defending against lions, tigers and bears, oh my!

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Has anybody ever used a defense flashlight to fend off an attack from a dog, moose, bear, mountain lion, wolf or any other critter that could take you out. If so, how did it go? Not exactly something that you would practice. If the flashlight can stun a human i would think that it would give the critter a moments pause. Any thoughts?

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This question really should be in the “defence flashlight” category or section. Don’t go looking for that category because it doesn’t exist. Periodically we get new members that think it should exist and they go off into the wilderness in search of dangerous animals to prove their theory but they never report back.

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A strong light can somewhat work against semi-domesticated dogs.
The rest of the animals you mentioned will most likely simply ignore it and do whatever they decide to do with you.

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Sometimes works, sometimes doesn’t. It’s a roll of the dice. But it doesn’t work more often than it does in my experience with dogs, coyotes, skunks, black bears. Other assorted critters.

Sometimes the bears will run off, but more often they don’t really care, and if they do run off stomping your feet probably would’ve worked too. Coyotes will avoid the light when they don’t want to be seen but when theyre interested in you they just stare right into the light, like it does not bother them at all. Same with dogs more or less. YMMV

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Weerapat Kiatdumrong has tons of YouTube videos on using flashlights for self-defense from dog attacks.

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In general, “defense flashlights” only serve to nicely light up the creature that’s about to eat you.

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Thanks for all the responses.

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To defend against those animals you need only someone running slower than you.
Mike

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We dont really have dangerous animals like lions tigers bears or wolves etc.

From my experience, a high powered flashlight with an intesne beam will stun (freeze) prey animals. Rabbits, deer and even foxes are temporarily blinded. I wouldnt use a flashlight as a reliable defense against a charging or aggressive animal. Carry bear spray or something it might be more effective. A flashlight however, helps you spot and identify them from far away.

A strong flashlight will definitely mess with a nocturnal animals night vision and temporarily blind them. In spotlighting/lamping this effect is used to identify an amimal and either shoot or deploy running dogs. This video is a textbook example of how an animal (hare) reacts https://youtu.be/Z2J1vvJvIu8?feature=shared Note its a harmless animal and not a predator. Dont rely on a flashlight for aggressive animals!

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“Well, there’s an old Polish proverb that says, ‘When the wolf is chasing your sleigh, throw him a raisin cookie, but don’t stop to bake a cake’.”
— Thomas Banacek

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I’ve strobed a dog (using an Acebeam L35) whose owner wasn’t controlling it when he tried to hump my dog. Instant stun, literally just froze mid-hump, let me run over and push him off.

Also used a pocket LEP to beam a few random dodgy/risky seeming people who were getting a bit close when walking at night in a secluded area, who then backed off.

Throw me a beer instead please :stuck_out_tongue:, I guarantee I will stop chasing then.

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the best self defence flashlight is a muzzle flash

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14

Sounds like a great way to end up in prison.

I’ve beamed people who were getting a bit close to me before, but if I had shot them, I’d be the bad person there, not them…

Would I ever shoot someone, yes, but it’s something that is beyond an absolute last resort because it massively increases the danger to my own life, especially as a minority, so I’d have to be 200% certain that the alternative was me dying. Not “I don’t like the look of this person” or even “I am prepared to kill someone’s dog that I could easily defend myself against using non-lethal means instead” (e.g. pepper spray works on dogs as well as people)

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Hello @zelek , welcome to BLF. Sorry, we could not present you the holy grail of predator deterrent, but there are lots of other subjects that might interest you.

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We’d need a flashlight that also can function as a brick smaher and glass broker…

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WTH is a “defense flashlight”? ? ?

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10 years ago the Chunky Monkey defensive light was born. Review: TrustFire TR-J20 - 12 x XM-L (3 x 32650) Chunky Monkey!
A 13 5/16" 3.26 pound flashlight using 3-32650’s also called a mace in some circles.

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It’s good to have you here, zelek!

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In 2010, my neighbor’s pit bull got into our yard and mortally wounded my mom’s German Shepherd.
I kept the pit bull away from myself and my mom (and from further wounding her dog) with a throwy flashlight.
It took quite a while before the pit bull was removed from our yard, and during that time the pit bull was running around in circles in our front yard.
The pit bull kept on approaching me a little, but my flashlight kept the pit bull from getting too close to me.
So a flashlight can keep some dangerous animals away.

Now my 2010 flashlight is not very bright compared to flashlights of today.
My two favorite emitters are the SFT40 and the XHP70.3 HI.
Both of those emitters are very bright.
I would recommend a flashlight with a head diameter of 40mm-45mm, with one of those emitters, if you want something pocketable.
The larger the diameter of the head, the more the flashlight will throw, but also the less pocketable the flashlight will be.
If you want the most practical throwy emitter, go with the SFT40.
If you want something floody, but also with a bit of throw, go with the XHP70.3 HI. :+1:

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By the way, I carry pepper spray (and a pocketknife) in case I run into trouble.
I’ve never had to use either one in self-defense, and I really don’t want to, but I feel a bit safer because I can somewhat defend myself if I have to. :grin:

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