What's Your Best Metal Detecting Tip ?

[E-Trac-Ohio]

This forum is a great place to learn about our hobby, get questions answered and share stories and photo's of our finds.

I was thinking about some of the new things that I learned while hunting this past season and thought it would be a good idea to ask forum other members ...
What's a real good tip that you could pass along to other members of this forum, that could help them be more successful in the field ?

Here's mine ...

Whenever I go to a site that's been visited by a lot of people - like a Church, School or Park - also the type of site that's also been hunted by many other treasure hunters over the years ...
I hunt "Off The Beaten Path"
I made dozens of nice finds this past season by hunting the tougher to walk and swing areas of the location - on steep slopes, in overgrown area's, under shrubs and guard rails, etc.
From what I've seen - it looks like these harder to hunt areas are often overlooked by others.

HH --- Mark

 

[ArnieTX]

Good Idea!

Internet Research - Can never do too much!

When in rural areas looking for old places to hunt keep your eye on the power lines.These will lead you to old homesteads. Wherever you see a transformer on a pole, there's a good chance that something is there or something used to be there that required power. Always have a good pair of binoculars when scouting.

Visit small town or county museums. Many old pictures are hanging on those walls showing life back in the old days. I found a fairground that was used up until the 30's but haven't made it over there to hunt it yet. It's a cornfield now.

Arnie

 

[hershey1]

Get out and talk to older people that have lived in the area you are interested in hunting. Country restaurants, stores, boat docks. They like to talk and I like to listen. Good topic ETO. HH

 

[ZOFCHAK]

Old postcards! I use Ebay and search for the city I plan on hunting in the postcard category. It's a great way to find new spots and the old photos allow you the advantage of knowing how the landscape has changed over the years, and you can hunt areas that others may have ignored.

 

[squirrel1]

First and foremost have a positive attitude. Always think you are going to find something good. Next, always be thinking when you are at a site. I mean for example, at old dwellings, just think where did people spend their time outdoors? Ever consider the north or east side of house, way cooler in summer when the days are longer and hotter. No
A/C back in the good ole days. I find most of my coins on those particular sides irrespectable of where the front or back porches are. At churches and dwellings consider travel paths i.e. outside toilets, parking areas, shade trees. Speaking of trees, old photos of dwellings and sites can give great insight too. Watch other dectorists patterns in your area when you can. Also try and ascertain what detector they are using. Not all machines are created equal- meaning some are hotter on particular coins/material. An example, the gent that got me into detecting uses a whites xlt. It runs at about 6khz. After detecting a while in a field he had covered thoroughly I noticed I was picking up several low conductor buttons with my V3i. It got me to thinking why and discovered a 6khz detector is weak on low conductors compared to say a 15khz detector. Metal detecting these days is sorta like gambling. You always want to try and put the odds in your favor by way of your approach to a site, your own techniques, your equipment, and the first thing i mentioned a Positive attitude.

 

[Rolladex]

HISTORY

 

[jmaryt]

they are indeed! also '"sidewalk easements"
are definitely overlooked..look for old areas with cracked sidewalks,

(h.h.!)
j.t.

 

[nge]

When you are in a town you've never been to before, get out your Garmin (or other GPS) and type in Parks or green areas, it will generally give you the locations of parks and green areas within 20 miles of where you are. Just finger the park you'd like to go to on the screen and it will map you a roue to get there.....NGE

 

[E-Trac-Ohio]

Here's another idea that has lead me to a few hundred good finds !

Join your local Historical Society !

I joined my counties historical society two years ago. As a member - I've had full access to some great research material , I've been invited to hunt many of the members 1800's homes, received dozens of other leads on other old sites and I've learned a lot about the history of where I live !

Our Historical Society only cost $12.00 a year to join as a single member and $15.00 for a family membership - believe me when I tell you ... it's been a great investment !

HH --- Mark

 

[fallenCrow27]

Old maps are the way to go. What I like to do is get a regular one sheet map of the area, then look at old maps with know buildings. Mark those old buildings on your new map and do a driveby to see if there are matches usually schools are good ones. Tons of old schools on those old maps, and old post offices too.

 

[moonshine]

One thing I picked up from watching videos of other people detecting is to try wearing a glove on my "dirty" hand, (my left hand, my digging hand) it has saved me so much ground in dirt, cuts and poison ivy between my fingers that I cant beleive I never thought of it before.

 

[bentrac]

Don't bring your wife! That's my tip I found out the hard way!

 

[pointer80]

Hey all, A few things I have learned is never assume a site has been hit hard or hunted out. Two of my best hunts were at churches that were right ON the beaten path. One was actually right of a main road. I thought for sure these sights had to have been pounded over the years but I decided to hunt them anyway and glad I did. Another thing is if your not hunting your not finding! What I mean is even a very short hunt is better than no hunt at all. I am guilty of thinking I don't have much time and by the time I gather my stuff and get going............Ive learned to just grab my stuff and go(although I have been late getting back on occasion). Also when you look at a site to hunt look further and try to dissect it. Like was mentioned above the cooler side of the house, Or find that hill the kids might have played on after church, Or. the path to the privy. These all might be that hot spot. These are the elements that make this hobby fun, interesting, and a bit of a challenge. good luck all and HH.

 

[fishercz20]

Two words. "Slow Down".

 

[NebTrac]

1. [size=x-large]Attitude[/size] [attachment 219287 attitude.jpg]
2. [size=x-large]Hunt[/size] [attachment 219288 hunt.jpg]
3. [size=x-large]Dig[/size] [attachment 219289 dig.jpg]
IN THAT ORDER!

NebTrac

 

[ironman200081]

LOL @ NebTrac.

My advice is learn your machine. I am STILL working on this one after 150 hours of use.