Finders keepers, losers weepers! That’s the rule! And let me guess, you’re looking to spice up your hunting trips with such missions. You’ve certainly picked a good one to help you along the way.
In this Bounty Hunter Tracker IV review, you'll know what you'll be dealing with, and if it's the right choice, you're making.
Bounty Hunter has been making trackers for a while. Ask around, they’d tell you that it’s quite good. And this IV version has taken it to a new level. Yes, it’s not an advanced machine, but it’s not a toy either!
With a range of sensitivity and discrimination adjustments, how does it perform compared to its class-competitors? Let’s delve into its details, shall we?
Bounty Hunter Tracker IV Review
Now, what are you getting from it? It’s a very straightforward detector with an analog display. You’ll be working with a 6.7kHz VLF detector, which is enough for an entry-level detector.
To search for things, you can choose between 3 options; All-metal, Tone, and Full discrimination. Furthermore, you’ll have sensitivity adjustments at your disposal and an adjustable stem. We’ll go into the details later.
The body of this bounty hunter tk4 detector is sturdy enough to keep it protected in rough situations, and it's completely submersible! Placing it in shallow water is not an issue. That sturdy body does come with some added weight, which isn't too much though, at a total weight of 4.2lbs.
Keep in mind that this one is a motion metal detector. Just holding it in place won’t work. You’ll have to wave the coil around to get a signal. But it’s quite easy to use otherwise with only two knobs to adjust.
There’s a built-in speaker on it for the dual audio tones. But we’d suggest that you get a good quality headphone to use in its ¼ inch jack.
We have to admit that this detector does miss out on some important features like digital target ID, Iron Audio, or depth indication. There’s no ground balance adjustability either. But at this price, can you complain?
Search Modes
As mentioned before, you’ll have 3 search modes for this detector.
- All-Metal
You’ll be able to detect any types of metal if you turn this mode on. Metals like aluminum, steel, brass, iron, copper, silver, and gold are easily detected with the Tracker IV. When the coil finds a metal, it will deliver a high-pitched beep. In all-metal mode, you’ll get maximum depth.
- Tone
It has a dual-tone feature for different types of metals. Depending on the metal, it will either send a high or a low signal.
- Full Discriminate
In this mode, the detector will completely look past the trash items. Trash items mean things that don’t have any value to you. But as they say, one man’s trash, another man’s treasure.
With the given knob, you can tinker with the adjustment settings. The knob only becomes active if you put the detector in "Tone" or "Full discriminate" mode. Although the discrimination knob is useful, it lacks flexibility when compared to more expensive models such as the Garrett ACE 200 or 250.
Simple Interface
A very old analog display is here to let you know what signal you’re picking up. The analog meter is quite reliable. The needle in the analog meter works very well as long as you protect it. It’s quite easy to use also.
It has two knobs with two audio tones for tuning sensitivity and discrimination. You’ll need to set these two by experimenting with it. And it has the headphone jack on it.
Adjustability
Sensitivity, discrimination adjustments are present to provide you a smooth experience. The stem is adjustable to a certain degree.
As an added benefit, it has an automatic ground balance adjustment system that’s rare in entry-level models. Most of the entry-level models have preset ground balance.
Stock Coil
You’ll find that the stock coil is quite balanced in sensitivity and area coverage, even underwater. Talking about water, the 8-inch coil responsible for the magnetic pulses is completely submersible in water. For up to 8 inches, it's waterproof, so you're free to use it in shallow waters.
But keep the body away from water as it isn’t waterproof. So, don’t go diving into the water with this.
Battery
With a 9V alkaline battery, you’ll get around 30 hours of operation time and more if used with headphones. For better cost to performance ratio, you can opt for rechargeable batteries.
Pros
Cons
Bounty Hunter Tracker IV Vs Gold Digger
Both of these two detectors from Bounty Hunter is similar in price but have some considerable differences in features. They are both entry-level detectors, so don't expect much difference in performance. See how they compare and decide which is for you.
- The Tracker IV is a bit heavier than the Gold Digger
- The Tracker IV has an analog display with an analog meter instead of an LCD interface like the Gold Digger
- Tracker IV has a larger waterproof coil
With those being said, Gold Digger does have some extra features like trash elimination to save your time and energy. You can also avoid areas with metal junks like aluminum cans. The trash elimination can come in handy if you want to use it to keep the beach clean!
You won’t go wrong with either of them. Try them out yourself.
Bounty Hunter Tracker IV Vs Garrett ACE 200
With almost double the price, is Garrett Ace 200 the better choice? The decision is up to the user.
Although both are at a beginner level, the Garrett Ace 200 certainly has some better features with a bit of sacrifice in its adjustability.
Bounty Hunter has adjustable discrimination with a knob to control it. But the Ace 200 doesn’t have this adjustability. All it has are three preset discrimination patterns that can’t be changed manually.
Digital Target ID: 0-99, depth indication, and digital control panel; the Ace 200 wins in all 3 of these points. You’ll be receiving more conclusive data on the metal and the depth.
If you have the money, then Ace 200 can be a great choice for these 3 functions. For a tight budget, you’ll be more than satisfied with the Tracker IV.
(You can also check our guide on top garret detectors, Garrett ACE 400 review and some valuable metal detecting tips and tricks.)
Bounty Hunter Tracker IV Vs Fisher F22
These two shouldn’t be compared as the F22 comes at a more expensive price-point.
Among the entry-level detectors, Fisher F22 is amidst the best, if not the best. And it has all features that the Tracker IV lacks such as pinpoint detection, Digital Target ID, depth indicator, and notch discrimination.
The F22 works in a higher frequency and has 10 sensitivity level adjustment options. Moreover, the Fisher F22 is almost half the weight of the Tracer IV. Ease of use is its crown.
Also, the Fisher F22 is completely waterproof from head to toe, unlike the Tracker IV, with having a waterproof coil only.
So, you can guess there can be no competition here. The F22 is a superior machine with more sensitivity, depth of detection, and protection. It all comes down to the price range.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Yes and no. The actual metal detector coil is waterproof, but the rest of the body isn’t waterproof. This means the housing, the electrical circuits, and other parts will be damaged by water.
Bounty Hunter Tracker IV can detect metals of any sort. It can detect gold, silver, nickel, titanium, and other usual sorts of metals. It’s the depth of detection that matters.
No, there is no age restriction for using this Tracker IV metal detector. Kids and adults alike can use it.
It depends on your usage. You can expect a full 30 hours of runtime from a new 9v alkaline battery. If you use headphones, the runtime will increase.
Yes, you can take the body apart into two parts. Both parts measure about 2 feet, which is a good size for carrying around in bags.
Headphones are optional. You can work without headphones, but using a headphone increases inclusivity and reduces distractions as well. And as said before, using headphones can save the juice for longer runtime.
Any good quality metal detectors will detect from 4 to 6 inches. It can go up to 10 inches, depending on the specific product.
Final Verdict
Everything has been bared for you in this Bounty Hunter Tracker IV review. Considering the price point and the features it brings to the table, this Bounty Hunter’s unit does make some strong points.
There are some good competitions as we've seen above, but for budget buyers and beginners, it would be an injustice not to recommend it.
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