Any metaldetectorists!

[demtears]

Got into Metal Detecting about 2 to 3 months ago and have enjoyed going out finding treasures. Any one else on the form metal detect? have you found anything neat? what have your experiences been while detecting and camping? I have only used my detector once while camping and had to request permission to use my detector while staying at the park, and that anything found of historic value becomes property of the park. (understandable), unfortunately nothing was found during that trip but have found some interesting finds nonetheless here is a sample of some treasures found.

[hotrod]

I have always wanted to do this but just never seem to get thetime. there is a used whites metal detector in a shop by here for $20 but it needs a battery box. I should snag it up.. My luck i would end up digging up someones garbage dump.. lolol

[demtears]

I have always wanted to do this but just never seem to get thetime. there is a used whites metal detector in a shop by here for $20 but it needs a battery box. I should snag it up.. My luck i would end up digging up someones garbage dump.. lolol

20 bucks can't go wrong there. it should pay itself off soon enough, I managed to find 15 dollars in clad the first month.

[hotrod]

I have always wanted to do this but just never seem to get thetime. there is a used whites metal detector in a shop by here for $20 but it needs a battery box. I should snag it up.. My luck i would end up digging up someones garbage dump.. lolol

20 bucks can't go wrong there. it should pay itself off soon enough, I managed to find 15 dollars in clad the first month.

It probably wouldnt take long to pay for itself.. Youve found some neat stuff already, with the ca/us exchange rate you could turn a profit! lolol, keep posting up your scroungings. i love that stuff...What kind of detector did you buy?

[demtears]

I have always wanted to do this but just never seem to get thetime. there is a used whites metal detector in a shop by here for $20 but it needs a battery box. I should snag it up.. My luck i would end up digging up someones garbage dump.. lolol

20 bucks can't go wrong there. it should pay itself off soon enough, I managed to find 15 dollars in clad the first month.

It probably wouldnt take long to pay for itself.. Youve found some neat stuff already, with the ca/us exchange rate you could turn a profit! lolol, keep posting up your scroungings. i love that stuff...What kind of detector did you buy?

I bought a Tesoro Deleon, great machine and easy to learn. It really is amazing what people are finding from old civil war relics to gold rings. I'm still waiting to find my first gold ring.

[duke]

I have been into Metal Detecting for about 10 years now. I currently have a Whites's MXT and White's XLT Spectrum, along with a Fisher 1280X for the water in my arsenal. I'm president of our local club, and a member of 3 other clubs in my state. I actually got into teardrops while looking for a small camper to use for detecting trips and attending club hunts and events around the region.

It constantly amazes me what is out there simply waiting to be found by someone walking over it swinging a detector. People lose coins, jewelry, and other items, well, where ever people have been. Research is the key to making good finds, especially in finding older sites to detect. Having a detector with you to nail the "targets of opportunity" like construction sites that are gone all too soon is definately a must.

Every now and then, lightning does strike, and a signifigant find is uncovered by a detectorist, either in historical or monetary value or both.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090924/ap_on_re_eu/eu_britain_anglo_saxon_gold


My personal lightning struck in August of 2001, when I recovered this cache of US $20 & $5 gold coins from a street widening project in a nearby town. It has been featured in Western & Eastern Treasure, Lost Treasure, and Life magazines.



I must be doing something right, because in May of 2008, I recovered this $20 gold coin about 3/4 of a mile away from the cache site, at a residential demolition site.



I primarily water hunt for jewelry in the summer, as the ground can be quite hard and its not very forgiving when you are trying to recover items without leaving a trace.



In the spring and fall, I hunt in the woods and fields for fur trade items, early settlement relics, and old coins. A favorite piece from my collection is a Copper Culture ( circa. 1000 - 3000 BC ) socketed spearpoint.

[vrodjason]

wow this is great stuff. I am always amazed by what people find! Great thread! Wish I had time to do it!

[WarPony]

Hey, cool topic!! My GF bought me a Cabelas metal detector for Christmas last year. So far, it's found a bunch of crap in my front yard and my brother found his wife's wedding ring!! I should start bringing it when we camp and have a looksie.

Jeff

[t-vicky]

My daughter in law is big in to it. She once did my yard & we figured it must have taken 40 cases of beer to build this house. All the pull tabs are in the yard.
She found a WW1 dog tag once. Looked up the name on the web & the guy was still alive in a nursing home. She took it to him & had quite a long chat with him.

[eveningprimrose]

Hey, cool topic!!

VERY cool topic! I've wanted a metal detector for quite some time. I'm thinking I'll start looking at the pawn shops and see how well I do with a used one. Then, move up from there.

[tinksdad]

So??? For the sake of the totally uninitiated; how does one go about deciding where to start a search?? There has to be more to it than just going out and randomly picking a spot.

[duke]

The woodchip cushions under most modern playground equipment in schoolyards / parks is the best spot for beginners. The chips hide an amazing amount of coins and sometimes jewelry. The digging is easy and its the perfect place for a beginner to hone their skills. Other places to go:

Schools
Parks
Residential Yards
Carnival/Festival/Fair sites
Old Schools/Churchs
Scout Camps
Athletic Fields
Picnic Groves
Beaches/Swimming Areas
Ghost Towns
Campgrounds
Amusement Parks
Sledding Hills
Resort Areas
Old Homesites/Farms
Racetracks
Roadside Stands
Ski Slopes
Drive In Theatres
Vacant Lots
Construction Sites

It is up to the Detectorist to do the research to find out about any regulations regarding the legality of detecting on any site and obtaining permisson. All Federal lands are off limits, most State controlled lands(including State Parks) are regulated, and a lot of Counties and Munincipalities have regulations or require permits.

[emiller]

It's illegal to use a metal detector in most Arizona State parks I found out when I took mine to Dead Horse Ranch State park and the ranger told me to put it away. Something about most parks have archeological back ground.