In the dark, good way to learn with your ears

[musky8it]

I made a post a week or so ago about attaching a light to my handle so I could see the readout screen. Well, yesterday I went out around 2pm to France Park here in logan. It has a beach, playground, fishing hole, and an old canal running threw it. There is supposed to be an old steam engine down in the swimming hole, left from when they mined stone long ago, so it has allot of history.

I figured i would hunt the beach, then go to the fishing hole to fish, then go to the playground before I go home for supper. Well, by the time I remembered going to the playground it was sundown. So I thought I would try the playground in the dark, but I didin't bring my light setup, grrrrrrrrr.... So I tried it in the dark and to my supprise I was able to find coins without seeing. I used my ears when pinpointing to find where to dig, and sifted the dirt past the coil until I got a ding....

Hunting in the dark was one good learning experiance for me on what to listen for....I only have about 30-40 hrs under my belt and without this forum, and a guy named Larry at his site, I would still be lost....

Tks everyone and Larry for all the info.
Charly

 

[Joel-Winnipeg]

Be careful in the dark night hunts. Never know what lurks around. Keeps a sharp eye and ear about you for your own safety ! It,s very easy to get in grossed in your detecting and losing track of your surrounding.

 

[Graw]

n/t

 

[metalhead]

Interesting post. I would have to agree, though, please be careful while metal detecting at night. Alot of people do(especially in the heat of the summer or at the beach if low tide is at night, etc.) but I hate hunting in the dark. If you insist on doing it, please make sure you are hunting with a buddy or just have someone there with you at that time so that you can be more aware of your surroundings. Happy Hunting!

 

[RickIowa2009]

Interesting,

 

[Mick in Dubbo]

Hunting at night can be a very pleasant experience. When I get down to Sydney, I usually try and get at least one night hunt in on a beach.
It's a pleasant surprise to know that you can use the Ace without looking at the screen. I've done that a couple of times, and like you, was pleasantly surprised at how effective you can be! On the night beach hunts, there's usually enough moon light or shore line lighting to be able to see the screen though.
Keep it up.
Mick Evans.

 

[Furious T]

Great work. It is really exciting detecting at night. I've done it opften and love it, but....I know what the other guys are saying. You do need to be careful. I'm in
Australia, so I have no idea of your surroundings or you knowledge of them. If you feel you are safe and secure..then go for it. You know where you arfe and you know your
neighbourhood. Just a little experience I had.. I was hunting one night in a local park. This park can be ok, but at times it can be quite dangerous. Anyway, I was detecting intensely,
listening to the headphones and keeping an eye open for "lurkers". Nothing much was going on, it was about 9.30 pm, all was quiet. Then I heard it. Sounded like laughing. I stopped.
Listened. Nothing. So I continued hunting. Then I heard it again. More laughing. I knew it was comi9ng from somewhere close. I looked around. Looked through the shrubs and trees.
Couldn't see anything. Heard it again. Laughing and cackling. I was really worried. Where were these people. Who were they and what did they want? I kept very still for a short while.
Tehn I heard it again. Took off my headphones to get a better read on where it was coming from. Then I hearde it again. It was close. ThenI realised...it was bloody geese..calling and cackling.
But it sure gave me a fright. I laughed at myself because I( had heard that sound a hundred times before...we had geese at home. But it made me realise how susceptible we are when we are
out on our own in the dark of night. So, yes, I agree with Mich, hunting at night can be really beaut, but take heed of the words of your own countrymen, be careful. HAVE FUN, Sapper.

 

[NM5K]

I've got headlights for my 250 if I need to use it at night.
But... I don't really like to detect at night when out in the sticks,
or near lakes, rivers, etc.. Good way to meet Mr. Snake..
I'd be real wary around certain types of ponds, sand pits, etc.
Often lots of water moccasins, and they like to come out after it
gets dark. If I was detecting, I'd want my big light, or a lantern to
be able to see where I'm putting my hands, and also to spot any
varmints that might be slithering along the ground.
When I bought lights for my 250, I thought they might come in handy,
but it turns out I rarely use em.. I'd rather hunt in the light where I can
see what is going on. I'm not worried so much about 2 legged booger
men.. It's the thought of a big snake taking a snap at my hands or arms
that makes me nervous.

 

[cwilk]

I really like night hunting. It is completely different than day detecting. I think with a GTI 2500 with Treasure Talk and a Pro-Pointer I could hunt in pitch black and still find coins. No guarantees what the ground would look like, though.

How about some photos?

Chris

 

[Mick in Dubbo]

I was talking to some club members recently about nugget hunting at night. It would seem that gold gives a much better signal than in daylight hours! More than simply being visually distracted. I'm not quite sure the exact reason, but the difference was said to be significant.
Mick Evans.

 

[NM5K]

I'd never heard that one. I can't think of a real reason for it, but maybe so..
That would be a good one to run some tests to verify if it's really true.
IE: find a likely gold target at night, but let it sit until the daytime, and see
if it hits the same. The only possible things I could think of to explain it would
be either moisture content, or ambient temperature. And the moisture content
in the soil should not drastically change from day to night. Should be a gradual
tapering off of moisture after the last rain. Maybe the sun is heating up black search
coils and causing a change in performance?
Kinda weird..

 

[rglyons]

My wife and I now live with our son ever since I came down with congestive heart failure. We live in southeast Oklahoma,
which is the beginning of the old west. Anyhow, we have a large black panther skulking around our area. About two months
ago, we saw it crossing the driveway just about dark. Our boxer dog took off after it and came back two days later all beat up
and with his right eye put out. I have done some night hunting MDing lately, but ALWAYS take my little terrier with me.
If he growls, I listen.

Had this very thing happen while coon hunting at night many years ago. We let the dogs out and they started whining and getting
underfoot with their tails between their legs. Could not kick them away. Don't know what it was, but we listened that time too.
Bye bye to this area!

Old Chinese proverb: "There are more things in heaven and earth that man has ever imagined in his little philosophies."

Maybe nothing weird like vampires and such, but there are still things out there that can hurt you.

Just be careful.

 

[musky8it]

The night I hunted, I was at a county owned campgrounds, and the playground I was hunting at was about 50yd from the front gatehouse, couldnt see my screen but I felt pretty safe. I don't use headsphones so anything that would approach me I could hear if they made any noise. I hunted after sunset a couple other times at one of our small parks, I kept one eye and ear to the MD and the other eye/ear looking and listening for strangers approaching. Yes, I aggree one has to watch out at night, never know what kind of nuts are running around this world today. I wouldn't want to hurt anyone, but if worst came to shove my digging tool looks and is shaped like a big hunting knife with a 8" blade and its heavy made. I have never read anything, but I imagine there has been MD mugings. Criminals don't care who they rob from, they have no respect for anyone or thing.