Hunting & Night Vision

Red vs Green vs IR: Choosing the Right Light Color for Predator Hunting

Red preserves your night vision, green shows more detail at distance, and IR is invisible without optics. Here is how to pick the right color for coyotes and hogs, with the vision...

By Black Oak LEDPublished Sep 4, 20269 min read
Illustrated night pasture washed in red and green light with a distant hog silhouette

Quick answer: which hunting light color should you use?

  • Red (about 660 nm): the lowest-signal visible color for scanning and calling coyotes, and the easiest on your own night vision. Browse hunting LED lights.
  • Green (about 520 nm): more detail and reach for you, and a steady signal for hogs over feeders and fields. See the red and green hunting lights.
  • Infrared (850 or 940 nm): no beam for the animal to react to, but it only works through night vision optics or an IR camera. See infrared light bars.

Ask five predator hunters which light color to run and you will get five confident answers. Red, green and infrared all work by giving you light the animal handles differently than white, and the right pick depends on what you hunt, how pressured it is and what optics you run. Below is what the vision research says, what it does not say, and how that translates into a setup.

What can coyotes, hogs, deer and raccoons actually see?

Color vision comes from cone cells in the retina, and the species you hunt have far fewer cone types than you do. The chart plots published cone peak sensitivities against the two visible colors we build, so you can see how far each light sits from what each animal's cones respond to.

What the cones can pick up, against what the lights put outDots mark published cone peak sensitivities in nanometers (nm). Vertical lines mark Black Oak green and red LEDs.Green LED ~520 nmRed LED ~660 nmHogDomestic pig data439 nm556 nmCoyoteDog and fox data430 nm555 nmDeerWhite-tailed and fallowTwo cone types, red-green colorblindRaccoonProcyon lotorOne cone type, no color vision400450500550600650700Wavelength (nm). Illustrated scale, not measured light output.Cone peaks vs. our LED colorsDots: published cone peaks (nm).Green line ~520 nmRed line ~660 nmHogDomestic pig data439556CoyoteDog and fox data430555DeerWhite-tailed and fallowTwo cone types, red-green colorblindRaccoonProcyon lotorOne cone type, no color vision400500600700nm. Illustrated scale, not measured output.
Cone peaks: pig (Neitz and Jacobs, 1989), dog and fox (Jacobs and colleagues, 1993), deer (UGA Research Magazine on Jacobs and Miller, 2005), raccoon (Jacobs and Deegan, 1992). Black Oak LED colors are nominal. Hog uses domestic pig data and coyote uses dog and fox data. Illustrated scale, not measured light output.

Three things stand out. Hogs and canids are dichromats, so they only get two cone signals, one near the blue end and one in the green-yellow region. A 660 nm red LED sits about 100 nm past the long-wavelength cone peak, which is why red is such a weak signal for them while it looks vivid to you. A 520 nm green LED lands close to that long-wavelength cone, so hogs and coyotes can see it. And raccoons are the exception to the usual dichromat shorthand: the work on raccoons found a single cone class, so they do not see color at all. Visible does not mean alarming, though. Movement, wind and noise matter at least as much as color, and a pressured animal can bolt from any beam.

Red, green or infrared: how do they compare?

The table lines the three up on what hunters ask about most. The first row reflects the vision data above, not a guarantee of how any one animal will behave.

Red Green Infrared
Signal to the animal Very weak Visible, steady No visible signal
Detail to your eye Lowest Highest of the three Depends on the optic
Your own night vision Preserved the most Moderate Not applicable
Special optics needed No No Yes
Typical use Scanning and calling coyotes Hog fields, longer shots Digital night vision, fixed setups
Black Oak LED 2 inch red and green diffused hunting pod lights side by side
Same housing, different physics: the red and green 2 inch diffused pods.

Which color fits the animal you are hunting?

Start with red. A 660 nm light is a weak signal for a canid, it keeps your dark adaptation, and it lights eye shine well, which is how most callers pick out a coyote coming in. Scan with a wide or diffused red, then use a red spot to hold the animal.

Shop the 2 inch red predator pod, the red diffused pod, or a 10 inch red predator bar. Our full red breakdown is in Choosing the Best Red Hunting Light.

Green for detail, red when they are wary. Hog cones peak at 556 nm, so green is easy for you to read and a calmer signal than white. If the sounders are pressured and spooking at everything, drop to red or go infrared.

Shop the 2 inch green hog pod or the 10 inch green hog bar. For a longer reach across a field, the 20 inch green bar covers more ground.

Color is not the lever here. Raccoons have one cone type, so red, green and white all read as brightness rather than color. Pick the light for your own needs: red keeps your eyes adapted, green shows more detail, and a diffused pattern avoids glare off nearby brush.

The red diffused pod and green diffused pod have an even close-range spread.

Go infrared. Nothing visible leaves the light, so there is no beam to react to. Pair a vehicle- or tripod-mounted IR illuminator with a digital night vision scope or camera and size it to the range you shoot.

Shop the 850 nm pod, the 940 nm pod, or the 20 inch 850 nm and 940 nm light bars. More on IR in our infrared light bar guide.

850 nm or 940 nm: where does infrared sit?

Where each light sits on the spectrumVisible to humansInfraredGreen~520 nmSeen by game, looks bright to youRed~660 nmWeak signal for these animalsIR 850850 nmFaint red glow at the emitterIR 940940 nmNo visible glowNominal LED colors from Black Oak product specs. Illustrated scale, not measured light output.Where each light sits on the spectrumVisibleInfraredGreenGreen, ~520 nmSeen by game, looks bright to youRedRed, ~660 nmWeak signal for these animalsIR 850IR 850, 850 nmFaint red glow at the emitterIR 940IR 940, 940 nmNo visible glowNominal colors. Illustrated, not measured output.
Visible light ends near 700 nm. Both infrared options sit beyond it; the difference is whether you can see a faint glow at the light itself.

850 nm LEDs show a dim red glow at the emitter when you stand close. 940 nm LEDs show nothing. The trade is range: typical camera and scope sensors are more sensitive at 850 nm, so the same power usually reaches farther at 850 than at 940. Infrared output is not measured in lumens, so compare IR lights by wavelength, wattage and beam angle instead.

What do you need to run infrared?

Infrared setup checklist

  1. An IR illuminator. Black Oak infrared pods and light bars use real IR LEDs, not filters. The 2 inch pods are 12W with 4 LEDs and a 15 degree spot or 45 degree flood.
  2. A night vision optic that can see it. A digital night vision scope, night vision device or an infrared-sensitive camera. Without one the light does nothing for your eye. If you want a camera and screen, see the Nitron night vision camera guide.
  3. The right wavelength. Check your optic's specification: 850 nm for the most reach, 940 nm when you want no visible glow.
  4. Power and wiring. The pods run on 10 to 30V DC and ship with a 12 foot harness, fuse, relay and switch.
  5. A mount and aim point. Mount the illuminator on your vehicle, stand or tripod and aim it where your optic is looking.
  6. Eye safety. Do not stare directly into an IR light.

What does a purpose-built hunting light bar look like?

Black Oak LED 10 inch red predator hunting double row LED light bar glowing red on dark steel
The 10 inch red predator bar: 60W, 20 LEDs, combo optics with a 15 degree spot and 45 degree flood, 4A at 12 to 30V. Product image generated from the official product photo and checked against the product drawing.

Every Black Oak light is IP69K rated, which means a sealed housing tested against high-pressure, high-temperature water jets and dust, and the housings use a military-grade breather to keep moisture out. For hunters that means rain, mud, wash-downs and cold mornings are not a concern for the light. The red and green bars use true colored LEDs, not a filter over a white LED, so there is no white leakage around the edges.

Shop by color

Red, about 660 nm

Scanning and calling predators
Black Oak LED 2 inch red predator hunting pod light2 Inch Red Predator Pod12W, 4 LEDs, spot 15 degrees or flood 45 degreesBlack Oak LED 2 inch red diffused predator hunting pod light2 Inch Red Diffused Pod12W, 85 degree diffused pattern for close scanningBlack Oak LED 10 inch red predator hunting double row light bar10 Inch Red Predator Light Bar60W, 20 LEDs, combo optics, 4A at 12 to 30VBlack Oak LED 20 inch curved red predator hunting light bar20 Inch Red Predator Light Bar20 inch curved double row, combo optics

Green, about 520 nm

Hog work over feeders and fields
Black Oak LED 2 inch green hog hunting pod light2 Inch Green Hog Pod12W, 4 LEDs, flood 45 degreesBlack Oak LED 2 inch green diffused hog hunting pod light2 Inch Green Diffused PodDiffused pattern for camp, feeder and close workBlack Oak LED 10 inch green hog hunting double row light bar10 Inch Green Hog Light Bar60W, 20 LEDs, combo optics, 4A at 12 to 30VBlack Oak LED 20 inch curved green hog hunting light bar20 Inch Green Hog Light Bar20 inch curved double row, combo optics

Infrared, 850 and 940 nm

For night vision optics and cameras
Black Oak LED 2 inch 850nm infrared pod light2 Inch 850nm IR Pod12W, 4 LEDs, spot 15 or flood 45 degreesBlack Oak LED 2 inch 940nm infrared pod light2 Inch 940nm IR Pod12W, 4 LEDs, spot 15 or flood 45 degreesBlack Oak LED 20 inch 850nm infrared double row light bar20 Inch 850nm IR Light Bar20 inch double row, 850nm infraredBlack Oak LED 20 inch 940nm infrared double row light bar20 Inch 940nm IR Light Bar20 LEDs, 100W (5W) or 60W (3W) build

Red, green and infrared FAQ

Can coyotes see red light?
Coyotes are canids, and the published work on dogs and foxes finds two cone types that peak near 430 and 555 nm. A 660 nm red LED sits far out on the long-wavelength tail of that range, so red is a weak signal compared with white, blue-white or even green. Weak is not invisible: movement, noise and wind still matter.
Can hogs see green light?
Yes. Domestic pig cones peak at 439 and 556 nm, and a green LED near 520 nm lands close to the long-wavelength cone. Green is visible to hogs. The reason hunters use it is that it is a steadier, less startling signal than white light and it gives you far more detail than red.
Is red or green better for hog hunting?
Use green when you want to see hair, ears and body language over a feeder or field. Use red when the hogs are pressured and you want the smallest possible signal. Many hunters carry both, and the 2 inch pods make that easy.
Can deer see red or green light?
Research on white-tailed and fallow deer found they have red-green colorblindness, so red reads very dark to them. Rules for lights and night hunting of deer vary widely by state, so check your regulations before you use any light on deer.
Can animals see infrared light?
None of the species above has a cone type that peaks anywhere near 850 or 940 nm, and both wavelengths sit beyond the visible range. To your eye, 850 nm LEDs show a faint red glow at the emitter up close, while 940 nm LEDs show none.
Should I choose 850 nm or 940 nm infrared?
Choose 850 nm when you want the most reach from a night vision scope or camera, since typical imaging sensors respond more strongly at 850 nm. Choose 940 nm when you want no visible glow at the light itself. Check your optic's specification for the wavelength it is built around.
Do I need special optics to use an infrared light?
Yes. IR is only useful through a night vision scope, digital night vision device or an infrared-sensitive camera. Without one, an IR illuminator does nothing for your eye.
Does a red hunting light preserve my own night vision?
Yes. Red light stimulates the rods in your eye far less than white or green light, so your dark adaptation recovers faster when you switch the light off. Green gives you more detail but costs a little more adaptation.

Sources

  • Neitz J, Jacobs GH. Spectral sensitivity of cones in an ungulate. Visual Neuroscience, 1989 (domestic pig: cone peaks 439 and 556 nm).
  • Jacobs GH, Deegan JF, Crognale MA, Fenwick JA. Photopigments of dogs and foxes and their implications for canid vision. Visual Neuroscience, 1993 (cone peaks near 430 to 435 and 555 nm).
  • Jacobs GH, Deegan JF. Cone photopigments in nocturnal and diurnal procyonids. Journal of Comparative Physiology A, 1992 (raccoon and kinkajou monochromatic).
  • UGA Research Magazine, Summer 2005, on work by Miller, Jacobs and D'Angelo (white-tailed and fallow deer red-green colorblind).
  • Black Oak LED product specifications for wattage, beam angle, voltage and IP rating, checked Oct 2, 2026. LED colors are nominal.

Night hunting rules, including which species you may take and when artificial light is allowed, vary by state and county. Check your local regulations before you hunt.

Designed and engineered in Sarasota, Florida. Questions about your setup? Call 1-800-348-1287 or see the hunting lights guide.

Ready to build it?

Shop the exact category this guide covers.

Shop Hunting LightsNot sure it fits? Ask us
B

Black Oak LED

Black Oak LED Product Team

Black Oak LED has been building and field-testing marine, off-road, hunting and emergency lighting out of Sarasota, Florida since 2011.

More Hunting & Night Vision Guides

View all

Shop The Gear In This Guide

Shop Hunting Lights

In stock, shipped from Sarasota, backed by our warranty.

Built in Sarasota · Tested in the field

Get The Right Light The First Time

Send us your vehicle, vessel or equipment and we will spec the exact kit — including mount and wiring.

Shop Hunting LightsTalk to a builder