Interesting hunt in some really bad ground

[Sailorman]

We tried out a new spot today with my hunting buddy. I was swinging my E-Trac and he had his AT-Pro. We hit an old park area with a spring fed lake which used to be a swimming area but is way down now. So when we get started the E-Trac is chattering like crazy after my usual startup including a noise cancel and my friends AT-Pro was having troubles ground balancing and was chattering as well. I ended up running straight auto sens with no plus which put me at around 17 sens. Fast off, deep off, smooth tones and it was still chattering. Tried normal tones and long tones, same thing. Switched from my usual open quick mask to a combined coin and jewelry screen, still chattering. Ended up in the Park Pattern from Bill_S and finally quieted down some. Thinking back on it I should have tried TTF. But with the Park Pattern we did pretty good and it's the first time my bud's not kept pace with the AT-Pro. He's a more experienced hunter than I am and often times we're both swinging AT's. Whatever was in that ground was rough!

I don't know what kind of minerals that spring had pumped into the ground but it was strange stuff indeed. Was getting coins in the coin range but all the numbers seemed skewed higher by about two points on the CO line but still between 10 and 12 on the FE line. Different then I'm used to seeing here in my area for sure. Still we did good. Found my first ever Mercury dime (1913) and Buffalo nickel (1931). Both in rough shape though I'm afraid as were most of the coins coming out of the sand there. Pulled and old silver ring as well and it was pretty rough as well. The only think hitting normal range was nickels and pull tabs which were a consistent 12-12 to 12-13.

<img src="http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h119/elcruisr/005.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket">

The haul, the coins in the lower left are some seriously crusty coins, mostly pennies.

<img src="http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h119/elcruisr/007.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket">

<img src="http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h119/elcruisr/008.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket">

<img src="http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h119/elcruisr/006.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket">

<img src="http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h119/elcruisr/010.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket">

<img src="http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h119/elcruisr/001.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket">

The well equipped hunter!

The AT-Pro found a little pup in a field though!

<img src="http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h119/elcruisr/003.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket">

 

[D&P-OR]

Congrats on the finds Sailorman but you didn't find a 1913 mercury dime-----they didn't start minting mercs till 1916.------Must be a 1918?

 

[Ken in Georgia]

Cool digs man !!!!

 

[Sailorman]

Congrats on the finds Sailorman but you didn't find a 1913 mercury dime-----they didn't start minting mercs till 1916.------Must be a 1918?

Egad, you're right. Wasn't thinking! The last digit must be an 8. Of all the things I lost with age I miss my memory the most....

 

[banditicey]

WELL DONE!

When you find Silver and a Buffalo Nickel it is a GOOD HUNT!

Were you really detecting in short sleeves? Where are you? LUCKY

 

[sonnydigs]

Well you certainly had a great hunt.
Very nice finds.
I'm still hoping for a. Day I find a hot spot.
WTG.

 

[Sailorman]

This morning was positively cold, for around here anyways. I mean 50 degrees is bordering on uncivilized! But much of the day was around 70 and sunny. A great day for a hunt.

 

[sonnydigs]

We have some days coming up this week in the low 70's and hi 60's.
Guess what I will be doing??? ))

 

[D&P-OR]

I hear ya--I lost mine so long ago I don't remember when it was! --------Del

Congrats on the finds Sailorman but you didn't find a 1913 mercury dime-----they didn't start minting mercs till 1916.------Must be a 1918?

Egad, you're right. Wasn't thinking! The last digit must be an 8. Of all the things I lost with age I miss my memory the most....

 

[minimac]

We have some days coming up this week in the low 70's and hi 60's.
Guess what I will be doing??? ))

Geez, I'm getting excited thinking it's going to warm up to 30s and maybe 40 this week so I can hunt.

 

[sonnydigs]

Yep, 74 tomorrow. Next 10 days 5 in the 70's, 3 in the high 60's and 2 in the mid to high 50's.
It's tough but we have to deal with it. )
Oh, and the ground is soft and loamy.

 

[Marksman7]

Man I'd seize up over there it is around 94 here today.

What did th AT Pro actually find was it only the pup.

 

[NebTrac]

Congrats on the finds Sailorman but you didn't find a 1913 mercury dime-----they didn't start minting mercs till 1916.------Must be a 1918?

Egad, you're right. Wasn't thinking! The last digit must be an 8. Of all the things I lost with age I miss my memory the most....

It's a good thing you took pictures....else you wouldn't even remember the hunt.....

Thanks for the great pictures. Congratulations on the finds. I know what you mean about chattering. There are times (though rare) that it happens and can be a little annoying. Its the experience that we take from this that make us better hunters.

NebTrac

 

[Sailorman]

The AT-Pro was still hitting some clad but seemed to have some trouble with nickels on that spot which is strange as that unit will usually hit a nickel pretty hard. We just like the odd finds so i put in the picture of the pup.

The AT is still quite a machine and i certainly wouldn't part with mine but I was mighty glad I had an E-Trac for the conditions we found there!

I guess I should mention these tough weather conditions are in Central FL. While the nice winter days are common I envy some of you more northern hunters you silver counts. Silver around here is mighty rare!

 

[Big Boys Hobbies]

Those dimes are rough! Nice finds!

 

[E-TREC-Virginia]

I see in your picture, that you are using the Swingy Thingy with the Bungee. How do you like it? I'm thinking about getting one to help swing my 15 X12 SEF coil and wanted to get some opinions. I have a bad back and need all the help I can get.

 

[Sailorman]

I see in your picture, that you are using the Swingy Thingy with the Bungee. How do you like it? I'm thinking about getting one to help swing my 15 X12 SEF coil and wanted to get some opinions. I have a bad back and need all the help I can get.

I have bad shoulders and a so-so back. I've used it for all of two hunts now and i can't imagine NOT using it. The machine is weightless and where I used to need to switch arms every 15 minutes I have now hunted six hours without one switch! I love it!!! It anchors to your belt line in back and keeps the weight off your shoulders and never felt it in my back. It adjust for length on slopes in just a few seconds.

How do you like that 15x12 SEF? I was thinking about one some day for beaches and fields.

 

[E-TREC-Virginia]

I see in your picture, that you are using the Swingy Thingy with the Bungee. How do you like it? I'm thinking about getting one to help swing my 15 X12 SEF coil and wanted to get some opinions. I have a bad back and need all the help I can get.

I have bad shoulders and a so-so back. I've used it for all of two hunts now and i can't imagine NOT using it. The machine is weightless and where I used to need to switch arms every 15 minutes I have now hunted six hours without one switch! I love it!!! It anchors to your belt line in back and keeps the weight off your shoulders and never felt it in my back. It adjust for length on slopes in just a few seconds.

How do you like that 15x12 SEF? I was thinking about one some day for beaches and fields.

Only used it once on a worked out site since I got it for Xmas. It's a little to much weight for me to swing without help, so I have not used it again. I'm going to order the Swingy Thingy and give it another try. Based on that 1 hunt, the depth was a litte deeper then my 12 X 10 SEF. I found a couple of wheaties at around 8 - 10 inches with strong 12 - 44 readings.

I did not realize that it was you that had the other post on the Swingy Thingy or I would not have asked the same question twice.