In a bit of a slump

[Eric in RI]

Hey all, been awhile since I've posted anything. I want to start out by saying you guys are making some great finds! I on the other hand have been in a slump as of late. It all started out after I found these 2 rings in the same hunt about a month ago. The ring on the left is marked sterling and has a nice pattern around the band. The gold ring on the right is marked .800 on the outer edge of the band and the part of the band you cannot see in the picture is bent really bad. I'm not sure if the big stone is a garnet or a ruby... the picture does not give the stone justice, it looks really bright red in sunlight.

Anyways, ever since I pulled those 2 rings, I've been in a decline on finds ever since. I figured maybe my ballfield was getting hunted out, so I hit another park in the town I grew up in. Its loaded with trash, just a blanket of pulltabs, can slaw, bottle caps, nails, just horrible. So I picked up the 5x8 coil and my first hunt back at the park where I grew up netted me 7 wheaties in 45 minutes in the carpet of trash. I was amazed to say the least. Then one of the parks guys shows up and said I can't be hunting at the park. So after explaining how I have been hunting at this park for 10 years without an issue, showing how I dig and cover my holes, it didn't matter. So after uttering a few choice words and driving off, I'm just feeling quite bitter. That was about 2 weeks ago.

My roommate purchased his 5x8 coil last week and we went to 3 different spots on Sunday. He found a silver cross at the 2nd spot and clad, I found a measly wheatie for the whole day and clad... What am I doing wrong? I'm going slow, overlapping my swings, doing grid patterns and all I can get is wheaties.... starting to think maybe I sould put the stock coil back on and just leave this 5x8 off unless I go hunt trashy areas. I know this coil has had nothing but great reviews from you all, but seriously is there something I'm doing wrong?

HH all!

 

[Eric in RI]

n/t

 

[BigCatDaddy]

The only thing I can think of is you're not getting that 5 x 8 over any goodies!! You can't find what ain't there!! Be diligent and swing, swing, swing, the loot will come!!


Vir prudens non contra ventum mingit

 

[mudpuppy]

Shake it off Man! You are just one more swing away from something great! This forum helps get us all out of the slumps sometimes. Truth be told, I bet we all go through at least one per year or month even...don't know what it is, but I think a slump sometimes helps a fellow refocus, or try alternate areas or something, and that's when something good usually happens. Chin up!
Mud

 

[Grunter]

Eric, my hunting buddy says that there is an old rule of thumb that for every 10 Wheaties you find there will be the probability that there will be a silver. My buddy runs a CTX and backs up with an Etrac. I run the ATP and back up with a DFX. We have both had a great silver yr. and gold. Between us we have found several hundred Wheaties this year. We went to several 19th century homes this past week and found approx. $1.25 in clad between us. I think our total silver find was 3 pieces. Sun. evening hunt resulted in 31 cents in clad,one wheatie and zip silver. If you have 7 Wheaties under your foot ,the next four steps could be your silver but don't be surprized if it is another twenty+ steps. Where there are Wheaties there is a good probability of silvers so you are in some good ground.

 

[Joel-Winnipeg]

There's always ups and downs in everything we do.
Sounds you were on a downer for a while.
Last summer never got a sniff of a gold ring where
I usually get 5 to 6 in a year. that was a downer.
Have been out 4 times this year and the last digs found a ladies 3.7g nugget gold ring.
I use the smaller AT PRO DD coil , low and slow that's the way to go.
Just keep at it there are better time ahead for you.

 

[Eric in RI]

Thank you all for your kind words of encouragement. I did have a bit if time after work to do a quick hunt at a masonic temple that my work owns. Loaded with trash, but I have found a lot of goodies in the past. Found 10 memorials, a nickel and a '52 wheatie. All coins were found with iron, foil, pulltabs or a combination of the 3 in the same holes. I love this 5x8 coil. Most targets were iffy, but I could just tell that there was coins being masked. Hopefully silver next time. Now its time for me to relax HH!

 

[William-NM]

Hey Eric, those are some good looking rings! Seems like the wheel just has to turn until your number comes back up - maybe it will prompt you to research some new hunny holes! I've enjoyed your interesting finds in the past, no doubt there are more to come.

 

[idaho dan]

Hey Eric, WOW, what great looking rings. I've been doing this metal detecting gig since 1966 and it seems like you can't have rainbows without rain. Another way to put it might be that you can't have peaks without valleys. How many times have you searched and searched without finding anything and on the way back to the car you find the MOTHER LODE!!! "Dirt Fishing" is no different than regular fishing. Sometimes they just ain't bitin". The thrill of what we MIGHT find is no different than hunting, fishing, or anything else. It is all about the ANTICIPATION!!! Anyway, keep your chin up!!!!!---Dan

 

[Johnny Cache]

Eric, I know how you feel! I have found a few newer silver coins this year, but I feel as though I'm in a bit of a slump too. My awesome hunting spots seem depleted, and I've pounded every yard in my town. It's hard to find new honey holes, but doing the research will pay off.

Great looking rings you got there, good luck!