I've never used a light for walking in or out. I often come in early and hope to surprise a Hog rooting in a pasture or field. Which has backfired on me a couple of times.

I once stumbled into a whole sounder of pigs, maybe ten, who were taking a break and lounging around. The main body was maybe thirty feet in front of me, some piglets to my left and Mamma Sow to my right. My instinct was to make like a tree and not move a muscle, it worked. The other hunter that was following me in, made some noise and the Hogs bolted. I yelled run and she did, I stood stock still and hoped if they decided to charge they'd follow her, she was a whole lot younger and faster than I am. She asked me later why I didn't run too, I just smiled.

I was coming in slow and quiet going to a shooting tower at the corner of two pastures bordered by forest, the pastures are in a kind of "L" shape. I was walking slow up the small side of the "L", put my rifle on safe to cross a ditch. At a 45 degree angle across the smaller pasture from me is a little stand of young pine and some Bee hives the farmer puts out. A really big Sow comes charging out from the area of the Hives straight at me grunting and clacking her jaws. It was really dark out, all I could see was her shape, which kind of reminded me of an old Volkswagen bug, both in shape and size. I was standing in the ditch, all she could see was the top half of my body. I'm thinking all I have is a bolt action rifle and wasn't real confident I could acquire her in my scope and bring her down in one shot before she ran right over the top of me. Thankfully she stopped about half way to me and snorted, it was a mock charge. I backed out the same way I came in and didn't stop backing up until I had an open shot against a lighter background and a place to run to in case I missed or wounder her.

I learned my lesson, now when I walk in I carry my slug gun (a Remington 1100) and a 44 special revolver. And carry my bolt gun slung on my back.

Question is, I've had good luck stopping dogs coming at me with my 1000 lumen flashlight on strobe. I'm wondering what effect the strobe might have on a Hog or Deer? Any guesses? Or has somebody accidentally hit strobe when game is near and did it have any effect?

And even if you are going Bow Hunting, a large caliber handgun as backup may save your bacon some day. Nothing says don't mess with me quit like a .357 or .44 going off in the dark, the fireball is impressive. You might need it never, but if you need it once it is sure nice to have that option.

Ninety nine times out of a hundred the Hogs are going to take off in the other direction. It's that one time they don't, you have to worry about.

I have a light I got on special from Amazon, it says Police on it, I think maybe it is a Cree clone or maybe a relabeled Cree, or maybe an early model Windfire? It was like $12, batteries not included, the batteries were expensive, but they last forever. It is about three yeas old now and still working well. I did cut me some strips from an old bicycle inner tube and put them in strategic spots on the light. It really helps keep the noise down as the light bounces around in my jacket pocket. Super bright, they advertise it at 1000 lumens, which really comes in handy trying to follow a small/sporatic blood trail in the dark.