Red lens headlamp in the AM?

[bozeman]

I am going to try a red light this year as I am venturing into new territory. I normally try to NOT use any light as much as possible and def not have my phone out while walking into an area. But I am not going to risk a trip/fall on a solo hunt.

 

[justinspicher]

I personally just quit walking in the dark and wait until it’s light enough to see what I’m doing.

 

[Rich M]

Yes - white - low power. If the headlamp is pointed at the ground, few folks or animals will be able to see it.

I watched a buddy come up a powerline cut, about 1/2 mile and could rarely see him and only minor areas of "glow" from time to time. He had a headlamp on low and white - pointed at ground.

Now if you have to go bopping thru the woods shining the light up in the air and everywhere - yes it will be noticeable.

 

[dr.mooseknuckles]

I've used red, green, and white. In my experience, the green light seems to be better and not as spooky with deer. White will bump them and I've had deer bump/blow with the red.

I've literally walked up on multiple bedded does with my green light and even trailed some in the early morning with the green toward my stand site, with no reaction from them. It's my go to, especially when climbing a tree in the dark.

 

[Blackcow]

In the morning I don’t usually wear my headlamp on my head. White green or red, it’s usually I’m my hand pointed right in front of my feet at the ground with my fingers kinda diffusing the light.Probably maybe helps with animals, but more for people, lol. When headlamps 1st thing I noticed was I could see every guy or group bobbing across the flat, working up a ridge. Little walking lighthouses. So, I’d know how many guys were in the area and about where they were headed or if someone was already up ahead of me headed where I WAS going, I could change my plans. I’m weird like that though. Picking my way through cliffs and ledge stuff, I light it up unless I’m really familiar with it already.

 

[Brewski]

Red or green light, as dim as possible and I try to keep it pointed down to minimize other hunters seeing my path and position. Also try to not light up my legs or feet, and only the path ahead.
I used to walk using only the moonlight and memory of the trail until I encountered the early morning rattle snake.
If your light is too bright and not adjustable, you can buy tinted red or green plastic on Amazon, keep adding additional layers until dim ness is reached.

 

[Poser]

Peax duo

Agree. The Peax has the brightest red light I've yet to find on any headlamp. It also has a lower power red light option if the bright is too much. I basically only use the red light on this headlamp as its bright enough to do anything you need to do.

 

[Poser]

I would only pop the light if there is an obstacle or sketchy terrain

A lot of areas I hunt, this is everywhere you go. Back when I lived in TN and hunted whitetails who had smaller ranges on smaller properties and were super sensitive to human intrusion into their core areas, I'd often go to great efforts to sneak to my trees as stealthy as possible with no light or a red light flashlight held close to the ground, but Western hunting, I may be waking up and climbing 800 feet up an avalanche chute, traversing a cliff line and then navigating a maze of deadfall to be where I want to be at first light. Its entirely impractical to consider such navigation without a light source. Even during a full moon, when you have 13,000 foot peaks positioned around you, the moonlight can be obstructed.

Its also the case that not all situations of spooking animals are equal. Spooking a buck off a 50 acre farm is easy to do. Running into a lone elk in a random location in the middle of some blow down 90 minutes before first light is likely to have 0 negative influence on your hunting that day.

 

[twall13]

Red light. Unless I can see well enough without it. I’ll say though I’ve been more relaxed in recent years and just run the regular dime light till I get closer to where I want to be. I’ve never tried it but always thought about wearing clear safety glasses when going stealth through thick stuff.

I've thought about doing this as well. I've had a lot of close calls with branches hitting/poking near my eyes over the years.

What are the “brighter red than normal” guys using?

I don't use it very often, but the Zebralight H504r is a fantastic option. I've seen others mention the Peax, which has the advantage of having both white and red in the same unit, but I don't love a heavy headlamp in use and the Zebra is more comfortable than the larger Peax style for me. It puts out an impressive amount of red light if you want it to.

I've used it mostly while horseback in the dark and it's great so I can see upcoming branches, etc. but it doesn't mess with the horses night vision as much as a white light does.

 

[NB7]

I go with green when I'm moving quick, red when I'm moving slow.
Green is super handy when you are doing things with others, like stuff at camp, getting ready at the truck, and other tasks things like setting decoys. I used to set decoys with a guy that would shine his bright white headlight in your eyes the whole time, especially when he talked to you or you said something to him. After repeatedly telling him to quit blinding me, I bought him one with a green light and told him to keep the white one for when he was out by himself.
And FWIW, I've had great luck with the white/green/red $25 Energizer version with 3 triple A batteries.

 

[RedSmoke]

Depends on terrain. I've used a low lumen red light with my finger over the lens to just illuminate the ground immediately in front of me when walking trails out to a stand. I'll be running a headlamp with white light this November because the area I'll be in is very rocky and very difficult. Also depending on Moon phase and cloud cover you might not need a light at all.

 

[LongWayAround]

I don't think animals know what headlights are.

Personally, I have seen a star just over the top of the ridge and thought it was headlight and the same goes for truck headlights on the highway miles away. It's not always easy to tell and we know what those things are.

For me, having red-green colorblindness, I stumble around way more when I try to use a red light. It messes with my depth perception.

If I need a headlight, it's on white.

 

[ReaptheHeat]

I personally just quit walking in the dark and wait until it’s light enough to see what I’m doing.

Me too. No sense bumping all the animals to set up when you already blew them out of the drainage.