hi jmorgan. that's a good question, and well worth a good answer. i'll try to answer your questions the best i can. on our side, [frank "olddigger"] and myself are constantly searching out new places to go to. we make it a point to get out for 4 hours EVERY sunday. i might be able to slide in a short hunt or two during the week by myself sometimes. we always have our ears to the ground. having a good pardner helps a lot - it automatically doubles your chances of finding something good. anyone who knows us knows that we like to detect, so word gets around quick. since the place we're detecting now is so big [400+ acres] we've been there almost exclusively for about a month and a half now. sure, there's other places we can go - we always keep at least a couple of spots in reserve. we don't nighthawk or trespass either - it's always private property with full permission from the owners. we wouldn't do it any other way.
i've been detecting near 30 years on and off, since i was about 12, taking a few of the necessary life breaks in the process. i guess it's become second nature to get out detecting, 'cause when i don't get to get out, you know, due to rain or whatever, i start to go into dt's, and my wife can't wait to get rid of me. bless her heart! having an understanding wife is key. over the years, i've noticed that many hunters are swayed by other's opinions about how good or how bad a potential site would be. frank and i pay no attention to it, always opting to find out for ourselves. i've always felt that all ground is good ground. we don't care if there's new houses around or not, and don't care if it's been hunted before. i have an hour and a half rule: if i don't find anything within an hour and a half, [you can cover a lot of ground in that time] you can bet i'll be moving on to another area or site. we tend to get large tracts of land to hunt, so it takes a while to hunt it all if we think it's worth it. i believe all that helps to set us apart.
j, i wish i had a nickel for every shotgun shell and pulltab i've ever dug - i'd have made about 3 dollars last weekend alone! the truth is, if your're not digging pulltabs and shotgun shells, then your're missing everything. i know, i curse 'em too, but that's the reality of it. we don't always have great find days, but we do have a lot of fun in the process. in the last several years, it's been an almost automatic process - keep your digger sharp, extra batteries ready, and hit it! i've seen you post up some pretty good stuff in the past, so we know your're in a good area. above all though, i truly believe that having a good pardner, an understanding wife, and a love of history are the top three keys. good luck, and hh!
it's ridiculous Come on give it up!!!! 
It also pays to be patient, persistent and really in tune with your detector. I hope this sheds a little light on your questions. Good luck on your future endeavors!! 
...Just seems lately that whenever I try someplace new it's usually a bust. I'm learning not to get my hopes up too much but rather just go out, enjoy the day and have fun. Thanks a LOT!!.