Not some engineering breakthrough, just a cheap manner in which to make MDing a bit more enjoyable. 
If I'm hunting a location where neatness isn't an issue (like crop fields), I like to use a larger shovel. This allows me a bit more wiggle room to prevent damaging a find (as opposed to my "screwdigger or Ames hand trowel), but even more of an advantage it allows me to dig an item without bending-over as well as digging more "iffy" signals.
I can flip-out a clump of dirt, and re-scan it as well as the hole to see if the target is in the plug or still in the hole. It it's in the plug I can squash it (gently) with my foot or break it into pieces and spread it around a bit to see if I can visually locate the target or rescan the pieces.
If it's trash or target I can put it into the appropriate pocket in my pouch, and kick the dirt back into the hole.
I am considering making a scoop from a plastic kitchen ladle with a longer handle to scoop-up the goodies, or even rescan a scoop at a time until the target is found.
LOL...lazy? No....I have problems getting up & down, so anything I can do to make the hobby "easier" (less painful) on me equates to more enjoyment and/or a bit more endurance
Tile spade cut-down to a 4" width, a bit of a point added, the blade creased (in a large sheet metal box & pan brake) a bit up the center to stiffen it, and then sharpened a bit on the point and sides. I didn't get it creased deep enough the 1st time, and the blade became very flexible very quickly. So a second round in the brake solved the problem.
Works great, the taller handle works good since I'm tall, and the 4" width means I'm not trying to flip a 50 pound plug.
Smitty
If I'm hunting a location where neatness isn't an issue (like crop fields), I like to use a larger shovel. This allows me a bit more wiggle room to prevent damaging a find (as opposed to my "screwdigger or Ames hand trowel), but even more of an advantage it allows me to dig an item without bending-over as well as digging more "iffy" signals.
I can flip-out a clump of dirt, and re-scan it as well as the hole to see if the target is in the plug or still in the hole. It it's in the plug I can squash it (gently) with my foot or break it into pieces and spread it around a bit to see if I can visually locate the target or rescan the pieces.
If it's trash or target I can put it into the appropriate pocket in my pouch, and kick the dirt back into the hole.
I am considering making a scoop from a plastic kitchen ladle with a longer handle to scoop-up the goodies, or even rescan a scoop at a time until the target is found.
LOL...lazy? No....I have problems getting up & down, so anything I can do to make the hobby "easier" (less painful) on me equates to more enjoyment and/or a bit more endurance
Tile spade cut-down to a 4" width, a bit of a point added, the blade creased (in a large sheet metal box & pan brake) a bit up the center to stiffen it, and then sharpened a bit on the point and sides. I didn't get it creased deep enough the 1st time, and the blade became very flexible very quickly. So a second round in the brake solved the problem.
Works great, the taller handle works good since I'm tall, and the 4" width means I'm not trying to flip a 50 pound plug.
Smitty