Hole size

[DirtAngler]

Seems a little larger and deeper hole keeps the flapped plug together better and allows a nicer looking hidden recovery job when you're done as well as giving margin for error for further digging if needed. Seen quite a few Utube shallow digs and a guy I know digs these shallow digs but leaves dead grass areas a few days later. What's your method.

 

[MaynardG]

Excellent question DirtAngler. But, what can be done to leave a hole without the brown marks? I want to be a good guest on someones property.

 

[Old Longhair]

It of course depends on a lot of factors, not the least of which would be general soil condition/makeup.

Around here, digging recently rained on ground does the least damage. And digging just prior to a rain is good too. An alternative, though not always practical, would be to water the area that's been compromised to reduce stress on the turf.

 

[TURNMASTER]

I rarely need to plug a "manicured" lawn, but when I do i cut a deep enough enough plug to get all the way through the sod. How big of a Square or circle seems to depend on the signal itself. What bothers me is when the coin is still in the plug, because I could have gotten that without cutting a plug. If I can locate the target with my pinpointer I can recover with a screwdriver and cut no plug. When I am done I push that plug back in real well with my foot. Seems to work because I spend time doing other things at most of the parks and schools I have hunted and see no telltale damage at all. A piece of tarp or plastic or even a plastic grocery sack work to pile your dirt on then back into hole. very clean

Take your time. I would add that I will not plug a nice park in any area that does not have a sprinkler system in the heat of the summer. That is just me though. Most of the places I hunt are long abandoned and have no yard left or what is left looks just fine with a little care.

Jeff

 

[Digger]

Larger and deeper may help increase the odds of recovering the target on the "first pass" and keep you from digging out narrow pieces of sod at the edge of a hole (which will result in strips of dead grass). But I've also found that digging two sides of a triangular shaped hole, folding back the wedge of dirt and sod while leaving the roots intact on the third side...... and when you fill the hole, step down on the outside edges of the "plug" being careful to not tromp down on the middle portion.....both help keep the "brown bullseye" from showing up after the hunt. JMHO HH Randy