What kind of hunting do you do?

[Larry (IL)]

Coins, jewelry, relics, prospecting? Private property, parks, beaches, schools?

Many of us hunt coins and take the jewelry when we get it, but some hunters pass on the coins in favor of the gold which is something I would like to do more of, but passing up on the old silver is a tough habit to break. This is the first year in quite a few that I have not rescued a gold target, but I can't complain on the silver and old copper found this year. I know I have passed up a lot of jewelry signals and some of those could have been real nice finds.

Anyway, just curious what kind of sites do you hunt and what do you primarily hunt for?

 

[RLOH]

Larry, I park and school hunt for coins and gold jewelery. I wish I could say I find lots of gold, but to be truthful, I have found 7 gold items this year. Six rings and a 14k hat pin shaped like a civil war sword. I just found this last week with my DFX. It rang in just above a nickle(22 23) and was 6 inches deep. I dig more nickles than anyone I know and I try to dig deep junk(pull tab) signals. I usually end up with thirty coins and 60 tabs so why I don't find more gold is beyond me. Maybe that V3i might help me find my first gold coin. R.L.

 

[OregonMike]

I'm pretty much up for everything except wading around in lakes. On weekdays, I hunt parking strip easements and if someone comes out of an older house, I ask permission to go onto their yards. Most people say yes! That's often where the silver can be found. On weekends, I often hunt schools and parks. The Oregon coast is not very good for beach hunting, because it's rarely warm enough to attract many people. It's pretty windswept, so if you find metal in the sand, it's almost always fishing tackle or the stray beer can. Every now and then I cold call and knock on a door, and that's often pretty successful, but I have to be in the right mood to do that. We've had a lot of rain lately and I haven't had much of a chance to get out, but I think I might be able to get out tomorrow (Sunday). Not sure quite where I'll go, but I'm pretty sure if it's not too cold I'll give it a shot.

Mike

 

[Aurium]

I tend to hunt old fair grounds, parks, athletic fields, beaches essentially anyplace that I think might hold a few interesting items. I do a fair amount of research for any area I visit, due to my travel schedule I also hunt around the US. One of my personal favorites is small playgrounds in small towns.
However I look for a few specific characteristics in smalls towns, 1) close to water, or an early trade route 2) Economic depression for the area.
The depression aspect is my cue for lack of development in older areas. Basically they haven't bulldozed stuff that holds old coins.

I actually have a list of about 50 key items that I do research on for types of areas to hunt. (it's helpful when doing online research) Google Earth is my goto for examining parks prior to driving there. (for me sometimes the area's are potentially risky due to a neighborhood, and i"m not looking for trouble just a few coins)

One other thing that I learned a long time ago is that older towns used to have boardwalks in the business districts, which have since been paved, if you run across an excavation in a downtown area of a town, seek permission and go have fun. Chances are pretty good you'll find something good in the excavated area's. (especially if they've just pulled the paving materials out)

 

[RONMETZGER]

Almost always, I hunt for Silver coins, Wheaties,...and occasionally Gold Jewelery. I look for any place that my have some history or years of activity. Old schools and old parks have given me the best luck this past year. I don't mind hunting in places that I've previously been to, I just make different adjustments and hope for the best, and usually I hit something that a previously missed in the past. I use google to get an aerial view of ares to see if I can find old path's, ball diamonds, or clearings in a wooded area, and these have also turned out pretty good. I did make one trip to the Outer Banks this summer and did a little beach hunting, that gave me a hand full of toe rings and dozens of beach tent stakes.
I see many places in the county that I would like to hunt like Farm Houses, Foundations, Corn Fields, ..., I just haven't had the nerve to ask permission to hunt. Maybe next spring. I'm still learning the V-3 and all the bells and whistles, but on the weekends when the weathers nice, I just want to make a few adjustments and start hunting.
This years best finds have been a 1902 Barber Half, 10-15 Mercury's, Buffalo Nickles, War Nickles, 4 Gold Rings, 3 Silver Rings, 2 Silver Quarters, 5 Rosie's, and about 100 Wheaties. It's not much, but I keep going to the same 3-4 places and each time I usually grab a few of the above.

 

[Rob (IL)]

All kidding aside, any type I can get.

 

[leojack]

Hey Larry: Nice question!My hunting is usually around old schools,fair grounds,and whenever I get a hot lead on some old gathering places.The hottest spot (one that hooked me in the hobby in the early 70's) was an old multi-purpose fair ground,race track,and old carny spot,They scrapped it off to develop it and I hit it at the perfect time.Ah the old days! I paid for my old coinmaster in a few trips until they put er off limits.Its going to be a long winter here in Pa. but the fun of reading these threads and seeing the great finds from other folks will help.my 3 month case of cabin fever!!!Jack from Pa.

 

[ferdware]

I mainly hunt the beaches. I live in Myrtle Beach SC so the summer months were great. I keep hearing how good the winter months are, but I have yet to see that. I have hunted a few parks around here but they are all under 15 years old. So not much luck there either. I take the occasional trips to an old plantation that has never been hunted. So far just been cleaning out trash.And like alot of other people there are a few places right down the road that look great. Just haven't asked yet.
I have had my best luck at the beaches so far. And you cant beat the digging. NO roots just scoop the sand. The worst I have ran into was layers of shells thaat make it hard to scoop.

FERD

 

[detectorjim]

Since I live in the "Mother Lode" area of CA I mostly relic hunt in the old mining camps, with a few parks thrown in occasionally. The oldest coins I've found are two identically holed 1808 Spanish Reals found about a year apart and within 50 feet of each other. I've attached a pic of an 1849 French 5 Franc coin I found on edge in the same hole with a Henry rifle casing. I've located most everything with my XLT, including a nice gold nugget but I just got a V3i a couple of months ago and have been concentrating on getting a grasp of it - quite a learning curve but it's fantastic. The 10" DD coil gets a bit heavier after a few hours than my old 9.5" XLT coil.