Coleman lantern lighting for predators...

[PH]

Probably 7 or 8 yrs ago I asked this question and got very few responses so I am going to try again with new batch of guys :D
I heard from a few old timers that used to call fox and coon my area that they used to use Coleman lanterns hung from a tree. Basically, they hung a lantern from a tree branch and sat UNDER it in the shadows. Follow up with calling set and soft but bright continuous light causes predators eyes to reflect. Supposedly this spooked said fox less than a moving flashlight and the hunter was better hidden. I now have an old dog that is getting older and slower by the day. Rather bright light comes on at the back of the house as he goes outside and it shines towards the woods. Recently on more than one occasion, we have had fox come into the yard and eyeball him until we yelled at them to split. It's not often enough to guard the door with my Beeman but I am getting tempted to see if a springer will do the job at 15 yrds. In this case, the fox are coming directly to a stationary BRIGHT light and are essentially blinded to us as we are behind the light. It has taken me back full circle to the coleman lantern question because it is the same concept. I don't believe your range would be that great, but hey, if you are calling a thicket with a shotgun does it really matter? Anybody ever do this? I know we have some GRAY beards out there and somebody has probably either done this or knows somebody who has. http://photos.imageevent.com/peteh/foxhunting/Petenfox.jpg
and to think I didn't have any gray hair when this board started! Look what you guys have done to me!!!:eek: BTW, have a fox hunt planned for tomorrow and will report back.

[Jim in Idaho]

You know, Pete, I've thought of this before, but never done it. Sounds like a great idea. Even an extendable pole to hold the light up about 8 or 10' would work good. Probably wouldn't want to shoot with this light, but it would be great for seeing the eyes and getting lined up before hitting them with a spotlight, or gunlight. Maybe even put a red cover on it. I like it!

[JRinKY]

We have hardly any foxes in the area since the coyotes moved in. I remember when the fox fur market was up and all the local yahoos were calling them in with rabbit distress tapes on their truck radios. They would come to anything then, run under the truck...I heard about one that ran IN the truck through an open door. The hunters didn't make a dent in the population but the Coyotes sure did.

[Jerry Lester]

Very interesting idea Pete.

Personally, I can't see it working to the hunters advantage in any kind of open areas like where I'd normally be looking for reds. For hunting greys, or even more so bobcats in the thicker areas, you just might be on to a very workable trick. The single biggest problem I've had with bobcats at night is them seeing me(I'm figuring anyways) while I'm sweeping the area with my spotlight. I can't count the times I've caught sight of eyes just before they took off like a streak.

A coleman lantern hanging over, or very near the caller in a slight opening in an overgrown clearcut(sawmilled) in our bobcat rich mountains just might even be good enough to shoot by. I commonly use a decoy along with my caller for bobcats in these areas, and if the whole deal was lighted by the lantern, it'd allow me to not have to constantly scan for eyes. A good lantern should allow for a perfectly illuminated shot within 20-30 yards of the caller/decoy setup, and allow me to sit back some distance in total darkness with both hands free for a nice hold on the gun.

I'm about sure this idea would work like a charm because I actually have a regular stand at an old hunting cabin where I've killed a couple cats, and numerous grey's, and coons. For whatever reason, the owners installed a dusk to dawn light there about 50 yards out from the cabin at the edge of the woods. I've sat in the shadows of the cabin, and never even used a light. The whole clearing there is lit up pretty good, and if you keep the volume within reason, the animals generally will come in within 20 or so yards of the caller, and hang up for a few seconds. Even if you don't see eyes(I rarely have), the animals cast a shadow from the overhead light, and their movement is easily noticable as they sneak in.

As beautiful as that stand has worked for me over the years, I don't know why I never thought of duplicating it with a lantern:confused: .

Rest assured, I'll be posting my report on it real soon though!:D

[Sonny Pruitt]

I have a local Park that has me keeping the predator population down. One of my tricks is to sit on their Clubhouse veranda which has lights suspended from the outer roof/rafters shining out into the surrounding area. I am totally behind the wall of light barrier looking out while they are out looking in, but not seeing anything past the lights. I sit at a picnic table with Caldwell Bags fore and aft. The FoxPro out in the parking lot somewhere wailing away. I catch some eyes, mute the caller, lipsqueak and get em in the scope, here they come. Pete, it is like shooting groundhogs from off the cab of a truck with sandbags support and all. Drink a glass of tea or coke and sit back and enjoy. In this case, it is a matter of getting the job done for the organization in a timely manner.

I am behind locked gates after all customers/park users have gone for the day. The foxes understand and know the hours of operation, I am sure. Humans, No Humans. No harm, no foul.

[John in CA.]

Pete, someone told me (and seemed to make good sense) that this method not only works well because of the dimmer light, which may not intimidate the predators, but also the lack of movement OF the light. Canines are so movement focused that I think this would be a good idea

In short, a dimmer and stationary light source is less of a threat. Let us know how it goes.:)

[Crowhunter]

When I started fox hunting about 30 years ago, using a red light for night hunting had not caught on, or was just catching on, or mine had not come in the mail yet. Anyway, I used a 5 cell flashlight and pointed it at a 45 degree angle upward. This cast the much dimmer fringe of the light on the field which would still light up eyes but not spook the fox/coon like a direct light. I believe this was the Burnam Brothers suggested method.

PS. The stationary thing probably is a big plus.

[John Kennedy]

In North Carolina, during colonial times, the penalty for "firelighting" wild game was 5 pounds sterling or in the case of a slave, 30 lashes, well laid on his or her bare back. The 5 pounds sterling went to the informer. It is presumed the source of light would have been a "lightwood knot" (pitch pine). This being the case, certainly our forefathers knew how it was done. They were enterprizing people who rose to the occasion and provided food and fur. They had more patience than we do. My 2 cents---.

[sportnclays]

Not to be confrontational, but there are a lot better choices than a Coleman latern. They are ( in no line of order) loud, smelly, cumbersome, non directional, and fragile to haul around. I can not see any advantages that would indicate this to be a better choice. One of coon hunting lites(Wheat) with a reostat would be similar to what you are describing. You could just hang it at the angle desired.
JB