unnatural and disruptive. I've been climbing trees in the dark with portable tree stands for the better part of 30 years. For this work, I prefer a headlamp, but a small plastic light that I can hold between my teeth served me well for more than two decades. There's nothing different about climbing trees in the dark and daytime, except the light. Use the same approach you use in daylight, and don't overthink it. One of the best ways to learn to appreciate the dark is to sit in it and watch the woods awaken at dawn. That's when you're most grateful for 12 the effort you put in to get there early. To do it regularly requires a commitment not everyone can make. It isn't easy to get up at 4:15 and start up the mountain at 5. And it comes with no guarantees, just the satisfaction that you did all you could to help your hunt that day. Another way to become more comfortable in the dark is to learn the noises of night. It's not out-of-theordinary to hear flying squirrels scampering among the tree branches, or to hear raccoons or opossums scurrying away from you. Learn to recognize and appreciate the hoots of great-horned WWW.PENNGAMENEWS.COMhttp://WWW.PENNGAMENEWS.COM