How long can you hunt without burning out?

[harvdog42]

Hello all,

I was on the beach yesterday for about four hours and that was all I could take. I was seeing double and started tripping over myself. I read in one of Clives books that he hunts for twelve hour stretches sometimes. Didn't get much on the beach yesterday just two junkers.

Today I hunted for about two hours and pulled a pretty decent 10K ring out of the dry. I also got into a mother of a coin spill. I was standing in one spot for about five minutes and must have pulled twenty or so coins out of that spill. Coin spills sure are fun...on the beach.

I sure like the CZ now that I'm getting used to it. I hunt in autotune on the beach since I got very used to using a P.I. Autotune is not much different than using a P.I. but the signals are a little crisper which I like.

I envy you guys that have old places to hunt. I live in S. Ca and everything is so built up it is difficult to find virgin land to hunt. I'd have to travel about an hour just to get out of town.

HH Harvdog

 

[ElginTim]

That is very cool that you can shift into the auto tune mode w/o much adaptation blues. Some of us tone-heads have a hard time with it.

BTW, a LOT of us envy you guys who have almost year round beaches to hit, seems unfair. Then again, I envy anyone east of the Wabash, south of the Ohio, west of the Mississippi and north of the Cheddar Curtain just naturally.

After all, without regard to the thousands of good targets left in this one small town (NW edge of Chicago metro area), the grass IS always greener on the other side of the expressway.

I don't have the long hours avaialble to hunt that I used to have. But I never get concerned on days when I do have an all-day opportunity. Get a little foot-sore and you'll see me napping against a tree, anywhere, anytime. 20 minutes of snoring then up and at 'em again. But walking sand for that long is a harder thing. I'm usually happy with 4-5 hours when I hit the beach in Chicago.

 

[Aces High 333]

Congrats on the ring and the coin spill. Here in north Fla. and especially last weekend the humidity off the gulf was like walking in a sauna, even at 7 in the morning... I did a couple of hours but readjusted the detector length a hour in. I had the shaft to long for my height . My arm was in a better position after that and I could have done a couple more hours (using CZ5). On the coast you can pretty much count on a breeze but inland better have some water and wear cool clothes.
HHing

 

[jmaryt]

me too!..like to take a rest for a while!..usually lay out on the grass and snooze!..make sure of my surroundings first though!
after that i am good to go for another 4 hours or so!....love it!..i'm where i want to be,.. huntin' old coins!..all is right with the world!

(h.h!)
j.t.

 

[Grumpyolddiver]

Hey Harvdog as Tim said walking in soft sand is very difficult.Don't know how old you are or your phyical condition but as a diabetic , after acouple hrs my suger levels start to drop.If you are getting dry mouthed and shakey or feel week try some hard candy about and hour or two into your hunt.And next time you visit the have him check your glucose levels.Now having said all that I don't think I everhunted for twelve hrs straight except for search and recovery work a couple times. Be Carefull out there. HH Grumpy

 

[garwha]

I f you want to spend the day in the sun, then you must prepare for it. Thick polo style shirts are thick cotton and protect from the heat and sun. Wear a sunscrean of a least a 30 protection leavel, and do that before you start and redo that when needed. A little spash in the surf will cool you down in a hurry, and carry plenty of water and stay hydrated. I have spend many 8-9 hour days in 90+ degree temps in Texas by appling these rules. Four hours is a long time without prep.

 

[harvdog42]

-- moved topic --

 

[jim tn]

During the spring, fall and winter months, I usually hunt the turf for 4 1/2 to 5 hours with little or no energy loss. From June-Sept. I am only good for about 3 1/2 hours and I start hunting very early in the morning. It is not uncommon here for the temp to be 80 at 6:30 a m with 80 humidity and 90 or more by noon. This time of the year I usually pack it in about 10:30 and began to think about the next days spot to hunt. HH jim tn

 

[GoGoGopher]

Here in NY, I can hunt for about 2 1/2 hours before my back and knees are screaming...I rest and drink Gatorade, Powerade, etc. I also carry granola bars of diffent flavors...Great energy providers...Then another 2 hours or so...It all depends on your physical condition and preparedness...

HH,

 

[kraykepler]

In Va's heat and humidity, I'm usually only good for a few hours, more if I'm finding goodies.

 

[Beale]

For me it is 3 hours. Less in the summer, Beale.

 

[Geo Unit]

Yeah about 3 hrs on the beach or anywhere in summer sun is enuff
Sometimes after a snack break/nap I can go another hour but not much more
I go longer in the fall after a good noreaster, but the temps are down

 

[Dan-Pa.]

All depends on your age, physical condition, weather, weight of detector and enthusiasm...A good rule of thumb is to take frequent breaks on those real hot days and drink a lot of water..

Heck when I was 50 did 8 hr days with a break for lunch, now at 72 a couple of hours does me in as I find it hard to take longer breaks and just keep swinging till I can'r anymore...

Early morning or late evening is when I usually hunt now as meds don't want me in hot sun for long periods and we all have to adjust as to what work for you...

 

[GunnarMN]

In hot weather 1 hr other wise 2 - 3 hrs then i get a headace and burn up all my calories, this is a hobby for people who want to lose wight

 

[Sven]

All depends on the detector I'm using and if I am finding stuff.
On the average 3 hours at a new spot, if I start finding Loonies and Twoonies (1 & 2 Dollar coins) then time gets stretched to 5 hrs, maybe longer.
Usually go at 7am or after 5pm
Using the older D-tex, have to take a couple Ibuprofen before heading out. It's a bit heavier than the Detectorpro Wader or the Tesoro.

 

[JeffNS]

This past Sunday my friend and I hunted for 12hrs straight. I scored 133 clad coins for $15.87 and me bud scored 197 clad coins for $13.84 and he also scored a very nice RCR hat badge and a silver "O". That was dirt diggin' too....no sand. Definitely the upper limit of my abilities. I Keep forgetting that I'm not 18 anymore. If ya's wanna see the finds you can check 'em out on the Cdn. forum. Just look for the post called Double Team Scores Century+ & Silver by JeffJHudson...that's me.

 

[silversmith]

If you indeed were digging up Doubloons. You wouldn't have made this listing, cause you STILL be there digging up coins. How quick you give up is directly related to what you are finding.

You can take that to the bank!

 

[harvdog42]

That is an extreme exception (digging up doubloons) and has little value as it relates to this subject. A few years ago it would take me on average eight hours of hunting the beach to find a piece of gold. Recently that has increased to about sixteen hours. Not sure why. Possibly because fewer people are wearing gold to the beach or the competition has gotten better or a combination of the two. Possibly because I am getting older and can't hunt as efficiently as I used to. Nevertheless, I see this as a hobby and a form of exercise that I enjoy.

HH Harvdog

 

[Monkeywrangler22]

In cool/cold weather I can hunt as long as my kids can stand the cold. In the heat 90+F I am good for 1-2hrs if direct sun, and from after dinner until too dark to see & be safe in the evenings.

 

[nw1886]

It all depends on what kind of hunting I'm doing. If I'm lookin' intensely for something known and lost.....kicks my tail faster than anything. Most of the time about 5 to 6 hrs. is where It's still comfortable for coin and jewelry hunting. Two weeks ago, a hunting buddy and I did three spots in three different towns. (12 hrs with driving and all.....nice relaxed tired feeling at the end.)