Is The Hobby Of Metal Detecting REALLY Expanding? No, IMHO!

[Critterhunter]

I realize the amount of people in this hobby has grown over the years but I think it's reached it's saturation point over say the last twenty in terms of the percentage of population who participate. Regardless of how user friendly the hardware has become and the amount of information and groups to help people get involved in this great hobby, I still feel that there is only a certain small percentage of the general public who is inclined to be interested in participating in the hobby. I'm also into electric RC planes and the same can be said for that field. Despite how cool/user friendly that hobby has also become and the intentions of some of us to get others interested in trying it, the party involved has to have a strong interest in trying it. This interest can't be taught. It's something inborn in a certain fixed percentage of people in the population, and nothing you do to try to make it more attractive to others without those personality traits is going to change that and cause them to develop an interest. Let's face it, it might not be "PC" to say it around here but most people look at "us" detectorists swinging around that weird looking machine as some kind of freak. I'm not saying that to be harsh, but perception is a hard fact of life. Stick that same person in a nice business suit and the attitude of the other party will change toward them (not swinging the detector still, of course! ). Despite how well you explain the hobby and it's joys some, or should I say MOST, people just don't "get it".

This conversation came up between a friend and I the other day as we headed to a place to water hunt. He remarked that he's been very surprised we hadn't seen any water hunters over our four day excursion despite the current price of gold. That's when I laid out the above rant on him and why not seeing any other water hunters at some major beaches didn't surprise me at all. We had hunted from daylight to close to noon at each, plenty of time to see people show up.

 

[MNCoinhunter]

I have'nt gotten any strange looks yet. And actually I'm kind of glad that there are'nt too many people up here that do it. More hunting spots for me !!

 

[reltolbert]

I believe many people think who use metal detectors are strange and many, from experience, think
the hobby is fun. I get a lot of people who are inquisitive about metal detecting and they ask
me a lot of questions.
For me to dig into the ground and possibly unearthing a piece of history and maybe finding
something of numerical value is exciting besides the benefits of fresh air and sunshine
and getting a little exercise. So, I don't really care what other negative people think about
my hobby.

 

[diggitdawg]

i may sound selfish but for me thats a good thing.... the older stuff like coins is not reseeded very often so once they are gone they are gone. like the other post more fore me lol . good luck out there

 

[oldcoon]

I think the hobby is expanding in the way of sales but not necessarily in the number of hunters. I think many people buy detectors thinking it's going to be easy and when they learn differently the abandon the idea.

 

[hershey1]

Exactly oldcoon. Most people see someone detecting or read these forums and run out and buy a high end machine thinking about gold prices not ever turned on a detector and BOOM.

 

[D&P-OR]

Oh, isn't that all you have to do---just buy a gold detector & "rake in" the gold??----It's tough work at times, let me tell ya.---You've gotta love it & have the patience to go thru long, "dry stretches" at times before even finding a nuggie (or picker). ---About gold hunting, I've always said "a lot of huntin & little findin".-----I think there are a lot of gold machines (and other types of detectors also, for that matter) setting in closets "drawing dust".----People get mis-conceived ideas about this great hobby in general, many of them thinking it's a real "cash cow".----Boy are they in for a shock, huh?? ------We don't need this hobby expanding anyway if all it means is MORE "untrained" people digging ghastly holes in our parks.----I love & totally enjoy this great hobby (and have for years)---want nothing more than to see it "survive" into the next generation.----"Expansion" isn't as much of the issue as "maintaining".--------Del

 

[Sven]

I have'nt gotten any strange looks yet. And actually I'm kind of glad that there are'nt too many people up here that do it. More hunting spots for me !!

Less hunters in my area also, more stuff for me. No strange looks but, do have people ask if I found anything, others scream out, that's there's nothing here, you won't find anything.
KIds occasionally make fun of me if I am near the playground area and yell out "beep-beep..." then they come over laughing so I show them a pile of coins and they walk away in amazement.......

 

[nw1886]

I believe it has expanded but no where near the numbers actual sales have. Loads and loads of closet candy out there.....but people are slow to sell their "get rich quick" dream..... and there it sits.

 

[jim tn]

I run into a good number of people, ladies and men, that say they've been wanting to get into detecting and a lot that state, "I used to do that." I believe sales of detectors are probably growing and most are being purchased by us tried and true detectorists. That is not to imply that a good percentage of sales aren't by "newbies," but I feel a lot of detectors end up in a closet and end up seeing very little use. HH jim tn

 

[harvdog42]

Many people have approached me on the beach and told me they have always wanted to metal detect. The first thing I tell them is that most beginners really just want to get out there and find something good right away. Then if it doesn't happen...in the closet it goes. That usually makes them think twice about spending a lot of money on a detector that may not get used.

Harvdog

 

[Roscue2]

I agree, it's not really expanding... especially with the economy... a lot of people aren't willing to dish out hundreds of dollars on a hobby.

 

[Bugar In. USA]

I have sold around 10 of older detectors to folk around the town where I live, all perfect, and less than $250.00, but as of now, not one person in the whole group has detected over two times, they set in the closet or under the bed, they want to turn it on and POW- great finds, so I just keep my money, while they ask, whadya find?????, more stuff for the ol" geezer here, NAWW folk won't do anything to get dirty or sweaty anymore, and they sure don't give a big s--t about history, just computer games and cell phones=FACT=

 

[GunnarMN]

[size=x-large]well its a hard hobby , its easer to play a vidio game as far as places to hunt lots left and lots of room for more detectorists[/size]

 

[garwha]

The down turn in the economy has had a big effect in construction start ups, and has really reduced the number af graded old lots to hunt. There was a time I could see 20 fresh lots a week, now I don't 2 a month. The city has also run out of money to grade the old falling down houses in the run down areas of the city. In this city it has reduced the overall interest in hunting, and it shows in club interest as well.

 

[Cliff KS]

I think Bugar is right that most people care more about their cell phones and computer than they do about uncovering history or doing anything that gets them outside.

The only large city/town is my area is Wichita. You would be hard pressed to find more than one or two places there to buy a metal detector and they would be the entry level machines. I have a friend I visit there every couple of months and when I go there we hit all the tackle shops as we are both into bass fishing. Well, one day last summer, we went to the sporting goods stores and there were hardly any people shopping for fishing supplies, then we went to the AT&T store because he had to meet his wife and daughter there because his daughter was getting a new phone and they were changing their "phone plan" for the whole family. I couldn't believe it -- the store was packed -- there were 6 employees waiting on customers and you had to sign in, take a number, and wait your turn for a "one on one" with one of the customer representatives. I found it very strange, and it became obvious that people that have grown up with this technology are very addicted to it. For me, a cell phone it just something I like to have "in case of emergency", like getting help if my truck breaks down on the road. Otherwise, I could care less if I had one; the less time I spend on the phone the happier I am.

Then, the other day when the new I-phones came out, it was on the TV how some people had camped out for like up to 5 days to be the among the first to buy one and when the first guy got his, all the others waiting in line to get one gave him a big round of applause like he was some sort of hero. I thought, "Do I now live on Bizzaro world or what?"

 

[GRAY GHOST]

a reduction in the amount of people detecting would come as welcome news to me. only us hard core pros stick around from season to season anyway. what we do is not for everybody. like one gentleman mentioned: interest, recovery and preservation of history can't be taught - it's gotta be IN you.

personally, i don't want to see the hobby expand.... too many already. just think - 1. more for us 2. less demand = eventually, cheaper machines and equipment 3. less people making holes = less bad attention 4. less people making holes = less litigation & drama and detecting bans 5. current bans may be eased or lifted 6. more value placed on fewer finds....... the list [ and comparatively advantageous benefits ] goes on and on. shall i continue?

simply put, critterhunter, there seems to be more advantages on our side if fewer people are becoming involved in this great hobby. if there are indeed fewer people becoming involved, then my hunting partners and myself would certainly benefit from it. by the way, you've made a great and thought provoking post. thanks.

 

[Bugar In. USA]

Cliff, my friend=WE ARE ON THE SAME PAGE= and in a world of self serving, greedy, polluting TWITS who could care less for the earth or it's enviorment issues-Mr BP is the most spoken of right now.
This is the only earth or history we have and I INTEND to enjoy it to MY fullest-> BUGAR HAS SPOKE

 

[Larry (IL)]

*******************Let's keep this thread on subject or it will have to be moved to the Views forum.********************

 

[srf2112]

Since I started hunting ( alone ) about 6 mo's ago I've only seen 5 or 6 other people even carrying a MD let alone using it. All of them have been at ONE beach here. Other than that I haven't seen one other hunter at any of the land spots I've hunted. The school I'm at now is in the middle of town but apparently rarely, if ever, hunted. ( and I'm 30 min's from silicon valley and it's hordes ). I can't comment on trends Tom ,as I'm pretty new, but it appears very few people hunt anywhere in my area exept at the few "obvious" spots ( tot lots, main beach ) and the few that do are apparently swinging McGarrett's or Detectorhos cuz I'm here to tell ya they're missing a lot of goodies ! I know this is all good for me but I'd trade a couple finds to have some enthusiastic company to hunt with. ( No the wide-eyed 9 yr olds and their questions don't count...but ya gotta love the kids ). Good luck everyone and here's wishing you uncrowded hunts and shallow targets.
HH
Scott