Searching for the Best Coon Hunting Lights?

Before you go on a night hunt for raccoons, you need to make sure that you have a reliable hunting light to take with you. You’ll want to have a hunting light that is hands-free so that you won’t have to worry about fumbling for your gun when you need it the most. While there are some hunters who still prefer using the hand-held hunting lamps, a hands-free device is safer and much more effective. The recent advancements in technology have made headlamps just as powerful as traditional hand-held flashlights and spotlights.

The Best Coon Hunting Lights​

Things to Consider When Shopping for the Best Coon Hunting Light

Hunting technology has made giant strides over the past decade. The days of using hunting gear that’s strictly functional and minimalist are over. Don’t go to the hardware store and buy the first light that you find and take it on your hunt, do a little bit of research. Here are four key things to consider when looking around for a hunting light:

• Weight – Remember, you’re going to be lugging around a hunting light for the duration of your trip. While you might not think comfort is a big deal, carrying a heavy lamp will get old fast. Save your energy and make your hunt more enjoyable by choosing a lightweight coon hunting light.
• Batteries – Batteries are bulky and uncomfortable to carry around, but you can’t use your light without them. If you don’t want to be stuck with a pocket full of batteries, choose a hunting light that has a reputation for long battery life.
• Distance – Raccoons are skittish creatures that will do everything in their power to evade humans. A hunting light that has a weak beam means that you’ll have to get closer to your target to see it, and that will scare it away. Choose a hunting light that can shine a beam powerful enough to spot that raccoon hiding in a tree.
• Brightness – Any experienced raccoon hunter will tell you that they’re excellent at hiding. Only a hunting lamp capable of putting out high intensity light will work for your hunting sessions.

Types of Raccoon Hunting Lights

There are three different types of lights that hunters typically use on their raccoon hunts. Each one has its own strengths and weaknesses. Learning the specific functions for each type of light will help you better determine the one that best suits you.

1. LED coon hunting lights

LED lights are commonly used for headlamps, and are commonly made by companies like Bright Eyes lights. This style of coon hunting light comfortably attaches to your head and shines a bright beam at whatever you’re facing. It’s a great way to use hands-free hunting lights without feeling cumbersome.

2. Gun lights

This style light attaches to the scope of your rifle. They function similar to the standard handheld flashlight, except that many gun lights allow you to modify beam intensity and width. When buying a gun light, be mindful of its weight. A heavy object attached to your rifle could throw off your aim.

3. Handheld spotlights

The handheld spotlight is popular among the traditionalist who isn’t concerned with new hunting technology. Handheld lights are often very powerful and can easily spot a raccoon hiding high up in a tree, but they require a free hand to operate. This forces you to clip the light to your belt before you can shoot your raccoon.

The Most Popular Coon Hunting Lights on the Market

If you’re not a traditionalist who enjoys hunting with a standard flashlight, this list is for you. Here is a list of some of the most popular coon hunting lights on the market:

1. The Orion Predator H30

The Predator H30 is a hunting light that attaches to your rifle. It’s able to mount to the scope, barrel, or rail, and you can choose to purchase a red or green light beam. It has a powerful beam that can reach up to 273 yards and the following intensity settings:

Another nice feature of the H30 is that it comes with a battery charger. This helps you save on battery expenses if you’re an active raccoon hunter.

It’s important to note that the color of your beam doesn’t really matter when hunting raccoons. Red light typically works better for coyotes and green works for hogs, but both will do on your coon hunting trips. Many hunters prefer the green light just because it’s easier to see.

Pros

Cons

Verdict

The biggest selling point of the H30 is its versatility. It can be attached to different parts of your rifle, which lets you decide which mounting option is the most comfortable for you. For under 150 dollars, it’s an excellent hunting light to have.

2. The Kohree 80,000 Lux Cree XML U2 Hunting Light

The Cree XML U2 is a versatile hunting light that is lightweight and compact. It’s one of the strongest coon hunting belt lights available on the market at the moment, and it can be easily converted into a headlamp. The light comes with four color filters: yellow, blue, green, and red. These are perfect for specific hunts, like hog and coyote hunts, and they also work for hunters who have sensitive eyes.

Despite its small size, the Cree XML U2 is a powerful light. Its beam can project as far as 330 yards away. It also comes with a long-lasting, rechargeable lithium ion battery, which takes approximately 18 hours to recharge. The light’s intensity settings and battery longevity are as follows:

Pros

Cons

Verdict

The Cree XML U2 has a suggested retail cost of $160, but it’s commonly seen on sale for less than $75. The biggest benefit of this light is that it’s able to compete with the high-end hunting lights that cost $250 or more. However, working the XML U2 can be a bit difficult, and wearing it can be uncomfortable. In that regard, it’s not quite designed like a top-dollar hunting light. With that said, it’s a well-rounded, budget coon hunting light that will work perfectly on your hunts.

3. Streamlight TRL-1 Game Spotter

The Game Spotter is an excellent hunting light that's lightweight and quite powerful. It puts out up to 150 lumens and is powered by two 3V CR123A batteries, and it’s able to last roughly two hours on a hunt. The product puts out a powerful green beam, which is easy on the eyes and excellent for hunting other animals besides raccoons.

The Game Spotter is an excellent coon hunting light for the money. It’s capable of putting out a beam that reaches more than 380 yards. It has been designed to fit many different guns and is easy to attach on nearly any rail.

Pros

Cons

Verdict

With a price tag slightly more than $100, the Game Spotter is a hunting light that’s well worth the money. However, its short battery life is a serious drawback that stops it from being number one in the list of best coon hunting lights.

Notable mention

If you’re someone who enjoys both raccoon hunting and driving an ATV around at night, consider purchasing one of the ATV blazer coon hunting lights. The C8014 ATV Spotlight is powered by a bright 35-watt halogen bulb and is capable of rotating 360 degrees. It’s easy to attach to your ATV, and can even help you as your riding through the woods looking for nearby raccoons.

Get Started Hunting

There are a number of types of lights that you can bring with you on your hunt. Each of them has their own strengths and weaknesses, which makes it impossible to compile a list of the actual best coon hunting lights. With that said, you want a light that is easy to use and powerful enough to spot a lurking raccoon. Finding the best light for you will take a little bit of time and experimenting.

Raccoon hunting is an exciting experience, and a good light can help increase your success rate and make the hunt much more enjoyable. Understand that no cheap flashlight will do. A good hunt can last between two or three hours, so you’re going to want a light that will last the entire duration of your hunt. Nothing will kill a raccoon hunting trip faster than losing your light source.

Before you spend money on an expensive coon hunting light, test a few out. As you prepare to go on your next raccoon hunting trip, ask your hunting buddies if you can borrow and test their lights.