It’s always interesting to me how many shooters and hunters are of the opinion that owning too many calibers, styles and makes of shotguns and rifles isn’t possible. Any empty space in the gun cabinet is considered wasted and irritates such men. I know plenty of anglers who firmly believe that owning a room full of fishing rods is the only sure way of being prepared for any casting eventuality. Personally I can assure you that there is no such thing as having too many sizes, shapes and colors of fly patterns on hand at all times, just in case. I stock pile another, somewhat different, variety of sporting equipment .

Each and every type of outdoor recreation, especially fishing and hunting, requires some special equipment to assure consistent success, safety and of course, better comfort. Through several decades of unexpected situations and discomforting predicaments, I’ve learned the hard way that one particular accessory is essential to each and every Maine outdoorsman. Venture into the woods or onto the water without an adequate source of light, and you’re just asking for trouble.

A reliable flashlight isn’t just essential in many sporting situations, at times a life may depend on it, and it might just be yours. On any normal outing, a good light is just plain convenient, and offers a sense of security. It used to be that a basic chrome two cell light was the norm, and pretty much all anyone needed, but nowadays there are scads and bounds of specialized lights. Most serve their purpose far better than a simple flashlight, which is probably why I own more than two dozen distinct styles of sporting lights for particular applications.

Back to basics

If a sportsman owns only a couple of lights, chances are they won’t be at hand when you actually need them. I have a flashlight in the car, in my truck, in my pack basket, in my boat’s emergency gear box, in my canoe’s possibles bag and even a penlight in my shaving kit. My salt water, trout and Atlantic salmon tackle boxes each have a flashlight as well, and my small day pack has a tiny 50 cent sized squeeze light with a blue beam. Each four wheeler, personal watercraft and snowmobile should also have a flashlight safely stored in a waterproof packet.

Basic handheld cylindrical flashlights are still available, without any fancy frills, for reasonable prices, yet they are far sturdier and more dependable than your grandfather’s light. One of the most popular name brand is MAG-lite, a heavy duty aluminum body that will stand up to outdoor abuse and features a recessed shatterproof lens. MAG-lite comes in one Triple A battery size comparable in size to your little finger with up to a five D battery model with a long distance high intensity beam and hours of power, as well as half a dozen in between sizes.

Several brands of quality, old style hand-held flashlights are on the market, so shop and compare, but look for these essential features. An adjustable light beam going from flood to spot light with a simple twist adjustment, a sealed on-off switch, and corrosion resistant outer body are all benefits. Water and shock resistance is good, waterproof and armored is better. Storage for a spare bulb inside the unit is an advantage, and such lamps should be energy efficient and long lived. A good light will be easy to open, close and change elements with cold or wet hands, and I like a vividly colored outer case that stands out if inadvertently dropped in the woods or water.

One of the most amazing general use flashlights I’ve ever used is the Outdoorsman produced by SureFire. Powered by two lithium batteries with a 10- year shelf life, this 4.5-inch, 3.2-ounce unit puts out 25 lumens of light and when shined into someone’s eyes, it will momentarily blind them even in broad daylight. The case is hardened anodized aluminum with a six- sided head to prevent rolling once it’s set in place on a flat surface.

Buyers have a choice of a pocket clip, wrist lanyard, belt holster or all three, and the flashlight can be activated with a twist, for long-term use, or by depressing the tail cap for a quick look or for dot-dash emergency signaling. Sportsmen will appreciate the easily interchangeable red lens, a color spectrum unlikely to disturb deer, ducks or turkey as you make your way to stand or blind. A blue lens is also available and makes blood trails far more visible under dark conditions. The high intensity lamp can be interchanged with a long lasting, medium lumen bulb for extended periods of use. It has a lifetime guarantee and costs $80.

Specialty lights

Every outdoorsman should own a headlamp. If you have ever had to drag a canoe and gear into a wooded pond and set decoys before dawn, change a flat tire after midnight, or trail, clean and drag out a deer or bear in the dark, you’ll understand. Every sporting pastime has occasions when its imperative to use both hands to complete a task, and when no one else is around to hold a flashlight, that’s when a hands-free headlamp is essential.

My newest headlamp is the Luxen Star produced by Essential Gear, and it’s the next generation in sports light technology. Using an LED rather than a normal bulb as a light source, this small unit turns night to day using only two small lithium batteries. There are three brightness levels, a flashing signal mode for emergency situations, battery strength indicator light, adjustable headband, tilting head and a water resistant case, all weighing just five ounces with batteries. Check it out on www.essentialgear.com or call 800-582-3861 for info or a catalog.

Whatever headlamp an outdoorsman selects, it has to be compact, light and really durable. Controllable brightness levels and the ability to adjust beam focus are also important. LED lights are the future, but if you select a bulb model, make sure it has storage space for a replacement bulb. Rechargeable models are a great asset, especially ones that can use a car plug in to recharge the unit.

Some headlamps can burn for 100 hours on one charge or one set of batteries, and that’s lifesaving energy if you are injured, trapped or lost in the wild. For the most part however, these hands free, wearable lights help locate deer stands, prevent tripping over roots, shed light while rigging a goose spread, and change the plug or untangle line from an outboard motor.

Another hands-free style of illumination is called a snake light, which refers to a flashlight head with an elongated body that is pliable. The handle can be turned and twisted to lean, sit or even hang from a stable rest while shedding directed, hands free light on a work area. These aren’t small units, but their large area of illumination, pliability and long-term burn time make then great vehicle and boat accessories.

Anglers who dry-fly fish at dusk or engage in night fishing outings must have a small, focused beam of light for tying on flies, splicing leaders, unhooking fish and several other two- handed tasks. Aside from headlamps, I’ve found a couple of wonderful alternatives; one is a miniature adjustable goose- neck light that clips to my shirt or fishing vest pocket. The light beam can be focused with just a twist of the neck to any angle for reel adjustments, undoing snarled line or cleaning a fish.

Miniature lights that clip on the bill of a cap and use head movement to direct the light beam are also a great angling asset. Some come with a wrist strap to hold the light and focus the beam if users don’t wear hats. Many have key ring style chains for attachment to clothing, knapsacks or fly vests for quick access and loss prevention. Smaller than a pack of gum, these tiny wonders boast up to 100,000 hours of life for the ultra bright LED light. I recommend a red light source for fly casters since it’s far less likely to affect night vision than white light.

Bigger and brighter

Sometimes an outdoor activity or chore needs more light on a larger area, or perhaps a long range, weather penetrating light source. Around camp a Coleman gas lantern is the dependable standby, but these really aren’t feasible for every boat or four-wheel drive. The lights that best fit the bill are fairly heavy and cumbersome, often called lanterns. These battery-operated units are perfect for bathing a large area in light while a tent is set up, a large game animal dressed for transport, or while a boat is loaded on a trailer and gear unloaded from the boat.

Spotlights emit a narrow penetrating beam of light that is essential for boaters, snowmobilers and ATV riders caught in heavy rain, thick fog or driving snow. Sea duck hunters and waterfowlers wending their way through flooded timber will find hand- held spotlights indispensable. Spotlights for outdoor use should put out 1 to 3 million candlepower and have on/off triggers on the pistol grip for short flashes or lockable in the on mode for long term use.

Despite being large bodied, outdoor flood and spotlights are fairly lightweight, but fairly rugged in construction. Rechargeable batteries are the norm, and the best models can be powered and recharged from a DC car cord as well as an AC adapter. Opt for a quartz halogen bulb and a parabolic reflector, a shatter resistant lens and a weatherproof housing when purchasing.

There is no such thing as too many outdoor lights. Each and every model from the smallest to the largest can be summed up in one word: security. No matter what outdoor recreation you enjoy, there are risks involved, and the unexpected is always a factor. Having the right illumination along goes a long way toward ensuring safety, comfort and success no matter what type outdoor sport you’re engaged in. Before heading afield or afloat, remember a quote from the book of Genesis and “Let there be light.”

Outdoor feature writer Bill Graves can be reached via e-mail at bgravesoutdoors@ainop.com