Welcome back, Diggers!
For you metal detectorists who live by the ups and downs of your Bounty Hunter metal detector, the sudden impact of questionable and constant beeping can be alarming.
Usually, a beeping metal detector is a sign of good fortune. But when that beeping leads to an empty hole in the dirt, you turn from treasure hunter to detective.
If your Bounty Hunter metal detector keeps beeping, the probable cause is due to your batteries, external interference, improper technique, or physical damage.
In this article, we’ll talk about each of these, their solutions, and other reasons your Bounty Hunter metal detector is so chatty.
So keep reading to learn all the expert troubleshooting tips and tricks to get you up and running again.
Is Bounty Hunter Metal Detector a Good Brand?
Don’t start second guessing your choice of metal detector brand.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll keep saying it.
Bounty Hunter metal detectors are an excellent brand for beginner detectorists and mid-range experienced treasure hunters.
While they don’t dabble too much into the higher-end machines, their many popular models are consistently reliable at an affordable price.
If you’re targeting coins, gold, or long-lost relics, Bounty Hunter is a brand that prides itself on giving you what you need.
Who Makes Bounty Hunter?
Bounty Hunter metal detectors and accessories are made by First Texas Products, a privately owned US company.
First Texas products also manufacture Fisher brand metal detectors and other electronic components through a separate division.
Where Are Bounty Hunter Metal Detectors Made?
Bounty Hunter metal detectors are made and manufactured in El Paso, Texas; however, First Texas Products does have some operations in Mexico.
Several national and local retailers are available if you want to buy any of their detectors.
Amazon, Cabela’s, Costco, and Kellyco are just a few popular options.
Why Is My Bounty Hunter Metal Detector Not Working?
Ok, sorry for the wait. It had to be done. I want you to feel comfortable in your decision to buy a Bounty Hunter instead of a more expensive manufacturer.
And now that you do (I hope), we can start the troubleshooting.
The problem with your metal detector is most likely easily repairable, so let’s get into it.
Luckily, when you experience a problem with your Bounty Hunter, the cause and the solution are generally the same regardless of your model.
Bounty Hunter Metal Detector Keeps Beeping
Batteries
If your Bounty Hunter Tracker keeps beeping or any other Bounty Hunter model, the first thing you should investigate is the batteries.
This isn’t always the problem, but it is the easiest to diagnose.
Some metal detectors, like the Tracker IV, will have a built-in low battery indicator.
When your batteries are low, your metal detector will have difficulty working as intended. Besides the indicator light, the tell-tale sign of erratic beeping should prompt you to check them.
This rule applies even when you don’t have a low battery indicator.
The solution is to remove the batteries from the back of the control box and replace them with fresh batteries (replace all batteries simultaneously).
Depending on your model, you may need to ground balance your metal detector outdoors before deciding if this worked.
What Kind of Batteries Does a Bounty Hunter Metal Detector Take?
In the case of the Bounty Hunter Tracker IV, you need two 9-Volt alkaline batteries to power it on.
This also applies to many other popular Bounty Hunter metal detectors like the Bounty Hunter Gold Digger and the Bounty Hunter Lone Star.
However, you should check your manual or current batteries to be sure. The Bounty Hunter Junior Target I.D. uses 2 AA alkaline batteries since it’s a smaller, less power-draining device.
External Interference
Another reason your Bounty Hunter metal detector is beeping so much is because of external interference.
Some of this interference can be from metallic items close to you, like metal in your boots, digging tools resting nearby, or other metal detectors if you’re part of a hunting party.
These are all common issues that many beginning detectorists forget to consider. They’re also super simple to take out of the equation.
But sometimes, the interference you’re getting hit with corresponds to electromagnetic fields.
For instance, power lines and radio transmitters can wreak havoc on your search coil performance.
Or, perhaps you have a bit of moisture stuck in your cables and circuitry.
The solution for EMI (Electromagnetic Interference) can be as simple as moving to a new location and seeing if the problem persists.
If EMI does become a constant headache for you, a possible fix is to add a layer of protective shielding over your cable.
While this might help a little, it’s not a given.
EMI will usually affect the search coil itself, not the cables. Thankfully, Bounty Hunter has included a sensitivity knob on most of their metal detectors.
This allows you to reduce the sensitivity setting until the unwanted chattering stops.
As far as moisture is concerned, unplug your cables, remove any protective search coil covers, and take the time to inspect and wipe down any residual water.
It often builds up due to environmental conditions like exposure to humidity.
The next most likely culprit for your Bounty Hunter’s constant beeping is mineralized soil.
Mineralized soil is the presence of highly conductive minerals, like iron, just below the surface that is highly susceptible to the electromagnetic field generated by a metal detector.
These conditions will cause the persistent beeping of your metal detector and are typically referred to as false signals.
Solving this problem comes down to the adequately performed process known as ground balancing.
This is not a complex process; most metal detectors have a feature that automatically executes this function.
** Pro tip – When ground balancing a Bounty Hunter metal detector, do so outside within the target area. There’s too much metal inside homes and other buildings to adequately calibrate your device.
Finally, it would help if you had a well-rounded understanding of your Bounty Hunter’s settings.
Bounty Hunter Metal Detector Settings
Your Bounty Hunter metal detector settings are often the answer to your operation problems.
Most, if not all of them, can be solved by manually adjusting the features included with your device.
Take the Bounty Hunter Tracker IV, for instance. While it’s a simple design with an analog target meter, it still includes some standard adjustments for successful treasure hunts.
- Three modes of operation
- Adjustable discrimination
- Automatic ground tracking
- Sensitivity adjustment
- Pinpointing (takes some practice)
Improper Technique
Yes, it’s your fault!
Just kidding.
Well, sort of. How you use your metal detector can directly impact its performance. Too much beeping is no different.
Seasoned pros know to keep their search coil level with the ground and at the appropriate height – 1 or 2 inches from the surface.
Furthermore, swinging your Bounty Hunter metal detector should be done at a steady pace, waving the coil side to side while keeping it parallel to the ground.
You may experience inconsistent readings and false signals if you regularly bump the ground or scrap your coil into rocks and other debris.
What makes it worse is if you’re metal detecting on the wet ground.
Keeping your search coil in constant contact with wet grass will build up static electricity or an imbalance of electrons, leading to undesirable beeping.
Feel free to read my beginner’s guide on using a metal detector for some insights on good techniques.
Physical Damage
Physical damage is more of an extension of the previous topic.
If you don’t know how to use your Bounty Hunter metal detector or aren’t careful, you can damage it, causing even more problems.
Loose cable wires or a cracked coil guarantees that your readings aren’t reliable.
Not only could it be beeping too much, but it also might not be beeping at all.
The only good thing about physical damage to your Bounty Hunter is that it’s not hard to diagnose the problem.
A broken coil mount or busted sensitivity knob is easy to spot and easier to replace.
You might need to inspect a bit closer when it comes to loose cables or spliced wiring.
If you attempt to fix it on your own, I recommend reviewing my article on how to repair your metal detector for some helpful tips.
Bounty Hunter Metal Detector Manual
Improper beeping is only one malfunction you might experience with your Bounty Hunter metal detector.
There are other common problems every detectorist runs into from time to time.
The good news is that Bounty Hunter provides some valuable troubleshooting tips in each of their owner’s manuals.
Below, I’ve put together a quick cheat sheet for you that I hope helps.
Otherwise, here’s a link to the Bounty Hunter website, where each manual is freely available for download.
Conclusion
With any luck, you’ve fixed your metal detector chatterbox.
If not, a last-ditch effort would be manually resetting your Bounty Hunter metal detector.
Each model is a little different, but you can find the instructions in the manual.
But, hopefully, you’re all repaired and ready to start hunting again.
So, in the spirit of positivity, get out there and find your next treasure!
Until next time.
