I firmly believe in having an open forum where people can post their thoughts and receive feedback but in the case of this thread, I felt the need to post a few comments in response to the individual comments that have been posted.
First, if you have not attended a Bootcamp, making blanket statements such as “I don't use Andy’s style of hunting” or “Andy does not know how to hunt in my area” is a bit presumptive. Since I hunt a wide range of targets in a wide range of areas, I can't recall posting my settings online. There are 100 ways to skin a cat and that is part of what we cover in the Bootcamps. I do not push one style of hunting imply because there is no one style of hunting that works in all areas and for all types of hunting. The content is not simply a rehash of the book and that is the reason each Bootcamp is customized to what type of hunting people do and where they hunt. We send out questionnaires in advance to ensure what we cover is applicable to what people want to get out of the content. Settings that work for relic hunting in the Carolinas rarely work when coin hunting in Indiana or beach hunting in New Jersey. We also try to have co-instructors that are familiar with the local areas and specific types of hunting so that they can share another perspective to attendees.
Second, forums are a great source of information and hats off to those that share what works for them to help others. What many tend to forget however is that settings and styles differ due to the type of targets you are looking for and the area you are hunting in. Sandy, low-mineralized soil requires different settings than red clay or dark soil with coal cinders so when posting your settings, think about adding some details about the conditions of the ground. I know hunting in the UK, we found that virtually everywhere you went, the ground tracked to “90” which is why the presets work . . . but understanding WEHN a change is needed and WHY it is needed rather than simply copying settings is critical to getting the most out of the Deus.
Third, many of the settings shared on the forums are stressing depth and in sandy soil, flood areas or areas where fill has been added that might be key to finding what others have missed. However, in many areas, separation wins over depth. I get depth with my settings but when I hunt sites that are littered with iron or urban sites littered with trash, I need to switch settings to find what I am looking for. In these sites, 80% of keepers are coming from depths of 8” or less.
I have had the opportunity to hunt across the US as well as in many areas around the world. I know a lot of hunters that I can reach out to and find out what works in their area which forms the basis for the content in the Bootcamps. I have my preferred style of hunting but that changes based on what I am hunting for and where I am hunting. I had the opportunity to meet a relic hunter in Gettysburg this past weekend that had just found a beautiful US plate that came from a site that has been hunted for decades. It had been buried about 9” down on edge next to a large piece of iron. His partner checked it before they dug it and said it was iron and would not have dug it. When they saw what it was, they were shocked and the only difference between the two Deus detectors was the settings in-use . . . those I had provided were what helped him unlock the site and find the plate.
The bottom line is that reading twice before hitting post once is often a good approach. Knowing the person that posted the initial thread here, I know there was no intent to slam anyone in particular and if that is how you took it, take a deep breath and don’t feel you have to jump onto the keyboard and respond. I’m sure we can all get aggravated at work so the forums should not be a source of frustration and devolve into a war of words.
Our intent is to train people on what the machine is capable of doing and cover all options it offers. The final decision on what options to use is up to the individual and if someone’s finds meet or exceed their expectations, then they are the right ones for that person. If you are able to attend one of the Bootcamps and feel the investment in time and money is justified, we love to meet you and based on the feedback, attendees feel it was a great investment in the hobby. If you are someone that feels that they have mastered the Deus and only hunt in one area and for one type of target then maybe the Bootcamp is not your “cup of tea” although we would love to talk to you about being a co-instructor. But questioning the need for anyone to attend or jump on those that have and posted their impressions is not what the forums should be about – if you feel the need to get into a war of words with a poster, think about clicking on the next message and see what it contains . . . .
Andy Sabisch
