Tracking Deer At Night

[Eyehound]

What do you guys use to track wounded deer in
the dark? I've tried the coleman lantern, nice for
taking photos but not bright enough to see the
smaller drops of blood. I guess I prefer a very
bright flashlight over anything. Has anyone tried
the blue lens filters? They supposedly illuminate
blood better.

[Birddog]

The only time I will track at night is if the forcast has called for precipitation, otherwise I will leave it till morning. That being said, the times I've had to track at night, I used a coleman lantern and a Mag light. I have tried the blue lens and didn't like it, the light just wasn't bright enough.

BIRDDOG

FOR BETTER OR WORSE FISHING AND HUNTING COME FIRST

[abens1078]

I once read that household grade Amonia would cause blood dropletts to fizzle or change color when sparayed with a mist. I have never tried it(because I am such a deadeye...BS) but wanted to see if anyone could confirm this or if I am mistaken. Maybe it was Hydrogen peroxide? I think Cabela's has a commercial mixture that makes tracking easier.
Otherwise it's a Maglite for me

[reelman1]

I like a standard "D" cell mag light. If it doesn't provide enough light you have a bad trail and I would prefer to wait until morning.

The stuff that makes blood glow does work butthe problem is that to use it effectivly you would need 20 gallons of it on your back and power spray the entire woods. The little 4oz. bottle just doesn't cut it.

[Eyehound]

I hear ya on the daylight tracking, much easier.
The problem we have in our area is an increasing
wolf population! We need to find em A.S.A.P.,
or well be dragging a skeleton!

[abe1]

I have used a 12 volt nite lite with the hot head for the last 14 years and I am still using the same battery. This is so much better then anything else I have tried. This is the same light I use when I go coon hunting. It will last for hours and is small enough to fit on a belt and be carried all night. Cost some where around 120.00, might be higher now but well worth the money.

[Buckeye]

I tracked a buck I shot last week after dark and I have a tough time with blood in the daylight due to a bit of red and green color blindness. I used an LED flashlight (4 diode about the size of a mini mag light)for the first time ever and was amazed that I could finally pick up blood spots clearly.

Also, I occasionally use a pump sprayer with hydrogen peroxide to identify blood. Even small specks foam up on contact.

[Trophy]

I use my Sunburst 2+2 coon light. The only problem is it's bright enough Commercial aircraft may go into a landing pattern overhead. It works great but is more than likely too high priced for just Deer hunting. I think they run around 400 bucks these days.

[swantucky]

4 cell d maglight. We used to wait until daylight if it was a bad hit but the coyotes are becoming such a problem that everything gets tracked as soon as possible. A buddy backed off a well hit 8 pt last week when he jumped it out. He found it 60 yds away the next morning with the rear quarters, front quarters , and the ribs all gone. We are gonna do some calling and maybe get a nice coyote rug.

[Stu]

Abens, Hydrogen peroxide will bubble with blood but it doesn't work very well, I've tried it. Police departments use a chemical that makes blood glow, but I think you have to use a black light to see it. I'll ask around and get back to you - stu

[Sweept]

2million power spot light works great

[Sweept]

2million power spot light works great

[Nick in western IL]

We have a coyote problem in the area I hunt as well. Most of my bow hunting takes place in afternoon, resulting in most follow-ups well after dark. After giving the deer time to bed and expire. I use a small hand-held flashlight and a larger battery powered lantern for field dressing. My main point - following a bloodtrail at night causes me to be very careful and deliberate. The few times I have completely lost a trail, I return the next morning at first light if possible.

[Drift Sock]

Has anyone ever tried infra-red light or infra-red goggles? Seems like that would be just the ticket for looking for a deer at night.

DS

[GR8WTHUNTER]

One thing that helps is to get extra sets of eyes. Work as a team with the best lights you have. Keep a guy on the trail and mark the blood spots, particuarly on poor trails. A deer will tend to take the path of least resistance. Don't over look other non blood signs the deer will leave. Fresh tracks that suggest stumbling usually will lead you to the next spot of blood. Make sure you work slow. Moving too fast on a poor trail may cause a key piece of sign to get disturbed or go unnoticed.

Now as far as the best light, that would have to be the home made one my buddy has. The power source is a 12 volt battery. It is a thinner battery and has been sewn into a pack. The battery powers a head lamp from a diesel locomotive. That thing lights up the woods like it is high noon. The down side is that you only have about 4 hours of light.

Another trick is to rest your eyes every 20 minutes or so. Stop the tracking and shut off all of the lights. Close your eyes for a few minutes, then give them a few minutes to re adjust without lights. It is amazing how much more you will be able to pick out.

[Ohio fisherman]

Here is what my adult son and I use. I have helped many people find deer. The best thing to remember is that if you go right after it you will push it and maybe never find it. If you wait and it is dead, it will still be dead later.

For walking into and out of the woods in the dark we use small headlights. For tracking we use many lights. Rechargeable headlight on a cloth hat from NiteLite and costs about $45. The battery lives in a cloth pouch for your belt or on your pocket. They work very well for coonhunting, tracking deer, and putting out waterfowl decoys. We also use a rechargeable Qbeam spotlight that is like a million or 2 million candle power. It doesnt last long, but has two batteries and really lights up an area to look for a whole deer. We also use 3 D cell mag lights. We also use a coleman lantern powered by either coleman fuel or propane. I like that, but my adult son does not. Be careful of fire hazard with a lantern.

Good tracking, O F

[coop]

Hydrogen peroxide works great but whos gonna carry thirty gallons into the woods!

[Buckeye]

The pump sprayer I was talking about is a small window cleaner or hair dresser type trigger sprayer. I keep an extra pint bottle for a refill in my pocket but have never had to refill. I have a tough time finding specks of blood but can follow hoof prints fairly well. A spritz of hydrogen peroxide confirms that the track is the animal I am after.

Happy holidays to everyone.

[robert ayre]

>2million power spot light works great

[Jean-Marc]

Hello,

Iam producer of tablets that you mix with water in a spray bottle, the liquid make blood glow in the dark. You don't need any additional light. Have a look on my web site at www.roc-import.com