I usually spotlight for foxes, rabbits, feral cats, pigs etc using the normal WHITE beam as it generally produces a longer and brighter beam compared to when a clip-on RED filter is attached. Are there any worthwhile advantages of using such a filter compared to the normal white beam ? For example, in reality, is the RED beam LESS VISIBLE to such game ?
Sincere thanks for any positive feedback.

Gday ross.You might have better luck putting this on an aussie forum mate.I dont know how much spotlighting the yanks get into.I do a lot of spotlighting myself and have never had to use a filter.Parlty for the fact i am running the biggest powerbeam(11inch) and there are no filters made for it.Have never use a filter so cant really tell you if they work,but personally wouldnt bother.My light shines that bright it stuns them well.

I moved this to the Aussie forum, at wharf's suggestion. Figured you guys probably would have more to say on this here than in the General Discussion...

If you think this move was in error, let me know and I'll move it back to the General Discussion.

Thanks!

Send me a PM ross,i might have a bit more info for you

I moved this to the Aussie forum, at wharf's suggestion. Figured you guys probably would have more to say on this here than in the General Discussion...

If you think this move was in error, let me know and I'll move it back to the General Discussion.

Thanks!
alyeska338, apparently spotlight hunting is somewhat of an illegal practice in America so wharf's suggestion of moving my post from General Discussion to the Aussie forum will hopefully result in more responses. Many thanks.

Send me a PM ross,i might have a bit more info for you
wharf, thanks for your reply. An 11 inch beam would just about fry a feral's eyeballs - no wonder you don't use coloured filters! I've clearly noticed the reduced depth and clarity of the light beam when using the red filter on my 6.5 inch lightforce spotlight and wondered if it would be worthwhile buying a similar filter for my other 9.5 inch spotlight.
My assumption being, animals will less likely be disturbed or scared off with the less obvious red beam compared to the normal white beam. I've never sent a PM before so I'll check out the procedure. All the best.

We can spotlight pigs in Texas so I have done this a few times, always entertaining. Pigs seem to be one of the few animals not frozen by the light. After they've been hunted a bit, they are definitely spooked by an ordinary beam.

I'd really be interested in what colors would work best for pigs.

Yes, there are some states that allow varmit hunting at night with lights. Just have to check out the game laws of each state.

Have hunted coyotes and ring-tail cats at night in Texas with standard white beam lights. Never had the opportunity to try the red or amber lens.

Spotlighting is legal in the States for some species, as Mike and kdub have posted. Since it was an Aussie specific topic, I did think it might get a little more play here, though. Maybe not?

Funny. I just got the most current issue of South Africa's Magnum magazine in the mail yesterday (June 2007 issue). On page 8 is a full color ad for Lynx Optics "Light Force" spotlight that attaches to the top of the rifle scope. It has a red filter on it to keep from spooking game. I guess they are made in Australia...

http://www.lynx.co.za/products/spotlights.htm

Lightforce make some top lights.I own two different size lightforce.The 140 lance is 140mm diameter reflector and is mounted on top of my Brno model 2.There are a few different colour filters i could get for it but have never needed to.It is very handy,I have a battery pack(17ah) in a carry bag and it lasts for at least 4 hours constant before it goes a little yellow.

This is the size of my walk around battery

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/wharf/Picture_0932.jpg

This is the 140 mounted on my brno

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/wharf/Picture_0483.jpg

This is my powerbeam 11inch mounted on my patrol,with my mate piggy in the picture

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v653/wharf/brendos009.jpg

I also have a lightforce 240 blitz handheld.I would say that a powerbeam of same size has a better beam,but the lightforce is much lighter and easyer to handle for a nights shooting.

Spotlighting is legal in the States for some species, as Mike and kdub have posted. Since it was an Aussie specific topic, I did think it might get a little more play here, though. Maybe not?

Funny. I just got the most current issue of South Africa's Magnum magazine in the mail yesterday (June 2007 issue). On page 8 is a full color ad for Lynx Optics "Light Force" spotlight that attaches to the top of the rifle scope. It has a red filter on it to keep from spooking game. I guess they are made in Australia...

http://www.lynx.co.za/products/spotlights.htm

alyeska338, I've adapted a hand held version of the Lightforce's 6.5 inch spotlight so that it mounts onto my old Browning B78's scope - with the choice of power from either the vehicle's battery, or a portable Sealed Lead Acid
12 Volt/18 amp battery carried in a small backpack - ideal for independently wandering around in areas inaccessible by vehicles. In short, a very simple, practical arrangement!

Wharf, I’ve got an 80 Series Cruiser and rather than permanently roof top mounting the spotlight I constructed a detachable wooden ‘box like’ swivel chair on a roof rack / platform which allows the hunter to spot and shoot simultaneously. A fantastic set up.
The assembly includes the following features;
* a modified, detachable, height adjustable monopod which has a padded rifle rest and provision for mounting two lights (an inverted 9.5 inch Lightforce Blitz and a 4 inch 55W Navara ‘driving’ light for close range shooting / opening farm gates etc.
* padded arm rests and a hinged table rest (which locks into one side) that also securely acts as a ‘seat belt’.
* a detachable rack mounted on the side for holding a second rifle (eg.my 1956 Brno Model 2, equipped with a similar Navara ‘driving’ light attached to the scope and a portable battery – allowing freedom to roam in terrain inaccessible by vehicles etc).
* an ammo storage box. Note, the chair’s pedestal base was sourced from a marine supplier – secured to the 1.3m x 1.2m x 17mm form-ply platform by 6 bolts, which in turn is bolted onto 4 Rhino roof racks. In short, it’s not going anywhere! The only problem with using the chair set up is the ‘roll over’ feeling when traversing across a slope – a bit like being up a yacht’s mast wallowing in a heavy sea.
I would post some pictures only I don’t yet have a digital camera – hopefully in the near future. For solo spotlighting, I use a detachable wooden assembly mounted off the bull bar – it permits a shooting arc from side mirror to mirror and includes the above mentioned monopod. The electrical socket attached to your portable battery appears to be a Merritt type. If so, they are more suitable to spotlighting purposes due to their higher amperage rating than the ordinary lighter socket and plug. I’ve got several mounted in plastic boxes for different applications. The joys of hunting !

The permanent part was the only thing stopping me from doing the same a few years ago.But the difference is awesome.I wouldnt have it any other way now.I take 3 mates out with me.Two rifles in passengers side and one behind the driver.Its a much more social and safer way of spotlighting.Everyone is in one place and everyone knows what is going on.One disadvantage is not being as high,like on a ute tray.Its harder to find downed game in longer grass sometimes but if you keep the light on the area its not bad.I have used the lightforce suction cup bar remote and found that during the night one of the cups would let go and have to remount it again.Plus having the handle inside gives you an adavntage with having access for all inside to use the light while someone is shooting.

I run two Lightforce 240's on my Pontiac Grand Am. They help to keep the moose OUTSIDE the car.
Now, you tell me you Aussie's have a better light, like ELEVEN inches across. You've been holding out on me.
People are always asking me why I got the 9" lights. I tell them it is because I couldn't find eleven inch ones.
Now, where can I find these elusive lights? As a surviver of four collisions, involving FIVE moose, I have what you might call an obsession about lights..LOL

Hahahahahah,moose.I have never had the pleasure mate.Hit plenty of roos though.The only reason i dont have a pair of 240 blitz on the front of my truck is that thieves like them also.I have a cheap pair of narva flood and spot beams.If they get smashed by a roo im not up for $600 plus for a new pair of lightforce.The powerbeams retail for $250 each.But they are big and would stick out like dogs bollocks on the front of anything.1.45 million candle power.If you are really keen to get a set maybe we can work out a deal.I am sure you fellas would have gear over there i want.Send a PM if serious.

Wharf, you would certainly need to have absolute trust in your mates with regards loading, unloading and shooting rifles from within a vehicle. Also, having limited room to manoeuvre and rest a rifle, plus having to re-start and re-position the vehicle if the game moves out of the shooter’s direct firing line would be rather off putting for me. I favour the elevated swivel chair which provides a positive advantage for spotting game and minimises relevant safety concerns by having only one ‘isolated’ dedicated shooter. Shooters simply take it in turns – a step-up platform mounted on a modified bike rack closely positioned to the rear of the vehicle allows quick and easy access onto and off the chair’s rack mounted platform. Each to their own ! P.S. Just read your recent reply ….thanks. I’ll check out your outdoors forum.
All the best.

I dont take safety lightly mate.I have a set of rules,each time we go out the rules are said again at the begining of each trip.The fellas i shoot with are the only ones i take and i do trust them.Sometimes the angle of the truck has to be changed,but we have a rule that only one shooter is firing at any one time and if the angle needs to be changed it is the shooter that suggests it and makes safe before the truck is moved.Its not hard to be safe,its harder to find blokes who will stick by the rules.Anybody that has broken the rules no matter what the excuse,they never come again.I have one main rule,the bolt or action is ALWAYS open until a animal is to be fired on.If the shot isnt taken the firearm is made safe again.Its not hard to open your rifle and make it safe.I will say though a few years ago i was spotlighting with another mob and this one fella just wouldnt leave his bolt open,i didnt like the idea but wasnt a regular.In the end he put a bullet through the tray of the vehicle.Trying to close the bolt on a so called empty chamber.I had to be held back i was going to punch the **** out of him.I have never been with those fellas again.

Wharf, I’m waiting on an email to activate my account with ‘The Back Blocks’, my aka there being CHIMBU. The site appears to be quite impressive – shall check it out after school tomorrow if the email comes through. In the meantime, I now know where you’re coming from in relation to firearm safety. Firing off a round through a vehicle’s tray whilst closing the bolt on an ‘empty’ chamber is rather mind boggling – a bit like a work colleague who years ago, when we were stalking rabbits on foot along a creek bed, fired off a volley of shots from his semi-automatic rimfire rifle virtually over my shoulder without a warning. In short, never again. Catch you later mate.