What color flashlight beam spooks game the least

[stephen_g22]

I am thinking about acquiring one of those streamlight stylus (http://www.streamlight.com/stylus_specifications.htm) light to add to my pile of outdoor goodies.

I need the light for those early morning pre-dawn walks to the deer stand to find the blind and then to make sure I have all my gear in the right place once in the blind. Sometimes the deer are moving in the area when approaching the blind so I am wondering which color light (red, green) spooks the deer the least. Streamlight recommends green, but I had always thought red would be better.

I know that no light is the best option (or get to the blind even earlier), but which light color option would be best in your opinion.

Thanks

 

[GinSlinger]

The way I understand deer vision is that their eyes are more sensitive to the shorter wave lengths of light. Hence UV free detergent and such. That, combined with the assumption that deer don't see "blaze orange" (a lower frequency wavelenght) would lead me to assume red. Plus, I have spotlighted deer for fun and red doesn't seem to phase them.

As an aside, can anyone think of a reason that one couldn't use red cellophene (sp?) instead of a filter?

GinSlinger

 

[Greybeard]

Cellophane (sp?) would likely melt if light left on very long - unless a very low powered bulb. Heck, last time Chaz and I out doing some semi-serious coyote hunting, his "engineering" of factory spotlight and red plastic filter warped the whole thing to the point it went straight to the trash can ... "Well, I guess hooking it up to THAT battery for so long was not the thing to do ... "

 

[Art Eatman]

I use a red lens cover when I'm coyote hunting, and it seems to be less bothersome to them.

I've found that the weakest light that still lets you see, is best. Bright and white just ain't right. Red cellophane or some such thing, over a regular 2-cell flashlight would be my choice.

Art

 

[Grayrock]

I got the green Stylus and I think its claim to fame is to not destroy your night vision and at the same time allow YOU to be seen by other hunters.

 

[Logistar]

To protect your night vision I believe red is best.

 

[Redlg155]

I would think a good ol US Military surplus elbow type flashlight complete with red and blue filters would be a good idea.

Whether white light spooks deer or not I don't really know, but I do know I've had better success when I've gotten to my stand without using any light or a relatively low intensity filtered light such as the GI light, and even then using it as sparingly as possible.

Good Shooting
Red

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

WalMart sells an elbow type flashlight with red and green replacement lenses. Also, I have used the red transparencies made for copy machines, they're heavier duty than cellophane.