Advice on deer hunting... Flashlight or not?

Status
Not open for further replies.
T

Tswitz109

Member
Joined
Jan 5, 2016
Messages
14
Hey guys, so I'm relatively new to deer hunting (gone hunting as much as Ive been able to the last 2 seasons but have only killed 1 deer) and was looking for some advice from all of you experienced whitetail hunters out there... I am a college student and do not have any property myself, but I have become addicted to deer hunting so whenever I get invited by a friend to hunt their property I try to make the most of the opportunity and leave for the stand extra early in the morning so I do not spook any deer right before shooting light. However, in order to get to the stand I need a flashlight, but every time I wonder if the flashlight does more harm than good and actually scares deer away... So, when hunting in the morning, is it better to leave really early and use a flashlight to get to your stand, or wait until your able to see and then take your time and hunt your way to the stand/blind? If it makes a difference, I usually hunt in the midlands and low country of South Carolina since that is where my friends are from. I appreciate any help, thanks guys.
 
Daybreak is one of the best times to see deer. I use a flashlight and get in the stand early. Without the flashlight in the dark I would thrash around so much and make so much noise that I would scare the deer into the next county.
 
Don't worry about it, your not going to hurt anything. I have been tracking deer at night in corn fields with deer in them and they just look, if it was in the hunting hours they would flee. If you can get a green flashlight which they say animals don't see, either way, get to your stand as quietly as you can and sit and let things settle.
 
I wish my truck headlights would scare them off. I wouldn't have had to pay $1800.00 for a new grill and bumper a couple of months ago.
 
Water-Man said:
Use a headlamp rather than a flashlight. Keep both hands free.
Click to expand...



+1 headlamp. Cheap everywhere.

Skip the big breakfast, arrive early, enter the woods and slowly work your way back to your stand. I am way back in on public land and through a wildlife management area so walking is only method. No ATVs.

Last year I shot a small buck who was in the area. He didn't show until 930am. I am sure he was aware that I came into the woods but lost track of me.

Best hunting is opening morning just at legal shooting time when the other hunters stir up the woods when they arrive. You be early. Like said dont thrash around. Also, go slowly and dress so you dont get all sweaty going in. I am in MN so I carry my jacket on my back and move slow.

I also use my gps a little to guide in the dark. I am way back in without good trail or landmarks.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Last edited:
Deer hunting.

Leave early, use headlamp. Move slow, dont sweat. Use a musk buck lure scent. Before opening day, clean brush to make shooting lanes thru the woods at your stand. At least 3. When hunters get tired of sitting, around 10 am , they will walk around, moving the deer. Sit and wait. Good luck.
 
I think the most important thing is to know in advance where you want to sit . Do that in the daylight days before the hunt . Mark your path in advance with glow tacks . Then you can walk in before daylight knowing you are in the right spot .
 
I have a headlamp that can be switched from white to green light.
The white light brightness is variable.

I also use bright eye reflective thumb tacks to mark the path to my stand.
 
Part of it too depends on your location and difficulty getting to your stand. If it's fairly open and you're not going to make much noise getting there, save the light for getting up into the stand and you can go later. I do this in archery season because I hate getting up early and daylight comes earlier. :) I believe the latest prevailing science is that deer can't see red or green, so any standard "night-sight saving" light with a red lens will be fine getting up into trees. I think green lights are more popular in places where people can use lights while hunting because humans see green light much better. If you want to split the difference and can get on the properties you're hunting in advance, put reflective tacks or ribbons on the trees to mark your trail in (and make sure the trail is safe to walk without illumination).

EDIT: Also, if you go the marking trees route, make sure you're legally allowed to do so. Many public lands have laws against doing things that could potentially harm the tree like screw or push things into the bark, cut limbs, etc.
 
Last edited:
I am always on my stand well before legal shooting hours. I put my stand where it is because it's a good spot, and MANY times (perhaps most) the activity I see is in the first few minutes, or last few minutes of legal light. I can't tell you how many deer would've gone unseen if I didn't leave my truck until I could see well enough to navigate without a light.

I too used to wonder about the flashlight thing. I started out hunting highly pressured public land and the deer were extremely skittish and rare to see.

The flashlight question was answered for me one day around 4:30 AM. As I walked through the woods to my stand a deer walked right up to me and stared into my flashlight at a distance of about 15 yards. She was curious about it and approached it in the dark.

I've had several other animals approach me in the same fashion over the years. Some of them just get curious and actually come check it out.

Having said all that, in 20+ years of hunting I've not seen that it has any negative impact at all. I use a light, and I see plenty of deer from my stand. Additionally it may help me keep from being accidentally shot like so many poor victims we read about over the years. Deer don't use flashlights, so I assume even the most slovenly and ill disciplined poacher or hunter will be able to tell that I'm not a deer when I have a light on.
 
August comes and I start raking paths to my stands, all the way down to the dirt. We have loamy soil so its like walking on sponges and about as quiet too. Some are 1/4 or more from the house but its quiet and keeps you on track if you have enough time to prep it.
 
Thanks for all of the replies guys, Ill continue to leave extra early with a light and get to the stand early enough to let the woods settle down before shooting light, but I'll make sure to use common sense and not be waving it around or anything. I also think it's interesting about the green and red lights, I'll look into that.
 
My favorite.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Generic-20216-Bushnell-TRKR-Flashlight-150-Lumens/49840410

It has white, red, and blue LED bulbs. There are more powerful lights, but 150 lumens will light up the trail for 30 yards or more if needed. But I prefer to use the red bulb. It doesn't spook game and you can see well enough for 10-15' with it.

They also offer a similar light that clips onto a cap brim for hands free use. I carry both.

https://www.amazon.com/Bushnell-65-...1470680707&sr=8-1&keywords=bushnell+cap+light
 
I can't speak to hunting in that area, but I've tried camouflage and scent blocker and stealth and woodcraft, etc... And found more success wearing jeans and a tee shirt while riding a lawn mower... Ymmv.
 
I have always used a light to get to my stand in the morning, and after the evening hunt of course going back to the truck (not that it matters as much in the evening). Never thought not to.

And the Arkansas Paul household eats plenty of venison every year.
 
+1 for glow tacks and/or bright survey tape placed during the day to mark the trail. Just police up the stuff at the end of season, or on the last day you hunt. The noise you make will disturb more animals than any light, and you don't need to keep the light on the whole time. Just a short flash to find your next trail marker.
 
I always go out by flashlight. The same with elk. Get into position well before dawn and just sit quietly.

An added bonus is that you can get reflective tacks or tape. Leave a trail so you can find your way to your stand easily by flashlignt.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

B
  • Locked
New deer hunter needs place to hunt and be taught the basics of deer hunting
Replies
17
Views
2K
qajaq59
Q
B
  • Locked
Deer hunting at noon
2
Replies
44
Views
4K
GunGoBoom
G
M
  • Locked
Thinking about starting to hunt, advice? (Northern Virginia)
Replies
12
Views
716
Navy joe
N
S
  • Locked
Coyote Hunting in Missouri
Replies
0
Views
473
SomeDude
S
V
  • Locked
Deer hunting greenhorn...advice/tips, please.
2
Replies
26
Views
1K
victoryredchevy
V
Back
Top