Long Handle Shovels ?

[SHERMANVILLE ILLINOIS]

Anyone with any recommendations?
I have an army fold shovel I use now, not looking for a folder.
Looking for something for walking fields, less bending.

w.w manufacturing has a few; they also
make the Ground Shark.

Also what size length has anyone found to
be more advantage.

Or, are the shovels in the major hardware stores
just as good.

Just thinking

Thanks.

have a good un............
SHERMANVILLE

 

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[Siegfried Schlagrule]

Easier if you use a spade with a short handle. One pop and you have your plug.
Make your recovery and pop it back in. A shovel would just chip away spoonfuls on hard soil. regards, siegfried schlagrule

 

[watercolor]

I've used a "Little Eagle" (from Predator) and its overall length is around 28". Also has a "T" handle.
Works out great during winter forest hunts when the ground still has an inch or two of frost to cut through.

Take care Sherm,
watercolor

 

[The Beep Goes On]

That is a question I struggle with. It depends on the ground conditions, of course, but other things too.

If you use a hand tool like a Lesche, you have to kneel down and, usually, put the detector to the side and dig the hole. It can take a lot of time in hard ground and be quite difficult. You have very little leverage. In soft ground, no big deal.

If you use a long shovel (narrow, pointed blade) you can stay standing up, at least for the first part of the dig. If the target doesn't come up in the plug you now have to set your detector AND your shovel down and find the target with your probe and hand digger.

If you have a medium length (40" or so) shovel/spade you usually need two hands to get it to do the work a long shovel can do with one hand. If so, you have to set your detector down, dig the target and, if not in the plug, put the shovel down and hunt around with your probe and hand digger.

So, if you use a long shovel, it is my belief that it should be one that has the ability to get the target in the first plug, everytime (or close to). Otherwise, you're carrying around a heavy item that you have to set down and pick up over and over and you end up using your hand digger a lot anyway.

Carrying around a big shovel in thick brush is also a problem.

This is why I usually just carry the Lesche unless I know the ground is hard.

Home Depot is selling a RIDGID 5 In. Trenching Shovel that kicks some butt. It is a full length shovel. The spade and the angle allow you to push it into the ground using one hand and the fiberglass handle can take the extreme stress of leveraging out some deep plugs. I haven't gotten one (yet) but TXTim had one when we hunted a school yard with hard, packed dirt and it was a piece of cake for him.

With all that said, I keep a variety of digging tools in my car...short, medium and long because you don't always know what the conditions are going to be like.

HH!
Beep

 

[Lowbatts]

I have the Mauler from Predator, it's a hard carry on some of my treks but I have an Allen shotgun bag on my belt. The bag holds the blade easy enough with the handle sticking up.

I think the model Mark uses, the Little Eagle or one of the similar sized Relic Pro's would be easier to carry and almost as easy to use.

 

[SHERMANVILLE ILLINOIS]

Gibbsium, Lowbatts, The Beep Goes On,
watercolor, Siegfried Schlagrule,

thanks for all the comments.

Leaning towards one of the Predator types
but.......................still looking.

all have a good un.................
SHERMANVILLE

 

[The Beep Goes On]

I picked up that shovel I mentioned above. I was incorrect though, it is the Rigid 4 inch trenching shovel with a fibreglass handle (not the 5 inch). We were at a field today when I christened it with 4 wheats at 7-10"...it tooks seconds to get them out of the ground. This shovel rocks big time.

HH!
Beep

 

[EDDE]

I like a "T" handle its easier to drag behind me

 

[BuckleBoy]

I like a "T" handle its easier to drag behind me

Most Certainly!


I use a T-handled FISKARS. (Made in the USA) They have a lifetime warranty, too. I use the edger because they were out of the other longer, more narrow blades. But it works well for me. I think you have to find a handle length that comes up a little above your waist. Longer and it gets cumbersome to carry. Shorter and you're still bending over to dig.

Also works well for steadying yourself in the soggy muddy fields, I've found.


Best Wishes,


Buckles

 

[The Beep Goes On]

Oh, I have a couple of those too...I wouldn't use a full sized shovel in tough terrain, for instance, but they do have their purpose like open fields with hard ground.

Beep

 

[SHERMANVILLE ILLINOIS]

بلَباه
TBGO,
will be checking out the Rigid at Builders Sq.

EDDE,
would like a "T" handle.


BuckleBoy,
FISKAR is a darn good company. Took advantange of
one of their lifetime warranty deals on a digging trowel.
Made a call, they sent a new one out; they did not want the
old one back, so I fixed it, now have two.

TBGO, again,
holy crap

Your ready for some digging.

all have a good un................
SHERMANVILLE

 

[gametalman52]

Shermanville, I have a long handled shovel with a small shovel head. It can be used as a walking stick, does great in the Georgia clay and helps on the back alot. They are kinda hard to find, but have already worn 1 out. Check the local hardware stores, although I think I found the last one at Loew'sor Home Depot

 

[BuckleBoy]

BuckleBoy,
FISKAR is a darn good company. Took advantange of
one of their lifetime warranty deals on a digging trowel.
Made a call, they sent a new one out; they did not want the
old one back, so I fixed it, now have two.

Their "T-handle" long handled digger I have is indestructible, and the handle feels great, unlike some I've used. It is molded to fit the hand.


-Buckles