Your Homestead Detecting Thoughts

[bbhofcollector]

This has been an incredible first year for me in this hobby. I've dug over 1,500 coins totally $147, found rings and numerous old coins but I'm ready to move on to more sophisticated hunting.

I've downloaded my Sanborn Maps and plan on taking this winter doing research for potential hotspots around my town. More importantly, I'd like to hear thoughts on searching old homesteads as Montana is loaded with them.

I can imagine searching these areas are so different from searching public parks and yards as I would think the target are so few. Do you folks find relics and coins at every homestead you hunt?

 

[MT_VertCaver]

This is also my first year and I've tried a couple of homesteads, schools, farms. There are usually SO MANY NAILS(especially down wind-you know how these Chinook wind areas are) that I give up quickly. Tree protected parks seem much more productive.

I HAVE wondered about the sandy beach at Tiber(the only sandy beach in Montana?????). Maybe the water level will be low enough to access it next year.

 

[7centsworth]

I have only hunted one park and loads of old homesteads and some fields. There is alot more trash at a homesite. You have to go really slow and be patient. I like the 6 inch dd coil in most yards. It gets in between the trash so much better and gets good depth for a small coil. I have only been to about two yards in my life that did not have any coins and I have hunted about 50 and some several times. The owners usually tell me you will not find anything and then when I am done I show them all the coins I found and they can not believe it. Good luck and happy hunting.

 

[hotrod53]

There is some logic to hunting homesites, there is a good section in the book Detectorist on this. Looking for pine trees, certain vegetation, figure out which was the front door and hunt the right hand corner of the home, find the "people magnets", ect, ect. I only hunt parks when I can't find a good homesite. Homesites are by far my favorite sites to hunt. To go to a park and find clad all day is not my idea of an ideal hunt, the occasional ring is the only thing that brings me back.

Research is the key, you are in competition with lots of other detectorists when it comes to homesites. You need to learn the signs and find hints, many times found thru research. If it is an easy site to find, or it's easy to see, you may not be the first to detect it. In that case, best you can hope is that the last guy didn't have as good a machine or isn't as skilled as you are.

I can say that I find at least one good find on most homestead hunts. 1 good silver or an Indian beats a pocket full of clad in my book any day!