Best light for blood trailing?

[wabi]

Just to be clear on the Coleman lantern, it only works if there is a high phosphorus content in your soil (and the deer ingests the soil). If this is the case, the blood appears to "glow" under the lantern light.

But if your soil doesn't have a very high phosphorus content, a Coleman lantern is no better than a regular flashlight.

I've tried it where I hunt at, and the lantern doesn't work. I've been to other areas, using the same lantern, and it works.

Must be something to that theory. A Coleman lantern (set up with the reflector & handle) didn't work for me where I hunt. A Fenix LED flashlight has been about the best I can come up with. Even a special "blood tracking" LED light didn't work any better.

[saxman]

Whats a blood trail?

[ComfyBear]

Best light for blood trailing?

Daylight.

Geez Mike, you stole my thunder. Nothing beats Daylight as far as I'm concerned. I'll track blood during the day, but I hate tracking it in the dark.

If I happen to connect close to last light, I'll look for possible trails and the deer, before looking for blood. I figure the "escape trail" is easier and faster to spot. By doing so, hopefully I spot the deer before dark. If not, well then I go the Lantern and/or Flashlight route.

If worse comes to worse, I figure "tomorrow" is another day.

[camoman]

A Scorpion flashlight works great, its similar to a surefire but half the cost. You can get them at BassPro for about $40.

[kennisondan]

to my surprise when I was hog hunting the hosts pulled out a bazillion candle power 12 volt and a sling for a battery that runs feeders.. bright and big... was not sure about that but it did allow us to find really small amount of tissue, blood, smears, etc. I was not used to using it and I would think that it would not have been so effective but was wrong..
it did seem to change the color of the blood from daylite like all lights do, but I give it the ultimate endorsement : I bought one and am about to pick up the battery and the solar charging unit for it..
of course that will stay at the truck or on the bike till needed and I will use a small lite for approach to the stand etc. but when it is time to get down with the blood trail... high power large 12 volt is the ticket for me now..
dk