Need ideas for DIY scope illumination

[Lbys]

I'm going boar hunting with some buddies in TX next spring, and they hunt from stands in fairly dark conditions. I have a Leupold VX-III 3.5-10 40 mm scope with a duplex reticle on a Remington 700 SPS .308, and one friend has told me I might need an illuminated-reticle scope instead.

Instead of plunking down $800-1000 for an illuminated reticle, and for kicks, I'm wondering if there are ways one could do this cheaply. I looked up a thread about a fiber-optic light called Site-Pro:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=52960&highlight=site-pro

No good. Poor reviews, and the company doesn't make them anymore to boot.

Next, I did some searches, and all I could come up with was this:

http://www.policeone.com/police-products/firearms/accessories/articles/86557/

Under "Low light capabilities," the author mentions using a 1" chem light in the ocular lens, and for the life of me, I can't figure out how to do this.

I've thought about this a bit, but short of buying a new scope, none of my ideas seem feasible or practical. Anyone have any experience with or suggestions for tackling this?

 

[lycanthrope]

How about a piggyback red dot and mount? Nice for moving or timber shots as well.

$300 for this JP.

 

[Terrierman]

Check out Bushnell Elite Firefly scopes. I have one and it works pretty slick - nowhere near $800 either.

 

[Lbys]

Just posting up front again.

Any other ideas out there? Don't know about a red dot for my application, and I'm trying to stay away from buying another scope.

 

[lycanthrope]

You can tape the small chem lights to the lens at the rear and then tape over them so you aren't blinded by it. It will light the crosshairs but do nothing to light the target.

The red dot really is the best option for close in low light. They don't have to be expensive, you just need to be able to mount it.

If it's too dark to see your crosshairs, it's likely too dark to shoot safely.