No Flashlight For Deer Hunting? 

I carry a tactical lite, pepper spray and a 44 mag. pistol. Last year, DNR reported two years ago about a hunter who was attacked in the dark by a coyote pack while dragging his deer. That’s when Indiana passed laws giving hunters the right to carry side arms during all hunting seasons.

Too bad they don't panic and flee when they see headlights coming down the road.

Took my biggest buck 165” bow buck in 2021 fixing my mistakes and implementing your techniques. Appreciate yall man

Hey Jeff, love watching your videos!!! You had a video on flash lights, what i do is put your flash light in an old sock, poke an old boot lace through the top of the sock and tie a knot and wear it like a necklace. Very little light shines and the light shines at your feet leaving both hands free. Thanks for the videos you have helped me fix some of my mistakes.

I've had 2 different instances where I stayed in my stand until after dark because I had deer around me and got tired of waiting so I got my light out to shine on the deer to spook them. Well, one doe was about 5 yards from me munching on acorns, and the light never phased her one bit, and she continued eating. Next , there were 2 does feeding in a plot about 20 yards away, and when I hit them with the light, they never even picked up their heads. So after these 2 instances, I've never worried about lights, more about being quiet

I always like to run a dim flashlight in the mornings. I love hunting mornings. A few years ago I was running a 300 lumen flashlight and got to about 30 yards away from a doe. I've also been close to other deer running a light. I would assume mostly young does since mature bucks would be gone long before I get there. Love watching these videos. Hello from central WI

I wish I could negate lights from my entry, but most of the time I have to see trail tacks out 50 yards from me to navigate to my public spots. I try and briefly shine the light up to locate the tack, cup my hand and shield it the rest of the time while it’s on the ground. Once I get to the tree I’m using a red light on my headlamp for the climb.

Great video thanks for sharing. I've tried to be cautious about where I shine my light but never truly sure how much impact it's made. Glad to know my paranoia was founded correctly.

In Texas the copperheads rattlers and wild hogs . Have to carry handgun and flashlight but the way I was taught by a guy older then me who worked as a animal biologist. He told me green and red lights are less disturbing and don’t push out as far . Also my pezl light has red and dim white light . Need some light in this area. I turn it on dim white and can walk in it angles down. Just enough light to see the ground

I enjoy hunting but my family is #1. This is the primary reason why I only hunt mornings and tend to limit my hunting to weather patterns that make morning hunting viable or the rut. Thank you for all your efforts on your channel. It is super informative.

Such good advice. I snuck out to my blind without a light and shot a buck 45 min later. This was not a monster but a 8 point buck.

It CAN, but usually doesn't. I use a low beam red light intermittently. I believe being cautious with everything you do can only help

Here in Colorado you can pinpoint a hunter by his headlamp from a mile or more away. A red or green light seems much less visible from afar.

good info jeff. i learned this lesson years ago. i haven’t used a flash light in well over 5 years. my hunting property is in southern georgia and we are infested with wild hogs. in order to keep their numbers in check we hunt them at night after deer season. i invested in top of the line night vision equipment and i see as good at night as i do during the day now. but it’s expensive if you buy the good stuff.

Great Info Man ! This past hunting season while accessing I know I busted deer walking in sometimes because I would come up a ridge and they would see my white light. But I will take heed to this info come September 23rd here in Arkansas.

Great info Jeff!!

The lack of a flashlight is a safety issue during gun season, especially on crowded properties. Yes, there are people who take illegal shots. Don't let one of them be at you!

I love my Olight. All their products are amazing! I have them on some weapons as well. They have a ton of sales as well. Highly recommend them!

Thanks for this one Jeff, when I think back to the little bit a light usage in the past, I’m sure even that was too much…..

I literally just took a new maintenance job simply because I wanted to hunt more and this new job gives me that opportunity. I work 12 hour shift with a 2-2-3-3 schedule. Every other week I only work 2 days. I get double the PTO time compared to my previous job I just left. I can use my PTO time for 2 days and have a whole week off which I’m doing right now. lol. I finally landed a job that gives me all the opportunities I need to go hunting. I love it.

Very interesting topic. Just prep your access trails and hunting locations, and you’ll be fine with little to no light. Or just flip your NODS down. That’s what I do if I get lazy with my hunting chores 😉

Excellent video - Thanks!

Jeff - you are on point with this advice. I have cupped a low-level light in my hand pointed straight down with just enough sliver of light to make out the trail. Does will stay just outside the envelope of light and watch me to my stand -- and know exactly where I am come morning. It is a big 'fail' to expect a buck to see that light and be there come morning. I've tried Blue and Red lenses - makes no difference. On an open field or ridgeline = big fail.

O lights are awesome! I use mine fir tracking, i use a red two lens head lamp with a piece of tape covering one lens, just enough to see reflective tacks

Jeff, you got A++ Marketing Skills.

I've been hunting since the early 80s and never got in the habit of using a flashlight to get into my stands. My eyes usually adjust to the darkness enough for me to walk slowly and know where I'm at. My light is for tracking and field dressing in the evening. New moon mornings can make it challenging so I may need to use a light (covered with my hand a little) to get to my stand very sparingly.

Thanks for the great tips ! 🦌🏹🕺🏻👍🏼

Just want to say I enjoy watching your channel. Always great hunting tips and techniques for deer hunting. This was very interesting about flashlights spooking deer. Being born and raised in South Florida. I deer hunt public land that are full of gators due to the rain we get down here. Your walking from ankle deep to knee deep water getting out to your stand/climber. These WMA’s are usually wet year around. As much I would like to get away of using a light while getting to a area I hunt, you have to be on your guard while walking through them flag ponds, trails, etc in the dark. About 3 years ago While walking on a trail to my set up, it pored rain the night before which had risen rain water on the trail I was using. The area I was hunting including the trail was also overgrown with vegetation. The water was knee high as I were slowly making my way to my climber at 5 a.m. pitch dark. I always use a small flashlight while cupping the light with my hand. I always try to keep it pointed down while looking ahead a foot or two to watch out for gators/snakes/black bears etc. I’ve always seen gators in ditches or canals on these wma’s but not necessarily the area I hunt. I know they’re around but it never bothered me walking to my hunting locations. I was about 3/4’s of mile in on this trail. I had my flashlight pointed down looking ahead on the trail that is now knee high of rain water. I walked up to what I thought was a tan colored dead limb from a cabbage palm boot that was submerged under water. I was going to walk right over it because I just figured it was just another broken tree limb. Thank god I decided to stop because I had this weird feeling that something wasn’t right. I was about 3 ft to it when I decided to stop, I pointed my light into the water than realized the broken limb of a cabbage palm boot was actually the tan colored outline on the bottom jaw of a submerged 8-9ft alligator. The size of his head was massive being that close to this alligator. I was standing in knee high water on the trail with this gator completely submerged underwater starring right at me. I immediately drew my pistol while jumping back away. I always carry my pistol for situations like this for safety. I walked backwards in the water while pistol and flashlight pointed at the gator. I finally got back to my truck in disbelief. I was a little shaken up and disappointed because my morning hunt was over. The crappy part about all that is my summit climber is out there on a tree I was hunting. And to get to my climber the entire area is under water. There was no way to get around this gator because the entire WMA is underwater. I Had to wait for it to be bright and sunny so I can see before I went back out to get my stand. Thank god I stopped when I did using my light because it could of turned real ugly real quickly.

When Im using flashlights I keep them low as well and you can use reflective thumbtacks placed low on trees and stumps on your pathways so you don’t get off your beaten path.

I never used a light walking in, usually there's enough light in the sky if you look up to show the location of the trail. This year opening morning was daaark so I figured I would leave my rifle in the blind on an All day sit to make less noise in the morning. When I got back to the truck the wolves started howling and now I had to walk in in the morning without my rifle, a little unnerving, that was the first and last time I tried that. Have to look into the moonlight feature.

I tried using the red light 2 seasons ago on public land I was very familiar with. I got lost several times doing this. I'd rather jump deer than get lost. Went back to regular light.

I hear you Jeff, I started working in Machine shops, in the late 70's and thru the 80's, and with all the big military gov't contracts, they wanted you to work 10 hrs. a day, AND half a day on Saturday !! Then you only had 2 weeks of vacation, and one was mandatory, the week of the 4th of July, they would shut down. So come every October, I would close up my tool box, head home, Go Hunting, and then by January, I'd be looking for another job !! Then I got smart and got a gov't job, with 6 weeks vacation, and over 100 "Sick Days" (Buck Fever !) to go Hunting !

I always use my phones flash light, go into settings you can turn the brightness way down. If you have a android phone press and hold the flashlight on button gets you into dimming settings.

Awesome video. Something we all consider and argue about lol

Where I hunt it is thick brush and heavily timbered ridges. When I was young I rarely used flashlights and probably spooked more deer by hitting branches and brush than a flashlight would have. For the past 30 or so years I have been using a small penlight with a green light and have walked up on many deer including a few bedded bucks with it without spooking them. I have had several bed down within a few yards of my stand site after I got settled in while it was still dark. The key to me is moving slow and keeping down wind more so than a faint light they have problems seeing as long as you are not shining it all over the place and keeping it low on the ground.

I've done what you talked about for about a decade now. I avoid using a light as much as possible. I work at keeping the paths to the stands clear and don't wander off of those. I learn to walk the paths to the point that I can do it my stands with my eyes closed. If it's a new stand location, I put the light on its lowest setting and cup the bulb in my palm, letting out the least amount of light.

I have a small red light. the brightness and beam pattern are adjustable. When i use a light i use the red light turned way down and it stays on the ground. i put it on a narrow beam. I use it to see sticks and thats it. when i get in a stand i get my pack on a hanger or the floor and just get my weapon ready. setting anything else up waits until daylight to get setup.

I've found that lights work before the hunting season starts. Deer know when they are being hunted and when they are not. Was walking in field at night before season and had on bright white led headlamp on and walked right up to a 2 year old buck within 40 yards and he just looked up and kept grazing like normal. After about 5 or so minutes of me watching him, he eventually decided to walk around my position to scent check me. During hunting season deer definitely knew I was a hunter with my headlamp and would spook because of all the spotting and other hunters in the woods with lights.

I use two headlights on my legs. On red leds for mornings and green for evenings. And with keeping the lights low to the ground I can see where I’m walking and the deer don’t see the lights

Thats great info for private prepared land walking through a swamp pre dawn with out some kind of help visually isnt gonna happen .... ive sat in my truck for 30 min still couldnt see a thing... public land is a different monster...

Our property is along the interstate. I have noticed our deer are fine with lights coming from toward the interstate, but going towards the interstate, they spook quickly.

Well I have a big bear issue and my son had a serious run in with a 400 lber trying to not use a flashlight on. He felt something was up turned it on and raised it up and Mr big Boar was maybe 50 yards away slowly walking towards him. He got pretty nervous tried the whoa bear hey bear to no avail. When he racked his pistol (we carry because of the bears) that got its attention and it turned yet still followed him to stand over 100-150 yards further down. So we have gotten into the habit of using flashlights at minimal settings because we have ran into bears WAY too many times way to close in early am. Lol

Great advise flashlights definitely spook deer

Hunting in bear country here in PA rough rocky/swampy terrain, where you can take one wrong step and twist your ankle or go up to your knees in water, or even worse stumble upon a black bear in the dark. I carry a bright light, 45 auto and pepper spray. Not to mention the amount of whack jobs in the Appalachian trail area

Green lens. LOL. Deer see green and blue really well. I can see pretty well in the dark with a red filter on my headlamp on the moonlight setting.

When I do use a light it's red, & point at the ground, sparingly. With the ebike, use a red predator light aimed at the ground.

In western terrain you’ll break your neck if you don’t have a light source walking out. We don’t have those easy eastern woods. We do use a colored light usually, green or red on a lower setting though. I try to keep it pointed down at the ground.

Great video Jeff.. in regards to red lights on trail cams, deer definitely see them and DO NOT like it.. I've noticed even does will be nervous if they see it.

I never use anything but a red light, on it's lowest power setting, when going to a morning stand, and at that I only point it at the ground in front of where I'm walking.

Great video topic!

Ive never had this issue. But then again i dont hunt ag and try to implement your process for deer movement.

I only use a small light when I'm far from my stand while crossing the creek leading to my stand.

Thanks Jeff, in my area S. IN there have been several big cat sightings over the years, should a light be used a bit more in that scenario. I’m paranoid 😮

I hunt Michigan public land. Bow season i don't use a light. Gun season i dont move in the dark without a light on. But i hold it in my hand and cup it to keep it minimal. Never shining up, just trying to not get shot.

The parcel next to to us is owned by an elderly fellow that hunts from a huge elevated blind. He can’t walk out to it so he drives an F-150 right up to it with headlights on and slams his doors when he gets out. I’m already in my stand deep in the woods by the time he does this so I’m always hoping he spooked the deer deep into the woods towards me and he usually does. At least at his age he’s still getting out there, maybe just to relive his younger years.

When should you get in your stand in the morning? How much time before sunrise? Deer are random with times on trail cam. No consistency coming into shooting distance.

Good one Jeff so people tell me to leave some kind sent at the hunt area so they can use of your scent is this true because I don’t really believe that and I mess up with the flashlight before

Awesome channel and video. Subscribed and liked. Can you suggest a light to track deer blood after dark?

im a firm believer of the green or red light. as long as its low. keep at ground. no lights in open fields. another reason for morning sits get in at least an hour before legal shooting. may allow some of those deer to come back.

I have suspected it affected deer movement. Coming out of an evening stand I'm paranoid of a hunter is still in the stand that might take a sound shot. So I use my flashlight. I've had hunters sneak in uninvited or hunting fences on a few instances. Thanks for the information always appreciated.

I use a red head lamp and place my hand over it, but completely cover it when I look up. I try to keep my head down as much as possible with my hand blocking it as much as possible even while looking down.

I never use a flashlight, I figure it I can see another hunters flashlight from hundreds of yards or more away, the deer can too. I figure not using a flashlight makes me slow down, take my time, be quieter, and not get sweaty on my way to the stand.

What are your thoughts of walking in and out the stand with red or green lights?

There have been times where I have walked out of the forest at night and I herd a group of does walk by bout 10 yards away and I shined my incandescent light which is the old yellow lights with low lumens and they payed no attention to it what so ever. Another time I was in a stand at dark letting some deer pass by and I had a young buck bed right in front of me 5 yards away... I shined my ole yellow incandescent light on it and all around it it payed no attention to it. I had a mature Buck walk in to meet the other buck and it didnt spook either. Now I have done the same with LED lights and it spooks the living heck out of the deer. So is it possible that deer cant see incandescent Light and see LED?

Where i hunt we have tons of water moccasins....would u run a flashlight here? Thanks for the great information

We've had really good luck with gren lights they don't bust till you almost trip over them haha 😆

I’ve tried to get my dad and buddy to do the thumb over the light on a very small flashlight but they say it doesn’t bother deer. In other news, I enjoy a annual harvest while they go empty handed 😢

I hunt a small piece of property and have never used a light until this fall after having two skunk encounters. Now I’m leery walking to the stand in the pitch black. Do you have any recommendations for situations like that other than just removing the skunk? Thanks!

Man, the yankees nomenclature for deer hunting terms are so different than ours in Rural West Texas

Iv been using green. When needed. I think they dont spook as easily cause they havent equated it to a hunter yet. They emediatly run from a reg flashlight. I have walked within 20 yards with a green.

Great video Jeff! Which model Olight do you have in the video?

I have found that a white light spooks deer I use a red light to walk in and out with and the red light I have walked up on bedding deer all the time

We have solar lights all over our U.P. property at camp. The outhouse has blue rave solar style lights. A flash light is a cheat code. Most states have artificial light laws. I like a head lamp with a wire to hand operated switch. I worry about deer seeing me pull my bow up on the string in tree stand. 430-530 am Oct there are a lot of predators out in my area of the U.P. Last year went bear hunting a few days before bow season deer opened. I won't do that again. Could of had a nice doe on bear bait pile if I go up a few days later. Didn't want to spoke deer off bait just before bow season opening. Working on my range/trail/shooting lane and building a cottage on property. And the bucks like the saw dust, not the slivers from milling chains. Got lots of pics of bucks on one pile but not the other camera on the milling pile.

Two weeks ago, I walked into the woods and heard deer all around me. I couldn't see the trail so used a red flashlight and took a couple steps then stopped, took a couple steps then stopped. The sun came up and I saw deer after deer. I hate using a flashlight but if I do have to use one it's definitely going to be red.

I go to my stand just as I can see my footsteps, and I go quietly. Usually see deer within a short time.

Habitat is part of hunting. I come for both

I use a thermal detector to scan ahead of me to find hot spots of critters. That has busted me with deer before though because it lit up my face like a beacon.

Is it the same for the low beam red lights?

I practice entering & exiting , no lights at all .

I used to own a real estate appraisal company too. That's funny

So I saddle hunt, using a flashlight is a must because otherwise I can’t see and I can’t afford nvg I guess there’s no way around this problem for me I have to have a headlamp

Early bow season you might step on a big old rattle snake or copperhead in our area if you do not light your path in the dark. Not worth a bite...

Main reason I’ve turned down some jobs over the years. Can’t get time off for hunting so I’ll quit or not accept the job, money isn’t everything and if a company can’t make an easy to handle schedule to accommodate me for 2-3 weeks a year for hunting well they don’t deserve my services. Especially these days when grandpas 87 years old and doesn’t have as many seasons left in him as he’s done in the past.

Which O light is this one ?

Jeff I wonder how often a blind is compromised by someone using their phone inside the blind while waiting for first light . Many times after a guest sits in one of my blinds it’s getting stared at constantly

I use a green led light

I prefer a red filter because it dosen't mess with my natural vision at night.

Good info but i hunt public land so i don't want someone to take shot at sound or noise

Unrelated topic, but I'm trying mock scrapes this year. There's a doe that literally chews, quite hard, on the licking stick I hanged. I don't know if this is normal behavior, and I'd be grateful if anybody could clue me in on the issue.

Under what circumstances should you put out mineral for deer?

“Scent free” 😂

I have shined a green light directly on deer while hog hunting at night and they don’t seem to notice.

Get yourself a red or green predator light.....had deer standing face to face at 2 yards from me with the light in their eyes and they didnt know i was there and i have had this happen multiple times! 100% works.

I understand what your saying but I hunt public land I think flash light is needed for that tip hunting

100% it does. You know how I know? I watch them through a thermal monocular. If the flashlight comes on they run

I never use a flash light anymore. It has greatly improved my ability to see deer in the morning. I have literally walked within 30yrds of deer without them spooking. The human eyes are better then most people think. Sit in thw dark and your eyes will adjust pretty good.

All I do is use my phone light and I cover it with my phone and use my thumb to cover the majority of the light. Just letting enough light through to see where my feet are stepping

No light or I use my green light. Deer don't run until your close like 50 or less yards. In my experience using that green light. They tend to run away from farther away with no light. Haha. Seriously! Probably does or small deer. Obviously I can't see because it's dark. If I'm in a box stand and rifle hunting I will then use a red light to load the chamber.

👍🏻

I use a low green light I have walked up and spooked deer before but I've had to use a coyote howl before to get them to spook coming out the woods.if you don't need one don't use one