For me it's an adrenaline rush. I hunt in a remote area in the northern LP of MI where there are bears and coyotes. I nearly stepped on a porcupine once in the dark - that scared me.

The scary part is that humans just can't see in the dark. And the critters CAN. That's the part I don't like.

I walked up on a big coon once, and I just stood still until he left. Then I continued on. That's my strategy on most in the dark animal encounters. Just stand still and wait. Most of the time they are more afraid of you than vice versa.