What hunters need to know about flashlights, headlamps & lanterns

NUMEROUS OPTIONS

As hunters, we often start and end our days in the dark. Fortunately, the options are near endless for lighting up our world. Thanks to lighter, more efficient materials and improved technologies, manufacturers now offer lighting options for virtually every hunting scenario.

Headlamps are extremely popular. They’re small and light, and operate hands-free, illuminating whatever you’re looking at. I’ve come to really appreciate Fenix brand headlamps—the HM65R model (above, left) is my current go-to. It has both a three-level floodlight and a four-level spotlight, allowing me to choose between focussed or wide beams in varying intensities. Water- and shockproof, it weighs just 3.4 ounces without batteries, making it very comfortable to wear. Of course, Fenix is just one of many quality headlamp brands now available, allowing hunters to select the features and price points that best fit their needs.

I still like handheld flashlights for when I want something lit that I’m not looking directly at. I have several, but the one I use most is a Browning 6V Xenon that I’ve had for years. Along with standard white LEDs, it has red LEDs for improved nighttime vision, and blue LEDs that help make blood stand out when you’re tracking wounded game. Again, there are many options, so consider your needs and budget—more lumens generally means a higher price tag.

Lantern-style lights are also handy. I use Gear Aid’s Spark (above, right) in my deer blind, for example. This wallet-sized rechargeable light can stand on its own or hang from a built-in hook, helping me get organized in the dark each morning, then pack up after dark. It even comes with a diffuser bag to mute the light so I don’t announce myself to every deer in the woods.

Then there are lights that clip to your cap brim, or come built-in. Sneaky Hunter has even introduced Bootlamps that, as the name suggests, affix to your hunting boots. They’re equipped with white, red, green and violet LEDs. Finally, there are beacons designed to help you find your treestand in the dark. Muddy Outdoors recently released a remote beacon with green LEDs that you can activate from 300 metres away, for example. Talk about seeing the light.