Post by: cvandervort on September 11, 2013, 07:05:53 AM
My question for any amateur biologists out there: if deer are nocturnal, wouldn't hiking by flashlight spook them? If so, would a different colored lense (red/orange) be any better?
Post by: ICEMAN on September 11, 2013, 12:20:09 PM
I usually hike in with a headlamp, low setting aimed low just in front of my feet.
Post by: snowpack on September 11, 2013, 12:26:02 PM
Post by: TheHunt on September 11, 2013, 12:31:50 PM
Post by: wildmanoutdoors on September 11, 2013, 12:58:57 PM
Post by: Skillet on September 11, 2013, 01:05:25 PM
Walked right up on a spike elk a few years ago in the moonlight under the trees. He probably thought I was just another elk or something on the trail. He just meandered off when he was done staring at me. Wouldn't have happened with a light of any kind...
Post by: cvandervort on September 12, 2013, 05:15:55 AM
Post by: huntnnw on September 12, 2013, 05:22:16 AM
I hike in with headlamps, 90% of my hiking is not in elk country or where i am hunting. With my track record of running into bears, moose and cougars I have a light on and the biggest reason I where my head lamp now is porcupines!! I have almost stepped on them not wearing a light
Post by: KopperBuck on September 12, 2013, 07:26:55 PM
Post by: Ridgeratt on September 12, 2013, 07:36:35 PM
The Navy has rigged for RED at night so it must have some reason.
Even my fishing boat has Red lights for nite fishing. :dunno:
:chuckle:
I also think that the color spectrum won't let animals see the red so it doesn't effect them.
Post by: Skyvalhunter on September 12, 2013, 07:39:53 PM
Post by: Mudman on September 12, 2013, 07:44:23 PM
Post by: Okanagan on September 12, 2013, 08:32:31 PM
I have a red headlamp and as said, carry it in my hand rather than on my head when walking, in order to cast shadows from bumps and see them better rather than stumble over them. Red light does not seem to spook game as much and it retains my night vision.
As corroboration, a cougar paralleled me as I hiked in on a super dark night one opening morning in the Olympics, and cried and yowled at me over and over. It had no fear of the red light but would retreat instantly when I switched to a longer reaching white spot. I called it in close twice, just hoping to see it, once with the dim red LED on and once in total darkness. My puny headlamp at the time would barely show my feet to walk with red LED and had a weak spotlight that would shine 30-40 feet. The first time I switched on the spot too soon and the cat quickly retreated and then started crying at me again. The second time I waited until I could hear the intake of it's breath before each cry, but in the brush I still didn't see a thing when I turned on the spot. I had a rifle in hand and believe I had a good ratio of fear/respect/curiosity (right mix for me anyway :chuckle:) I didn't want it closer than 25 feet but wanted it close enough to see with my puny light.
All that to say that hiking in by dark can be effective, does not necessarily spook game (if you think about your approach etc.) and that a red light is definitely helpful for human eyes to retain night vision and probably does not bother animals IME.
Just thought of an elk herd that I stumbled onto when it was too dark to shoot though I could pick out bulls with binos. Messed up but they didn't spook much, and killed the herd bull a few hours later half a mile away.
Post by: Okanagan on September 12, 2013, 08:41:44 PM
Hats off to you night Walkers. I use a headlamp and 4 cell maglight! I don't trust cats. They follow people. :yike:
True dat! Big cats follow people so frequently it would freak out nearly everyone if they knew how often. It is a cat thing. Curiosity. It does not mean they intend to attack, though they are so unpredictable you have to respect them. In snow, mud, dust I've reversed and found lions following me a number of times, but most surfaces in WA won't show tracks even if the one being followed notices such things. I rate the danger like I do lightening, rare but very bad, and carry on (prudently 8) ) rather than let it keep me from outdoor activity, day or night.
Post by: Ridgeratt on September 12, 2013, 08:55:35 PM
Have walked a ridge and on my way back out had cat tracks in mine in the snow. Who knows how many times they didn't show up in just dirt!!
Back in the early 90's they were relocating the bad Bears from Yellowstone to the Idaho / Montana border in an area I hunted. I knew they were there and did see a few Grizzly's at a distance.
I took off one morning to get to a open chute that I had glassed a huge bull in for a few morning so as I wandered Blissfully along in the light of the moon on a horse trail I without a flash lite I was thinking . Hey I smell like an Elk and I'm plodding along minding my own business. What if I sound like and Elk? So in my infinite wisdom I turned on my mini mag flash lite. Well I had wandered in to a heard of elk in the bottom and since I smelt just like them they weren't scared until one of the elk had a flash lite!!! :yike:
All Be goodness broke loose I had elk running every way but straight and I'm doing my best to shine the light in there eyes and blinding them. Flashlight went towards the stars and I stood still until the woods got silent.
Guess I'm just not that scared of things that go bump in the night.
Post by: bmccalister on September 13, 2013, 12:50:42 PM
Post by: runamuk on September 13, 2013, 12:55:54 PM
Post by: TheHunt on September 13, 2013, 05:55:32 PM