Poser: How many of you......

[DavHut]

...set goals like Les-Nova Scotia does? His is 50 coins per outing/day, or something along those lines. He gets some good results to show for it, to so I'm adopting that as a place to start, myself.
Thanks, Les.

Do others do this? OR do you just go at it haphazardly, hoping for the best?

 

[Dirt NC]

I usally prefer to hunt old homesites so the finds are not going to be that plentiful for me. However when I do get a coin there is a good chace that it will be an older one. Yesterday evening I hit what I think must of been a WWII soilder's coin spill at a old house. The hole gave up 3 wheaties from the early 40's, a 10 centimes french coin dated 1924, a 10 cent coin from the netherlands dated 1942 and a 1 cent coin from the netherlands dated 1943. I considered that a good day especially since the hunt was only for an hour or so. An especially good day is one that has silver coins in it. That is why I hunt the old house sites. I don't do parks, thats not where my detecting interests lie. I would rather have one silver coin than a handful of clad to show for the day. I guess for me any coin older than I am is a good day.

 

[awhitster]

[quote DavHut]...set goals ............
Do others do this? OR do you just go at it haphazardly, hoping for the best?[/quote]
For me, goals are for work. I go out and accept what and how much I find. If I'm at a park, I expect to get a lot of coins, maybe as a bonus, some jewelry. If I go to an old site, I don't expect to load up but hope to get a few old ones. I look at this as a game of chance. Sometimes you win (good stuff), sometimes you lose (pop tops, junk).

 

[John 'n' W.Va]

[quote Dirt NC]I usally prefer to hunt old homesites so the finds are not going to be that plentiful for me. However when I do get a coin there is a good chace that it will be an older one. Yesterday evening I hit what I think must of been a WWII soilder's coin spill at a old house. The hole gave up 3 wheaties from the early 40's, a 10 centimes french coin dated 1924, a 10 cent coin from the netherlands dated 1942 and a 1 cent coin from the netherlands dated 1943. I considered that a good day especially since the hunt was only for an hour or so. An especially good day is one that has silver coins in it. That is why I hunt the old house sites. I don't do parks, thats not where my detecting interests lie. I would rather have one silver coin than a handful of clad to show for the day. I guess for me any coin older than I am is a good day.[/quote]


I AM I RIGHT WITH YOU BRO !!

 

[Rosco Bookbinder]

Well from my record so far I go for the RINGS. And that's been almost the case. Seems like I have found the rings lately and the coins haven't been as many. I have only been working the playgrounds, school yards and sports fields. Most of my time is available on the weekends so I don't get much done if any on the week days. With winter starting to show some signs here it's getting pretty cold in the mornings to get an early start. Frost on the coil isn't pretty....

 

[Uncle Willy]

It's a hobby not a contest.

Bill

 

[Uncle Willy]

I'm happy to just get out and find anything.

Bill

 

[DavHut]

...looks like it boils down to quantity versus quality. Some are not satisfied if every recovery isnt old and "valuable." Others are pleased with a certain number of clad or other goodies. I know that the number of "good" (old) finds are small in comparison to the quantity finds, at least for me - and I can live with that. I still look for chances to find "oldies," but I have little problem contenting myself with other finds, too.

I had a friend, Mr. C.B.S., now out of the hobby due to age, whom Im sorry to say I havent seen in some time. He may have been at this longer than even Bill and he was proud of his finds, but he once told me, "Big Deal. That's all I really got for it. I aint taking em with me." I was stunned. See, he totalled and tallied his collection one day: old coins, CW relics, jewelry, etc. He had enough to buy a car. A moderate Chevrolet, in fact. Thats for decades of expert searching. Better than golf, if you ask me, but consider his outcome.

There seems to be room for both schools and if you look at all finds, there are are plenty of each. Truth be told, every "oldie" hunter has probably spent more time finding other things. Consider, too, you can look your whole life for a gold coin, but with enough clad finds you can convert them into that elusive gold coin! H. Glenn Carson likened detectorists to alchemists. The alchemsits of old spent their lives trying to turn base metals into gold. You can beat them all, by merely putting in a few batteries and having gold as the end result! I think he was right on.

Some are reluctant to make a "race" of it or set a standard, it seems, claiming that it is just a hobby or for relaxation. Now, these same folks will wade through briar swamps, brave swarms of bloodsucking insects and venomous reptiles and risk their personal bacon against physical danger, in the hopes of recovering an old dime or horseshoe.

So, I guess here we'll have to "agree to disagree," as they say nowadays. I see no problem with setting a standard for oneself, a goal if you will, if that is your bent, then working to maintain that standard. The concept works for me and for others. Take a second look at the above paragraph and you'll likely see that we all do it, either unconsciously or willingly, or we wouldnt be in this pastime. It seems to be our nature to drive towards that one elusive dream - whatever it may be. We may have more in common with the old alchemists than we realize.

In the end it is up to you to satisfy yourself. No one is remiss or "less" of a detectorist for their individual pursuits. Im giving quantity a try for awhile. Wish me luck.

 

[John 'n' W.Va]

 

[jackinaustin]

You (as usual) brought up many good points. The three of us (myself, wife and brother) Set goals for ourself. By not meeting our goals it makes us do more research on sites and try to better use and understand our detectors which seems to make US better tectors, and increases our finds. For those who might question, yes we detect for the usual reasons i.e. getting outdoors, competition, excercise, etc.
1500, 350 and Ace.

 

[DavHut]

...must be pretty good at it, by such accounts! THanks for the inout Jack. Thanks to all of you, BTW.

 

[Dirt NC]

I have set a few goals for myself I must admit. One of my goals is to recover that elusive gold coin. I may not ever find it, but I'm looking forward to the search. If I bought the coin it just wouldn't be the same as recovering it. At least not to me. Another goal I have is to help as many new people enjoy the hobby as I can. I have been detecting for a few years now and still seem to learn something new everytime out. I like to pass on what I've learned to those just starting. I guess I am a little competitve also. Our club has monthly hunts. We always have an old or historic site to explore. It's always exciting to see who comes up with the best find. I have gotten lucky a few times and made the find of the day. That is always a thrill! The ultimate goal is to become the best operator that I can. To hear what others have missed and leave nothing beneath my coil. That is the real challenge of this hobby and that's what keeps me swinging.

 

[DavHut]

One of my goals is to recover that elusive gold coin. I may not ever find it, but I'm looking forward to the search. If I bought the coin it just wouldn't be the same as recovering it. At least not to me.
I usd to say that,too. Now, after years of looking, I'm warming to the idea of buying one with the clad coinage I turn up.

The ultimate goal is to become the best operator that I can. That's the real challenge of this hobby and that's what keeps me swinging.
Ditto. But, honestly, I dont care if "get it all."
Meeting my goals and enjoying my loner time is priority. If I dont get it all, well I'll get it next time. Or not. Or maybe someone else will. Or not. I can't escape the words of my friend C.B.:
"It don't mean a thing. I can't take it with me."

 

[Mick in Dubbo]

That was well said David. It is a hobby, and when you've had enough, it's time to stop.I actually have done that a couple of times this past week. Just reached a point where I was no longer enjoying the hunt (probably influenced a bit from recent events). When your in the mood, out you go again an enjoy this great hobby. Sometimes just being outside at your favourite time of day to enjoy the great out doors can be reason enough to be hunting(not to mention, relaxing).
I must admit though, it would be nice to have a fifty coin day.I'll take 'em any time I can. I may not often find fifty coins in one day, but most of them are $1 and $2 coins. Kind of makes up for the lack of coins. Finding older coins or jewellery is also a buzz.
Mick Evans.

 

[Dirt NC]

To each his own my friend.

 

[Mick in Dubbo]

Your friend C.B. really hit on the greatest truth when he uttered those words. The depth of which, is beyond this forum.
Mick Evans.

 

[DavHut]

...as the French say, "Vin, femmes et les chanson !" It doesnt really apply here, nut I sure do like it.

 

[DavHut]

I met 'ol C.B one Sunday, early in the morning when there was no one downtown but he and I. You know the time; quiet and peaceful like no other. I remember it well. I struck a conversation and he turned out to be a detectorist from back when Gerhardt Fisher was first playing with tubes.

He had an awesome collection, one to die for - no kidding. Cartwheels by the box, all sorts of coins and tokens, all detected when they were common finds. He had C.W. relics, too. Buttons, plates, some slave tags, you name it. I was like a kid in a candy shop.

"They all go to my wife when I die," he said..."Poor gal."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Well, all told, this stuff would buy her decent car. If she can ever get it all sold for 'book prices', which I doubt. And if she can beat back the hustlers and scam artists - some of which are my "buddies - and can do all that quick enough to make it worthwhile. That's a big job." He just shook his head. Then he said The Words...

"All the time I spent chasing this stuff, all the time I had to 'beat someone else to it', or get it all... you know what I mean. And now what? It's all nice and I have great memories and Im proud of it all. But that's it. Several of my detecting buds are dead now and I saw what happens, first hand. Son, I aint taking it with me."

Back then, I didnt get it. Crazy old guy. Too many hours in the woods, I guess. I was sure that if he could find this stuff, then I could to! I was eager and I charged forth. That was 15 years ago. I found stuff. I still do. And his words, after all this time, still ring in my ears.

 

[Spanky]

I set no goals as I truly enjoy finding stuff...stuff that is useful.... as well as coins.

I love fishing and often refer to tecting as fishing on land.

When I want to catch a trout I go to my favorite stream and if I want to find clad I go to my favorite park...kinda similar do you think?
Never really know if I will catch a trout and then again I never really know if I'll find a ring.

I truly enjoy reading Leslie's tale of the 50 coin day as he tells a story with photos. Good down to earth honest storeys.

Now when it comes to fishing....well.... storeys tend to be stretched a bit I guess thats why I like tecting more.

 

[Mick in Dubbo]

It's great when you meet someone like that and share time with them. All those experiences and knowledge can help to reflect on when you are having a frustrating day. Just knowing what possibilities can occur can help over those humps.
I agree that it is the best time to be out hunting, first thing in the morning or my preference, in the cool of the late afternoon.
Thanks for sharing your experience.
Mick Evans.