Ghost Hunting 101

Educate yourself
One of the first things that should be done before you begin ghost hunting is to read about it and learn the basics. There are ghost hunting books that offer information on the basics, like equipment you’ll need and how to use it. It’s important to learn and understand the ‘ghost terminology’ and to understand how ghosts and spirits think. Most books explain the different types of apparitions and the different reasons for haunts. Also, in the back of the books you’ll find excellent resources, such as websites, haunted places, and other books of interests. Start by educating yourself and that way you won’t be so puzzled when you encounter paranormal activity. 

Consider your safety
Safety is a major issue. While ghost hunting can take place during the day, most hunting takes place at night. You need to visit the site during the day to get a feel for the area and know where any dangerous areas may be. You also have to consider animals and creatures of the night. We have walked into many spider webs and have encountered snakes, possums, gophers, dogs, etc. So, be sure to check out the area very well during the day and even map it out. NEVER GHOST HUNT ALONE!! Get a few friends together who are interested in ghost hunting.

Get Permission
Before you consider venturing into a cemetery or dwelling, permission must be given. Trespassing is serious and you can be arrested for trespassing. Upon locating an area that you would like to investigate, find out who the contact person is and call them. Many cemeteries are maintained by funeral homes. If you’re not sure, call your local funeral home and ask them who the contact person is and get their number. Remember, always maintain a professional attitude. Reassure them that you will maintain respect of the area at all times and will not desecrate the area. It’s very important to get a permission form signed in case you encounter law officials and you will be able to provide proof of permission. ‘How to be a Ghost Hunter’ by Richard Southall and ‘The Ghost Hunter’s Guidebook’ by Troy Taylor, are two good books that have suggestions on permission forms to use for ghost hunting. Simply type one up and make several copies for different places. Be sure to bring the signed permission form with you on you ghost hunt. DO NOT TRESPASS! This will not only get you arrested and fined, but destroys the credibility of paranormal investigating. 

Get to know the area
After getting permission, be sure to map out the area good. Pick a night that is active. You always want to note the solar activity and geomagnetic field activity. You can find this information on our site. Just click on it to get the info. The moon phase is also very important. There is more activity 3 days before and 3 days after a new moon. The same is true for a full moon, active 3 days before and 3 days after. So, if you go on a night of active geo fields, solar, and during these days of the new moon or full moon, you’re chances are very good for getting activity. Now keep in mind, that spirits are always around and always here. There are just certain times that it’s easier to pick up their activity.

Before going to an area to investigate, do your research. Find out the history of the land, building, and activities of the particular place. If it’s a home you’re investigating, get the history of the dwelling and the land. Find out who the previous owners were and if anyone died in the home. The genealogy department at your public library is a good information source. You can use the microfilm to find stories from the local newspapers. Public records, located at the courthouse, are also a good source of information for finding out previous owners and age of a site. A person does not have to die in a home for it to be haunted. The spirit could be drawn to the home, the land, or the people living in the home.

Setting up
After you’ve got you info together and you’ve picked a good night for a ghost hunt, get your equipment together. You don’t have to start out with all the fancy stuff in the beginning because it does become expensive. Start off small, like with a camera and voice recorder. We recommend using both a digital camera and a 35 mm camera with either 400 or 800 speed film. If you have an extra 35 mm camera, load one with the 400 or 800 speed and the other camera with black and white film. 

Get a feel for the area. If there is an area that you’re drawn to, work in that area for a short while. Set your EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomena) up and take pictures. You can use either a digital or microcassette recorder that is voice activated. Always use new tapes with your voice recorder and state the time, date, and place of the EVP.

Always take a couple of extra friends. Never go alone on a ghost hunt. Homeless people, and other strange people, tend to make cemeteries their homes or hang-out grounds. So, practice caution at all times. Be sure to have plenty of flashlights and lots of extra batteries. You’ll be surprised by how the ghostly activity can drain those batteries so quickly. 

Ghost hunting is a lot of fun but can be tiring. This is why we suggest you bring drinks and snacks because sometimes it can be a long night and there’s no place for miles or local stores may be closed late at night. Lots of water is a good thing!

Have fun!
Enjoy yourself while ghost hunting. It’s a great stress buster and is a great way to hang out with friends. If you feel you may have gotten something in a photo, submit it, share it with friends and family. Share your experience. Just remember, there are lots of people out there who share your common interest of learning about the realm of the paranormal. And I’m sure they’ll want to hear your stories and experiences. Continue to learn about the paranormal and always keep a look out. It’s a good idea to keep your digital camera with you at all times. You never know when you may run into someone, or something! Also, ever noticed something moving quickly out of the corner of your eye? You may have just experienced your first ghostly experience. Happy ghost hunting!