, horses, and even humans. Wolves will sit and watch or flank you while you walk, eventually they may approach closer and closer as if only interested in watching you. But in reality at least part of the time they must be wondering what would happen if they try to eat you because there are documented wolf attacks and in many cases these attacks have occurred after it was noted that the wolves had watched their prey prior to attacking. Wolf interactions have not happened to me yet, but have happened to my son several times in Idaho prior to when wolves were hunted and to other hunters I know, especially hound hunters at night. The wolves will flank you at 50 to 100 yards, you get glimpses of them and often they will howl or bark at you. When people get flanked by wolves at night it can change their opinion of wolves. I think it's important to note that since wolves have been hunted in Idaho my son has not been flanked by wolves and I have not heard of it happening to other hunters as often.

Hirshey had a close call while deer hunting in north central WA a couple years ago and my neighbor had a close call while elk hunting in Stevens County last fall, both during the daylight. My neighbor had wolves flanking him and one wolf charged from behind, he heard it approaching, turned fast and made a quick shot wounding the wolf as it leaped at him, it ran off, but the other wolves flanked him all they way off the mountain. He told me the story himself, it scared the heck out of him. He took F&W to the spot, they did find blood and a piece of wolf flesh, but no dead wolf, it's all documented, it happened, it's not heresay.

Grizzly Country
This will be an increasing problem in Washington, it's already a major concern in parts of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. These are big predators and do not always fear man, especially in the lower 48 where they are not hunted. I have friends who have a cabin near Glacier Park, they see grizzly tracks and the bears often. They avoid them and they do not wander around at night in that country. They always carry a gun or pepper spray.

My advice: "Do not go into known wolf or grizzly country unarmed without a gun or pepper spray any time of day or night!"

If you carry a GPS always mark the location of your vehicle before you head up the mountain! 
If you don't carry a GPS there are apps for phones such as "Trimble" that work nearly as good as a GPS.

I learned to find my way by keeping track of mountains, landmark features, and using the sun/moon, I sort of have a natural built in compass, I'm not sure all these electronics are good for developing one self into a real self reliant woodsman? 

I almost forgot to mention, always carry a lighter or waterproof matches and some type of fire starter, and a small first aid kit! We are required by law to carry a compact first aid kit while guiding. I usually add extra band aids, neosporin, and pain reliever, I've had to use my first aid kit on numerous occasions. I've also used the lighter and firestarter on numerous occasions to warm up in cold conditions. Remember, old rotten trees and stumps are good places to get easy dry wood. Once the fire is going good you can add wet wood.

[WapitiTalk1]

Trails, compass, headlamp w/xtra batts, make noise, caution.   

Trails:  Know where the USFS, cut outfitter trails, and pronounced game trails are in the area you hunt. If you used them to get in to where you hunt, use them to get out.  Sometimes this takes a bit of navigation to get back to these little mountain roads after Barney Bull has dragged you into the netherlands but well worth the time as opposed to busting brush straight to camp or where you parked your truck.  Do the breadcrumb thing if the trail(s) you came in on are not marked on your GPS so you know where they are.  Can't stress this enough.  It is no fun heading "due south" to the road, camp, etc. and crawling through a 1/4 mile wall of 10' high alder brush.  A straight line out is not often the shortest way to where you wish to go in the elk woods.   
 
Compass: I'm a huge map and compass fan.  A compass in your pocket, tied to a beltloop, is your best friend when doing much of your woodsy navigation.  I use my GPS to mark trails, wallows, meadows, kill sites, trails, water points, bigfoot scat, etc., etc., but mostly use my compass to get from here to there. 

Headlamp w/xtra batteries:  Yep and yep. 

Make noise:  You're not hunting when you are getting out after dark so feel free to make a bit of noise.  I'm not talking singing Lady Gaga's Pu-Pu-Pu-Pu-Pu-Pu-Pu-Pu Poker Face at the top of your lungs, but a bit of talking and smacking the brush around a bit with a walking stick lets the critters around the corner know you're coming. 

Caution:  Yah, you're tired and want to get back to the camp/truck for the evening meal but take your time.  Moving too quickly in the dark when you're beat down can result in a mis-step, a trip, fall, etc. and a twisted ankle or much worse.  Take your time and get out safe.         

[DOUBLELUNG]

My advice: "Do not go into known wolf or grizzly country unarmed without a gun or pepper spray any time of day or night!"

If you carry a GPS always mark the location of your vehicle before you head up the mountain! 
If you don't carry a GPS there are apps for phones such as "Trimble" that work nearly as good as a GPS.

I learned to find my way by keeping track of mountains, landmark features, and using the sun/moon, I sort of have a natural built in compass, I'm not sure all these electronics are good for developing one self into a real self reliant woodsman? 

Two good points there.  When we sheep hunted outside Yellowstone in Wyoming, we were never alone in the field - two minimum (e.g., final stalks), otherwise 3.  The permittee's rifle is for sheep, the companion's gun is for protection, and everyone carries bear spray.  Packing out a ram, the permittee carries head, cape and a firearm, the other two split the meat load.  Again, all three carry pepper spray all the time.

I agree that it is a mistake to depend on electronics.  They are a good tool, but not a crutch, and not a substitute for woodsmanship.  I also carry a map and compass, because that's how I hunted for 20 years before I ever carried a phone, GPS, or flashlight. 

[Jonathan_S]

I carry a minimum of 4 AA extra batteries but I also carry maps and a compass and keep tabs on where I am. 

One really nice thing about a GPS is when I am scouting and crunched for time, I like to dive into the woods and not have to look at anything but the ground for sign.  Of course I still have a map, compass, batteries and a general understanding of roads/rivers/mountains

[Stein]

Check you compass early and often.

Last year, I shot an antelope about 10 minutes before legal close of the day.  Got it dressed, quartered and loaded on the game cart and took off in the direction I knew the truck to be.  Every few minutes hit the horizon with my flashlight expecting to see the truck reflectors.

Then, I pulled my compass out of my pocket and was headed 180 degrees from the truck.  I stood there trying to make the needle go the right direction before I remembered the "trust your compass" rule.  Yep, 180 in the wrong direction and I was convinced the compass was wrong until I saw the truck.

[JimmyHoffa]

helps to remember sounds like creeks and waterfalls.