Night time tactics?

Ok step dad who grew up a city boy in New York city has finally "seen the light" and has got the fever. Now, he is just 73 yrs old but really likes pork. He's been out three times this summer chasing hogs but his eyes won't let him see the target very well after sundown. So we decided to ask the experts what is the best way to "light them up"? We've had motion lights near the feeders but the harsh west Texas elements seem to destroy the lights. Since he has a 6 hours trip just to come out I'd rather have something more reliable, so any suggestions?

For me I have a green scope light and a red scope light. Green is better for hogs I have heard. The ones o have are elusive wildlife xlr 250 with the dimmer switch so the light isn't as intense. I also have a predator tactics coyote reaper green light. That light is better if you are wanting a flood light setting. You can make the light bright and small or not as bright and big radius.

Does the light spook them when it hits them?

If you dim it or have a flood feature it won't. The thing that would scare them is the intensity of the light. Don't shine it on them immediately. Shine it up and lower the light to them. One thing I have experienced is that if you can don't shine it on them until they get comfortable and start eating.

I've used the motion sensor lights mounted 8-10 ft off the ground (drove fence post then a piece of conduit slide over with light mounted) used two around feeder, bought at Northern tool. Then use a motion detector "Driveway Monitor" to let me know when something comes in. A good adjustable flash light mounted on rifle, have wide beam or slim green, Sportsman Guide or seen at BPS. Some hunters use the pig lights attached to feeder, I like the lights off in a distance, motion detects 20-25'.

Solar panel/feeder light. Will come on at dusk. And stay on for several hours. Set feeder timer to go off an hour after dark. If there are hogs in the area, they ought to find that corn and start coming in to the feeder at night. Sit in a stand, wait for them to come in, boom.

Feederlights.com this guy owns Texasboars.com. I have one of his lights. Way better than a Kill light., which I also have. Btw u can get a kill light from lightmalls.com without the "kill light" sticker logo that costs $100 more. Same lights made in the same factory. But like $20-30$. But I would go feederlights.com for that route. U can get the kind that mount to a feeder or u can get a cheap portable one and mount it on a cheap camera tripod stand. That way u can use it at multiple feeders. Attach the wire to a 12 volt battery and set it up 50-100 yds away from the stand (depending on which light/how far it will throw light). Get 2 batteries so one is always charged. Set it up at a feeder u have hogs coming to for 3-5 days prior to hunting it to give the hogs a couple days to decide that that new light that's at the feeder isnt dangerous.
Get a game camera or a few so u will know what's coming to your feeders and maaaybe be able to "pattern" a pig coming in at a somewhat consistent time nightly.
Also, in the $400 range u can get a sightmark photon XT 4.6 digital night vision rifle scope. YouTube them. Or an ATN X-sight (be weary only some of the ATN products actually work as advertised).

Btw the feederlights.com lights are not pretty. But they work. They last. and they very rugged and durable. Made to take that Texas weather all night long over and over.

This is pretty similar to what I've done sometimes. I just put a motion light on a T-post, just high enough so that cattle won't mess it up rubbing against it. The driveway sensor is also a good idea, be sure to check it out with a buddy to be sure you're really in range if you get a cheap (Harbor Freight) one. They don't truly work over the full advertised distance in my experience. Just be sure to position the light so that it doesn't shine toward you!

Corn the roads. Corn the roads an hour prior to sunset and come back into 2-3 hours and see what shows up.

I have no problems drawing them in, just lighting them up enough so 73 yo eyes can see well enough to shoot them...

Hmm... Rent some night vision perhaps? Or... tell the wife that you need to buy a new thermal scope "not for myself honey, for dear ol' dad." lol...

Kidding aside, Ive used green, rifle mounted light and it works fine. As another said, lower it on them real slow and they usually wont even flinch if they are eating/rooting, etc.

Reread your post and noticed that you already have motion lights, but they're not lasting long in the outdoor environment. I had the same problem. I made a wooden mount to hold the light and associated solar charger, and mounted it with a wingnut to a bolt I'd secured to a U-Post

A U-Post (there may be other names) is like a T-Post but it's cheaper, made from stamped steel.

Here's an example - http://www.homedepot.com/p/YARDGARD-2-1-...157EB/202024129


That strategy allowed me to bring the light inside for storage when I wasn't using it, rather than leave it out year round. Actually, I sometimes got lazy (when we were coming out at least once a month or more) and left the lights out. They lasted about a year. I was using some from Harbor Freight - http://www.harborfreight.com/60-LED-Solar-Security-Light-69643.html

Now I have a Photon Night Vision Scope that I use while I dream of Thermal . . .

A 20 dollar black and decker AA powered hand held light, a gun, some snake boots, water, alot of walkin and want.

you miss the part where he is 73 years old?