I do not hunt with earphones at all at night. Also, I keep my head on a pivot when I hunt alone at night which I try to avoid doing. I constantly look to my rear, front and sides and before I ever get involved digging a target, I make sure that there is nobody near me before start kneeling. I then stop what I am doing every 30 seconds or so and look again. You can't be too cautious nowadays.
I had a group in a vehicle that I am sure was targeting me last year. They drove up with their lights off and they stopped at the road which overlooked the beach where I was. It was about 10:00 p.m. I stopped what I was doing and made a point to walk right at them with my entrenching tool fully exposed in the 90 degree locked position. I stopped about 20 yards away and made it clear I knew they were there. They drove away but I was very observant past that time to watch for their return.
Good tips already about letting someone know where you are and if you must hunt with earphones, keeping one ear uncovered. Buddy hunting at night is really the best way to go. There is always safety in numbers.
Make sure you have a cell phone, have 911 plugged in a ready to go and know how to tell them exactly where you are with no hesitation. Example, "I am on the beach, 100 yards east of the intersection of Hwy 20 and Beachfront Rd."
Guns are a whole new ballgame. Carry concealed permits are available in most states but the decision to carry a firearm should not be taken lightly. There is tremendous responsibility in doing so. Carrying concealed involves a lengthy application process which involves a criminal history, taking gun courses in most states and learning the laws related to Use of Force in your State. You can't shoot someone just because you get spooked! There are clear guidelines for using deadly force and if you make the wrong decision, it will be tragic for you and your family. Even after all that, you have to practice with that firearm just like you do with your detector. Won't do you any good to start learning how to shoot when you need it. I can't tell you how many folks I have heard brag about their gun that is just like new because it has never been fired. WHAT!!! I carry in a belly pack, practice getting to it in a hurry, putting it to work and also reloading quickly. The bad guys usually carry high capacity stuff and you can bet in the heat of a gun battle, your perfect scores at the range drop to about one third of that, especially in the dark. I am a cop and I can tell you that even with my years of experience, I still practice regularly day and night fire to keep that edge. You are never as good as you think you are and just like in the wild west, there is always someone better. Gun ownership is not cheap either. You should only buy a quality firearm which will cost at a minimum 500 bills. Ammo for practice shooting and carry can run into the hundreds easy and your permit, holster, and other odds and ends about the same. By the time you are truly ready, you are well into the grand mark and you have invested some quality time.
To avoid all that stuff with a gun, use common sense. The best practice is to be safe. Trust your instincts when you think something is not right. When you get that feeling, you are probably right most of the time. Get the heck out of there. It is much better to leave the area and hunt another day than stay there and regret your decision for the rest of your life.
Remember that there are some really bad dudes out there and they think nothing about victimizing you if they believe you are an easy mark.
Sorry for the long speech. I hope it helps someone.
