My Trophy Ridge quiver has 3 green LED lights on the top. It's perfect for getting around in the woods in the dark. I've always been worried about falling in a hole or tripping and getting hurt or making a lot of noise so I turn my light on when I feel uneasy about my footing. I have no need to fear animals where I hunt because I am the apex predator here.
I'm not afraid of the dark but I have a tip that I use. If you hear something just stop do a light muffled cough noise and wait to see if you hear anything else. Most of the time an animal is going to back off unless they feel threatened or if they feel you are a danger to their young. I have had scary things happen though, at least at the time. The first scary thing I had were two raccoons fighting in my stand that I was trying to climb up. They refused to leave so I patiently waited on the pegs until they finished. At first I didn't know what it was because it was a really eerie screeching and yelping, and a lot of clawing and biting, etc. The other scary thing I had was in the mountains of PA when I was on public land behind my grandpa's 25 acres. I holed up under a pine tree and just as it was getting light the sound of "thunder" rang out above me and and branches tumbled down on me. I thought it was an angry bear sliding down the tree like a fireman on a fire pole, but luckily for me it ended up being a turkey flying out of its roost.
These are fantastic little lights. They're inexpensive and pretty bright and very small. I bought two green ones and a white one to wear around camp.
Walking in the dark hasn't ever bothered me. Being on both knees packing up after dark on the ground gives me the chills. I always vision some animal attacking me.
Thanks Justin, I definitely will check out the light. I'm also going to go to the local Fleet Farm and check some that they have their. As for the "you'll get over it as you get older" Hell i'm 33. how much older do I need to get? HAHA I hunted this past Saturday evening and had some deer by me that wouldn't leave so I had to spook them after it got black. The field edge that I walk in on is literally 75 yards away and I still got turned around walking out. I was so fricken pissed off and worked up because I felt trapped in the thick **** in the dark. "needless to say, I got a reflector tack on a tree that marks my trail now when I walk out.
Those will make your heart skip a beat when you almost step on one in the dark. I am surprised how many people get iffy with coyotes. Around here they are scared of you more then anything. If they have the slightest idea you are around they are gone in a second.
How about walking through pitch black pine trees in the morning and you spook roosted turkeys. Damn things make you piss your pants.
I no the anti don't want to hear this but he asked. 8 years ago I would never have ventured out in the pitch black woods and climbed up into a tree stand and sat perfectly still waiting for the sun rise. But when I devoted myself more to christ then it changed all that. I got into bow hunting and I feel complete claim and even excitement not knowing what the Lord has planned for me that day as I walk to my stand. Every hunt I feel closer to God and just knowing he's got my back I am really fearless. He gave us dominion over the wild beast so as mentioned above they fear us not the other way around. I laugh now when something startles or scares me because I know it's probably trying to get away from me or I'm blending so well it thinks I'm just part of the woods. I also don't fear the boogy man or the unknown because I know Jesus is Lord over all. But thats me Trust in the Lord. Works for me.
I do very long walks to my stand most morning. 1.5 miles in the dark. Once in a while I get a little spooked however, not very often and usually not for long periods of time. Been doing dark walks in the woods since I was 12. Like many have said, have a good bright light. I also carry a back-up uncase batteries fail. When using your light, it will make you have tunnel vision. Use that for your path only. Do not look around or scan the woods. Keep your mind on the path and getting to your stand. Think about which direction you think the deer will come from. Think about your shot...anything but, what you are worried about. If you are worried about getting lost....remember two things. 1. Tack your trail with reflectors. 2. Remember...It will be light soon. Get ready to hunt where you are currently standing. When the woods wakes up, that big buck just might come by. Then you can find your stand.
Muzzyman88's dad had it right: There's absolutely nothing out there at night that isn't there in broad daylight. Once you actually get that thought into your head it gets better. On the 'possum thing, I about came out of my climber two weekends ago. I was climbing a new tree in a new spot. It was a pretty large white oak with some small limbs that I needed to remove. At around 10 to 12 feet there was what looked like an ancient squirrels nest in a small cluster of tiny limbs. I took my hand saw and proceeded to knock the old nest apart. I heard a growling sound that I couldn't identify and then a stinking 'possum came out hissing a foot and a half from my face. I was so lucky I was in a Summit Viper because that rail was the only thing that kept me from bailing right out of the tree. I ended up hauling my bow up and using the idler wheel end to bump the 'possum out of the tree and kept on climbing. I would have used the hand saw, but when I considered doing that the saw suddenly looked very small in my hand.
I actually like the peace and quiet in the darkness. Walking a good long way, finding my tree in the complete darkness, and enjoying a sunrise. awesome
^THIS^ Also, I carry my Glock with me EVERY TIME I go into the woods for anything. I don't worry about the 4 Legged Creatures, the 2 Legged Deviant Ones are the ones I prepare for.
Exactly! There's NOTHING in the Pa woods that you have to worry about encountering in the dark. Any fears a person might have are from paranoia and lack of self-confidence/knowledge. Seriously. I actually enjoy the walk in the dark to my stands. Unless it's a New Moon/no Moon I won't even use a light, because the trails I use to get to my stands are clear of debris for easy/silent passage, and easy to follow, even in the dark. A flshlight actually limits your vision in the dark. It only allows you see what has been illuminated by the ray, you're blind to anything outside of it. If you allow your eyes a little time to get acclimated to the dark, with the ambient light, you can see rather well in the dark. It's a lot tougher during a New Moon/no Moon though. If a deer hears a twig snap in the dark it doesn't know it's a human that made the noise, but if a deer sees a flashlight flailing away a deer surely knows it's a human. Bring on the darkness!
I'm not a huge fan of walking in the pitch black either, but I try not to use a light as much as possible. Last October I was walking out to my stand and I thought I heard a popping noise so I froze. All the sudden I heard this loud crack whoosh and BOOOM! A tree had fallen and it was really close. I couldn't believe how much the ground below me shook. Needless to say I needed a change of undies after that lol
I stepped into a bunch of quail last weekend, damn near had a grabber! I actually love walking out there at night, it's part of the thrill for me. Trying to sneak around like a ninja, but probably sounding more like a cape buffalo
