Yup, all the same experiences with myself and all hunting friends
Printable View
I use the Streamlight ProTac HL3 for work, and in the field. It takes CR123A batteries which it eats up rather quickly. This can get expensive after a while, so I bought rechargeables for it. Best flashlight I've owned. Dressed a few deer by its light, and found that the 110 Lumens turns night into day, making the task a lot easier!
https://www.streamlight.com/en/produ...ex/protac-hl-3
I have a couple of Nitecore MH20`s...compact to fit in your hunting pack and great for around the house as well...got them off Amazon!
fenix or streamlight
This is hard to beat. order from eBay, from China, right to your door. I have gotten them for as low as $2.50 US. free shipping. Yowza!
When I got my first one I was blown away. brightest little compact flashlight I ever seen. Fantastic for tracking a blood trail at night.
Uses 18650 rechargeable batteries.
So cheap I don't even fret if I lose it. I ordered 6 more after the initial purchase. I bet I've ordered over 60 so far. 6 at a time! I have one everywhere. Hunting accessory, tackle box, car, truck, junk drawer. My kids have a few also. I was selling these for $5 at Tims to all the other old farts. I threw in free batteries too. Some wanted it for walking their dogs after night. They got their own chargers!
All my 18650 batteries were free! Salvaged from laptop batteries. I did need to buy a good charger - a nitecore.
I have since almost totally cut the umbilical cord from the battery manufacturers.
All my game cameras (10+) run on free 18650's now. 8 to 12 AA batteries (depends on game camera) are now replaced by three 18650 for 12v requirements or by 2 for 6v. I use 30 sec video so AA batteries were taking a beating!
My bear call lure sprayers - all on 18650. I also have 3 (under $10) headlamps.
Now I walk through Costco and go right past the battery displays. Unreal how many batteries I used to buy!
Bear hunting I had 16 AA batteries at each bait site. (Camera 12 sprayer 4). most sites I run 2 cameras! so 28 AA total! Running videos I was lucky to get 2 weeks. 6 weeks baiting and 84 batteries.
We have 6 bait sites total 500 AA batteries.
The money I save covers gas for 2 baiting trips. WOW!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Skywolfeye-...LH_TitleDesc=0
So those flashlights use 18650 batteries or AA batteries ?
Don't really know much about the 18650's but I thought they were actually a different size than a AA ??
I'm always looking for a reasonably decent flashlight but my issue is I lose about 3 of them a year so those knock-off cheapies seem right down my alley.
Are you using the external battery port on your trail cams, or do you shoehorn the 18650's inside them?
I happened to order those flashlights that SK33T3R mentioned.
True,, very cheap and free delivery but they take C123 batteries, which are friggin expensive and hard to find a reliable chargeable in that size.