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hunting in the dark

Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 5:47 pm
by blackpaws
has anyone had any major problems hunting at night. these dang deerflies are so bad here about 9:00 in the morning i was thinking about starting my tracks a little earlier to beat the flies. i have never run bear in the dark so i didn't know if the dogs run a bear different in the dark or not. any input is appreciated.

Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 6:09 pm
by TomJr
Can't legaly hunt anything but racoon here at night. Now I can't hunt bears with dogs either and we have alot of bears around our orchard and its legal to run them off with dogs (I checked with our game warden) so I do that. And since I am not "hunting" I do let them out of the orchard at night if a bear has been in. They will tree it just the same as in daylight. So if its legal in your area then it should be no differnt other than its harder for you to get around in the dark bring a good flashlight. Dogs sure don't have any problems seeing at night nor do bears.

Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 4:26 pm
by talkin redbones
I'M FROM WISCONSIN AND WE HUNT EVENINGS WICH SOMETIMES TURNS TO NIGHTS. I LIKE IT BETTER NO BUGS, EASIER ON THE DOGS AND THE BEAR SEEM TO TREE QUICKER. WE ALL KNOW BEAR ARE MORE ACTIVE AT NIGHT SO ITS EASIER TO RIG THEM. THE ONE THING I DON'T LIKE IS THE WALK IN AND OUT IN THE BIG SECTIONS.

Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 4:59 pm
by blackpaws
i'll do anything to get away from these deerflies. i am not going to go out at midnight or anything but i might start an hour or 2 earlier in the morning until these things die off.

Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2008 8:26 pm
by joe janak
We run early mornings and late evenings quite a bit here in WI just to beat the heat in July. If your running in the evening hours, get a good headlamp; I've found the ones that are light weight and have an elastic strap work the best. And keep extra AAA batteries on hand. The big ole Nite Lites are a thing of the past, JMO.
One thing I have noticed is the tracks ran at night, don't seem to have as much scent as if you wait til morning to run them. I believe it has to do with the air currents and thermos raising in the morning.
Like Rebones said, the bear do seem to tree a little easier right at dark.

Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2008 11:13 pm
by Larry Roberts
The only bad thing about hunting at night is getting the dogs out in the dark with 3 or 4dogs on one chain

Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 11:21 pm
by jumpin bear
A few guys around here run in the evenings alot. Always have short cold trails, many times run them hot right off the stump and they tend to climb easier. So to me, I'd say your not working the dogs as well as running them in the mornings when they might have to cold trail an older track and work at getting it started. And who in the right mind wants to walk into a treed bear in the dark esp with all the wolves around :shock: not me.

Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2008 1:11 pm
by kdrchuck
We hunt at night all the time. No real problems. Cooler, better races, it can get real heart pounding if on then ground. I personally don''t like the dark. But there is no problem with it.

Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 8:24 pm
by bearcat
I personally hate hunting at night, although I never minded starting at 1 or 2 in the morning where you could, the difference I always claimed was that its going to ge light in a couple of hours, had some strange looks from hunting partners when I said that heading to a tree at 2:30 am. I've turned loose in the morning before and been headed to the dogs after dark a few times to, but I never liked hunting at night even for coons I would rather go to bed and sleep till midnight or one and then get up and start hunting. IF you're trying to get in on a bayed bear at night, the saying always went, don't turn your light on til you can feel the dogs tails hitting you in the legs. Because a bear won't hardly ever hold if he sees a light coming at him

Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 2:41 pm
by gabe nagy
we run the dogs at night bechause day is hot and sun burn the track fast dogs see good at night not like humans

Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:19 pm
by Kevin D
In Utah, they'll allow you to start at 5:00 a.m. during the summer bear pursuit season, but other than that, you're confined to only hunting during daylight hours. That being said, sometimes afternoon hunts can stretch well into evening.......

Image

Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:46 pm
by Ike
Cool photo there kevin, and I also hate it when a bear run goes off into the night. I have ran down a few bears for the fish and game after dark, and all I'll say is there is alot of comfort for a guy (when alone) if there is good light when you get into the dogs and a bear.............

ike :roll:

Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 10:41 pm
by three rivers catahoulas
That picture reminds me of the movie Predetor. With the eye shine like that.

Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 7:24 pm
by bearhntwi
We run in the evening alot during the week,all the weekenders are gone then we can run with out people all over the place.