A Guide to Ghost Hunting

By Darin T. Hough

Are you ready to experience the paranormal? This is not something you have to dream about anymore. With this book, it becomes a reality. "A Guide To Ghost Hunting" is filled with information geared toward both the novice and more advanced Paranormal investigators. Whether you are looking for some tools or guidance to get a group started; or taking your group to the next level; or just for your own interest, Darin Hough's guide has you covered.

This must-read guide shares the necessary content to guide you on your ghost hunting journey. This book covers:

Starting a Group
Sample Forms
Haunted Locations
Conducting Investigations
Ghost Hunting Equipment Descriptions
Paranormal Reading
Paranormal Terminology
And more!

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Nov 17, 2021
• ISBN: 9781667810812

Book preview

How to Conduct an Investigation

We often are asked for our thoughts on how to conduct a successful Paranormal or Ghost Hunting Investigation. As a matter of fact, we are also often asked, What is the difference between a Paranormal Investigation and a Ghost Hunting Investigation? We’ll get to that a little bit later.

The first thing we suggest is that if you or your group is new to the field, consider contacting another local group and requesting to join in on one of their upcoming investigations. If you are not familiar with other groups in your area, do a quick Internet search and then research the groups and find one that best matches up with the kind of investigation or group you desire.

There is no one single right way to conduct a Paranormal or Ghost Hunting Investigation. The information we share below is simply a compilation of what we have found to be effective.

Definition of Paranormal Investigations and Ghost Hunting Investigations

So, what is the difference between a Ghost Hunter and a Paranormal Investigator?

Almost nothing. Both experienced Paranormal Investigators and Ghost Hunters use much of the same equipment, as well as their individual talents and experience to investigate, document, and or debunk the existence of paranormal activity. The difference lies in their objectives, but here again it’s pretty thin.

Paranormal Investigators and Ghost Hunters often use a lot of the same tried and true tools of the trade, such as video, digital, and still cameras; voice recorders; EMF detectors; and infrared thermometers to name a few. Whether you are Hunter or Investigator, you will use common sense and deductive reasoning in the hopes of documenting proof of or to debunk possible paranormal activity. These are a must; otherwise, you lose your credibility.

Where to Go

To identify local sites with known Paranormal activity, get to know your area’s history. If you are looking for sites with known Paranormal activity a little further afield, check out our Haunted Places—USA tab.

Listed below are some locations to consider:

Churches—Throughout history there have been reports of spirits returning to their places of worship, perhaps because they are still searching for redemption.

Cemeteries—The age of the cemetery doesn’t matter, but we have found that the older the cemetery the better opportunity to encounter a spirit wanting to make contact.

Former Hospitals, Infirmaries, and Prisons—Paranormal Investigators and Ghost Hunters alike have reported successful investigations at these sites.

Theaters and Movie Theaters—Both current and former theater and movie theater sites sometimes have paranormal activity.

Battlefields—If you are lucky enough to live near or might be visiting one, historic battlefields make great investigation sites. You are likely to pick up some activity in locations where there were multiple violent deaths.

Hotels/Motels/Boarding houses—Both current and former locations have possibilities due to the potential for highly emotional events taking place, such as weddings, honeymoons, murders, suicides, etc.

Historic Locations—Historic buildings are historic because of their age and also because they were typically a focal point in the area or town, which in turn makes them perhaps more prone to have spirits that associate themselves with the location.

When to Go

Although you can go anytime you want, we generally find that evening/nighttime/overnight hours are consistently the hours when success is experienced. This is often attributed to the fact that there is less human activity and traffic in or around the investigation site.

If you are conducting an outdoor Paranormal or Ghost Hunting Investigation, you will need clear and cooperative weather conditions. If your area is experiencing poor weather conditions (fog, snow, rain, hail, lightning, etc.) at the time of the investigation, you will need to reschedule. Any evidence you collect under poor weather conditions will not be considered credible.

What to Take

For everyone:

Photo Identification—Make sure you have your driver’s license or some other valid photo identification with you. In the event authorities question you, it will establish who you are.

Weather Appropriate Clothing—If it is chilly, bring a jacket. Dress in layers so you can adjust to the temperature of the location. Wear sensible shoes with a non-slip tread on the bottom. Bring a durable utility bag that can easily hold all of your equipment.

Make sure all long hair is secured or under a ball cap so as to not interfere with any recording or picture taking.

Cell phone—Use your cell phone to check and document times of any observed Paranormal activity. Also, it is good to have your cell phone along in case there is an emergency and you need to make a call. We suggest that you keep the phone on silent during the investigation in order to avoid disruptions.

Wristwatch—If using your cell phone for time documentation is not convenient, be sure to wear a watch (with illumination).

First Aid Kit—You would be surprised how often you will use this. It is not uncommon to trip and fall or scrape against a wall in the dark.

Flashlight—This is as important as that First Aid Kit. As many Paranormal and Ghost Hunting Investigations are conducted in dim or no lighting, having a reliable light source for navigation is critical. Don’t forget to have fresh batteries in your utility bag, too.

Notepad and Pen/Pencil—Make sure you have something sturdy to write on and reliable to write with. You will want to document the investigators, time, date, weather conditions, conditions of the site, and keep a basic running log of the investigation.

Digital Camera—You can use a standard digital camera, or one that has been modified specifically to capture images in more light spectrums and/or in infrared light.

For the More Advanced:

In addition to the items listed above, here are some other items to consider.

35-Millimeter Camera—Prior to the sophistication of digital cameras, 35-mm cameras were the only way to capture possible Paranormal images. Some investigators still prefer the 35-mm because it allows for rapid picture taking, giving you a series of quick shots. If you do have a 35-mm camera, you can use either 400 or 800 film speed. The one piece of advice we would give you is that when you take the film for development, tell the developer that you want all the pictures developed, even if they appear to be bad photos to the developer. You don’t want to miss out on any possible evidence!

Handheld Radios—These are perfect for communicating with others in your group, especially in outdoor investigations.

Compass—The theory is that paranormal activity changes the magnetic field and causes the needle to spin erratically and point in other directions than north.

EMF Detector—EMF Detection Meters are used to seek out disruptions in the natural magnetic field of locations, hopefully providing credible evidence of paranormal activity. However, things that aren’t supernatural can also influence the equipment. You have to learn what the readings on the equipment mean and which readings are false and caused by natural sources—and which ones are the real thing.

EVP Recorder—An EVP Recorder is an audio recorder that is used during a Paranormal or Ghost Hunting Investigation to capture electronic voice phenomena. The most popular type is the Digital Voice Recorder. This is due to the quality of the recordings as well as the ease to transfer recordings to other devices.

Video Recorder—Video cameras are an important instrument for an investigation. Unlike still cameras, they provide a continuous streaming visual and audio surveillance for review and documentation. You can use a standard video camera, digital recorder or one that has been customized specifically for Paranormal and Ghost Hunting Investigations. We recommend making the investment in a customized model that allows you full spectrum and/or Infrared recording opportunity.

Illuminators—Either full spectrum or infrared illuminators that can attach to your camera or video camera are of great assistance.

Multi-Channel DVR Equipment/Wireless Home Security Systems—Although a more significant investment than other pieces of Paranormal equipment, multi-channel DVRs and Wireless Home Security Systems are great for running remote investigations as well as long-running