Help with night shooting

[Lskywalker]

So I'm gonna do some ratting and as we all know, this is best done at night.

The issue I have is that night vision (scopes, goggles) are extremely regulated by local authorities, as in nearly impossible to get

I'm thinking of applying glow in the dark paint/ nail polish to my iron sights (Hatsan 125 sniper). I'll stick to iron sights due to local laws and my own comfort level.

Has anyone had any experience with this?

[nervoustrigger]

I would say your best bet is to use a subtle flood light near the food source, or just a local low-intensity light source like one of those solar pathway lights.  The rodents will acclimate to it in a few days.  A red light would be even better but I would not obsess over it.

Where I live, we don't have many rats but the ones that do show up have all gotten a piece of Czech lead from 45 yards.

If you want a challenge, leave food they can take and run.  If you want maximum efficacy and efficiency, don't

[n1as]

I thought most folks shooting at night put a light on their rifle?  In the UK they call them lamping kits.  In the USA, I think they are usually tactical lights.

[nervoustrigger]

A flashlight will work, just not as effectively as an ambient light source.  Rats are skittish and have a pretty good knack at recognizing danger, so although they may ignore a flashlight at first, they will soon wise up.  The ambient light is a constant that they become comfortable with, giving the shooter a good opportunity to take a relaxed, well-timed shot.

[TexasInfidel]

I use  900 lumen Cree light with a red filter
Not cheap but worth it

[Lskywalker]

Thanks for the idea Jason. There's a small area that i think the street light is reaching. I'll try putting the bait there.

Keith, I was thinking of a light system too but when a new light source is added to the area they tend to keep hiding and the really brave ones are the only ones that show.

Thanks Texas. What if I were to try affixing a red plastic filter on a regular light...I'd prefer to get started this weekend and as i'm doing it for free i'd rather not run into excessive expenses...

Hopefully, i'll be able to upload some photos of the area and (if my aim is true) some kills.

[BenjiHunter]

Make a bait station and put up a dim light.
The color of the light doesn't matter as long as it's not too bright.

[Lskywalker]

hey Stefan, with those numbers you have I'll definitely be listening (reading) intently. thanks

[Lskywalker]

Stefan, what is your preferred bait of choice?

[BenjiHunter]

Peanut butter and Sunflower seeds.
And they are crazy about oranges.
This is my bait station right next to an Orange tree.

[wahoowad]

Just get you a cheap red LED flashlight and use it. Diffuse the brightness with scotch tape across the lens if it is even needed. I shoot them by the bucketfull and don't find them excessively skittish.



See em, aim quick but good, take your shot. Don't stand there taking aim

[Gertrude]

For ranges out to around 20ish yds, you could consider getting a red dot sight to use along with a dim light  on the bait station. A 25 watt green "party bulb" in a clamp light works very well, and a red dot will be easy to use in the green lit background.
Sounds like we may have another I.F.A.R.T. member in the making ? Hahaha.

[Lskywalker]

Just get you a cheap red LED flashlight and use it. Diffuse the brightness with scotch tape across the lens if it is even needed. I shoot them by the bucketfull and don't find them excessively skittish.



See em, aim quick but good, take your shot. Don't stand there taking aim

For ranges out to around 20ish yds, you could consider getting a red dot sight to use along with a dim light  on the bait station. A 25 watt green "party bulb" in a clamp light works very well, and a red dot will be easy to use in the green lit background.
Sounds like we may have another I.F.A.R.T. member in the making ? Hahaha.

Peanut butter and Sunflower seeds.
And they are crazy about oranges.
This is my bait station right next to an Orange tree.

@tri-5-ron,Since I'm a bit of a noob here, I don't know what ' I.F.A.R.T' is :s.

@wahoowad, I'm considering getting a red piece of film to put over my mini maglite lens. it should work, shouldn't it?

@Stefan, thanks for the help. I like the setup.

Thanks again everyone. hopefully i'll get to post  some pics of a successful pest control op.

[Smoketown]

Luke,


 What is I. F. A. R. T. ? How do you become a member?

Matt

It stands for:
"International Fraternal Assembly of Rat Terminators"
To become a member you need to show us a bait station and a rodent kill.
For further information, talk to our Highly Esteemed President RON.
Our HEP.

And, here's where it all started ...

http://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=53743.0

Cheers,
Smoketown

[Lskywalker]

Luke,


 What is I. F. A. R. T. ? How do you become a member?

Matt

It stands for:
"International Fraternal Assembly of Rat Terminators"
To become a member you need to show us a bait station and a rodent kill.
For further information, talk to our Highly Esteemed President RON.
Our HEP.

And, here's where it all started ...

http://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=53743.0

Cheers,
Smoketown

Thanks! i'll definitely check it out. thanks

[wahoowad]

Lyskwalker,

I tried a red lens over a white flashlight and simply found it inadequate. But go outside and try it yourself and see if you think it will work.

I actually recommend this particular flashlight for a serious ratter but you have to use these special 18650 batteries and a special charger. Comes from China and might take a few weeks but I always get mine eventually http://www.dxsoul.com/product/ultrafire-wf-501b-philips-luxeon-k2-red-led-flashlight-1-18650-2-cr123a-901020333#.Vr50VED3TOA

Or get this one that is smaller, adjustable and runs on a single rechargeable or disposable AA battery

Plenty of various flashlight mounts that attach to your scope. I tried using a push button switch to quicly turn mine on/off but found it to be a PITA so justy leave my light on and don't give them them the full brightness until I'm bringing the gun up to fire and drawing a bead. It's just time enough for them to pause, think about escape, then realize they have a new hole on each side of their head

[birdmove]

    That's what I use is a small red led flashlight. I have mounted it on the underside of a barrel with small velcro straps that came on a guitar to amp cord. I have also used an upside down scope mount ring, using the round part to attache to my scope, and the other end, that clamps to the dovetail, actually can also clamp onto the light. My flashligh has a 4 way switch. One is red light on, lowered brightness. One is same, but brighter. One is off, and one is flashes on and off. The red light lets me see well enough, and the red lights make their eyes glow, and are easy to see. They may come out for a look, and then back off. Just wait. Usually they will come back and be much braver. Maybe 5 minutes later.They go into my chicken coop at night and eat the birds food from the feeder. My feeder hangs on a string, and one time, a rat jumped into the feeder (I didn't think to take it down and put it on the ground), and the feeder started swinging back and forth. The rat rode it till I could get a shot off, and nailed him. Since then, I always put the feeder on solid ground. I sit in a lawn chair 7-10 yards away. I've been using a 1x4 board cut to a comfortable length, as a kind of a shooting stick.

[BenjiHunter]

When you have an abundance of rats, a gun mounted light is probably great.
When you see one or two when you sit down to hunt, a light at the bait station works better.

[BushWacker]

Here are a couple night shooters I use that work well.  I do find the constant light and a bait box to work the best but sometimes you just have to go after them where they are.

#1 is a Crosman 1322 with a 4x scope and a very powerful flashlight ($15 on Amazon), I can use this up to about 35 yards.  The light goes farther than I can shoot and has 3 different brightness level. 

I also use this to chase away raccoon's I don't want to kill.  2 pumps and it just irritates them enough to get lost and usually never come back.



#2 is a Hatsan 25 with a red-dot hologram and a small flashlight I use for short distance up to 20 yards a night.  This is very powerful and very accurate.



#3 is a cheap way I mounted the flashlight to my scope.  Just use another scope mount and find a piece of metal to connect the bottom mounts to each other (see silver metal part)

[Habanero69er]

I use  900 lumen Cree light with a red filter
Not cheap but worth it

Some aren't too expensive. You can use a flashlight with a red filter too.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ultrafire-501B-2000LM-RED-CREE-LED-20mm-Mount-Tactical-Flashlight-Hunting-Light-/391356156839?hash=item5b1ea50ba7:g:pxEAAOSwT~9Wilh7