Newbie in Northern Idaho

[ski228]

Hello All,
I just got my first metal detector for Father's Day. Its a BH Pioneer 505. Picked it up used, seems to work well. I'm still fiddling with the adjustments. My wife and daughter's got it for me so the girls and I can spend some time together this summer. I live in the Coeur d'Alene area. The girls and I have been out a few times and have found two rings already (men's Tungsten Carbide and a women's 14k# white gold) and about $4 in clad coins.
I was wondering how do I find other spots than just the local park and beach? I went to the beach early on the 5th and saw about 6 other guys with detectors. I would like to take the girls out and have the possibility to find old coins. I'm new the northern Idaho too, so I'm not sure where to research to find possible places.
Any recommendations would be appreciated.

Thanks, Ski

 

[reltolbert]

ski228,

You might find that you will have a hard time finding old coins in the Coeur d' Alene, Idaho area
unless you receive permission to hunt on private property. I easily find 40-50 coins each time I
hunt in the area for about 4 to 4 1/2 hours, however, the coins are not old and valuable. I have found about
4 rings in the last two months and 2 were on the Coeur d' Alene City Beach and 2 were in the dirt.
Ramsey Park area ( ball fields ) is good for finding rings and sometimes jewelry items. Ramsey Park is
just north of I-90 on Ramsey Road. As you mentioned, there's a lot of people around here with metal detectors
so to beat the competition you have to get an early start at the beaches and parks.
I have a Minelab E-Trac and find things other detectorists leave behind. You did well finding
those rings. Congratulations.

 

[ski228]

Thank you Regis for sharing those places. I know what you mean about early. I went to CDA beach at 0430 and there were two guys there already. I'm not planning to turn this into a money maker hobby. I'm just hoping to enjoy some hunts with my daughters. Hunts where we find anything interesting.
Thank you again, maybe we'll cross paths one day at a park.
Happy Hunting,
Ski

 

[reltolbert]

I was at the Beach about 7:30 am on July 4th and at the Fort Sherman play ground area about 5:30 am and I
found some money and a couple of cheap ear rings so the other metal detector people missed a few things.
Below are a few things I've found during 2 hunts.

 

[ski228]

Wow that's some nice finds.
On the 4th I found about $1.00 in change. Additionally, I found a cell phone and a paper dollar. Didn't need a metal detector for those two. They were laying on top of the wet sand. Surprisingly the cell phone still worked, so I tracked done the owner and she came and picked it up.
Today I'm going to take the kids out to Farra Gut State Park. I called and they allow metal detecting, however, you can't dig with a shovel and all items have to be reported. She said that they may keep anything of historical significants.

 

[mike from Illinois]

Go to your local library and go through the old newspapers and microfilms. Should be lots of info. on old picnic groves, fairs, carnivals, etc. Hope this helps. Mike.

 

[reltolbert]

Farragut State Park is a good place to go to. Try to find where the Navy housing was and you should find
older coins and jewelry there. Also try the Coeur d' Alene Fair-Grounds.

 

[BarberBill]

Detecting at Farragut and other Idaho STATE parks is not generally allowed so if you're seen by a ranger you'll likely be asked to leave, or worse. That said, Farragut has just initiated a program where you can purchase a permit at the entry headquarters and learn what you can and can't do there.

As to places to detect, any place that has or had fairly heavy people traffic is always a good bet. The trick is to locate or think of areas that most people overlook or have missed. And, please work at learning to retrieve targets in parks, fairgrounds etc. as cleanly as possible, filling any holes so they aren't noticeable so that more places don't become off limits. Happy hunting and good luck.
BB

 

[ski228]

Barberbill, I stopped by Farra Gut and got the scoop. They have the program inplace, it's pretty restrictive. Permit is $25 (annually), you can only detect is certain chosen areas. Everything found must be turned in for examination of possible historic value. Items not deemed with historical value will be placed in lost and found. They said that, you can self identify items that you would like. They will return them to you within the lost and found guidelines. They didn't tell me what those were. Additionally, metal detecting is not allowed in the campground, beach area or day use areas only in their chosen areas. If you are found out side the chosen area, your permit is voided and your asked to leave the park. As I said very restrictive.
I do my best to leave the area as clean as I found it. I haven't been digging plugs, I cut the sod and peel it back a flap. I got that tip from a detectorist in Oregon, because plugs are not authorized in their city parks, do to, in the past the lawn mower have had trouble because they have sucked the plugs up into the blades. When I'm finished I replace any dirt I pulled out and lay the flap back down. Most times you can't even tell I was there.
Enjoy the great Outdoors, Ski

 

[reltolbert]

ski228,

I appreciate the information. That is restrictive, indeed, but it might be worth it to do some metal detecting there.
I found this big (fake) diamond ring today. My heart skipped a beat when I found it in 2" of dirt thinking it might be for real.

 

[BarberBill]

Ski228 I do the same. I leave any flap/plug I dig with a hinge to help keep it in place. On shallow targets I generally work them out from a narrow slit with a screwdriver, then push the edges back together. Works really well in parks that are watered regularly so that the ground is moist. By the way, if you aren't aware, the Northwest Treasure Hunters club from Spokane puts on a two day seeded hunt every Father's day at Farragut which is a lot of fun.
BB

 

[ski228]

Regis, what a heart stopper. I can't imagine that initial moment. Sorry it didn't last.

BB, thanks for the tip on the group I'll look them up, it would be a blast to hang out with some experienced deterctorists.

I'm headed to the Oregon coast next week for a family reunion, I'll be sure to pack the detector.

Happy Hunting to you all. I'll post my prizes as I find them.

 

[EvilRZK]

Who told you that you can't take shovels out to Farragut? Last time I was out there, I stayed in good contact with the park ranger. They really wanted whole tiles from the old medical area, or from what is now one of the campgrounds since they razed the entire area with bulldozers. I have never once been told "no shovels". Just fill in the hole you did, and don't make a mess of the area. We were also using small pick/shovels for removing the flap like many others mentioned, so it wasn't like I was leaving a 3ft hole out there.

We found 2 whole tiles, and turned them in at the little shop / info center. The clerk took our finds in the back, DUMPED them on the counter and you could just see and hear everything shatter. We were LIVID. So I left a fairly angry message on the Rangers phone. Never saw that clerk again. I've also never been asked to purchase a permit to go detecting either. But I didn't go out there with intent to keep. I went out there with intent to add to the collection at the brig museum, so maybe that's where we differ.

Our most hilarious find was a bumper of an old vehicle. We reburied it, and all got a laugh.