Tips  -  Relic  Hunters  Survival  Kit

I was asked recently by a couple of our club members to come up with a "survival kit" for folks that relic hunt. Here's what Julia and I do.  I carry a back pack.  If I'm not going to far from the car,  I'll leave it in the trunk and of course if I'm pretty far back in the woods,  I'll wear it.  This leaves my hands free to carry my equipment.  After I reach a site, I simply hang it in a tree.  Don't leave it on the ground.  Now, what's in the backpack you ask?  The following is a list of items that we feel essential.

• food - either some fruit and snacks or your lunch
• water - soda, etc.
• batteries - a must
• roll of electrical tape
• extra digging tools - knife - snips (to cut small roots) etc.
• small flashlight
• roll of toilet paper - just in case
• topo maps of the area you intend to hunt
• aspirin - chap stick - matches - band aids, etc. (put all of these in a baggie)
• small repair kit - screw driver, pliers, etc.
• insect repellant - we highly recommend permanone Tick Repellant
• compass
• extra headphones
• water proof poncho
• magnifying glass
• extra coil

You can add to this list depending on your needs, but we feel the above items are a must.  The idea is to keep it light, but not get caught in the field without the things you need for a successful hunt.  Good luck and be prepared.

Thanks,
Donnie & Julia Vaughn

Most of you me know that I'm a relic hunter and being a relic hunter often requires me to hunt some rural parts of Tennessee and southern Kentucky.  Here is a tip that I have picked up along the way that has really helped me and I hope that it will help you too.

After I receive permission to hunt on a property I will always ask the landowner if they know of any old house sites on their land and if there are any springs.  If the Civil War soldiers were in the area that you are searching, and there was a Civil War era house or a spring there, then there is a good chance that they either camped near the spring or they camped around the house.  Even if they didn't camp there, they probably visited the house or the spring.

A lot of farmers that I talk to know where old house sites are or were that you won't find on any old maps.  It's always a good idea to check them.  If nothing else, you might dig some old coins and other stuff.  The same holds true when searching around springs.  Always hunt on the high ground above the spring. So remember, once you get permission to metal detect ask if any old houses sat on their land at one time and ask about any springs on their place.  It will save you a lot of time if you can go right to these places - and they will pay off, I promise.  Good luck and good hunting.