Fence Post Cache Questions

[limegoldconvertible68]

Since these were usually buried a 100 yrs ago or so haven't all the original fence posts decayed and been replaced? Would the new posts be in the same location as the original ones? Regardless, how do you run a detector to look for a cache, if its under a post would the detector see it? Wouldn't the metal in the fence render a detector useless? Sorry to ask so many questions but it seems like its nearly an impossible task to find an fence post cache from previous centuries. Obviously some people have been successful at searching so is it just a matter of luck or are there certain things to do to make success more likely.

[JOHUNT]

It's been a while since I've been on T-Net but,here goes. Most fence posts would have been made from Locust trees. They do not rot very quickly. There are still some on my land. There is usually no metal that close to the bottom of a regular 3-4 strand barbed wire fence. Alot of people say that they would have used a post that could be pulled out easily from time to time and that it wouldn't have the fence attached to it. Fences were pulled tight as possible and (most) posts were pounded in deep. If there was a farmhouse there you might want to check all of them that are or were in sight of the house. Good luck! The ground is still frozen for me but, I am anxiously awaiting spring to get back to digging up the past!!!

[uglymailman]

I guess we build fences differently here in thh Midwest. Most of our posts are Hedge (Osage Orange) and were put in ground after digging a hole. A lot of new fences were built next to the first ones built that had trees growing in the fence line. Easier to move over 5 feet and build new than to clear the overgrown fence line. I've seen posts that I'm sure were at least 100 yr.'s old still standing. One way to gauge the age of an old fence is by the type of barbed wire that's in it.

[JOHUNT]

That's an interesting point you made about moving the fence over a few feet. That could make it a bit easier for a THer. Here in NY, fencelines usually ran on the property lines(hedgerows). NY was once about 60% farm fields. A major reforestation process took place in the 30's-60's. So now it's not uncommon to find fencelines throughout the woods. Plus the farmers would throw all of the field stones into the hedgerows. Some of the biggest trees out here have barbed wire running right through them.
So Limegold you might find a cache or you might find some other cool relic but, also remember that most people didn't have tons of money back then. So don't stop at fenceposts. Search everything. People used post hole banks because they didn't trust real banks, so they would've hid it well in a spot where they could monitor it! Best of luck out there guys!

[Real de Tayopa Tropical Tramp]

HI. to answer a question regarding detecting along a fence, you merely run parallel passes with the wire. IE, balance out the wires' reaction, then slowly go parallel with the wire, The same applies next to a metal wall.

Don Jose de La Mancha

[nuggethuntr]

Excellent information.

Might look at your area of interest on Google Earth. Sometimes things that aren't noticable at ground level are obvious from above - such as old river channels or fencelines (which might now simply be a straight line of trees).

Google Earth also has a feature which allows you to switch between different years of data. On mine it goes back to 1993 - 18 years.

I've recently found (by switching between current maps and 1993's maps) two sites that are fields now - but were once old homesteads. You can see where the houses and outbuildings were as well as yard fences, trees, etc. Since then, everything was bulldozed down, burned or hauled away --- and the land turned into field. Today standing at the edge of the cornfield you'd have no idea that anything was once there. And yet, it is a prime target area.

nuggethuntr

[10claw]

one man i hunted with told me that his father placed a churn in the garden ( buried of course ) and that was his band since they lived about 30 miles from town. this man also found twisted gold bars in the hollow of a dead tree. one time i was there with him and he showed me the stump of the tree. we did'nt find anything that was left. tough luck.
never overlook rotten stumps nor limbs on large trees. good luck

[bigstrapper]

I'm researching a lot in my region, I tried using the BLM, Bureau of Land Management. That usually goes back to the mid 1850's or later. They used very detailed maps back then since they had to write down most everything they seen and it was usually a lengthy chore since they had to manually lay out the chains for measurement. Most of the time they noted fields, trees, cricks, minor and major roads and yes even fence lines.

[Kentucky Kache]

Research who lived there in years past and see if you can locate someone who may have old pictures of the place, maybe showing a fence row. You never know.

[lastleg]

Now that's some out-of-the-box thinking there KK. Most of my old Kodak pictures feature people saying "cheese".

[Kentucky Kache]

Now that's some out-of-the-box thinking there KK. Most of my old Kodak pictures feature people saying "cheese".

Do any of those old pictures have a background? I'm guessing they do.
It's not out of the box thinking...just common sense.

[dustytrails123]

Im hunting a spot this weekend for a gold necklace a friend lost on a fence line ...from what i read looking for gold i will need to dig alot of foil and pull tab signles /sigh ...but on a side note the place is an old boot leg house so maybe i could get lucky and the old timers maybe have left me something