Metal detecting "The Hobby"

[Elton]

Detecting can be fun and relaxing. Also rewarding if you happen to find the right things.

That said ..in general it's a fun hobby.

Some detect every day. Some once a week, and some once a month or less..

Is that wrong ?. No it is a hobby.....done for leisure and a past time hobby.. There's that word again "Hobby"...

Detect as you find enjoyable. Do not get caught up in the "you have to find great items every time out. That most likely will not happen.

But "COULD" , if your really lucky, and do a lot of research. You never really know............. When you read the posts of those who find Old great items every time out. Remember that is the exception. NOT The rule.

Please, please don't get caught up in the competitive side of detecting... Trying to compete with some who live, eat and breath detecting.. You won't be happy with your results...

I know guys who detect every day. I know guys who take vacation days to detect. Then when their families want to take vacation days..Guess what ..They have none left... I know some who plan their vacations around detecting. No matter if their spouses approve or not. Their obsessed with the hobby and don't really care about anything but their obsession.. You might want to give that some serious thought..It causes big problems many times.

Don't get caught up in the my machine is better than your machine.. They all do the same thing. Find metal objects..Just at sometimes, different degrees..or depths.

Hype in advertising is just that." Hype".... Check out any machine before you buy it... Dealers are a great resource. Our dealers on findmall are exceptional...

I guess what I am saying there is no right, or wrong.... no set times to detect, and no demand that you find great things on every outing... It is a HOBBY... Yep that word once again


Try to enjoy the "HOBBY"......

 

[bootyhoundpa]

Well said elton.....

 

[Blind Squirrel]

Elton, you nailed it. Detecting is a GREAT hobby. It affords the opportunity to get away from the stresses of life with the potential to make significant historical or monetary finds. I ALWAYS find something that I bring home. For me though, the best part of detecting is detecting with good friend(s), during rest breaks, discussing politics, our work, detecting strategies etc. There IS competition though - although it's a friendly competition. My detecting buddy and I have a combined 75 years of detecting. In that time frame we have both dug quite a few really neat relics and hundreds of dollars face value in silver. To make digging a 1964 dime more interesting, we have a RACE to TEN SILVERS. When the score is 9-9, that 1964 dime is a GREAT find!

Excellent post, Elton. It puts the reasons to detect in perspective. Best of luck and...

Happy Hunting!
Blind Squirrel

 

[mudpuppy]

Swap out the word 'detecting' with 'golfing' and I'd agree 100%!

One of the most appealing things about this hobby/sport is the effort/experience involved to get really, really good! A guy has to make a commitment for repeatable success....One of the best things about this Forum is the underlying 'competitive' aspect this sport affords to get a guy out of the house!...I am a self diagnosed 'workaholic', in remission I think, but it would not take much to get me off the wagon in the right circumstances....missed family weddings and funerals due to the job, dedicated and loyal to a fault...lame excuse I know, but I did...now when I go to family weddings and funerals, I look at all the jewelry the people are wearing, and think to myself, Hmmm!.....

I am obsessed with the hunt for metal thats for sure...but in my case, I dont know if thats a bad thing? Up early, out-n-back before nobody knows I'm gone, take the rigs on the road with me since I travel for business, instead of drinking at the bar, I'm out hunting for metal! Out of all the addictions a fellow can get hisself into now a days, detecting has got to be one of the most harmless? Or least harmful? Anyway, I also smoke and drink too much, so detecting is the least noticable Family/financial disruptor I have at the moment, and pays off the best in health/wealth and other things...so I guess its a wash in my case, but I get what you are saying, Elton, and would advise a young lad the same...keep a balance in Life if you can, if you cant, default to detecting! And for heavens sake, stay away from GOLF!
Mud

 

[ironsight]

For me it is a hobby not a sport!

 

[Metaldetective1975]

For me, metal detecting is just one of many hobbies I have (and I enjoy all of them). Coin & stamp collecting, fishing, flytying, camping, hiking, to name a few.
It is very difficult for me to devote all of my free time to just one. But detecting must be done outdoors, and any chance I can get to go outside and grab some fresh air is a bonus for me. I sometimes tend to go on a detecting binge, and can't seem to get enough of it. That is when I need to burn some vacation days and just spend all day doing it...
I try to reserve the collecting and flytying hobbies to the winter months when the ground and trout streams are frozen. Then I can spend more time during the spring through autmn timeframe for detecting and the other outdoor hobbies. The ultimate vacation for me would be to combine detecting, camping, hiking and fishing all in one trip. But, my wife must have a say in it too.. However, she does like the beach, so I can get some detecting done when we go the the shore each summer.
No golf for me...(too many other hobbies).....

 

[Hightone]

My wife and kids ALWAYS come first. Detecting is not something I have to do, it's something I choose to do. Even at 64, I still love my XBox games. Cooking. Watching a new movie with my wife at night with chips and dip. Detecting enhances my life. And the others things enhance it as well.

Life is great, whether I find anything or not.