A-B-C's of hobby....

A. Site
B. Detector for the site at hand.
C. Above unit learned well.

Perusing the forums I see little discussion about the most important facet. Site...and many discussions about detectors, tests, tips and whatever but its the same old story if you are a deer hunter and there isn't a 10 point buck on the mountain you are hunting you are not going to shoot a 10 point buck.

Do some research as the net is a good tool along with your local library, keep your eyes and ears open as may be a good site right in your hometown and don't be afraid to ask as all they can say is no.

Whoops forgot D....Do enjoy yourself and take some time to enjoy and smell the roses..

In addendum I do enjoy reading the discussions as well we can never learn too much about the hobby and a little tip here and there doesn't help and thanks guys and gals for sharing.

Dan-Pa. Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> A. Site
> B. Detector for the site at hand.
> C. Above unit learned well.
>
> Perusing the forums I see little discussion about
> the most important facet. Site...and many
> discussions about detectors, tests, tips and
> whatever but its the same old story if you are a
> deer hunter and there isn't a 10 point buck on the
> mountain you are hunting you are not going to
> shoot a 10 point buck.
>
> Do some research as the net is a good tool along
> with your local library, keep your eyes and ears
> open as may be a good site right in your hometown
> and don't be afraid to ask as all they can say is
> no.
>
> Whoops forgot D....Do enjoy yourself and take some
> time to enjoy and smell the roses..
>
> In addendum I do enjoy reading the discussions as
> well we can never learn too much about the hobby
> and a little tip here and there doesn't help and
> thanks guys and gals for sharing.


Very well said.......research - sites - right machine - know your machine - enjoy yourself....would like to add....get out hunting more....tips the odds in your favor for all of the above. gl and hh

Have to agree with you Dan. And of the three I believe site is the most important. If it isnt there your not going to find it. Go to the library and go through old newspapers and microfilms.Go to the courthouse and go over old land records. Study old plat maps of your area.Talk to old timers. For the past 4yrs. I had been trying to find an old 1850s fairground a couple counties away. The ground had been rented so ther was no record , had been through old microfilms and newspapers and they talked about the fair and the attendance for one of the days was 2500 but they never did say for sure where it was located. About a month ago I decided to go back to courthouse one more time (out of frustration) finding it was becoming an obsession. I was looking through record books ( with no luck) when one of the clerks ask what i was looking for. When I told her i was looking for the old fairground she said she had been there all of her life and never knew it existed.( neither did anyone else around there) She said she would give me the number of an older gentleman who used to be with the farm bureau. I gave him a call and Bingo he knew right where it was and who owns the land now. So stick with your research and things will work out. Can't wait for them to get the crops picked and hopefully get permission, I think this is going to be a good spot seeing how ther was not alot of information on it.

Wish you luck Mike...Spent a lot of time researching and finding owner of a early 1900's amusement park...Talked to the owner and was nice as pie , however I wasn't the first to ask and the first fella must have used a shovel as he dug a large hole and owner damaged his tractor axle when he ran into it...Nice as good me he told me if I was his brother he wouldn't let me detect. Moral of story not many virgin spots around hope you found one and get permission.

mandad76 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Dan-Pa. Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > A. Site
> > B. Detector for the site at hand.
> > C. Above unit learned well.
> >
> > Perusing the forums I see little discussion
> about
> > the most important facet. Site...and many
> > discussions about detectors, tests, tips and
> > whatever but its the same old story if you are
> a
> > deer hunter and there isn't a 10 point buck on
> the
> > mountain you are hunting you are not going to
> > shoot a 10 point buck.
> >
> > Do some research as the net is a good tool
> along
> > with your local library, keep your eyes and
> ears
> > open as may be a good site right in your
> hometown
> > and don't be afraid to ask as all they can say
> is
> > no.
> >
> > Whoops forgot D....Do enjoy yourself and take
> some
> > time to enjoy and smell the roses..
> >
> > In addendum I do enjoy reading the discussions
> as
> > well we can never learn too much about the
> hobby
> > and a little tip here and there doesn't help
> and
> > thanks guys and gals for sharing.
>
>
> Very well said.......research - sites - right
> machine - know your machine - enjoy
> yourself....would like to add....get out hunting
> more....tips the odds in your favor for all of the
> above. gl and hh


it's a little like the lottery!
ya can't win if ya don't play!
get out as much as ya can! enjoy!

(h.h.!)
j.t.

Dan-Pa. Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Wish you luck Mike...Spent a lot of time
> researching and finding owner of a early 1900's
> amusement park...Talked to the owner and was nice
> as pie , however I wasn't the first to ask and the
> first fella must have used a shovel as he dug a
> large hole and owner damaged his tractor axle when
> he ran into it...Nice as good me he told me if I
> was his brother he wouldn't let me detect. Moral
> of story not many virgin spots around hope you
> found one and get permission.


as negative as this sounds,can't help but comment! on this!
unfortunately these things happen,and gives one pause for concern,because
of the actions of a few apathetic "clowns" in our hobby! as a result of the "lunacy"
that we encounter in our society these days,makes it difficult to obtain permission
to hunt private property,however try NOT to be dissuaded,as it can be certainly worth the effort
if permission is granted...just sayin'

(h.h.!)
j.t.

Very well stated, it's a hobby, enjoy it. Along with your other good points, I suggest doing Monte's nail board test. Check your target ID, then check it on the nail board, shows why many targets are still there if you are willing to dig junk signals. MASKING. JMHO.

I agree with all three but let me add swing time, if you do not put your coil over it you will not find it. More time hunting means more time learning and the greater amount of ground you had your coil over. Hopefully those add up to more finds.

I also think you need to learn to love trash - if you let trash get you down it will take the joy out of the hobby. Trash does have some positives first finding and disposing of it means the next time I will not have to dig it. Two when I find trash I learn a little about me my detector and the place I am hunting - trash is important. I also love the surprise. Just like Cracker Jacks sometimes the prizes are not so good but it is always fun to find out what they are anyway. The trash I like the least is can slaw. It still has me outsmarted most of the time and most of the time it is not that interesting. But old rusty items, bottle caps and pull tabs tell me things. Like if I am finding beaver tails at 4 to 5 inches then I can kind of guess where the older coins may lie.

Last but not least you should enjoy digging in dirt and take pride in how hard it is to tell you have been there once you leave.

Bryanna

I know what you mean about those damn shovel's! All the newbee yuppies on the other forum were they keep track of how much silver they get in a year are tearing up the Chicago parks with them! They already got most of the cook county preserves shut down to detecting and only a matter of time till they do the same to the parks. All they care about is how much silver they can get in a year. I would say most haven't even be detecting 5 years,But just because they have a few video's on you tube everybody thinks the are a veteran hunter. And don't tell how neat of a plug you can cut with a shovel as it doesn't matter it just plain looks Bad!

yup! nothin' worse than using a "shovel" improperly
in a public park! (w.t.f!) will be effecting a lot of jobs at some point,
when the latest,and greatest detector gets marketed to people who
can ONLY use it in their OWN back yard! this has a tendency
to "limit" sales considerably!..just sayin'

(h.h.!)
j.t.

Hi Harold,
I am one of those less the 5 year hunters you referred to. Until recently I dug all my plugs with a hand tool no shovel. Even when trying hard to be neat sometimes things just come apart. When the ground is dry or the grass has a weak root system getting the hard to tell you been there look is hard. On many occasions I have stopped my dig because I could tell there was no way of digging without making a bigger impact then I wanted. I had watched Toms video on target recovery several times and noticed he used a shovel. So recently I have started using one. The main difference between me and Tom is I still like to cut a three sided plug and flip it back. What I found is going deeper with the shovel allowed me to keep the roots more intact and make my impact on the park minimal. I think we all need to be honest about that no matter how careful we are there is some impact. I tend to go back to the same areas so I can see if my impact is obvious. Knock on wood but so far I can not tell we're I have been with out looking very hard to see. On the other hand I have seen some plugs and holes that are much more obvious - most of those have been four sided plugs. I will say I believe the right shovel used the right way with due care to minimize impact is better then my hand tool plugs - that's my opinion. I want to be a good embasasador to our hobby I like metal detecting and I do not want to have my ability to hunt public land restricted any more then it already is

Bryanna

Harold,ILL. Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I know what you mean about those damn shovel's!
> All the newbee yuppies on the other forum were
> they keep track of how much silver they get in a
> year are tearing up the Chicago parks with them!
> They already got most of the cook county preserves
> shut down to detecting and only a matter of time
> till they do the same to the parks. All they care
> about is how much silver they can get in a year. I
> would say most haven't even be detecting 5
> years,But just because they have a few video's on
> you tube everybody thinks the are a veteran
> hunter. And don't tell how neat of a plug you can
> cut with a shovel as it doesn't matter it just
> plain looks Bad!

Bryannagirl Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Hi Harold,
> I am one of those less the 5 year hunters you
> referred to. Until recently I dug all my plugs
> with a hand tool no shovel. Even when trying hard
> to be neat sometimes things just come apart. When
> the ground is dry or the grass has a weak root
> system getting the hard to tell you been there
> look is hard. On many occasions I have stopped my
> dig because I could tell there was no way of
> digging without making a bigger impact then I
> wanted. I had watched Toms video on target
> recovery several times and noticed he used a
> shovel. So recently I have started using one. The
> main difference between me and Tom is I still like
> to cut a three sided plug and flip it back. What I
> found is going deeper with the shovel allowed me
> to keep the roots more intact and make my impact
> on the park minimal. I think we all need to be
> honest about that no matter how careful we are
> there is some impact. I tend to go back to the
> same areas so I can see if my impact is obvious.
> Knock on wood but so far I can not tell we're I
> have been with out looking very hard to see. On
> the other hand I have seen some plugs and holes
> that are much more obvious - most of those have
> been four sided plugs. I will say I believe the
> right shovel used the right way with due care to
> minimize impact is better then my hand tool plugs
> - that's my opinion. I want to be a good
> embasasador to our hobby I like metal detecting
> and I do not want to have my ability to hunt
> public land restricted any more then it already
> is
>
> Bryanna

There is a big difference too, in using a shovel in a public park or the likes where "perception" is everything. I use a shovel in farm fields, woods, or anywhere that most likely will not be scrutinized. I always try to practice leaving the plug/hole undetectable when I leave... even in the woods or a field. I figure it's just better practice for those places that will require a tidy/neat job. It all boils down to RESPECT. Most people will be courteous and respectful to the land owner, BUT it only takes one bad egg to hog things up and detecting is banned. The key is in the "perception" of what we are trying to accomplish.

Thank goodness for the rural areas. Where i live is mostly farming communities. My searching consists mostly of old fairgrounds, campmeeting grounds, and chautauqua sites. Most of these sites are now farm fields. Funny but i use a leshe hand digger at these sites and always fill my holes back in. Once in awhile in the early spring or late fall when the ground is really wet i may hit a private yard. Guess i have been fortunate in my 40yrs. of detecting i can only think of being told no 4 or 5 times. I never call a person, I will wait until they are home so i can talk to them face to face as this seems to make a difference.

Sorry Bryanna,But I totally disagree with you. Using a shovel in the open area's to me is a Big NO-NO! I have a Bad shoulder and even though it would be easier on me to do so I won't,Because like I said earlier it just looks bad and in my opinoin very lazy! Most of us have used hand trowels for years,If we can do it so can everybody else!

Using a shovel in a park is bad for our image. No matter how neat you are,the nosy sidewalk supervisor types will take offense and assume you are destroying the park. I like to keep a low profile,hunt early a if possible. Often,if I feel I'm being watched by a busy body,I'll mark a signal and wait for them too leave before diggin.

schultzie Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Bryannagirl Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Hi Harold,
> > I am one of those less the 5 year hunters you
> > referred to. Until recently I dug all my plugs
> > with a hand tool no shovel. Even when trying
> hard
> > to be neat sometimes things just come apart.
> When
> > the ground is dry or the grass has a weak root
> > system getting the hard to tell you been there
> > look is hard. On many occasions I have stopped
> my
> > dig because I could tell there was no way of
> > digging without making a bigger impact then I
> > wanted. I had watched Toms video on target
> > recovery several times and noticed he used a
> > shovel. So recently I have started using one.
> The
> > main difference between me and Tom is I still
> like
> > to cut a three sided plug and flip it back. What
> I
> > found is going deeper with the shovel allowed
> me
> > to keep the roots more intact and make my
> impact
> > on the park minimal. I think we all need to be
> > honest about that no matter how careful we are
> > there is some impact. I tend to go back to the
> > same areas so I can see if my impact is
> obvious.
> > Knock on wood but so far I can not tell we're I
> > have been with out looking very hard to see.
> On
> > the other hand I have seen some plugs and holes
> > that are much more obvious - most of those have
> > been four sided plugs. I will say I believe
> the
> > right shovel used the right way with due care
> to
> > minimize impact is better then my hand tool
> plugs
> > - that's my opinion. I want to be a good
> > embasasador to our hobby I like metal detecting
> > and I do not want to have my ability to hunt
> > public land restricted any more then it already
> > is
> >
> > Bryanna
>
> There is a big difference too, in using a shovel
> in a public park or the likes where "perception"
> is everything. I use a shovel in farm fields,
> woods, or anywhere that most likely will not be
> scrutinized. I always try to practice leaving the
> plug/hole undetectable when I leave... even in the
> woods or a field. I figure it's just better
> practice for those places that will require a
> tidy/neat job. It all boils down to RESPECT. Most
> people will be courteous and respectful to the
> land owner, BUT it only takes one bad egg to hog
> things up and detecting is banned. The key is in
> the "perception" of what we are trying to
> accomplish.


well said ! and absolutely correct! use your "relic shovels"
in the fields,and woods ONLY! as mr. shultz indicates, even in a woods,OR field setting,
ALWAYS cover your holes properly,and "PERCEPTION"IS incredibly important,
ESPECIALLY when in a public park,or any other well kept public site!

(h.h.!)
j.t.

Hi Harold, I should clearify in a normal public park I still use the handheld digger. I was also not saying I could not do a good job with the handheld just my experience is I am getting cleaner results with a shovel in the areas that I use a shovel. In a normal park a digger like a leshe is all I will use. I agree that perception is important and like I said I want to be a good ambassador.. Tom himself is the one who says a shovel will do a cleaner job my experience agrees with what he said. - but he also never mentioned where we should and should not use a shovel. For me I would be uncomfortable in a normal public park with a shovel.

Bryanna

Harold,ILL. Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Sorry Bryanna,But I totally disagree with you.
> Using a shovel in the open area's to me is a Big
> NO-NO! I have a Bad shoulder and even though it
> would be easier on me to do so I won't,Because
> like I said earlier it just looks bad and in my
> opinoin very lazy! Most of us have used hand
> trowels for years,If we can do it so can everybody
> else!

Wait til you are hunting a public park and get the cops called on you for having a "large knife" in the park. When all you had was a Lesche hand tool. Perception can be viewed from many different angles. I had exactly the above happen to me. I was keeping my distance away from the other park people...despite having been in the area before they got there...they came in and took over. I went to a less productive area as to not bother anybody and still got the law called. Having a Lesche or hand tool can look like a large Bowie knife or something to people. The officer told me to use a shovel because there's only so many things you can mistake a shovel for. I use a small predator tools shovel.
.have been doing so ever since the day I had the encounter. Have never had another problem and can dig a plug just as good and BETTER than some I've seen on YouTube with Lesche hand tools.

I use a Predator Little Eagle when I can. Same small blade as the Dixie but a shorter T handle.
[predatortools.com]

A couple weeks ago 3 park guys mowing came over to talk to me. They were interested in what I was finding
and I gave them a demo with the detector and recovery of a 9.5" mercury dime using the Little Eagle and
a ProPointer. They all agreed when I was done there was no trace of my digging. Unfortunately someone has
been using a trowel there cutting shallow plugs where the grass dies or the ducks and geese from the lagoon
pull their shallow plugs all the way out and scatter them... leaving open holes. I try to repair them as best I can.

My Lesche and Predator Raptor 31 have their place. But the Little Eagle is a better digging tool here.
Right now no matter what you do grass is going to die... 100deg every day is miserable.

You do have a point what seems ok to one person may not be ok to another. I think the goal is low impact recovery. On another fourm someone came up with the idea of wearing an orange construction vest kind of makes you look official. - it may not be a bad idea.

Daniel Tn Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Wait til you are hunting a public park and get the
> cops called on you for having a "large knife" in
> the park. When all you had was a Lesche hand tool.
> Perception can be viewed from many different
> angles. I had exactly the above happen to me. I
> was keeping my distance away from the other park
> people...despite having been in the area before
> they got there...they came in and took over. I
> went to a less productive area as to not bother
> anybody and still got the law called. Having a
> Lesche or hand tool can look like a large Bowie
> knife or something to people. The officer told me
> to use a shovel because there's only so many
> things you can mistake a shovel for. I use a small
> predator tools shovel.
> .have been doing so ever since the day I had the
> encounter. Have never had another problem and can
> dig a plug just as good and BETTER than some I've
> seen on YouTube with Lesche hand tools.

Lip - maybe we will cross paths and you can show me your little eagle. I hear good things about it.

Bryanna

Lipservice Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I use a Predator Little Eagle when I can. Same
> small blade as the Dixie but a shorter T handle.
> [predatortools.com]
>
> A couple weeks ago 3 park guys mowing came over to
> talk to me. They were interested in what I was
> finding
> and I gave them a demo with the detector and
> recovery of a 9.5" mercury dime using the Little
> Eagle and
> a ProPointer. They all agreed when I was done
> there was no trace of my digging. Unfortunately
> someone has
> been using a trowel there cutting shallow plugs
> where the grass dies or the ducks and geese from
> the lagoon
> pull their shallow plugs all the way out and
> scatter them... leaving open holes. I try to
> repair them as best I can.
>
> My Lesche and Predator Raptor 31 have their place.
> But the Little Eagle is a better digging tool
> here.
> Right now no matter what you do grass is going to
> die... 100deg every day is miserable.

Nice easy pitch over the plate, BAHMM!!! out of the park.

A continuous futile exercise of prudence!

Shovels have their place in the hobby but not in video's or public parks but perhaps in isolated areas for relic hunters or perhaps deep silver hunters but then again so do screwdrivers in perhaps a local park setting.

Every year I see more fences go up, locked gates, no detecting signs etc along with I would love to let you but my insurance carrier will not allow.

Unfortunately at this time of year with high temps and super dry ground disturb the ground and grass will die and time to dust off the water detectors or switch to an alternate hobby.

Here is a picture of the Predator Tools Little Eagle. Next to a Predator Tools Raptor 31 and a Leshe...
I carry it in my left hand grasping it close to the blade and the hanle is running next to my arm.












BTW can you see the 5" plug here dug with the Little Eagle?

yes! barely! at the top center,i can just make out your 3 sided "hinge" plug!
excellent 'cover" NO ONE will see that! how does that '31 dig? you like it?
i think i'm gonna get one!

(h.h!)
j.t.

Very nice - I want one

It digs super easy even in hard ground!

Actually the plug is highlighted in red here...

Have no doubt clean plugs can be done with the above shovel however just carrying it presents an image likely to get you reported to the grounds crew.

One local had the police called as he was using the probe that looks something like a gun.

The idea is to blend in and especially in this weather become proficient in the use of a screwdriver and leave the shovels for hunting in the out of the way areas, neat or not going to get you bounced locally and may even get (no detecting signs) erected.

Actually better to carry your digging knife tucked in your pouch rather than a visible case. Public in general can cause probelms for the general detectorist whether warranted or not as your local police department has to respond and yes the complainant doesn't even have to identify themselves...

The grounds crew came and WATCHED me retrieve a target (see earlier post in this thread). And I used to use a blunted screwdriver/coinpopper in the early 70s. Ruined some nice finds with them.
They did work ok for digging the shallow finds up to 4 or 5 inches which is all the deeper the detectors went then. I would love to see a video of anyone retrieving a coin at 10" with a screwdriver let
alone not gouging it in the process. And the time involved in doing it.