spot light "hood" question

sharkathmi

sharkathmi

New member
To all you night hunting spot lighters out there, how long do you typically make your hood for the front of the spot light?

Do you find the longer the hood the tighter the beam concentration? Or is it a moot issue after it gets so long?

I'm in the final stages of making my own set up and just need a hood. When I've taken the light out on trial runs without a hood, the light illuminates the ground directly in front of me and I'm sure coyotes can see the light from the sides as well. On my light the red lens bubbles out beyond the sides of the light casing. I'm assuming the hood will make the beam more directional, cut down on the ground glare in front of me and eliminate the beam being cast out like a big slice of pie....if you know what I mean.

Lastly, I do beleive I've read on the forum that I want the inside of the hood painted white to reflect as much light ourward as possible? Correct?

Thanks for your comments.

M
 
I used a hood on my night hunting light for last season. It did reduced some of the halo and reflection off of myself and my rifle but not anything to write home about. I believe mine protruded about 6-8 inches beyond the lens. I have, however, wrapped the edges on my lens with tape (especially on my lightforce) because the light reflects off the inside of my red lens and back on to me. That works well. Good luck. Let us know how yours works.
 
I have used almost anything I could find through the years. It is very important to use a hood. I use lightforce lights and a one gallon plastic paint can, with a bit of heat will fit snugly onto the housing. It is about 8 to 10 inches long, and is black on the inside. Any light that "leaks" out from your light should be taped over, even if it is red.
 
I found a plastic bucket and cut the size I needed out of it. Painted everything black and used black electrical tape on the joint. Works great.


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Thanks for all your comments guys /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

I've got some great ideas to work with and am looking forward to finishing this project.

Peter, thanks for the pictures too.

M
 
I have a question, I am thinking of trying this night hunting
I always heard that coyotes and fox cant see red light so if the light cast a red glare onto a gun barrel how can they see it if it is red?
I am trying to learn this stuff before my first ever night hunt because I dont want to mess anything up
I am not dumb, I just dont have any experience in night hunts
another thing is I see where some people just use a white light, if you just use a white light should I put a tube on it to, I guess long enough to make sure any glare is off of the barrel ?
 
I've never said they can't see red, I just think the shadows it casts, and the darkness of the whole area, is what keeps them from spooking so easily. I used a white light a long time before red lenses were thought of, and I have seen,coyotes especially, stop, look at the ground and surrounding brush, and start to get nervous, or even bug out. The red does not light up their surroundings so much, and if you only keep them in the halo(the outside ring of light) they will stay even calmer. Repeated use of a white light, in my opinion, will make them shy. That's why I use a red light.
 
I never said the YOU said they cant see red, this has been the "Thought" since 1973 that I can remember and your points are very valid.
But I was wondering why the big concern with a light cone while using a red light ?
IF an animal supposedly cant see red, then why the worry of the red light cast on the gun barrel ?
is there some reason that glare off of a gun barrel is different than just a red light is my question ?
Is there an advantage of putting the red light under the barrel as opposed to on top of the gun, such as on top of a scope ?
 
tatonka,
You're not paying attention...one of the best coyote and fox hunters on this forum, Randy Watson just told you, it is not so much the red , its the shadows it makes and any movement you or your gun makes while the light is on you, they will see the movement and shadows....ga-peesh????? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif
 
I have a shroud that sticks out about 5-6 inches from my Lightforce. It is made out of tarpaper, or as some call it, roofing paper, however, I am finding it a bit noisy if I accidentally bump it, so I'm thinking about switching it to a piece of old innertube from a large truck tire, MUCH quieter.....

John
 
Trust me!...length is unimportant!
It's all about not illuminating yourself.
2" will work if you know how to use it. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Quote:
Lastly, I do beleive I've read on the forum that I want the inside of the hood painted white to reflect as much light ourward as possible? Correct?



I prefer to keep the inside flat black. If you have someone run the light (with a shroud) in the dark, look at the light while standing at the side and a little to the front (where the end of the shroud starts to look oval like an egg). If it's white you will see it from the side before you see the light. Whereas if it's a dark color that absorbs the light and won't reflect, your unit will be much harder to detect from the side. Hope that makes sense.

Try it both ways, and you'll see what I mean.
 
Quote:
Trust me!...length is unimportant!
It's all about not illuminating yourself.
2" will work if you know how to use it. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif


I bet that's what your wife tells you to make you feel better. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif
 
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif_____ /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif_____ /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif_____ /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif_____ /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
 
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