I really wasn't going to make a year end post...but I received a few pm's requesting that I do so. I also figured that I'll never experience another year like this one....so I might as well share it...and I hope you are all okay with it.
I don't even know how to begin to describe the whirlwind 2008 I had. With the loss of my mom...it seemed as though the walls were closing in...and there was nothing I could do about it.
I do know one thing though...without the joys and thrills of metal detecting...along with the soothing calm it brings...I truthfully don't think I could have made it through with any sanity left.
This forum...and some great people here..have truly become "family" to me. Each and every one of you who clicked on one of my posts...shared a glimpse into my life and one of my hunts.
I met a lot of "good" people in 2008 through responses to my posts...pm's...phone calls...actual hunts...etc.
Niterider_58...or the "Yeti" as he is more appropriately known....and I ...pounded every park we could find....then REpounded them one more time for good measure.
I also met and hunted with Guvner on several occasions and got a smile on my face one time when he dug to China... only to uncover a pretty colored screw cap from 12" down.
I chuckled to myself...then promptly shut my pie hole when I found my own pretty screw cap from the same depth... about 10' away.
Nothin' like some good ol' fill dirt to keep things interesting.
I also had the honor of Andy Sabisch asking me to be a part of his Minelab Explorer and E-Trac book....annialated my previous year end totals for silver and injuns...and then suffered the loss my loving mom all in the same year. A complete rollercoaster ride of some of the happiest times of my life...along with the saddest moment of my life thus far.
I received a zillion pm's asking for settings tips..advice... opinions....condolences on the loss of my mom....and some to just to talk detectin'. I can honestly say that I appreciated each and every one of them...and was flattered to be respected enough that you would pm me. I can also honestly say that I answered each of you with a truthful opinion and an honest assessment based on my in field experimenting...and the end results I obtained. I never told anyone what would work...but I did tell you what worked for me...and that you were welcome to give it a try.
From a detecting standpoint....I am amazed at the amount of silver and injuns I was able to pull from the exact same pounded parks I beat up last year....and the years before. There is no secret...honestly....I have found the slower I go...the more I find. This year I was able to reach the depths needed to hit a layer of "older" era of coins unlike any previous year.
Last year was a great one for silver...and I ended up with 102.
This year was absolutely insane...and I ended up with 206. I'll tell you what...you know you are getting older, "missed" coins when you find more Barber dimes than Roosevelt dimes in a year. I found 32 Barber dimes this year...but only 31 Roosevelts..which attests to the fact that most of the coins from 4" to 7" were gone from these parks I hunt.
Another thing that shocked me is the number of old injuns I pulled out this year. No way I'll ever dream of anything close to this again.
Last year I blew away my previous best year ever total of 37...by finding 40.
This year was incredible...and I was able to pop out 103 Injuns. In fact the last few hunts I had...I didn't even find any wheaties....or mercs...which again attest to the fact that all the coins from 4" to 7" were long gone from most of these parks.
Nearly half the injuns' and Barber dimes came the last 3 months of the year...after I committed to the 10 x 12 S.E.F. coil.
I ended the year with 206 Silver coins....103 Injuns...around 600 wheaties...a couple of gold rings...$238 in clad quarters and dimes...and some great new friends.
My most cherished find though wasn't the Morgan dollar hidin' in the iron... which 'bout caused a change of shorts...the 1831 capped bust dime from the cabin site....or even finding 7 1800's injuns in one hunt. It was the 1941 Merc that I know in my heart... my mom dropped as a youngster at the house she was raised at. ....and that I found the afternoon she passed away...while trying to keep depression from tearing me apart. Thanks mom.
Again...thank you all...and a special thank you Guvner ...or "G" as I call you...for providing this wonderful forum....and also some entertaining, disgruntled mumbling if there's junk at the bottom of the hole you dig.
I did the best I could with the pics. I couldn't fit all of the coins in because you are only allotted a certain number of pics per post. The breakdown of coins is as follows:
Clad: $238
1 - Morgan Dollar
2 - Barber Halves
1 - Walking Liberty Half
8 - Washington Quarters
3 - Barber Quarters
4 - standing Liberty quarters
1 - seated Quarter
1 - English 3 Pence Silver
1 - Canadian Fish Scale
4 - Seated Dimes
1- Seated Half Dime
116 - Mercury Dimes
32 - Barber Dimes
31 - Roosevelt Dimes
103 - Indian Head Cents
600 - wheaties
I don't even know how to begin to describe the whirlwind 2008 I had. With the loss of my mom...it seemed as though the walls were closing in...and there was nothing I could do about it.
I do know one thing though...without the joys and thrills of metal detecting...along with the soothing calm it brings...I truthfully don't think I could have made it through with any sanity left.
This forum...and some great people here..have truly become "family" to me. Each and every one of you who clicked on one of my posts...shared a glimpse into my life and one of my hunts.
I met a lot of "good" people in 2008 through responses to my posts...pm's...phone calls...actual hunts...etc.
Niterider_58...or the "Yeti" as he is more appropriately known....and I ...pounded every park we could find....then REpounded them one more time for good measure.
I also met and hunted with Guvner on several occasions and got a smile on my face one time when he dug to China... only to uncover a pretty colored screw cap from 12" down.
I chuckled to myself...then promptly shut my pie hole when I found my own pretty screw cap from the same depth... about 10' away. Nothin' like some good ol' fill dirt to keep things interesting.I also had the honor of Andy Sabisch asking me to be a part of his Minelab Explorer and E-Trac book....annialated my previous year end totals for silver and injuns...and then suffered the loss my loving mom all in the same year. A complete rollercoaster ride of some of the happiest times of my life...along with the saddest moment of my life thus far.
I received a zillion pm's asking for settings tips..advice... opinions....condolences on the loss of my mom....and some to just to talk detectin'. I can honestly say that I appreciated each and every one of them...and was flattered to be respected enough that you would pm me. I can also honestly say that I answered each of you with a truthful opinion and an honest assessment based on my in field experimenting...and the end results I obtained. I never told anyone what would work...but I did tell you what worked for me...and that you were welcome to give it a try.
From a detecting standpoint....I am amazed at the amount of silver and injuns I was able to pull from the exact same pounded parks I beat up last year....and the years before. There is no secret...honestly....I have found the slower I go...the more I find. This year I was able to reach the depths needed to hit a layer of "older" era of coins unlike any previous year.
Last year was a great one for silver...and I ended up with 102.
This year was absolutely insane...and I ended up with 206. I'll tell you what...you know you are getting older, "missed" coins when you find more Barber dimes than Roosevelt dimes in a year.
I found 32 Barber dimes this year...but only 31 Roosevelts..which attests to the fact that most of the coins from 4" to 7" were gone from these parks I hunt. Another thing that shocked me is the number of old injuns I pulled out this year. No way I'll ever dream of anything close to this again.
Last year I blew away my previous best year ever total of 37...by finding 40.
This year was incredible...and I was able to pop out 103 Injuns.
In fact the last few hunts I had...I didn't even find any wheaties....or mercs...which again attest to the fact that all the coins from 4" to 7" were long gone from most of these parks.Nearly half the injuns' and Barber dimes came the last 3 months of the year...after I committed to the 10 x 12 S.E.F. coil.
I ended the year with 206 Silver coins....103 Injuns...around 600 wheaties...a couple of gold rings...$238 in clad quarters and dimes...and some great new friends.
My most cherished find though wasn't the Morgan dollar hidin' in the iron... which 'bout caused a change of shorts
...the 1831 capped bust dime from the cabin site....or even finding 7 1800's injuns in one hunt. It was the 1941 Merc that I know in my heart... my mom dropped as a youngster at the house she was raised at. ....and that I found the afternoon she passed away...while trying to keep depression from tearing me apart. Thanks mom.Again...thank you all...and a special thank you Guvner ...or "G" as I call you...for providing this wonderful forum....and also some entertaining, disgruntled mumbling if there's junk at the bottom of the hole you dig.
I did the best I could with the pics. I couldn't fit all of the coins in because you are only allotted a certain number of pics per post. The breakdown of coins is as follows:
Clad: $238
1 - Morgan Dollar
2 - Barber Halves
1 - Walking Liberty Half
8 - Washington Quarters
3 - Barber Quarters
4 - standing Liberty quarters
1 - seated Quarter
1 - English 3 Pence Silver
1 - Canadian Fish Scale
4 - Seated Dimes
1- Seated Half Dime
116 - Mercury Dimes
32 - Barber Dimes
31 - Roosevelt Dimes
103 - Indian Head Cents
600 - wheaties
I was so excited , I forgot 
I will never see a year like you had by a long shot and I doubt very few other people will either except maybe one other fellow who's initials are James ND. A great year indeed for you my friend and I hope this year will be just as good as last year. HH.