Reflective trail markers

[MarkL]

Just got a new hunting lease and I'm afraid I won't be able to find my way around in the dark in the morning. I want to put up some reflective markers so I can find the trail heads and stands in the dark. Was wondering if anybody had any recommendations for or against any particular product.

I was at Wal-Mart today and picked up some "Reflective Flagging Tape" and "Limb Lights" (look like wire ties for garbage bags). Guess I'll put some out in the yard and see how they work.

[wrenchman]

there is some tacs out called cat eyes they reflact light real well at night but dont stick out like a sore thumb dureing the day
i have used them a lot and when you are done hunting pull them out and take them with you
i have used them when trying to find my spot to land the boat when bear hunting going in the morning they will show up a hundred yards out when hit by lite

[Deerman]

Agree with Wrench,the work great early morning.Better than orange tape,stands out to much.

[MarkL]

Now that it's dark, I've had a chance to try the Limb Lights and the reflective tape. The tape is worthless, but the Limb Lights appear to work well enough (clearly visible from 50 yards and probably more using a mini-mag light with 2 AA batteries). The only problem is that they require something of small diameter to tie onto. May get some of the tacks too for tree trunks and the sides of stands.

[kt]

get some of the flat tacs. I have used them the last few years, first few times i placed them every ten yds, i soon realized about 20yds works fine because they really stick out. And as mentioned they wont lead somebody to your treestand in the daylight
kt

[LoneWolf]

My vote is for the tacs. I've tried the limb twisters, and they will work but are much harder to see, and you have to find a small limb on your trail to put them. Have never had a problem with finding my way in with tacs.
Another tip, that works well for me. If I come to a point that my trail will turn, I use three tacs (pointing in direction of turn)
example

:. means turn right


I found it can really help when working through in the dark.

[Deerman]

Good idea,I never thought of that.If I carry some with me I stick them in cardboard,keeps them quiet.

[Swift]

Stick with the original Bright Eyes. The ones I put up 4 yrs ago are still workin fine for me. I use the 4 sided tacks which can be placed in just about any position and reflect.
I think they discontinued the sided tacks but make a round push tack type now. Place one every 20-30 yds and you'll be fine.

[Varmint Hunter]

I agree with SWIFT. I've used Brite Eyes for many years, they work great. The white(silver) tacks are much brighter than the green or red, especially if you use a low output flashlight.

If you hunt deep into the woods and don't quit till almost dark than yopu should also pin your way out to the trail, field or whatever. It gets dark in the woods fast.

Best gadget of all is a GPS. I NEVER go afield without it any more. I'm spoiled.:D

VH

[MarkL]

Wal-Mart has some of the four-sided tacks.

[TSadler]

Mark -

I too, live in Texas. Where I hunt has a lot of low hanging branches that makes tacking hard to do. I really like the limb lights on the end of branches. The tacks work well if there aren't any low branches.

Something you can do is use the small aluminum ashtrays, if you can find them. I put them on my box blind one year. The light reflecting back was as strong as the light I shined upon them.

After a few trips in the dark to your blind, you'll know your route, too. So, you may want to walk it a few times after dark before the season to familarize yourself with it. Carry your gear with you so you can note any thing in your way that you can trim out.

[mazter]

I use the Bright Eye's also, But i also carry the Orange Trail tape too for tracking a deer if i need too. It did help me one season, so it will stay in my backpack. But for walking in the dark, the bright eyes are the way to go.;) And Traci is right After 2-3 times walking it in the dark in & out, I know my way without the Tack's, But if I change stands i also move them to the new area.

[Steverino]

I also used the reflective tacks last season and they worked awesome with my Mini-Mag light. I hung a variety of stands on the property that I was bowhunting and used them to help me find my way through the woods and to my stands. The moon filled early mornings, I really didn't need them much but on the dark, cloud covered autumn morns, those tacks sure came in handy.

I left them up all season and removed them at the conclusion and those little buggers held up really well. I was pleasantly surprised. I found keeping them in a spare film cannister along with some cotton balls for scent wicks kept em on the quiet side too. ;)

[Nick400ex]

I cant stand to use them. The thought of walking through the woods in the morning with any type of light sounds crazy.

[8X56MS]

Mark,
I hunt in some real dense stuff. The swamps, and feeder creeks in North Central Fla are difficult to navigate in daylight, and even more so at night.
I use three methods to find my way in to the swamp during the dark early morning hours.
I love those Bright Eyes. They truely do work. For light, I use a single LED light(used to use a little Brinkman penlight). For direction, I use a simple compass. All three together are a good combination, and have served me well for many years.

[LoneWolf]

You must hunt private land, Nick.
I wouldn't think of going to my stand on public land without a light. Last year I used a red led and it worked well, but still let other "hunters" know what I was:cool:

[TSadler]

Lone Wolf is right - the red filter works well. I have a head lamp that doesn't have a red filter, so I put red automative lense tape on it. Works great.

I like to use t-paper to mark my trail for tracking. It is very easy to look back and see what the deer was doing. Plus - it is biodegradable.