Whilst I realise that there are many uses for a good bright torch for siganalling and the like as well as actually seeing what you are doing in the dark, do any of you use colour filters on your torches?
I often shoot at night with a lamp, and have a red filter for the lamp. Not only does this seem to not "spook" the rabbits as much as white light, it also leaves my night vision in a better state once I turn it off. I'm sure that I read somewhere years ago that it can take the human eye up to 30 mins to fully recover from a 5 second exposure to bright white light assuming that the pupil had dilated fully to allow for very low light levels beforehand. The use of a red filter on the torch/lamp means that your eyes are only exposed to red light, and therefore only become de-sensitized to red light after use of the torch. As there is very little red light in the small amount of star/moon light available for the eye to use whilst out at night, the difference the red torch makes to your night vision is almost un-noticeable.
As my partner works in the theatre I am often able to get hold of small pieces of red coloured "gel" as it's called that they colour stage lights with. A little disc of this placed inside the front lens of a torch makes it far more "eye friendly". Whilst not a perfect filter, a little disc of the red plastic tray that jam tarts and the like come in would do the job too I guess. Just make sure that it's not too close to the bulb if using xenons as it will not be as heat resistant as theatre light gel.
As an aside, a not-too-bright red torch is also a much better tool for gathering lob worms from mown grass on a warm damp night. The worms are all but blind to red light and do not suddenly disappear back down their holes when you shine the light on them as they will often do if using white light.
I often shoot at night with a lamp, and have a red filter for the lamp. Not only does this seem to not "spook" the rabbits as much as white light, it also leaves my night vision in a better state once I turn it off. I'm sure that I read somewhere years ago that it can take the human eye up to 30 mins to fully recover from a 5 second exposure to bright white light assuming that the pupil had dilated fully to allow for very low light levels beforehand. The use of a red filter on the torch/lamp means that your eyes are only exposed to red light, and therefore only become de-sensitized to red light after use of the torch. As there is very little red light in the small amount of star/moon light available for the eye to use whilst out at night, the difference the red torch makes to your night vision is almost un-noticeable.
As my partner works in the theatre I am often able to get hold of small pieces of red coloured "gel" as it's called that they colour stage lights with. A little disc of this placed inside the front lens of a torch makes it far more "eye friendly". Whilst not a perfect filter, a little disc of the red plastic tray that jam tarts and the like come in would do the job too I guess. Just make sure that it's not too close to the bulb if using xenons as it will not be as heat resistant as theatre light gel.
As an aside, a not-too-bright red torch is also a much better tool for gathering lob worms from mown grass on a warm damp night. The worms are all but blind to red light and do not suddenly disappear back down their holes when you shine the light on them as they will often do if using white light.