How to Ghost Hunt - Tips for Beginning Ghost Hunters

This overview will explain how to get started with ghost hunting and paranormal research. With some basic equipment you can get started with ghost hunting on a limited budget.

How to Find Locations & Get Permission

You can find listings online of local places that have reported activity of ghost sightings. Many beginning ghost hunters start out in cemeteries because they are easily accessible and many of them are public places, so you don't have to worry about obtaining permission. Most of them close when it gets dark, so if you are going to stay past that time you really should get permission from whoever runs the cemetery or is in charge of it. Many times this is the city or township in where the cemetery is. Because of vandalism in recent years, getting permission is the best way to go and shows them that you aren't going to vandalize the cemetery property.

The same would be true for any park or building that you might have an interest in. Entering abandoned buildings isn't a good idea because most of them are run-down and there can be safety hazards because of it. If it's a public building you want to investigate, again, call for permission ahead of time and ask them if you can investigate on their property.

What to Take With You When You Go

Here's a list of what to take with you when you go ghost hunting in any location.

1. A flashlight with extra batteries. Whether you are outside or in a building, most paranormal research happens in the dark, so a flashlight is a must-have. The newer LED flashlights are very bright and you can find them small enough so that they don't take up much space along with your other items in your bag.

2. Your personal ID. If you are in a cemetery, even though you have permission to be there after-hours, you need to keep your ID on you in case the police drop by. Most times when they know you will be there they let the officers on patrol that night know who you are, etc..but just in case someone forgets, it's good to have your ID on hand.

3. A pen and paper. This may sound very simple but it's necessary. If you experience any personal paranormal phenomenon, you need to write down the time, what you experienced and other details that you should keep track of. You can buy a small notebook at any general store that you can use for this.

4. A camera. Any camera will work, even the kind that you throw away when you are done with them, and Polaroid cameras. The camera of choice for most ghost hunters is the digital camera, because you can see results as you are in the location.If you will be using a digital camera, remember to take spare batteries with you. If you do have the money to spend on a good camera, it's not the mega-pixels that matter as much as the flash. Make sure you have a good flash on the camera that will work well in dark conditions. You can also use 35mm cameras which can be helpful because when you get the pictures developed you will have any evidence on the negative.

4. Audio recorders. You can use a standard cassette recorder or a digital audio recorder. I use both, and capture EVPS on both of them. My cassette recorder is so old it's almost ancient, but I capture many EVPS when using it. The digital recorder that I use is a Sony IR recorder and the nice thing about it is that you don't have to stop to flip over a tape, and it has the capability of recording several hours of audio at one time. Along with the audio recorders you will need some EVP software on your computer for uploading and editing your videos. Many of these are free and I have highlighted some of them in my previous article about EVP software.

5. Video recorder. If you have a video recorder that is capable of shooting at night, take it. If you don't have one, you don't need to run right out and buy one today. Remember, you can go ghost hunting with just the basics of a camera and audio recorder with excellent results. If you do have a video camera, you will need a way to upload any evidence you have captured on to your computer when you are done.

6 Ghost hunting requires equipment, which requires somewhere to keep it when you are walking around. Most of the people in my paranormal group use a basic fanny pack that goes around your waist, or a tool-belt type like hunters use when they go hunting. Something with pockets to separate items is a good thing so you can find everything when you need to get at it.

7. Something to drink. If you will be outside and the weather is warm, you are bound to get thirsty. Bottled water can be tucked away in your fanny pack and is good to have around when you get thirsty. Remember, no alcoholic beverages while investigating! This is not a good idea and you can run into some serious problems if you do this.

8. Last but not least, common sense. You need to use your common sense when you are ghost hunting, whether you are ghost hunting outside in a cemetery or you are in a building. Be respectful of the property, don't yell or scream or carry on, and use your common sense at all times. Never go ghost hunting alone and stay in pairs for safety if there is a group of you together.

Doing Your Research

Before you head out and start ghost hunting you might want to do your research. In fact, you NEED to do your research. This isn't all fun and games and you should do some research before heading out. Read up on paranormal research and what goes along with it. There are many websites on the Internet that you can read which have helpful hints on how to ghost hunt, along with how to run your own paranormal group, and everything in between. You need to know how to handle yourself in many situations when ghost hunting, and the best way to do that is to research it, along with talking to other people who are ghost hunters. In the long run it will definitely pay off.