Competition Hunts

[Hoosier Kingfisher]

What do some of you like for competition hunts?

 

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[Sandman]

I don't do these anymore, but I used to like my Fisher 1235 because of Freq. shift knob and fast sweep speed.

 

[stoney56]

Fisher 1236X2 or the Tesoro Cibola--light, fast sweep recovery, freq. shift easily manipulated one handed.

 

[Burdie]

I have only been to one hunt in my life. Observation is it takes LFL. Light fast and LUCK!!!
Burdie

 

[gregl01]

I've only done 1 hunt and used my Tesoro Cibola. Super light and really fast- it cleaned up!!!! And didn't go crazy around the other machines.
Greg

 

[erikk]

I have never been to one but am going to go to the one at Daytona in April and I don't have a clue what to bring. I have a Minelab EX 2 with several coils, Excalibur 1000 & 800, a DFX, Fisher CZ7a pro and a 1280x
Which one to bring??
Any help will be greatly appreciated

 

[Hoosier Kingfisher]

Glad you said that Erikk. I only have an old Garrett Groundhog and I just purchased a Tesoro Cortes. I think the Tesoro would be good. Any opinions? Thanks, Ron

 

[stoney56]

I have never been to one but am going to go to the one at Daytona in April and I don't have a clue what to bring. I have a Minelab EX 2 with several coils, Excalibur 1000 & 800, a DFX, Fisher CZ7a pro and a 1280x
Which one to bring??
Any help will be greatly appreciated

I'd go either with the EX 2, the DFX (run in coin or coin/jewelry mode), the CZ-7A (the normal/salt mode might come in handy).

It depends on what their targets are going to be. It's either on the flyer or they will tell you just before the hunt. Sometimes you can ask around ahead of time at the prize table, let them know this is your 1st time-most will be glad to help you as they would (1) want you to have a good time and (2) want you to come back to their next hunt.

A sand scoop and a wire mesh beach basket comes in real handy on a sand beach hunt. Set your machine up and don't look at the meter with each signal-just scoop and go. However-you might want to check your hole a second time as sand has a way of letting the target slip a little deeper if you miss it the 1st time.

erikk, you may also want to look at the rules for that hunt so there are no suprises.

http://www.gsbs.adephoto.com/htm/gsbs_rules.htm

 

[stoney56]

Glad you said that Erikk. I only have an old Garrett Groundhog and I just purchased a Tesoro Cortes. I think the Tesoro would be good. Any opinions? Thanks, Ron

ronc, the Cortes should work just fine. Don't worry about the Sum mode. Set your Sens. a bit on the low side, tune your threshold, set your disc a bit high probably 6-7 will be good enough depending on what the targets and prize tokens are. There may be some trash in the ground depending on where the hunt is being held and whether they've held the hunt in the same location over a period of years. Most targets aren't deep if they are in soil and sometimes you can actually see the slit in the soil if it's not too grassy.

 

[Hoosier Kingfisher]

Stoney56 , Excellent reply Thanks a lot. Thanks to all who replied. Ron

 

[erikk]

Thanks for all the info. If I go with the EX-2 would a large coil (12 inch) or a smaller coil be better? I know I have to leave my WOT in the truck as 12.5 is the max.
Sounds like it is going to be a hoot for a 1st time guy. Also is a sand scoop with a handle better than one that you have to bend down to scoop with? Keep in mind that I have 67 year old knees...but I get up and down pretty good. Got over $27.00 & a .925 ring for one day last week at a sports park and that was dirt

 

[allanw23]

Tesoro Cibola

 

[Born2Dtect]

Most hunts around here are in beach sand. If yours is make sure the machines will work OK there. It should be as light as possible. It should have quick frequency adjustment , (knob or switch preferred). Set the discrimination lower than a nickel and sensitivity lower than normal, they don,t bury deep. All this said my White's IDX Pro fits the bill fine. In my first competition hunt I won a detector and a silver round. Like everyone said it takes luck but if you move fast and cover as much ground as you can in the first 5-10 minutes you will be rewarded. In sand you will need a short handled scoop and a dump basket.

Ed D.

 

[stoney56]

erikk, my choice or a beach hunt would be a scoop that would sift through as much sand as possible on the 1st scoop. I'd also try to bend at the waist if at all possible. Listeb for a sold repeatable signal, then dig. Don't worry about your meter to find the target.

Ed, just curious--lower the disc. below nickle? Guess if some of the tokens were nickles or there were also gold jewelry mixed in, then that would be prudent. i said a higher disc. since those hunts I frequent use stamped dimes.

 

[Born2Dtect]

Right you are Stoney. Last two comp. hunts thay used marked nickles. They also told us this in the instructiions right before the hunt. So I payed attention, luckily, and set up accordingingly.

Ed D.

 

[Hoosier Kingfisher]

Thanks everyone Ron