Well, let me give you all my take on this.

Back in 1969 I got an Associate Degree in Police Science, and continued working on my Bachelor's Degree in Administration of Criminal Justice. In 1970 I went on the Police Department, finished the Bachelor's Degree, and got my Master's in Criminology.

Now what has this got to do with metal detecting? Absolutely nothing, I just like to brag!

NO the connection is something that I learned about being a police officer. There's theory, and then there is practical application. You don't learn to be a cop in school.

You learn to be a cop when you are assigned to a senior officer and he shows you the ropes. Under the vigilant tutelage of your field training officer, you are guided and trained. Sometimes, you are allowed to make mistakes, so you can suffer the consequences and learn. He/She shows you how to watch your A S S, as well as your partner's. Sometimes you learn the hard way. Like when you are trying to talk some sense to the cute sweet drunk little blonde that is becoming obnoxious in a bar and won't leave. Without warning she drop kicks you in the groin. So much for sweet and cute. You learn to look past the facade and see each person for what they truly are; an unknown quantity. Each person has the potential to kill you or hurt you. That doesn't mean you treat everyone harshly, but you treat them with a respectful cautiousness.

Oh, all those college degree initials may look impressive behind your name, but the true education comes in the field. The point of this is, you don't learn to be a cop in school. And you don't learn to be a nugget hunter by reading books.

That's why I know, without a doubt, had Hoss not took me under his wing, and gave so generously of his knowledge, my detector would probably be in a closet in the garage by now.

I read almost every book I could find. I think I spent about $150 on books on hunting gold. Yes, they all had some good information and excellent tips. However, none of them taught me the things Hoss has taught me. Oh, don't get me wrong, Hoss can be cantankerous and obstinate, which really upsets me because I thought I had a lock on those personality traits.

When he knows he's right he keeps beating it into your brain until you finally "get it." Just like all that metal I was carrying. It took me a while to conclude that maybe he was right, maybe I should do it his way. It's very frustrating when you are teaching someone how to do something right, and they just ignore you. No wonder Hoss gets migraines when he takes me hunting.

I am absolutely convinced that without a mentor, your chances of ever finding gold are slim at best. Just 4 days ago, a fellow emailed me and said he'd like to go out hunting with me. He has been hunting in White Hills, (the same area that we go), for two years, and has yet to find a nugget! Hoss has taught me the signs of what to look for. Nothing is for sure, but knowing the clues of what to look for significantly increases your chances of finding gold. After a while, after a little field training, by a task master like Hoss, it all starts to sink in and come together.

You suddenly find yourself almost automatically being drawn to the areas that match the profile of other places where you have found gold.

I am green with envy over the folks that go with Hoss on his Australian Gold tours. I've got my training over 4 months, but can you imagine 28 days of nothing but intensive gold hunting in some of the richest gold country on earth? Put that together with Hoss being there everyday telling you what to do, and what not to do, nagging you and teaching you something new every day? Invaluable!

Yep, 99% of the useful information I have about finding gold I owe to Hoss. You have no idea how much this pains me to brag him up like this. Evertime I say something nice about him, he's hard to be around for the next month; he gets that, "See I told you so attitude." :-) I don't need that, I get enough of that "I'm so superior!" from my wife.

I'm kidding, Hoss is a pretty down to earth guy. I've never seen anything that even hints of that with Hoss. He's always tickled to death when you find gold, I think he gets a great deal of pleasure passing on all his knowledge to other people and seeing it pay off.

If I haven't told you lately Hoss, "Thank you for the time you've spent with me, the things you've taught me, but most importantly, your friendship. They don't make many of them like you anymore. I consider it a privilege to have you as a friend and mental case, ah, I mean mentor!" :-)

You all be careful out there and may you too be fortunate enough to have the good fortune to find a friendship like I have with the "Big Guy."

By the way, I posted a picture of all the nuggets I've found as well as a conversion table that tells you how to convert grams to pennyweights etc. at:

http://www.kamakazi.com/explore

Doc