Most folks who hunt pheasants and turkeys get up early enough to get started when it is still dark outside. The Pheasant Season begins this Saturday and it will run through Feb. 28, 2026, with hunting hours from sunrise to sunset and a 2-bird daily bag limit of either cocks or hens (can mix). The 13-day southern zone fall turkey season opens on Saturday, too, with hunting hours sunrise to sunset and a 1-bird season bag limit.

That means turkey and/or pheasant hunters may need portable lights to see in dark corners, especially the turkey hunter folks who often set up in the dark. A pocket flashlight works, but it’s certainly not stealthy, despite being available in many types. With most flashlights, you still need one hand to hold the light. On that note, I’ve discovered something this year that has proven particularly useful. It is a lithium-ion powered mini-lighting device that fits your index finger (or any finger), allowing you to use both hands while providing enough light to see and perform necessary functions. This little wearable finger light gizmo is called the “DEX Finger Light.” No, it’s not Green Lantern Power Ring from Marvel Comics characters, like when I was a kid, but I felt that way at first.

It was introduced this year and caught my attention because I often dropped something in the blind or at the back of the truck, and I didn’t want unnecessary light sneaking into the woods while I was in stealth mode. It custom fits on any finger, has multiple light modes, it’s waterproof, rechargeable, and has a selectable tiny green light that can illuminate just enough needed for an early morning hunter to find his dropped release walking to the stand, or climbing your tree stand in the dark, and similarly, lighting for many other outdoor people functions that need minimized light beams and hands-free function. Visit www.fingerlight.com; it’s very affordable.

With our modern gear, we have modern needs. The DEX Finger Light will work for about three hours, but the need for that functional sort of light is usually just a few seconds. I know the expected duration for that tool, just as we all should know for every battery-powered tool we carry. The point is, we hunters, fishermen (and women), and outdoor recreation people now rely heavily on battery-powered tools. Thinking about it, today we have flashlights, rangefinders, illuminated scopes, GPS devices and mapping apps for getting there in dense woods or fog, trail cameras, cell phones, satellite communicators for emergencies and weather updates, binoculars, night vision devices, thermal optics, camping lanterns, stoves, portable fans, boating and fishing electronics, and so much more.

Hunters and anglers alike, often need portable lighting help during darkness, but most outdoor folks do not want too much light. To avoid spooking the wildlife or the fish, the lighting needs to be minimal, but effective, like this portable finger light (see the story). Photo by Forrest Fisher

With so many essential tools depending on power, battery management is now a core outdoor skill, especially when temperatures drop and days get shorter. For fall hunters, go prepared. Before heading out, check every device and make sure batteries are fresh or fully charged. Bring spare batteries or a portable charger; this can be as essential as food or water. If you have a choice, choose cold-weather batteries. Alkaline batteries last longer than carbon-zinc batteries, lithium-ion batteries last longer than alkaline batteries, and perform better in freezing conditions than alkaline batteries. For more extended hunts or camping trips, lithium-ion battery power is worth the investment. Remember, too, cold air drains battery power fast. Keep spares in a pocket close to your body heat, not in your pack. It can make the difference between a working device and one that flickers out. Use airplane mode on phones when service is weak, turn off unused features like Bluetooth, and minimize screen brightness. Lastly, consider bringing a portable power bank with 10,000-20,000 mAh (milliamp-hours) of capacity, and the charging cables needed. These devices are not only small but also lightweight. If you’re headed to the mountains out west, consider a compact solar panel to keep essentials powered for days or longer.

Remember that when those batteries fail, hunters and adventurers can be left in the dark, literally and figuratively. Here at home, from Boutwell Hill and Mount Pleasant State Forest to Chautauqua Lake, along the Lake Erie tributaries (it’s steelhead time), hunters and anglers in Chautauqua County have access to some of New York’s best outdoor opportunities. Ensure your gear has power when needed; it’s essential for a safe, enjoyable trip.

Gotta love the outdoors.

Outdoors Calendar

Oct. 18: NYS Western Zone pheasant season opens. See syllabus for hunting zones, etc.

Oct. 18: NYS Southern Zone turkey season opens, sunrise to sunset, season bag limit: 1 bird either sex, ends Oct. 31.

Oct. 21: Erie County Fish Advisory Board meeting, 7PM, Bison City Rod and Gun, 511 Ohio St., Open to public.

Oct. 22: Fish Pen Project meeting, 6PM, Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club, 1 N. Mullet ST., Dunkirk; looking for volunteer helpers.

Oct. 25-Jan. 12: NYS late Canada Goose hunting season in southern, west central and east central zones; check bag limits; see syllabus.

Oct. 31: Last day of NYS southern zone turkey season.

Nov. 8-9: NYS Western Zone waterfowl hunting military days, see syllabus for bag limits/rules.