I use a small light i clip on to my jacket zipper. the light is about the size of a 30.06 cartridge. Often don't use it when i know where i'm going (ie. pre hung stand). I keep it more than anything in case i drop soemthing - good idea to havea light - I just prefer one that takes up little room and adds minimal wt. my ramblings in the leaves tend to trump the light when it comes to spookign deer.
matt G

Always used a cheap 2 dollar hand held pen light to keep from stepping on snakes which could ruin some 5 dollar underwear.

QuoteOriginally posted by straitera:
Always used a cheap 2 dollar hand held pen light to keep from stepping on snakes which could ruin some 5 dollar underwear.

Got a good chuckle out of that one!! Jason

Only will use a light when tracking. Don't wanna take the chance of spooking something. If a new moon and absoluty black in the woods I might use one sparingly.

in the dark for me too, i just take it slow & easy. near impossible to be quiet enough anyway.

Always use a light.  I've found it doesn't spook deer.  They stand there and let you walk right by them.

I normally don't use one when I hunt private ground, which is about 90 percent of the time. I find that it's harder for me to get my bearings with a flashlight because all I can see is what's in the narrow beam of the light. I can't count the number of times I've walked by stands while using a light. I can usually walk right to them without one. I haven't really noticed that I make any more or less noise without a light.

If it were a particularly dark night and I was on unfamiliar or public ground, I'd use one though. I also use one when I know I'm going to hit rough ground, a washout, or a blow down. No sense taking a fall that might end the hunt.

Deer could care less if you use or don't use a light. I don't even think they pay that much attention to the noise of you walking in. There is almost always something crashing around in the woods at night...usually other deer. I've set in the stand in the dark and heard deer, cattle, etc. making quite a racket. Yes, deer step on and break sticks too. The light may actually be an advantage in walking up on them because they can't make out your form behind it. If they smell you or you get close enough to them in the dark for them to make out your form, which they do a lot better than we can, they are gone.

There is a reason why it is illegal to hunt deer with a light: it works!

Carry a LED flashlight in my bag and a headlamp and clip on LED light. Barely use them so I can preserve my night vision once my eyes are adjusted. The headlamp is handy though when climbing or don't have an extra hand. That said I still don't use them much.

LED Headlamp

Headlamp with red lens cover.

Use a light. The deer could care less.

I've used a flashlight with a red lens for years - this year I started using a headlamp (with white and red option) - it's a Princeton Tec "Remix Pro" - uses 1 CR-123 battery - very light and unobtrusive - has low & high power.  I like it alot!

Headlamp set on low.

I use a Streamlihjt headlamp, set on the green LED while I'm walking anywhere that I want to be quiet.

small pen style streamlight w/green bulb

I feel that using a light is much better than not using a light, unless maybe you are in your "backyard" and have a nice trail to follow to your stand.  

I have also come to the conclusion that waiting till I can just see without flashlight, and then sneaking in quietly, works even better for me.

Just saying.
ChuckC

Petzle headlamp