"Browning?" uttered my hunting buddy as we trudged away from the truck toward our deer stands. He had just asked me who made the exceptionally bright flashlight I had been wielding back at the truck and, apparently, my answer seemed suspicious.  Rightfully so, I suppose, given that the vast majority associate Browning with shotguns and rifles more readily than flashlights. Over the past few years, the Buckmark has found its way onto all types of outdoor gear, and the Hunt Master is evidence that Browning's venture into the highly competitive arena of high-performance flashlights has proven to be a successful move.

Most people shopping for a serious hunting flashlight are going to be drawn to the Hunt Master for its 300 lumen output, which is precisely what attracted me to the light during my initial search.

The Hunt Master’s large head houses three bright, unbreakable LED bulbs rated for 100,000 hours of use.

No other pocket flashlight under $100 boasts such an output, and the few pocket lights that do reach the 300 lumen mark are priced well out of reach of most hunters, except for those who rely on such a light for their livelihood. With the Hunt Master Flashlight, Browning has essentially taken guide quality gear and made it accessible to the average hunter.

Other than the obvious draw (again, the 300 lumen max output), the Hunt Master has some really cool features advantageous to hunters and other serious outdoor types. First is the adjustable focus. The adjustable head of the Hunt Master allows you to fine-tune the projected beam. The beam can be constricted for focusing on solitary subjects up to 150 yards away, or it can be widened for broader area coverage.  At the widest setting, the beam is four times as wide as it is when fully constricted and has a 60 yard maximum range. 

Since CR123A batteries aren't cheap, I like being able to select the level of light intensity the flashlight emits using the unit's High-Low switch. Instead of the typical end-cap switch found on other lights in Browning's Tactical Hunter lineup, the switch on the Hunt Master is located near the head of the light. Pressing the switch once turns on the flashlight, which defaults to the highest setting. Press the switch a second time to activate the low setting, which equates to 100 lumens or 30% of the high setting. Pressing the High-Low switch a third time turns the flashlight off.

Run time is another impressive feature of the Hunt Master. At the 300 lumen maximum output the Hunt Master has a 3.5 hour run time. It has an 8 hour run time on the low power setting. Again, while it's nice to have when needed, I don't always require that whopping 300 lumen output, so I try to conserve battery life whenever possible.

As for construction, the body of the Hunt Master is made of lightweight aluminum. At 6.6 inches, the Hunt Master is smaller than a 2D flashlight, and it fits comfortably in the palm of my hand; yet, due to the larger head design, the Hunt Master feels a little bulkier in my pocket than my other pocket lights. The larger head is necessary, though, to house the light's three bright LED bulbs. These high-powered LEDs are rated for 100,000 hours of use and are unbreakable (under normal use, of course), as is the adjustable lens. As mentioned previously, the Hunt Master is powered by three CR123A batteries, which are included.

All in all, the Hunt Master has performed well throughout its first season in the deer woods, and I'm still astounded each time I press the switch to release that 300 lumen beam of light, especially knowing the source is a lightweight, pocket-sized flashlight. And while none of my shots this year required that I track an animal at night, the Hunt Master sure made those long walks in and out the dark deer woods a heck of a lot easier.