Ron,
While I was up in MI, yes, water hunting did cut into my land hunting, as the prime season for both is summer and early spring.
Now that I'm down here in OK, it balances out, as I can land hunt in winter (provided it's not blowing snow/sleet/freezing rain), and the ground gets to hard in the summer, so it's time to go jump in a lake. I am lucky enough to live within a few miles of a lake, but, it's nothing like having the 17 public beaches in Jackson county while I lived there.
You're also right about hunting streams in old parks. If there's a deep enough spot in that stream, odds are, it was used as a swimming hole way-back-when.
As far as different techniques and/or equipment, I'll give you the run-down on my equipment:
- A good scoop. The one I use was made by a fellow club member here in OK. It's steel (not stainless, though), so it will rust. The holes are 1/2" diameter. I keep some pipe insulation on the handle, so the handle floats. I've been known to keep a magnet inside the scoop, to help catch magnetic targets.
- I have a 1" wide utility belt with quick-release buckle. On that belt is a 6 x 12" mesh bag with velcro closure. This is my collection bag, that gets trash, and coins. Also on my belt is the belt-mount for my CZ-20. Yes, I am "webbed in". I've never had to ditch my gear, thankfully. I have stepped off into a couple 6 - 9" deep holes in some swimming areas around Jackson that "someone" (not me, I always filled my holes in) left open, usually in deeper water. Usually, when that happens, I would "plant" my scoop, and use it as a lever to help get myself back to firm footing, along with a little quick swimming. This always happens when I was out in neck-deep water, and since I float easily, was not that big of an issue. However, if I ever step off into a hole and go under, believe me, I'm ditching my gear. Just drop the scoop, and hit the quick-release buckle, and I'm swimming. Luckily, the control-box for the 20 (and hopefully the 21) float, so I'd be able to recover my detector easily enough.
I wear a swimsuit with a zippered back pocket. Good jewelry, and the occasional paper money, go into that pocket, usually while I'm chest-deep in water, so nobody sees what I'm doing.
That equipment is the basic gear for hunting a swimming beach at a modern lake.
If I'm getting into a stream, then add to that:
- A floating sifter box. Great for working in streambeds with lots of gravel. I can shake the material around, spread it out with my hand, and try to locate the target. However, sometimes the target is not so easy to find. Sinkers tend to look like rocks, and High-tone target (assumed to be a coin), could just as easily be a copper-jacketed bullet, either intact or mushroomed out. I have considered adding my vibraprobe 460 to this list, but, my screen for the sifter box is hardware cloth, which would set the pinpointer off. I have yet to find a suitable replacement screening material. I know someone posted pics of a floating sifter made out of a round plastic container, using an inner tube for floatation, and drilled lots and lots of holes in the bottom of the plastic container for drainage.
While I love using a floating sifter (which does even better in a clean sand beach), I do not recommend using it if you hunting a beach while it's being used by swimmers. The reason is, is that the sand will wash out of the sifter VERY quickly, and expose your target for everyone to see. If you're not quick about removing the target, someone could get a good enough look at it, and call the cops, describe it, and have it legally returned to their "possesion", even though it wasn't lost by them.
- If the water is really cold (during the Fall, before the freeze, and after the Spring thaw), I will use chest-waders, and trapper's gloves. I dress warmly under all that, because even though I'm dry, it's still cold. Even bundled up, I can usually only handle about an hour in the water, up in MI in March and April.
There are lots and LOTS of old lakeside resorts scattered all through MI, IN, OH, etc. Do some research, and you might even locate some old swimming holes.
nly used the unit in fresh water and in parks.After about 3 months of using the CZ20 I sold it.Always wanted to hunt in the water,but it takes a different technique,and it took away from my land hunting.I think very few hunter's can do both well.Hope that helps.
