like we find in Culpeper at the DIV hunts then I suggest the following.
Run a wide open iron mask screen and make sure that you do a NOISE CANCEL over some clean ground.
Set the sens on manual as high as it will run and still be stable, gain at about 8 and re-check the noise cancel every now and then .. but the Explorer will let you know when it's turned up to hot, it'll get real jumpy on that dirt.
Set your sounds to ferrous tones and dig everything that even sounds like it has a good tone mixed in with iron because you will hear iron 90% of the time, even when it's not iron.
It won't take you long to get a handle on it ... and by the way ... the Explorer has found MANY good finds in that bad dirt for the ones that are willing and able to use some patience and run it slow when you get into the iron patches.
You will HEAR things that the others may not ... and don't take a huge coil with you, take the stock
or pro coil if possible and a 8" coil, you can turn the sens up higher on the 8" coil and really cut between some heavy iron patches that most other detectors can't deal with.
Culperer dirt is about as BAD as it gets in Virginia and I've ran the Explorer there and found goodies by literally walking behind people that was swinging a Whites, Nautilus, Garretts, Tesoro and you name it .... and made them re-think their statements that the Explorer wouldn't hunt there !!!
Most Virginia natives use the MXT with a lot of success, I've hunted with some of the BEST over there for years and those guys for the most part are hard core relic hunters and great people but don't let them tell you that the Explorer won't hunt there ... it will.
Hunt areas that are not likely to get hit, like briar patches, thick brush areas etc. and around fence lines ... use the 8" for this too.
And never overlook the obvious either, what may sound like a big piece of trash might end up being a belt plate, canteen, sword hilt, or whatever ... dig it up and SEE what it is.
Good Hunting
Mike
