I’ll start with the honest part: nothing humbles you like putting on night vision and walking into a dark forest. A night hike under NVGs is some of the best training we do, and I wish more of you were out there with us.
Why Hike Under Night Vision?
Night vision flattens the world. You lose depth perception, your peripheral vision shrinks to a tube, and every stick on the ground looks the same distance away until you’re on your face. That’s the lesson. Better to learn it on a quiet trail with friends than the first time it matters.
It’s also just a good time. The woods at night are a different place, and a hike that’s a stroll in daylight becomes a real exercise in patience, noise discipline, and teamwork.
Start Simple: Hike Away, Then Track and Watch
You don’t need a complicated scenario. The easiest version goes like this: one or two people hike off at an agreed time along an agreed general direction, and the rest of the group follows later and tries to track them, quietly and without being spotted. When the group finds them (or fails to), everybody talks about what they did right and wrong.
Even this simple drill teaches a lot:
- How loud you actually are on dry leaves and gravel.
- How much light your gear gives off, including screens, buckles, and that “tiny” chem light.
- How well you read signs: broken twigs, scuffed ground, a trail that doesn’t look quite right.
From there, you can build up to escape-and-evade-style practice: a “runner” who tries to get from point A to point B without being seen, and watchers placed along the way. We use the same ground rules every time.
The Ground Rules (Because We Like Being Friendly and Safe)
This is training, not a game of cops and robbers, and not a hunt for anyone. These are the rules I’d want any group to follow:
- Everyone knows it’s happening. Nobody is chased, followed, or “evaded” without having signed up for it. No surprising the neighbors or passing hikers.
- A buddy for everyone, a headcount at the start, the middle, and the end, and a firm turn-around time.
- A stop word. If anyone says it, everything stops, lights go on, and we deal with it.
- A comms plan. If you haven’t read our post on building a PACE plan, read it here before your next hike.
- Don’t take it personally when someone beats you. It’s training.
Keep an Eye Out for Others (and Learn What Things Look Like)
One of my favorite takeaways is the awareness part. On any hike, day or night, practice noticing who else is out there: other hikers, hunters, campers, dog walkers. Check your surroundings, look for lights, listen for voices. It’s a habit that makes you better on every trip, and it keeps training safe. In October, hunters are out in the woods early and late, and plenty of folks wander off-trail. We’d rather be the group that sees them first.
Also use the hike to learn what the night actually looks like under different conditions:
- Night hikers. How far away can you spot someone with a headlamp, and how about someone walking dark?
- Trail cams. Many have IR flashes that are bright under night vision. Learn to spot them before they spot you.
- Small lights. What does a cigarette glow look like at 100 yards? A lighter? A phone screen? You may be surprised how far they carry.
- Vehicles. What do parking lights look like glowing over a small hill, and how far away can you tell something is there?
Do these in a planned exercise with a buddy, then swap roles so you see both sides. For our own people, a small IR marker or glow stick on the pack makes it easy to tell friend from stranger through night vision, and a check-in at planned stops keeps everyone accounted for.
Night Shooting: Fun, but Slow Down
Night shooting is its own subject and I could go on for hours. The short version: the rules don’t change when the lights go out. Everything you do with the lights on, you do under night vision, just more cautiously.
- Do it on a known range with a solid backstop, not in the woods.
- Know your lanes and your target in daylight first. Night vision makes everything look closer and flatter.
- IR lasers and illuminators are invisible to the eye but still hard on eyes, and pointing any laser at an aircraft is a federal crime. Treat every beam like it’s visible.
- Keep your muzzle discipline even tighter than usual. Tunnel vision is real.
- Slow is smooth, and smooth is safe.
A Quick Note for Hunters and Anyone Recording (Yes, We See You)
Two things, delivered with a smile. First, if you’re hunting: thermal and night vision are great toys, but Idaho has restrictions on using them (and drones) to hunt or scout big game and game birds from Aug 30 through Dec 31, according to recent reports. Check current Fish and Game rules before you go, because “I was just looking” is not a legal defense that has ever worked for anyone. Second, if you’re recording: Idaho law (Idaho Code 21-213) requires written consent before you film individuals with a drone, and violating it can cost at least $1,000 plus fees. So ask first, and get it in writing. The only thing that should be buzzing your buddy at night is a mosquito, not an uninvited quadcopter.
To be clear about us: we’re out there getting reps in and making sure we’re prepared. We have no desire to break any rules or do anything illegal.
We Need More People Out There
Here’s the part I care about most. Every training we run is better with more people. More eyes means better evaders, better trackers, safer hikes, and more laughs. Some trainings call for specific gear, but most of us have spares. You might not be rocking the best gear out there, but reps are reps. And I’ll say this: once you see the night-vision “superpower” for yourself, it’s a pretty great motivator.
If you’re a member who hasn’t been out in a while, this is your invitation. Please message us before arriving so we can plan gear and headcount. If you’re not a member yet, check our How to Join page and come on a ruck or hike with us.
Where This Is Headed: Drones
The thing I keep coming back to is how much a drone would add. Imagine a drone with an IR light and a thermal camera overhead during one of these exercises. Suddenly the evader has to think about the sky as well as the ground, and the watchers can practice using aerial eyes to coordinate. It would take this training to a new level. If you’re curious about the basics first, our drone training post is a good place to start.
Just remember: night drone flights in the U.S. need anti-collision lights visible for at least three statute miles, and everything above about consent and recording applies. Do it right, and it’s a blast.
See you on the next one.
Disclaimer
- This post is general educational information, not legal advice. Laws change, so verify current Idaho and FAA rules before you fly, record, or hunt.
- All training should be voluntary, consensual, and conducted safely.
- Firearms training should be done only on appropriate ranges following the four rules of firearm safety.
- Use of night vision, lasers, and drones carries risk. Know your equipment and your limits.
