Photo: Alaskans like Cyndie Fox are prepared for short days and handling situations in the dark. Shown here with a black-tailed buck and gorgeous Arctic fox, Cyndie shares a great tip with whitetail hunters.
Buckmasters fans, hello from Anchorage, Alaska!
Although we don’t have whitetails like you in the lower 48, we do have black-tailed deer and tons of other game to chase.
From moose to caribou, chukar to geese, salmon to halibut, as well as brown and black bears, we have lots of reasons to spend time outdoors before the days get short.
We also run into a lot of the same problems whitetail hunters do, and Alaskans have learned to adapt — many times in the dark.
When the nights are long, we go through headlamp and flashlight batteries like crazy.
There’s nothing more frustrating than having a headlamp die in a remote place, then fumbling through a backpack with cold fingers to find new batteries.
I came up with the following idea, and it has come in handy several times.
Place several fresh batteries in a ziplock bag, and then tape them snugly to your headlamp strap using electrical or duct tape.
Next time the lights go out, you’ll have quick access to fresh batteries without a hassle.
You’ll also have easy access to a pinch of tape should you need to cover your gun muzzle in the rain or snow.
— Editor’s Note by Tim H. Martin
Like Cyndie, I’m a big fan of headlamps, and have had many occasions to use her tip — if I’d only known about it!
One thing I’d like to add about flashlight usage is you should not rely on just one.
In addition to a headlamp, I keep TWO flashlights — one on a lanyard tucked inside my shirt, and one in my backpack.
Should I have to track a deer, or if I get disoriented after dark, I like having as much light as possible. And if someone in your hunting party has flashlight problems, they can borrow your extra.
During your hunting career, the likelihood of a flashlight bulb breaking or batteries going out is pretty good, so be prepared. Additional flashlights have come in handy more times than I can count.
— Photo Courtesy of Cyndie Fox
Read Recent Tip of the Week:• ‘Move like snails, see less tails!’: Don’t get complacent while climbing and sitting, and don’t make a lot of unnecessary movement even though you are above a deer’s line of sight. Deer can still see you.
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