What works better a night vision scope or a mounted light?

I run a red light and do pretty good with that in areas that are tough to call in dogs during daylight hours

This thread is probably a good place to ask this question. In the 80's and 90's we mounted spotlights on top of the truck and used halogen aircraft landing lights for the globes. We could see eyes at 500 yards and light up a coyote for shooting at 300. My question is, can these little handheld flash lights from Wicked Lights and other night hunting outlets really put a beam out there that would equal the spotlights we used years ago. I know the LED bulbs are much longer lasting and the batteries last longer, but are they as bright? Is there anyone still alive from the 80's, that night hunts, that can answer that question?

Gerald Stewart had a cool light on his scope that had a red shield to locate a critter then it would lay flat in the cone (like a flue in a stove pipe) and light up the area with white light.

I wished we could use spotlights here in Wisconsin. Looking at YouTube videos of other states that can shine for eyes, it looks like an absolute blast. I don't understand how some states let them do it but others don't. I guess abuse of rights is why we have laws.

LED and incan are different beasts and you'll be hard pressed to compare them on paper as nothing is measured in candle power anymore. Here's what I've experienced--- The old lights tend to be narrowly focused or at least have the option depending on setup and that allows you to throw a long narrow beam to see into the distance. LED tends to put out lots of lumens efficiently in wave lengths that your eyes will find are easy to use but my general experience is that you don't get nearly as much distance and that's even with the newer LEDs I'm using that have adjustable beams. You can find measured distance for many of the common LED lights shown as thrown distance. I'd say its more reasonable to see eyes at about 300 with them and depending on the circumstances I can see thru the scope to shoot quite a long distance. Your eyes (at least mine) are not going to perceive that you have lit up much at 300 with handheld LED but then again we can get lots of lumens out of small 1850 cells and don't need a truck to carry vehicle batteries. I do have a spotlight in the truck that I use to check long distance traps at night but that is the only time I use it anymore; I know that my LED's don't illuminate as much in comparison at distance so that's why the spotlight remains.

Secondly incan lights tend to be towards the red end of the spectrum to begin with. It is somewhat easy to filter those with red lenses, etc which made them useful for night hunting until last decade or so. On the other hand LED tends to be bright white. To get red LED, you need a red LED bulb which wasnt so easy to get your hands on until recently. Run a red vs white bulb on the same LED light/same power source and you will see an immediate reduction in what you can see at night.

I wish there was an efficient, compact incandescent option to run for a long distance red light. But everything you'll find these days is LED. Compared to the old spotlights I'd say you would find them to have less effective range. But I also suspect after you saw how much light you can put out in a package that fits in your hand and weighs next to nothing and you'll see why incandescent isnt returning.

Well that is hard to answer but in order to really do much with night vision you have to spend some money. If you are willing to go into Gen3 units you will be happy most likely. If not, perhaps not happy--or at least I wasn't. You can get setup with red lights much cheaper and they will do a decent job. Funny thing is a decade ago if you hunted in my state at night you had a big advantage versus the day shift. Now that rifles have been legalized here, there are lots of people (in comparison) out at night and the big advantage has drastically diminished.

Fox hunter52
I've not used the smaller lights you mentioned, as lights here for hunting at night as that is a no no except on private land with a depredations permit.
I believe the large lights you referred to produce over a million candle power. Don't know what that translates into lumens, but I doubt any small handheld light is that bright. Some of the new predator lights are pretty amazing though.

MB550, I hope I didn't hijack your thread. As I watch the night hunting shows on outdoor channel, it seems these guys that are doing it for a living like to use both thermal imaging scopes and lights. That would get pretty expensive to get outfitted like they are. Years ago, we killed a lot of predators just using lights and an electronic caller. Personally I've never liked a light attached to my scope, but I always night hunted with a buddy. If your hunting alone, I guess that would be your only option if you decided to use lights. But I will tell you this, once you get a taste for night hunting, you're hooked. It's a whole different world out there at night.

Many, Texas hunters use these. https://www.coyotelight.com/

Snow cover and a full moon.

I would say the light over the night vision units. Check out Night Eyes, they make some nice lights.
If your hunting alone,scope mounted, with a partner the one running the caller uses a larger handheld, shooter has a scope mounted light.
Lumen to candle watt conversion is. Divide lumens by 12.57 and you get candle watt output.
Candle watt power x 12.57 gives you lumen output.
Hope this helps

Harbor Freight sells a very impressive handheld Rechargable longlasting LED spot light for around $13 if you catch the "SALE" price with the % off coupon.

I like using the Night Eyes lights for hunting at night

A headlamp for scanning and a gun light for shooting

Only because that's what's legal here..ks has retarded night hunting laws. No lights no nv or thermal but it is legal to shoot predators at night. Legal to throw lead at (shadow) but shine a light and be certain what your shooting at is illegal. Makes no sense