I love to let my eyes get used to the dark and slip in quietly as I can. If most people give it half a chance they'd be surprised at how well they can see in the dark. If you keep lighting up a zeon searchlight, well it doesn't help. So I go in dark, my hunting partner Len on the other hand goes into the same woods with a blue or greenLed head lamp. I'm forever saying turn out the light.... turn out the light. It doesn't matter though. That thing just about disappears at 50 or 75 yards and it's bright when you're by him. It doesn't spook any critters, but I just still like to sneak in and let my eyes get used to the dark. The occasional stick in the eye doesn't help. I do always have in my hand a Cyclone light that is powered by 4 AAs. It has a two way switch. One way it's an amber single LED that doesn't destroy you night vision totally. The other way it's a bright light for tracking wounded critters.My ritual is to always have it in my hand in case I need it. I rarely turn it on.