E-Trac-Ohio
Well-known member
I've been doing some winter hunting and I found a few things that can help make it a lot easier to hunt in cold weather and snow.
( 1 ) - Locating Multiple Targets --- Marking multiple targets before digging seems to make things a lot easier ! After locating a good target with the machine - I pin point it with the ET - then I mark the target with an 8" long - yellow Tent Stake ( Walmart's camping dept. - only $3.00 for six ). Once all six stakes are marking targets - I put the machine and head phones in a high and dry place close to where I'm hunting - like a picnic table that's been cleaned off, an area on the ground where the snow has been kicked away, etc. This keeps any snow or mud from getting all over the machine and in the head phones. Then I go back to the six targets with my Garrett Pro Pointer in one hand and my digger in the other - and dig all six targets. This is one advantage of having a Pin Pointer that's not connected to the detector. It also gives you a break and lets you warm up your hands. I've found that this system is much easier than digging one target at a time in cold weather !
( 2 ) - Easy Access To Tools - Wearing heavy winter clothes and gloves can make it a lot harder to get to your digger, pin pointer, etc. Instead of wearing the pouch and tools on my side - I put my digger - pin pointer - tent stakes and a rag in a good sized pouch - that 's on a 3" wide nylon webbed tool belt ( Lowe's Home Center - tool section - for $5.00) and let the pouch hang in front of my belt buckle.
( 3 ) - Protecting The Detector From Cold Weather Damage --- I spoke with a Repair Tech at Minelab USA a few weeks ago. He said that it is safe to run our machines in very cold weather - the only way the electronics will get damaged is by letting the machine warm up to fast after being out in very cold weather - condensation will damage the processor !
He said - what every you do - don't put your machine close to the heater in the car on the way home !
To be safe ... when I'm done hunting - I wrap the control box and battery compartment in a heavy bath towel - put the machine inside the insulated factory carry bag - put the bag in the back seat of my pick up or in the trunk of my car - and cover it over with a blanket. When I get home I hang the machine in the basement - as far a way from the heater as possible and let it return to room temperature slowly - so there's no chance of any condensation forming !
Please post any ways that you've found to help make cold weather hunting easier - we need all the help we can get !
Thanks ! --- Mark
( 1 ) - Locating Multiple Targets --- Marking multiple targets before digging seems to make things a lot easier ! After locating a good target with the machine - I pin point it with the ET - then I mark the target with an 8" long - yellow Tent Stake ( Walmart's camping dept. - only $3.00 for six ). Once all six stakes are marking targets - I put the machine and head phones in a high and dry place close to where I'm hunting - like a picnic table that's been cleaned off, an area on the ground where the snow has been kicked away, etc. This keeps any snow or mud from getting all over the machine and in the head phones. Then I go back to the six targets with my Garrett Pro Pointer in one hand and my digger in the other - and dig all six targets. This is one advantage of having a Pin Pointer that's not connected to the detector. It also gives you a break and lets you warm up your hands. I've found that this system is much easier than digging one target at a time in cold weather !
( 2 ) - Easy Access To Tools - Wearing heavy winter clothes and gloves can make it a lot harder to get to your digger, pin pointer, etc. Instead of wearing the pouch and tools on my side - I put my digger - pin pointer - tent stakes and a rag in a good sized pouch - that 's on a 3" wide nylon webbed tool belt ( Lowe's Home Center - tool section - for $5.00) and let the pouch hang in front of my belt buckle.
( 3 ) - Protecting The Detector From Cold Weather Damage --- I spoke with a Repair Tech at Minelab USA a few weeks ago. He said that it is safe to run our machines in very cold weather - the only way the electronics will get damaged is by letting the machine warm up to fast after being out in very cold weather - condensation will damage the processor !
He said - what every you do - don't put your machine close to the heater in the car on the way home !
To be safe ... when I'm done hunting - I wrap the control box and battery compartment in a heavy bath towel - put the machine inside the insulated factory carry bag - put the bag in the back seat of my pick up or in the trunk of my car - and cover it over with a blanket. When I get home I hang the machine in the basement - as far a way from the heater as possible and let it return to room temperature slowly - so there's no chance of any condensation forming !
Please post any ways that you've found to help make cold weather hunting easier - we need all the help we can get !
Thanks ! --- Mark
