Winter Hunting

[Dirtdigger33]

In my neck of the woods I am starting to feel a chill in the air. It is a sad reminder that winter will soon be here and many outdoor activities will be put on hold. The winters here can be very unforgiving and typically chilling, sometimes to the bone. Last year that did not stop me from detecting though. I was only in my 2nd year of detecting and had been bitten by the addiction to hunt. I bet people were thinking what an idiot. What is that guy doing out there kicking off the snow and swinging that pole around for? I do enjoy when the weather gets a little colder, less people out and more peace and quite to hunt. Plus some of the busy areas that were less accessible in the summer due to events and crowds become more accessible. I found some good things last winter. I had to pry some of it out of the ground, but i am glad I went out. I usually take the Compadre. I do not have to dig deep. It finds good stuff right close to the surface and I can swing it forever. My detectors never go into storage. Just wondering if there are any other cold weather hunters out there. HH

 

[wheatymike]

I prefer hunting in cold weather. However, It doesn't get that cold here. Probably averages in the mid to low 50's for a high most of the winter. Like you said less people to bug you.

 

[Beale]

I also prefer to hunt in the Cold. I just bundle up and go. We do not typically get to cold but sometimes it can be. I do like the quiet, Beale.

 

[mike5853]

Hey as long as there's lno more then an inch or so of snow, and it's not 40 below, I'm out there until the ground freezes.

 

[Rick N. MI]

I hunted a lot last winter in northern Michigan. It was a warmer than normal winter. Still the ground was frozen. I hunted in a pine plantation that had cellar holes in it. It was easy enough to dig in the pine needles but eventually even that froze.

Rick N. MI

 

[scott.f]

I sometimes hunt toboggan hills and ski hills in the winter. Not as much as I used to though. Lots of clad and odds and ends to be found in the snow on them.

 

[mudpuppy]

Yes, I hunt straight through too...the addiction thing...I'm in mid Michigan on the edge of Lake michigan, so theres usually some sledding hills and what not. Its good if we get 4" of snow over unfrozen ground, a guy can really clean up and see where you've been. The ground didnt freeze last year until January, so it was a good year to detect. Especially over Christmas break at the schools, if the chip totlots arnt frozen, if they are, the gravel ones are usually huntable. Snow piles along the entrances and parking lots too. I wear an Underarmour beanie to keep my bald head warm, and put a plastic shopping bag from the grocery store over the coil to keep the snow from balling up on it.
Mud

 

[oldcoon]

<------------- not a cold weather hunter

 

[hardrockminer]

Down here in Phoenix winter is the only time to hunt......great temps...............................not those triple digits of summer.

HaRM

 

[Dirtdigger33]

I remember living in southern Arizona. We had the door open most of the year with just the screen on. Too hot for me now. I like the cooler weather now and four evenly divided seasons. Down there I remember it being 9 3/4 months of summer and 2 1/4 months of spring lol. I lived in Snowflake Az and my science teacher in middle school said if it snowed I'm phoenix he would give us an open book test, it snowed but did not stick. Needless to say, I still remember that after all these years. Hope your winter hunts yield well.

 

[digginLa]

I live in Louisiana so its no problem to keep on hunting once winter gets here of course it normally doesn't get really cold until sometime in December or the first part of January.

 

[Shenandoah Digger]

Here in Virginia it gets pretty cold in the winter, but generally stays around freezing. That's the best time to hunt, and I never hunt in the summer unless I have a nice field or yard to hunt. Here the ground in the woods, under a nice layer of leaves, never freezes. As soon as the ticks and chiggers are gone, in a week or so, I'll be hunting two or three times a week. Can't wait.

 

[opus]

This has been my first Saturday not hunting, because of cold and rain, and I'm already "Jonesing". I feel the need to dig up twenty pull tabs and 40 cents in change, WEIRD!!

 

[ralphiejc]

I water hunt in the water every winter... Ive come out of the water with ice on my waders and GOLD in my pouch...I even go when its snowing and Ive even broken up thin ice at the shore to get in the water to detect...`nothin stupid bout me!!!`

 

[Dirtdigger33]

Ralphiejc. I think your style of hunting is the coldest I have heard of. It gives a whole new meaning to ice fishing and shows your dedication to the hobby. Lately when I go to the parks I see people all over. I cannot wait for winter and colder weather. It will be nice to not have the crowds out. I do not mind hunting around some people, but when detecting turns into a spectator sport I usually find a new area to hunt. It will be nice to hunt in solitude again soon.

 

[Bucksport]

I am frozen in in Maine in the winter months
I might try a beach that is local to me this year, if they plow the road that gets me to it that is.