Keep Hunting this Homestead?

[alienbogey]

Here's a question for you experienced types. I'm more of a nugget hunter and have been coin hunting with my MXT lately to try to keep in practice for my too-infrequent nugget seeking trips, but I've been enjoying coin seeking as well. So here's the deal:

The county acquired a 100 acre, turn of the century homestead for a park. Over the last couple of years the old house and outbuildings have all been torn down and surveyor stakes are starting to appear. For now you can detect all you want and not worry about prettying up your holes (yes, I fill them) because once the funding is in place everything is going to be bulldozed for ball fields, parking lots, etc. I've detected it half a dozen times and have yet to find a single coin.

I'm wondering if it's been detected out, but I've never seen another detectorist, nor holes, filled or unfilled. The property has been like this for at least five years so maybe all the good stuff got found when it first became public property.

On the other hand, I'm finding targets that I would think would have been dug: Bullets, shell cases, fishing sinkers (around the pond), some small, metal kids toys or pieces of them, old style pull tabs, etc. Can people discriminate so well that maybe all the coins have been found and I'm finding what experts never bothered to dig? Or......have I just not passed my coil over the right spot, or did the homesteaders never lose any change in 100 years?

So, opinions, please: Would you continue to hunt this place?

 

[steelheadfever]

I sure wish I had a spot to hunt like that. Patience is the key work here. What coils are you using and what settings? Experiment with your settings and use different coils. Just keep hitting it because once it is dozed and put into concrete, grass etc. its gone for ever. Find a hunting pardner to help you cover the area and maybe he or she will have some ideas on hunting the area. Good luck and keep us posted on your progress and post your finds. HH Dennis in Idaho.

 

[Hillbilly Bob]

I would keep hunting it, I would look at the landscape and study were the old buildings stood and concentrate my search around that area. Try to find some old photos of the place, look for side walk areas or drive areas or even pathways around the property that's where you will have the best chance to find coins. even around old trees that have been on the property for along time and old well sites that's where I have found some good items. Try to locate where the clothes lines may have been and the old out house. Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[alienbogey]

Thanks for the replies and good suggestions.

I used my 14" DD coil the first several times, the last couple I've used the stock coil. I also have a 6", but probably won't use that unless I start to find stuff among trash; there's a lot of area to cover.

So far the best areas in terms of non-iron trash have been behind the old house site and down by the pond - that's were I've found the lead targets, etc. I've worked an open area beside the house site with 50 year old trees, one with the remains of a kid's fort, with no luck. There are also some fruit trees, old trellises, raspberry beds, old well house, etc that I haven't covered much at all. I'm not sure where other outbuildings might have been; I'll have to try to find an old photo or two.

 

[steelheadfever]

Large coils mask targets and since you are in an unknown area, try a small one before moving on, like the 6" or the 6x10.. JMHO Dennis in Idaho

 

[kered]

The 1400DD(14x8 ) doesn't miss much, its deep and sensitive to small stuff and you can cover the ground pretty fast, it should help you find the popular spots, if you get in amongst loads of iron you might have to drop down a touch but i would stick it out till you hit problems with it.

 

[alienbogey]

I went back to the homestead yesterday for about an hour. I found a small chunk of lead, three old style pop tops, three 45 Auto shell cases, a hydraulic line coupler and MY FIRST COIN for the location. It was.........wait for it..........a 1971 penny!

I also found the truck in the photo - look closely and you'll see my MXT leaned up against it.

 

[steelheadfever]

In case you have not noticed, the best find of your hunt has an MXT leaning up against it. Go back an take another photo (high resolution) of your treasure and this time don't include the MXT. It is an awesome photo opportunity. Would be a nice photo to frame. HH Dennis in Idaho

 

[Hillbilly Bob]

Nice picture now that's what I call treasure. I know some guys out here that would try to restore it. And where there is one coin there is always more, is all the property grown up in weeds and brush if is is then you might have better luck hunting this fall.

 

[Nancy-IL]

Man OH Man!!!! What a photo and what a place to hunt. Take it slow and easy. You can't rush a great place like that. When there, try to imagine where they might have done the wash, where the out-house was sitting, the trail to the out-house, where the kids would play..... you can get the picture! Please keep us posted. What a place to play!!!!!! HH to all, Nancy

 

[apikoros]

My reaction was the same as Dennis'

 

[alienbogey]

I hunted for less than an hour today and found a bullet and a fishing lure - both down by the pond.

The picture was taken with a cell phone - as you can probably tell by the quality. I'll try to take my son there before he leaves for college - he has a fancy camera that could do justice to the subject.

 

[bubblehead]

What was the VDI reading on the truck??......

 

[alienbogey]

The VDI reading was FORD.

 

[john65803]

The VDI reading was FORD.

Great answer

 

[bob10]

Keep trying. There is something good there. It might be under the Ford. Don't bother taking a picture..... TAKE THE WHOLE TRUCK. It's a treasure to many people.
BOB