The Economics of ROI hunting

[mudpuppy]

This mindset, "subsistence hunting" is a throwback to when we were all hunter/gatherers...deep in the amygdala of our reptilian brain lays the driver...the NEED/URGE to hunt that drives us...

Think about a killer whale, they know where their targets will be, and they show up and get them and seem to have a lot of fun in the process...Thats the thing, a person CAN evaluate each location, distance/weather time of year, and hit an area serious to clean it out in as short a time possible. How does a guy know if he did good? The ROI...the value of goods harvested per time/energy expended...and that is FUN!

This sport is very similar to trapping, example: You know of a swamp full of muskrats, you know theres probably 50 in there, rats bring lets say 5.00 each, and the place is 20 miles away...
20 miles = 40 rd trip= 2gal/fuel, 1hr travel, = cost of 8.00/1hr
1 rat = 5.00, and equates to 1hr total effort, set,catch,skin,stretch...to make this run have the best ROI, a guy has to time it to the weather, and get as many as possible in as few trips as possible to offset expenses.
Now, where theres rats, (clad) theres generally mink, (jewelry) so thats a bonus,...50 rats =250.00 done in two days, - (50 rats,16.00 fuel, miles traveled,=80 52hrs effort) 125.00/day less expenses)...done in 4days,(50rats, 32.00 fuel, 160 miles, 54hrs)..62.50/day less expenses).and add to that the wasted time covering the same ground, so the effort and the expenses can compound into huge loss of ROI very quickly...

Unlike trapping, detecting offers no clear visual way of evaluating the possible ROI of an area, a few exceptions sure, but generally a guy has to stop and swing for a while and evaluate the finds. Either stay there or move to a more target heavy environment..
So to make a 40 mile detecting run on an instinct, by using the satellite images to show you where theres a school, a guy has to at least get his gas money back! So a fellow plots a route, and times it by the weather, and hits it serious to get that 8 bucks back, has a backup plan...it makes for a more strategic way of approaching our sport and makes a guy get real good, real fast at reading an area for potential ROI....Its a way of compressing time, and if for nothing else other than the Wife not even knowing you are gone, thats a good thing!
Mud

 

[mudpuppy]

-- moved topic --

 

[Elton]

Once this topic went to Finding rats etc for comparison it no longer falls in metal detecting.. It's been moved for that reason and others..

I'll leave it open for a bit since interest was being displayed .

 

[Pyledriver]

ROI...lol! My AT has paid for itself, still too early for the T2. My two box detector has turned my fabulous sites into just some cool places with nothing to find.. The shovels, probes, scoops, watercraft, gas (13-14mpg), lost work...I'd probably do better in prostitution-and I'm ugly! There are two ways I might try if I was single-prospecting the gold fields, or big beaches full time. Even sunken treasures take tons of investment although ROI has been good for some! WAIT-meteorites. The meteorite men and a few others do quite well.

 

[1950cupajo]

Ha! If gas keeps going up I'll be that kid on a Huffy!
Mud

[size=x-large]Amen Mr Mud.[/size]

 

[1950cupajo]

Mud two things that you did not include in your ROI was the value of the pleasure that we obtain from the hobby. Also the value of the exercise that we get while detecting. In my mind those two items add considerable value to my time afield.

[size=x-large]Just wonering when somebody was going to mention that. It's true I think that is the best thing of all. Our health. All that up and down. I was out of action for about six months, dame near killed me, but Doctors orders.[/size]

 

[Harborchick14]

I think people are going to have different strategies depending on where they live, i.e., on one of the coasts, Midwest, Southwest, etc.

What about consistency vs. randomness. It would seem reasonable to sweep the ballpark bleachers and soccer field sidelines on a regular basis during the season(s), relatively soon after the games/matches.

I liked the story behind the finding of the 8 reales in Canada. The guy researched the history and located an old stagecoach stop. I think its going to take research and analyzing the info and maps to find potential high return areas. Maybe one day a week multi-task and hunt in a spot close to the library, then go to the library and do some historical research.

Happy Hunting!