How many of you thought about quitting detecting for good?

[Tony N (Michigan)]

I go out and detect all freakin day and manage to find one freakin crusty, and not that old wheatback.
I see other people in our Michigan Metal Detecting club on Facebook finding all kinds of silver halves, standing quarters, jewelry and a boat load of really nice things.

I know, I know, everyone says you have to go where the old stuff is. B.S. I go where the old stuff is, or at least used to be. And people say you gotta knock on doors. I get permissions and
the best I find are the very very few wheat back late date freakin pennies. I'm sick of them. I wish they never made wheat back pennies.

I swear I'm this close to selling my freakin metal detectors and take up another hobby.

Then there are people who travel around the country giving talks and guidance to detectorists on how to get the most out of your detector. The gurus who know it all. Oh, but that's not free either.

Sorry for the rant. Well, not really.

Oh, and this is not Minelab specific either. I own a lot of other detectors and use them too. Minelab makes some of the very best detectors in the world. At least that's what I think. Hell, I could be wrong about that too.
I know how to hunt deep. I know how to hunt in iron crap. I'm just sick of searching and searching in the searing heat, sweating, parched mouth, thirsty, hungry and not hardly anything to show for it.

 

[Kapok]

Hey, Tony. I feel your pain, my friend. I work my head off for what few things I find. A couple of wheat cents, an headstamp, and piece of a broken iron toy is a great outing for me. It didn't used to be that way. I see the same pictures of guys finding 3 SLQs, 4 Indian heads, 2 rosies, and 5 Mercs and call it a "pretty good day". I'd call it an entire season. In my case I live in a small town and not close to any large public areas and this area really wasn't heavily habitated, so it is darn tough finding places to hunt. So I work at enjoying the hobby, learning my detector, and trying to get better at it. But it is discouraging because we base our skill at detecting (and thus our value as detectorists) on the amount of our finds (or at least I do). I hate feeling like a newb. I guess it keeps me humble.

 

[Charles (Upstate NY)]

Take up beach detecting, people replenish the gold and silver DAILY!!

 

[BigTony]

I was in your shoes a couple of years back. Guys and gals in the club beat the pants off of me and I was swinging a Exp II for awhile.
I re-read Andy's book on Exp II and Etrac and decided on gold targets. I beat the pants off of folks who were finding silvers.
That winter I re-read the book again for silver, also read stuff online......that spring I was finding silver and beating the pants off of the rest.....please no brag here at all.
You need to 1) slow down, 2) re-read chapters on settings, 3) test your machine with targets at home and Listen, listen, listen for the sounds.....
Then wait for wet weather, very damp is the best, go slow.
This past year I lost some hearing and sounds are different to me, my Exp II isn't alerting me to the silver but that is another chapter I am dealing with.
Tony

 

[Tony N (Michigan)]

Hey, Tony. I feel your pain, my friend. I work my head off for what few things I find. A couple of wheat cents, an headstamp, and piece of a broken iron toy is a great outing for me. It didn't used to be that way. I see the same pictures of guys finding 3 SLQs, 4 Indian heads, 2 rosies, and 5 Mercs and call it a "pretty good day". I'd call it an entire season. In my case I live in a small town and not close to any large public areas and this area really wasn't heavily habitated, so it is darn tough finding places to hunt. So I work at enjoying the hobby, learning my detector, and trying to get better at it. But it is discouraging because we base our skill at detecting (and thus our value as detectorists) on the amount of our finds (or at least I do). I hate feeling like a newb. I guess it keeps me humble.

Hi Kapok,
I guess the good Lord knows I need more humility. It probably does hurt my pride when I see all these people's great finds.
They say, "I got out for a half hour after work" or "I got out for an hour after work and found these." Then they show nice glossy pictures of half dollars or silver war tokens and merc dimes, Standing Liberty quarters.
I go out all day and am lucky to find one wheat back penny. Sure, I find lots of other modern coins, but, heck, anyone can do that.
I did find two Mercury dimes this year but those are far and in between all the many hours of detecting.

When the Explorer first came out, I came on this Explorer board here and was seeing all the fantastic finds people were making. I was finding super deep coins myself but they were all wheat back pennies.
Either people around here were so dirt poor they could only lose pennies or other detectorists beat me to those places and sucked out all the silver. Sure, I'd find a straggler silver they missed or the Civil War token they missed probably because
they thought it was a penny. But that was years ago.
I just have to quit going to that FaceBook page. It's just too depressing. Sure, I feel happy for those people. They are great finds. But it is kind of a slap on my ego when I get up super early in the morning and detect and find one wheat back.
Maybe some day my luck will change. Or the Lord will say, Nope, you need a little more humility.

 

[Tony N (Michigan)]

Take up beach detecting, people replenish the gold and silver DAILY!!

Knowing my luck I'd only find some huge gold rings with huge diamonds. I need to find things to keep me humble, like pull tabs.

That is a great idea.
One time I was complaining to God that I just don't find anything good anymore. My brother and his kids came for a visit so I took them to the beach. Up in the
parking lot I was looking down the hill toward the beach and noticed they took out a sidewalk. So I grabbed my detector, went down there and before my coil
even got over it I noticed a round gold colored circle level with the soil. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I popped it out and it was a nice gold ring with a cross
on it and two diamonds embedded, one on each side of the cross. I still wear it every now and then. That was a good day.

 

[Elton]

Partial quote : By Tony N

I go out and detect all freakin day and manage to find one freakin crusty, and not that old wheatback.
I see other people in our Michigan Metal Detecting club on Facebook finding all kinds of silver halves, standing quarters, jewelry and a boat load of really nice things.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


You don't believe everything you read do you Tony ????????

 

[Tony N (Michigan)]

Partial quote : By Tony N

I go out and detect all freakin day and manage to find one freakin crusty, and not that old wheatback.
I see other people in our Michigan Metal Detecting club on Facebook finding all kinds of silver halves, standing quarters, jewelry and a boat load of really nice things.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


You don't believe everything you read do you Tony ????????

When they show pictures to back up their claims, I do.

 

[Charles (Upstate NY)]

Take up beach detecting, people replenish the gold and silver DAILY!!

Knowing my luck I'd only find some huge gold rings with huge diamonds. I need to find things to keep me humble, like pull tabs.

That is a great idea.
One time I was complaining to God that I just don't find anything good anymore. My brother and his kids came for a visit so I took them to the beach. Up in the
parking lot I was looking down the hill toward the beach and noticed they took out a sidewalk. So I grabbed my detector, went down there and before my coil
even got over it I noticed a round gold colored circle level with the soil. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I popped it out and it was a nice gold ring with a cross
on it and two diamonds embedded, one on each side of the cross. I still wear it every now and then. That was a good day.

One summer in NH I dug 880 pull tabs...and 1 diamond ring with a nearly flawless 1 carat stone three different jewelry dealers offered me $3,000 to $3,300 for. Sometimes you have to work for it. A couple years later down on the NJ shore I arrived at my beach to find half the club pounding it thinking that was funny, fine I drove north to their beach and dug a whopper platinum ring with a giant emerald and two diamonds, karma!!

 

[Charles (Upstate NY)]

Tony I think we have all had those kinds of days and streaks. When the good finds stop coming, slow down. Another truth, expect to make a good find and frequently you will, attitude matters. There was this one old park back in NY that Ed loved to hunt but I had the worst luck there. I think I got skunked there maybe 4 or 5 times in a row, I hated that park and was pretty sure I would not find anything there. Then...BANG I found a good coin, then another, finally convinced there was something worth finding coins started popping out everywhere, large cents, Indians, silver, the place was coin heaven. I remain stunned how I ever got skunked hunting that park, other than my sour puss attitude.

 

[Ted S]

Tony...Very interesting topic! I only hunt a few times a year. And only an hour or two at a time. I haven't found as much as I used to back in the good old days! I bought my SE in the spring of 2013. A few weeks later I had a brain bleed that nearly took my life. I have had four neurosurgery procedures and a radiation treatment in the last four years I really enjoy this forum and like seeing what other people find. So don't let a dry spell get to ya!! If I was in better shape I would be out there swinging! Go get em buddy!!

 

[Explorer.se]

Right, where are you searching Tony? If it is local maybe you need to get out a little farther. That's what I do. I hunt a park and my ratio from wheat pennies to silver dimes is 1:1. So that tells me that that park has been pounded by others. I still take pride in going back because it is impossible to get everything out of the ground. I'm convinced of that. I never quit! There are other places to search. I know you don't like Wheaties but unfortunately they are a good barometer of other things to come. I once hunted a house built in 1886, all I found was a 1944 wheat penny form my 4 hour hunt. Yes I drove 1.5 hours to get there and I was all lathered up with visions of Indian Heads pennies I was about to uncover and maybe a Barber dine or two. It did not happen. Then I go to a house built in 1949 and I find 28 wheats 2 merc dimes and 2 war nickels! If you are only hunting your property Tony you need to get out there. Ask people if you can detect their property. Split with them if you have to because half is better than none!

You have been away from the hobby for a while or at least that the impression that I get. Be patient Tony You have the right arsenal to find the right coins trust me. I just found a 1916 Merc dime (worn) w no mint mark and also a beautiful Headstamp UMC majestic No. 12. My point being it does not always have to be a coin Tony. Finding a grease cap for an old Chevy made very happy last year. For me it is the peripheral stuff that you find as well Tony. And if you do remove the junk then you are "unlocking" another layer of detecting. On my last outing on a couple occasions I had multiple signals in the hole (up to 4!). I even had a spill of 4 wheatbacks! Are you always checking the holes for other targets when you finish a dig? I ask because previously I would not do this. I was so excited with my find Id want to move onto the next signal. I then went over the same spots and realize that there were other coins in my old holes that I had previously dug. I was missing other goodies! I have since learned my lesson. Be patient Tony take a few days off if you need to. I know the feeling. Go to different locations for change of scenery and what not. Fill dirt is our enemy Tony. Look for where the older grass/dirt is anywhere you go. Take it to another lever - Do research. Go find a place that has shade Tony.

But whatever you do don't give up Tony.

Please keep us posted.

 

[Tony N (Michigan)]

Right, where are you searching Tony? If it is local maybe you need to get out a little farther. That's what I do. I hunt a park and my ratio from wheat pennies to silver dimes is 1:1. So that tells me that that park has been pounded by others. I still take pride in going back because it is impossible to get everything out of the ground. I'm convinced of that. I never quit! There are other places to search. I know you don't like Wheaties but unfortunately they are a good barometer of other things to come. I once hunted a house built in 1886, all I found was a 1944 wheat penny form my 4 hour hunt. Yes I drove 1.5 hours to get there and I was all lathered up with visions of Indian Heads pennies I was about to uncover and maybe a Barber dine or two. It did not happen. Then I go to a house built in 1949 and I find 28 wheats 2 merc dimes and 2 war nickels! If you are only hunting your property Tony you need to get out there. Ask people if you can detect their property. Split with them if you have to because half is better than none!

You have been away from the hobby for a while or at least that the impression that I get. Be patient Tony You have the right arsenal to find the right coins trust me. I just found a 1916 Merc dime (worn) w no mint mark and also a beautiful Headstamp UMC majestic No. 12. My point being it does not always have to be a coin Tony. Finding a grease cap for an old Chevy made very happy last year. For me it is the peripheral stuff that you find as well Tony. And if you do remove the junk then you are "unlocking" another layer of detecting. On my last outing on a couple occasions I had multiple signals in the hole (up to 4!). I even had a spill of 4 wheatbacks! Are you always checking the holes for other targets when you finish a dig? I ask because previously I would not do this. I was so excited with my find Id want to move onto the next signal. I then went over the same spots and realize that there were other coins in my old holes that I had previously dug. I was missing other goodies! I have since learned my lesson. Be patient Tony take a few days off if you need to. I know the feeling. Go to different locations for change of scenery and what not. Fill dirt is our enemy Tony. Look for where the older grass/dirt is anywhere you go. Take it to another lever - Do research. Go find a place that has shade Tony.

But whatever you do don't give up Tony.

Please keep us posted.

Hey Explorer SE, I often go way out of my way, driving many miles to different places to detect.
Interesting that you bring up checking your holes. In my earlier detecting days sometimes I would
check other detectorists holes and find a silver coin either in the wall of their dug hole or right next to
their dug hole. They must have not had a pinpointer. But, yes, I always check my holes.

 

[Tony N (Michigan)]

Tony...Very interesting topic! I only hunt a few times a year. And only an hour or two at a time. I haven't found as much as I used to back in the good old days! I bought my SE in the spring of 2013. A few weeks later I had a brain bleed that nearly took my life. I have had four neurosurgery procedures and a radiation treatment in the last four years I really enjoy this forum and like seeing what other people find. So don't let a dry spell get to ya!! If I was in better shape I would be out there swinging! Go get em buddy!!

After reading what you've been going through, I have nothing to complain about. I hope you are doing better.

 

[Tony N (Michigan)]

Take up beach detecting, people replenish the gold and silver DAILY!!

Knowing my luck I'd only find some huge gold rings with huge diamonds. I need to find things to keep me humble, like pull tabs.

That is a great idea.
One time I was complaining to God that I just don't find anything good anymore. My brother and his kids came for a visit so I took them to the beach. Up in the
parking lot I was looking down the hill toward the beach and noticed they took out a sidewalk. So I grabbed my detector, went down there and before my coil
even got over it I noticed a round gold colored circle level with the soil. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I popped it out and it was a nice gold ring with a cross
on it and two diamonds embedded, one on each side of the cross. I still wear it every now and then. That was a good day.

One summer in NH I dug 880 pull tabs...and 1 diamond ring with a nearly flawless 1 carat stone three different jewelry dealers offered me $3,000 to $3,300 for. Sometimes you have to work for it. A couple years later down on the NJ shore I arrived at my beach to find half the club pounding it thinking that was funny, fine I drove north to their beach and dug a whopper platinum ring with a giant emerald and two diamonds, karma!!

Yea, that is funny.

 

[Ted S]

Thank you Tony. Just came back from an hour and a half hunt at that old house a couple of blocks from me. Results were one memorial penny and some short pieces of copper tubing and a gold plated door ornament. The house was built in 1904. So some places have coins and others do not.My point is that as long as I can swing a coil I will hunt. Been doing it since 1976! I am not giving up and neither should you!

 

[Tony N (Michigan)]

Tony I think we have all had those kinds of days and streaks. When the good finds stop coming, slow down. Another truth, expect to make a good find and frequently you will, attitude matters. There was this one old park back in NY that Ed loved to hunt but I had the worst luck there. I think I got skunked there maybe 4 or 5 times in a row, I hated that park and was pretty sure I would not find anything there. Then...BANG I found a good coin, then another, finally convinced there was something worth finding coins started popping out everywhere, large cents, Indians, silver, the place was coin heaven. I remain stunned how I ever got skunked hunting that park, other than my sour puss attitude.

I've been to places like that. There was one place my friend and I detected when he was still alive. I called it our silver garden. Every time we'd go there more silvers would pop out of nowhere. Oh for the good old days.
There are probably many millions of coins in parks that no one has found yet due to being masked or standing straight up or too deep for many detectors.

 

[Elton]

n/t

 

[Tony N (Michigan)]

Tony I think we have all had those kinds of days and streaks. When the good finds stop coming, slow down. Another truth, expect to make a good find and frequently you will, attitude matters. There was this one old park back in NY that Ed loved to hunt but I had the worst luck there. I think I got skunked there maybe 4 or 5 times in a row, I hated that park and was pretty sure I would not find anything there. Then...BANG I found a good coin, then another, finally convinced there was something worth finding coins started popping out everywhere, large cents, Indians, silver, the place was coin heaven. I remain stunned how I ever got skunked hunting that park, other than my sour puss attitude.

Thank you Charles.
Attitude is very important. While getting skunked time after time I begin to doubt myself. Then I begin to think there's just nothing there.
I know there are great finds to be made. I just gotta slow down, keep a positive attitude and above all, ENJOY the peace of mind and ENJOY just
getting out into the great outdoors even if I don't find anything super great.
It does play on my emotions when I go through so much in detecting only to put my tail between my legs and drive home with not much to show for the effort.
But there will be better days.

 

[Tony N (Michigan)]

There used to be a time in my early days when I would come here and wonder if some of the posters weren't purchasing coins on Ebay, throw a little dirt on them
and post a nice picture of "See what I found? I think someone did get busted doing just that. But, this one guy whose name is Tom Holiday and uses an E-trac
does find LOTS of silver. He posts finds on the Michigan Metal detecting club on FaceBook and Andy Sabisch wrote about him in one of the treasure magazines.
He knows where the goodies are. I don't.