Originally Posted by
Ben Waimata
My experience is the L21B light is amazing for what you can see, but I think for my use it is too bright, every animal I shine it towards is aware of it. Having said that I am only shooting at ethical .223 range so the C8+ red torch is more than enough for me.
For rabbits, hares and possums I have found the red offer little advantage over ordinary light torches, trying to find possums in avocado trees with red LED light reminded me of the time a guy showed me his indoor cannabis garden years ago, weird colours and textures and impossible to see what was going on. All we could see was the outer foliage. Possums in tall willow trees were much easier to spot, and the C8 seems to get the eye shine for initial spotting and then easy to see through the foliage. Rabbits and hares seem to react the same way under red light as under white light.
I've been out looking for deer with the red torches and not seen a single one yet, which makes me suspect they are aware of the light and getting out of the way. Last week I had a red hind eating hay in a paddock while I was driving around it the tractor tedding (no rifle of course) indicating they are accustomed to human presence in farm vehicles, but they are far more wary when I'm on foot.
I think Zeropak is on to a good idea of thermal for spotting, and red light for shooting. What we all need is a low power red torch in the spectrum which deer cannot see at all for getting around.
Phil_H the peace-maker should be still here, I'd also love to hear his input to this.