When its too cold to detect

[Xraywolf]

For me its when the temp consistently dips under 40.
I still keep my detector in the truck in the hopes of a warming spell, but its not enjoyable freezing while detecting.
By mid DEC I hang it up until the spring, so realistically I have a few weeks left at most.

How about you ?

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

A History of Mining on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska - Grab it through Amazon!

[WannaDig3687]

Fair weather detector here. 55 with little wind has been my coldest.

 

[ProspectingForStone]

For me its when the temp consistently dips under 40.
I still keep my detector in the truck in the hopes of a warming spell, but its not enjoyable freezing while detecting.
By mid DEC I hang it up until the spring, so realistically I have a few weeks left at most.

How about you ?

My detecting technique is going to be geared for winter here. I do not plan to do too much digging, seeing as how I can expect snow.

I have made a plan to "sweep" in areas where there are chances of drops, rings, bracelets, coinage etc. I term it "Street Sweeping". Or if you will "Surface Sweeping". I would like to get a dig or two in in the backyard before snow hits. That will remain to be seen.

But, essentially I do not plan to stay couped up in the house during winter, I plan to have some type of fun, as boating season wasn't very fruitful and didn't get out on the water too much.

They key for me is to dress for the season, warm jacket, gloves, hat, and to explore where I will.

Too cold here for me would be about teen digits, so if it is thirty degrees out I feel a general sweep in a few spots is still entirely doable.

 

[Loco-Digger]

Since I started back in the spring of 2014 I have hunted until the ground freezes or the snow is too deep to make it practical. This means my season January 1st and goes for a week or 2 before the ground freezes and then I rest until the thaw which occurs in mid March. This year since I am not as obsessed as I once was, plus my honey hole has dried up, I might take a few months off. My honey hole was great. Guaranteed to pull $10 in clad in a couple hours no matter the temps. It even produced some older coins dating back to 1864. Looking forward to hunting tomorrow since we are celebrating the holiday with friends and family this Saturday. It's gonns be great. Good food, family, friends and the big game (Ohio State vs the team from up north).

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!

 

[GB1]

i'v metal detected when it was below 32 degrees

 

[RTR]

Cold enough to keep the snakes away,is just right 4 me

 

[junkhunt]

Put your long undies on and go for it.

 

[Tired Rooster]

As long as its above freezing is fine. I have detected when the temps were in the 30's before. Fortunately, where I live it only gets really cold (teens - twenties) for a short period of time.

 

[fistfulladirt]

In the 'teens when the ground isn't yet frozen.

We do get some crazy weather here though.
Three years ago I was out on Christmas Eve in a lakeshore park in Lower Michigan. Jet skiers were on the lake.

 

[pepperj]

I've hunted in the rain, a blizzard in England for 10hrs once, and many times in weather that has been just over freezing. But I'm a fair weather type of guy where if the hand warmers aren't keeping up, or if i'm not dressed for the hunt well them I'm not a happy camper. I dress like an onion in many layers, -40 Baffin mud boots, Base Camp 240-260 Merino Wool under layer, insulated jeans, insulated coveralls & coat. I've even put the heavy Healy & Hanson rain gear over that. Two sets of hand warmers in each double set of gloves and I'm off for a cold days hunt.
If I'm snug as bug in a rug then my hunting is fun, it's just the freezing dirt build up on the pinpointer and coil that is a pain to contend with. When the itch is itching one has to do the do and scratch the itch, and sometimes the rewards are worth it.

 

[Trezurehunter]

In Illinois, I will detect until the ground is frozen solid. This usually means I put the detector away in January. Cold temps dont bother me, as I worked outside for 30 years and was always outside in the winter as a youngster. I just dress for the occasion and go with it. Great finds, know no season !! After that, its time to go thru my display cases and reorganize finds, and type the captions to put under them.

 

[G.A.P.metal]

Till the snow is to deep,woods digging (does not freeze as deep) is easier than the open ground.
The deep snow gets to me now ,i used to pack in a snow shovel,in my younger days....hunted through a lot of Winters here...those days are over.
Gary

 

[kingskid1611]

Sometimes the winter months is the only time I can get out and detect. Therefore I always am available to go year round......

 

[GA_Boy]

I'm one that voted NEVER. When it gets really cold at home we load the RV and drive South.
That's one advantage of being retired. Going to Florida in about 10 days.
Marvin

 

[Xraywolf]

Poll geared more towards those who don't have realistic option of warm climate detecting in the winter ... The Nevers lead it so far.
[I envy those south/west for that reason but to me, great place to visit but would not want to live there]

Outside of the obvious cold factor, don't see how it would even be possible to dig in frozen MI ground in Jan-March.

 

[pepperj]

Poll geared more towards those who don't have realistic option of warm climate detecting in the winter ... The Nevers lead it so far.
[I envy those south/west for that reason but to me, great place to visit but would not want to live there]

Outside of the obvious cold factor, don't see how it would even be possible to dig in frozen MI ground in Jan-March.

All we can do is hope global warming happens sooner than later.

 

[Peyton Manning]

with me it isn't the temp it's the wind
a calm day in weather that the ground can be dug is ok

 

[Msbeepbeep]

I have in the past gone out in what ever weather has to throw at me.
Ground frozen, i go to the beach, or detect the plowed snow in parking lots. People still drop stuff.
They tell me the ground in wooded areas covered in leaves is diggable.
Just dress warm and take some of those chemical packets that can warm you up.
Most of all have fun!

Sent from my VS810PP using Tapatalk

 

[FreeBirdTim]

Anything above freezing is fine with me. I'll detect if it's below 32 degrees, but it's a short hunt of less than an hour. Too easy to get frostbite or hypothermia when it dips that low.

My cutoff is usually when the woods freeze more than 2 inches down or if the snow cover is over a foot deep. That's when it gets to be a hassle digging every hole. Just not fun at that point.

 

[WannaDig3687]

with me it isn't the temp it's the wind
a calm day in weather that the ground can be dug is ok

Chicago may be the "Windy City," but you can't fly a kite like you can in the state of "Windy Indy!"