Trash-to-Treasure Ratio

[Texas Jay]

Results of a 90-minute metal detecting hunt at a park a couple of weeks ago. When you're hunting primarily for gold, as I am, you must be willing to dig a lot of trash targets if you want to have any chance at finding gold. I've learned that the ratio of trash-to-keeper targets is about 5 pieces of metal trash for every good target I dig. Removing dangerous metal scrap from park playgrounds and public areas, putting it into your trash pouch, and disposing of it properly is just one of many benefits that we detectorists provide to the community.
~Texas Jay

 

[Architex]

Judging from your pic, and based on my park experience, I'd say it could be more like 20 to 1 if you're looking for gold. I try to make my trash removal known - in my parks you have to have a permit. I'm saving all my park trash and at the end of the season I'm going to spread it all out on the driveway, take a pic, and email the pic to the lady who issues the permits. Can't hurt, right?

 

[still looking 52]

You gold hunters are the most patience people in the world, in our park around here the trash to treasure ratio is off the charts, I'm talking you can't get 25 square feet detected in an 8 hour period because of all the trash, mainly pull tabs.

 

[D&P-OR]

Architex-------That sounds like a GREAT thing to do & something more of us should probably do.------Make sure the city council is aware of it though.----That lady that issues the permits may be no more than a "pencil pusher" that hits the delete button.

Judging from your pic, and based on my park experience, I'd say it could be more like 20 to 1 if you're looking for gold. I try to make my trash removal known - in my parks you have to have a permit. I'm saving all my park trash and at the end of the season I'm going to spread it all out on the driveway, take a pic, and email the pic to the lady who issues the permits. Can't hurt, right?

 

[dfmike]

I'm with Architex. My trash to good finds ratio is far worse than 5:1 Learning a detector well and going to the right places will cut down on the trash found vs good stuff of course but gold has such a large range of ID numbers that digging lots of trash is inevitable. In trashy areas when my patience runs out, I will sometimes cherry pick the higher conductive ID numbers in search of clad and silver but I'm fully aware that I will leave a gold target in the ground and probably already did on a few occasions. It drives me crazy !

 

[Canewrap]

Here's an idea. We all know that to get good targets that other missed, it's sometimes necessary to start digging everything. This will unmask deeper or adjacent targets.
So, if you know you have 2 hours on a Saturday to hunt a site, why not devote the first hour to digging everything in a gridded out area, say 10 X 10 feet. Then, during your
second hour - cherry pick over what ever part of the site you want. Then, the next time back, rehunt the grid you did before and so some more digging all targets or move
to another 10 X 10 and do the same all metal hunting. It should limit the frustration and eventually start pulling out targets you've been missing. The whole eating an elephant
a bite at a time analogy comes to mind.

 

[Texas Jay]

Judging from your pic, and based on my park experience, I'd say it could be more like 20 to 1 if you're looking for gold. I try to make my trash removal known - in my parks you have to have a permit. I'm saving all my park trash and at the end of the season I'm going to spread it all out on the driveway, take a pic, and email the pic to the lady who issues the permits. Can't hurt, right?

That's why I said "trash-to-keeper" ratio and not trash-to-gold ratio. While I'm focusing on hunting areas that likely contain gold, I still love the thrill of digging coins, historical relics, and even junk jewelry.
It would be good for detectorists everywhere if we all would emphasize the many ways we help our communities with our hobby as you do, Architex. Many areas are now "off-limits" because of a few inconsiderate jerks who don't practice the Metal Detecting Code of Ethics.
~Texas Jay

 

[Texas Jay]

Canewrap, that's an excellent suggestion and it's one that I practice quite often but almost always when I'm searching a virgin site and want to get it all (or at least most of it) before I move on to the next site on my schedule. It's also a good strategy to use when hunting large parks that you want to return to over and over again.
~Texas Jay

 

[whyicare]

Actually, the ratio of trash to gold ratio is relatively high for me. It is something like 100 to 1. I use a Fisher F75 and the gold range is 22 to 25 which is also in the same range as foil. But I have dug gold rings 14K which more than made up for those foils. Anyone with advise on how to differentiate between gold and foil on the Fisher F75.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Architex-------That sounds like a GREAT thing to do & something more of us should probably do.------Make sure the city council is aware of it though.----That lady that issues the permits may be no more than a "pencil pusher" that hits the delete button.
Judging from your pic, and based on my park experience, I'd say it could be more like 20 to 1 if you're looking for gold. I try to make my trash removal known - in my parks you have to have a permit. I'm saving all my park trash and at the end of the season I'm going to spread it all out on the driveway, take a pic, and email the pic to the lady who issues the permits. Can't hurt, right?

Are you guys serious ? Sending pictures, of scores of junk dug from the city park, to city hall ? That seems like the FASTEST way to get someone there (who perhaps never gave the matter a moment's thought) thinking of "Gee, .... do we really want all these yahoos digging up the park ?"

Stop and think for a minute guys : You guys seem to think that desk-bound bureaucrats would somehow be happy that md'rs are "cleaning up the park". But do you think they're stupid ? Do you think they don't know that that foil, or pulltab etc..., wasn't buried and not a harm to anyone ? It was invisible, buried, and thus not an issue.

The only thing you're going to do, with waving the word "metal detector" in front of them, is to conjure up images of geeks with shovels.

And if you think "But this city already issues a permit, hence they're already aware of it" : You would be surprised at how often the rank & file at city hall, who would be receiving such a letter/picture such as this, .... have no idea about "permits" issued for this. For example: There's a city here in CA that.... yes .... had dreamed up a "permit" decades ago. They just let the local club issue them, and the club sends a 1x per year check to the city. But one local fellow didn't want to join the club (couldn't coordinate his schedule with the club meeting times or whatever). So he thought he could just go to city hall and get one himself. He got shunted to 10 different desks, as people there simply didn't know what he was talking about.

So ... please .... Stop thinking that the more-attention to us is the better. On the contrary, the LESS attention to us is the better. Stop swatting hornet's nests.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Judging from your picture, it looks like you're including clad coins as "treasure" in your 5 to 1 ratio. But if you were counting only GOLD as being "treasure", then .... it appears that others here are saying the ratios would be more like 100 to 1. That is .... if you're talking turfed parks. And I can think of parks where the ratio would be more like 1000 to 1.

So if gold rings are your agenda, then why oh why oh why are you hunting junky turf, to begin with ? Why not just hunt locations where the ratios aren't quite so punishing ? Simply go to swimming beaches. Not junky blighted parks.

And if you have no swim lakes or beaches near you, then there are types-of land -hunting where the ratios aren't quite so punishing. Eg.: Sports fields that are devoid of any picnicking eating/drinking. Eg.: soccer fields, football field sidelines (where people lay their stuff along the goal posts before going out to play , etc...). Other land locations = sand volleyball courts, mud-wrestle pits, ski-lift lines (@ summer thaw), etc.....

Because the moment you have any sort of eating, BBQ'ing, drinking, etc.... is the moment you can add foil (for the food wrap), tabs (for the drinks), and can nuggets (for the BBQ melted residue).

So the "trick" to finding gold rings is not to "dig junk till your arms fall off". Instead, the trick is: Location location location.

 

[jim tn]

For quite a few years after retiring and swinging mostly F 75 detectors, I averaged 6-7 gold rings annually simply digging nickel range and zinc/cent range readings. Mostly gold bands and medium size ladies rings would fall in the nickel range and class rings seemed to mostly fall into the zinc/cent range. The F 75 with its high tone nickel range was a good alerter. Of course, I still dug plenty of tabs....and a good number of nickels, some old. I still have a F 75, but other detectors, too.....and since I no longer solely use a F 75, my annual gold averages have suffered. I like gold, but not well enough to dig the trash pieces necessary to find it. HH jim tn

 

[Architex]

Architex-------That sounds like a GREAT thing to do & something more of us should probably do.------Make sure the city council is aware of it though.----That lady that issues the permits may be no more than a "pencil pusher" that hits the delete button.
Judging from your pic, and based on my park experience, I'd say it could be more like 20 to 1 if you're looking for gold. I try to make my trash removal known - in my parks you have to have a permit. I'm saving all my park trash and at the end of the season I'm going to spread it all out on the driveway, take a pic, and email the pic to the lady who issues the permits. Can't hurt, right?

Are you guys serious ? Sending pictures, of scores of junk dug from the city park, to city hall ? That seems like the FASTEST way to get someone there (who perhaps never gave the matter a moment's thought) thinking of "Gee, .... do we really want all these yahoos digging up the park ?"

Stop and think for a minute guys : You guys seem to think that desk-bound bureaucrats would somehow be happy that md'rs are "cleaning up the park". But do you think they're stupid ? Do you think they don't know that that foil, or pulltab etc..., wasn't buried and not a harm to anyone ? It was invisible, buried, and thus not an issue.

The only thing you're going to do, with waving the word "metal detector" in front of them, is to conjure up images of geeks with shovels.

And if you think "But this city already issues a permit, hence they're already aware of it" : You would be surprised at how often the rank & file at city hall, who would be receiving such a letter/picture such as this, .... have no idea about "permits" issued for this. For example: There's a city here in CA that.... yes .... had dreamed up a "permit" decades ago. They just let the local club issue them, and the club sends a 1x per year check to the city. But one local fellow didn't want to join the club (couldn't coordinate his schedule with the club meeting times or whatever). So he thought he could just go to city hall and get one himself. He got shunted to 10 different desks, as people there simply didn't know what he was talking about.

So ... please .... Stop thinking that the more-attention to us is the better. On the contrary, the LESS attention to us is the better. Stop swatting hornet's nests.

I understand your feelings because you live in a basically communist state. Not quite that bad here - yet. Actually, the permit lady referred me to someone who lost a platinum earring and they paid me to find it. So our bureaucrats are not quite so bad. And the park maintenance people are very nice and don't really care if you follow most of the rules (just don't show up with a shovel of course.). Maybe you should move here.

 

[D&P-OR]

Well-----Tom is always (justifiably) "touchy" on this type of post--living where he does.-----And no Tom--it's not the same all the time & everywhere.-----I started detecting when you had to be just a little kid--and--I've hunted in (almost) every state in the U.S.----and I can tell you, there is a difference (perception) of our hobby.-----I agree with you on some of your posts and disagree with you on others.-----You are correct in that we (somehow) have to kick this "shovels in a park" stigma/perception.------You are also correct in stating that the lower profile we keep of our hobby, the better (that's in MOST cases).--------I agree with Architex that presenting a picture such as the one he described to a city council---IMPRESSING on them that these junk items were obtained with the use of SMALL/NON-DAMAGING TO TURF recovery tools.-------Think about it Tom----how much surface junk have you seen in parks (even by trash cans) left by people that are too stinking lazy to toss them in the garbage.-----We pick up that "stuff" & include it in the picture also.---------You are concerned about shovels where they shouldn't be and brother, I am WITH YOU on that one.------Certains of people have brought that "perception" on all of us.-------The public associates metal detecting with digging holes--duh!-------If we can convince town councils that we are retrieving targets (both good & bad) in a non-intrusive/non damaging manner (actually doing some good)--our parks will stay open---if not, they will be closed---simple as that!------I've seen this situation over & over across the years.-----------Del

Architex-------That sounds like a GREAT thing to do & something more of us should probably do.------Make sure the city council is aware of it though.----That lady that issues the permits may be no more than a "pencil pusher" that hits the delete button.
Judging from your pic, and based on my park experience, I'd say it could be more like 20 to 1 if you're looking for gold. I try to make my trash removal known - in my parks you have to have a permit. I'm saving all my park trash and at the end of the season I'm going to spread it all out on the driveway, take a pic, and email the pic to the lady who issues the permits. Can't hurt, right?

Are you guys serious ? Sending pictures, of scores of junk dug from the city park, to city hall ? That seems like the FASTEST way to get someone there (who perhaps never gave the matter a moment's thought) thinking of "Gee, .... do we really want all these yahoos digging up the park ?"

Stop and think for a minute guys : You guys seem to think that desk-bound bureaucrats would somehow be happy that md'rs are "cleaning up the park". But do you think they're stupid ? Do you think they don't know that that foil, or pulltab etc..., wasn't buried and not a harm to anyone ? It was invisible, buried, and thus not an issue.

The only thing you're going to do, with waving the word "metal detector" in front of them, is to conjure up images of geeks with shovels.

And if you think "But this city already issues a permit, hence they're already aware of it" : You would be surprised at how often the rank & file at city hall, who would be receiving such a letter/picture such as this, .... have no idea about "permits" issued for this. For example: There's a city here in CA that.... yes .... had dreamed up a "permit" decades ago. They just let the local club issue them, and the club sends a 1x per year check to the city. But one local fellow didn't want to join the club (couldn't coordinate his schedule with the club meeting times or whatever). So he thought he could just go to city hall and get one himself. He got shunted to 10 different desks, as people there simply didn't know what he was talking about.

So ... please .... Stop thinking that the more-attention to us is the better. On the contrary, the LESS attention to us is the better. Stop swatting hornet's nests.

I understand your feelings because you live in a basically communist state. Not quite that bad here - yet. Actually, the permit lady referred me to someone who lost a platinum earring and they paid me to find it. So our bureaucrats are not quite so bad. And the park maintenance people are very nice and don't really care if you follow most of the rules (just don't show up with a shovel of course.). Maybe you should move here.

 

[Tom Slick]

Gotta say I'm with you Tom on this one. After 40 plus years detecting parks in numerous states that I've lived in, we should all be trying to fly under the radar, and keeping a low profile. I've seen many places that we've hunted without issue until someone "calls" and asks "is it alright to detect such and such place" The answer is almost always NO, and they start running anyone off with a detector. Better to ask forgiveness than ask permission. (yes, we all know about National parks and Monuments, etc.)

 

[Tom_in_CA]

---simple as that!------.....

But there is already no prohibition. It's already not dis-allowed there.

I know we'll have to disagree agreeably, but .... I don't think showing them junk will "keep the park from getting put off-limits". If anything, it would seem to just put us on their radar, front and center. And then the trouble becomes .... someone could envision "holes" . That is a connotation that our hobby *does* admittedly carry (whether or not we actually left no trace, or not).

Maybe you'll chalk this up to a geographical difference in CA versus elsewhere, but : I was getting flack from a gardener once. So I pulled some junk items from my apron, to show him how it's doing a good service for the park, by "cleaning up". He was not persuaded in the slightest. He said "It was under the ground, unseen and not a danger or eyesore to anyone". In fact, I could tell he was sort of perturbed that I could think he was that foolish, to have even brought that up in the first place

 

[Tom_in_CA]

.... Better to ask forgiveness than ask permission.....

Well, let's be clear on that "catchy phrase" : We would not be invoking that (playing those odds) on any place with a true and clear rule. Ie.: a place that truly had a rule saying "no md'ing". In that case, .... no ... the catchy slogan doesn't apply

But for run-of-the-mill parks, forests, beaches, etc... where there's not an explicit dis-allowance, then yes, I'd apply that. Meaning: Someone could *still* gripe on other grounds . Eg.: that they think you're about to leave holes, or whatever. Fine, in that case, then yes: The catchy slogan applies. And then ... just avoid that one individual in the future.

 

[jim tn]

If I was a bureaucrat viewing a picture of literally thousands of dug targets the first thing I would think of is all the thousands of holes that were dug recovering all that trash. I personally would never do that and I live in a area where detecting anywhere on city property is o k. HH jim tn

 

[mrwilburino]

Yeah, I never understood the logic of displaying one's trash to the ranger/city offical/concerned busy body. It's like announcing that you just dug holes all over the park for nothing.

 

[Architex]

BUT........one of the rules is that any trash you dig must be removed from the park.