large area frustrating

[cassiekarimom]

my girls and I went down to where the river is, there is so much to detect I don't know where to start, it is a large area with a park and an area for people to park their campers, a picnic area and the woods with the trail through it and there are hills all around, it's not like an empty lot where you can just start on one side and go back and forth.

 

[PAshooter]

Sounds like most of the areas I hunt around here! I like to try and figure out where the most people gather, and the highest traffic areas. If that's not really practical, I'll start under the biggest trees, then sweep the perimeter, and eventually cover whatever is left. Under/around picnic tables and stone BBQ's may be another priority area.

Are there any scenic spots in the hills that overlook the river? People have been going to these scenic places for ages, sitting/reclining for picnics, "romantic interludes", etc... only problem around here is, those spots are pretty far out in the woods - so for generations, teenagers have been partying there on summer nights. (read: pull-tab/beer-can hell)

 

[cassiekarimom]

I thought about only doing the main places but then I think, "people have been comming to this area for decades, what if I miss things by only doing certain areas?"

 

[Magicman]

Make a map, detect the main areas and mark them off the map and then move to the other areas.

 

[zeekeys]

PAshooter and Magicman have very good ideas. I also look at old photos of the area. Some come from Internet, some from historical society and some times form friends who have some interesting info or photos. You will be surprised how the land scape has changed even form the 1950's. Break it into smaller sections and do grid searches. I break one beach into about 6 sections and search it through out the summer. I try to search it twice a summer. That is the reason I usually never get off the beaches. It is a big task but in sections and time you will make it. Don't get discouraged, some places there is almost nothing and other places you hit gold. This is when it is bad to read the forum because you have these guys getting 200 coins or rings and a number of good finds that day and you got 4 coins in hours of detecting. But it is all up to you so good luck... Thanks for reading Jer

 

[cassiekarimom]

the historical society in my town is 2 blocks from my home, if I have time I'm thinking of going there and seeing if they know of places that I can detect where the land is the same and has not been turned over or redeveloped or whatever over the years.