Darrell -

For hard ground you might consider a bulb planter which you can get at Home Depot or most any garden center this time of year. It's basically a cylindrical tool that's designed to remove a plug of dirt about 3 inches in diameter, and 4-6 inches deep (for planting tulips, daffodils, and other bulbs). They're pretty cheap, usually around $3-5 and come in a variety of models including some that spring open to release the plug, as well as a commonly available long-handled model that lets you dig plugs from a standing position. This is handy if you aren't built for doing a lot of bending and digging (wait a minute... what am I saying? This is the Metal Detecting forum! lol!)

Another approach you might think about is getting a heavy black iron pipe and a short-handled sledge and just bash holes in the ground. This requires a little more work to fill and cover the holes since you don't end up with a plug of dirt to refill the hole with. However, this also yields smaller diameter and deeper holes for your efforts.

Either way, you should plan on totally raking over the entire area after you bury to prevent folks from visually discerning your burial points. Depending on your timing, you might even consider watering the area a few times to further mask your actions.

Have fun and happy hunting!

-Tea Party