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Winter metal detecting in the woods

J

Jim Walker

New member
I went out into some woods to do some metal detecting today. The trees are mostly pine and oak trees in the area I was in. An old logging road dating back to 1950's ( told from the land owner) . Well I started off on one end, within 20 ft in I had a really nice sound on my metal detector.So I took my foot and swept the leave to clear a spot to pin point and get ready to dig. Well I pin pointed over the spot and stuck the shovel in. I looked like I had turned up 4 or 5 nice night crawlers ( worms). Come to find out that I had stuck my shovel in a snake den. I could see the coin but lost interest in risking anything over a penny. I covered it back up and moved on. I thought that snakes in the winter time would be much deeper then 3 or 4 inches.
One other thing I have not thought about is poison ivy / poison oak dead leaves, still contain Urushiol. So I guess if your out in the woods their maybe dangers. The snakes by the way, copperhead snakes. Ironic Copperhead snakes near a copper penny. I did move onto a different place and continued my day of metal detecting . Turning up a hand full of change. Jim
 
Mostly Pine and Oak Trees on an old Logging road dating back to the 50's.
Sounds like South Alabama territory, especially with those Copper head snakes.
 
Thank god we only have two types of poisons snakes in Wisconsin and neither one are any where near me.
 
Louisiana, in this area we have several kinds of poisonous snakes.

Poisonous Snakes found in Louisiana.

Eastern Coral Snake Texas Coral Snake
Western Pygmy Rattlesnake
Copperhead
Cottonmouth
Timber (Canebrake) Rattlesnake
Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake
 
Its amazing how you can "Smell" the rattle snakes before you really see them. I hate cotton mouths they seem to be more aggressive (here in Alabama) than the rest.
But anyway, happy hunting an keep you eyes, ears an nose alert.
 
I was out yesterday tecting an old log cabin site. There was an half inch of snow on the ground. I was MD'ing the woods because the ground doesn't freeze as hard as open ground. I was going over some rock piles thinking, I am glad it's still winter. I don't have to worry about snakes. I know there was poison ivy around, shucks it's West Virgina.

Only found a 1945 dog tag, bullets and a piece of an old carbide lamp. I NEVER FIND MUCH AT OLD CABIN SITES.
 
i'll take your snakes, you can have our in-town thugs in the best district to hunt old stuff!
 
I always wear snake-proof boots and chaps when I am out and about in the woods. But still when I cross one I move on. There is too many other places to fight a snake over a coin, unless its gold. Then I will think about it. But push come to shove I can always come back. But walking around in the woods with head phones on, I feel better wearing snake-proof gear, and half of the head phones removed. I have been hit once with the boots and chaps. An viper cloth works. I would not go out with out it. As for poison ivy, I had a guy with me last month. An he was working and area finding some coins. He ended up with poison ivy. I gave him some jewelweed soap. That is the only thing I found that works like magic.
 
Didnt know there was soap made from jewelweed,where can one get it. I've used juice from the plant growing at the edges of woods to ease mosquito bites and bee stings.
 
Snakes are not much of a problem in my area,but all kinds of critters are getting chased out by housing developments and appearing in new spots. Just have to stay alert now matter where you are.
 
n/t
 
dixiedigger57 said:
i'll take your snakes, you can have our in-town thugs in the best district to hunt old stuff!
Click to expand...

How about bringing along Mr. Smith & Wesson. Or maybe a nice Taser?
 
No way would I detect in that area.
 
"soap made from jewelweed" You can get it on ebay. Several small heath food kind of stores also have it.

Jewelweed Soap
Ingredients
2 cups glycerin soap
1/2 cup jewelweed maceration (gather blooming jewelweed and boil in 1/2 cup water)
7 drops sweet orange oil
2 drops of orange coloring

Instructions
Melt glycerin in double boiler or slowly in microwave. Add jewelweed maceration, stir until slightly cooled. Add fragrance and color. Pour into molds. Cool.

You can find jewelweed growing next to poison ivy...it has a little orange jewel like flower. It is used to heal the rash caused by poison ivy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNmFjAjsazU

An as for snakes, I leave them be, and hope they return the favor.
 
over here in S Ms Jim. Lol, did you mention the wild hogs? I have been wearing snake leggins summer and winter since soon after I started detecting 40 + years ago. On a cold frosty morn if the sun comes out just right and you start looking real good at all the likely logs and exposed places you will almost always find a big Cottonmouth right where he can soak himself. Wouldn't be so bad but they are just plain mean, and give no ground. And them being slow because of the cold does not mean they no longer bite, By a long shot! I don't go to the river like I use to, but those that do, say that since it has been against the law to kill snakes for several years that they are so thick in places it has made it difficult to enjoy the fishing. Same river and woods is used for training our Troops.Hard to imagine them crawling around in and amongst all those critters, but that is just what they do. Gotta love our Troops, they don't come any better, and we all need to keep them in our Prayers ! HH Charlie
 
One thing I know about "wild hogs" is the do eat snakes. I know they do cause lots of damage.
If I could train a hog to hunt coins and gold rings, like they teach them to hunt truffels I would. I would
take one out in the woods and take care to two things at the same time. I think this one is a bit too big for
training.:crazy: Knowing my luck he would just find :pulltab::pulltab: .
 
them "hawgs" do eat snakes for sure and far as I am concerned that's a good thing, but them ole tusker sows with a bunch of little ones will eat any peoples they can get to when they get to close. One of my closest calls yet in the woods was when an ole sow came crashing out of the underbrush almost on top of me a digging buddy before we could get up a tree.That was a "zig zag" race for a tree we almost lost. Yeah, she ziged and we zaged! After awhile she moved on and we managed to get down (and wait for awhile by our trees), we realized that she had left her little ones and swam the creek in order to get to where she heard us in the woods. Out of habit now when in the woods, I am always 'tuned in" to the best "climbers" close by, just in case "Mama" shows up again. HH, Charlie
 
Been there done both..dug up snakes ,been chased by the ol sow..and 1 other thing ,while tecting in spring walked over a yellow jacket hive.
there really not fun at all!
 
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