Red light, preditor hunt

C4Ranch · Jun 23, 2016

I got this sweet ryobi 18v spot light for my birthday that lights up my whole field.

Want to get it to be red so I can use to hunt preditor.

Any options?

Zerk · Jun 23, 2016

Some of the tape they use to repair brake lights. Just make sure it doesn't get hot and cause an issue. If you can take it apart, maybe find some thin plastic.

So is red the color? There are green spot lights. I read recently they think dogs can see more colors then we thought. Blue previously was one of the main colors. That being said, I am not sure how freaked they are about lights. Let us know.

I'd look on predator or hunting forum too. Someone has probably tried to make a cheap light before.

Code54 · Jun 23, 2016

Maybe try something like this?
Disco Ball Spotlight Color Lens
(Maybe better sites but it was the first I located with what I was thinking of)

Clay45 · Jun 23, 2016

Use a headlamp for your red light then hit'm with the spotlight to shoot by. (camera or gun). I don't hunt anymore but this worked great when I did. Used a flat taillight lens around my headlamp over a ball cap. The bill on the cap preserved my night vision and the red light was still bright enough to get their eye shining without alarm. Tried my LED headlight recently that has a red light setting and it didn't light up the deer eyes in my backyard. Don't know why as it seemed bright enough.

dickfoster · Jun 23, 2016

Clay45 said:
Use a headlamp for your red light then hit'm with the spotlight to shoot by. (camera or gun). I don't hunt anymore but this worked great when I did. Used a flat taillight lens around my headlamp over a ball cap. The bill on the cap preserved my night vision and the red light was still bright enough to get their eye shining without alarm. Tried my LED headlight recently that has a red light setting and it didn't light up the deer eyes in my backyard. Don't know why as it seemed bright enough.

Reason being is that LEDs put out a very narrow spectrum of light while the old fashioned incandescent lights put out across the whole spectrum. The deer's eyes probably aren't as reflective at the wave length the LED is putting out.

teejk · Jun 23, 2016

Years ago when we collected our own night crawlers we simply put a piece of red cellophane over the flashlight...held with a rubber band. Head to your Dollar General!

C4Ranch · Jun 23, 2016

Great ideas fellas! This is a xenon spot light. I can see over 250 yards away with it!

gsganzer · Jun 23, 2016

dickfoster said:
Reason being is that LEDs put out a very narrow spectrum of light while the old fashioned incandescent lights put out across the whole spectrum. The deer's eyes probably aren't as reflective at the wave length the LED is putting out.

I've found the same thing. My old Q-beam incandescent lights up their eyes (all critters, including, skunks, coons, deer, pigs, coyotes), much better than my LED spotlight.

Zerk · Jun 23, 2016

C4Ranch said:
Great ideas fellas! This is a xenon spot light. I can see over 250 yards away with it!

Are those Texas yards?

dragoneggs · Jun 24, 2016

Harking on my old photography days, I would try some red cellophane film. Buy or scavenge enough for a couple layers or more. Rubber band it over the lens. Double it and try it if you need to decrease intensity. Some folks say red is best color not to spook animals and is best in low light... I tend to agree. Green is better in more brighter lighting and contrast. Best thing... since it is a cheap... experiment for yourself. If you dial it in you can then create a 'filter' that you can quickly pop on and off your spot light as needed.