Average income from metal detecting?

[Moresound]

At least I didn't purchase a Betamax machine ..... or did I?

 

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[G.I.B.]

I base my expenditures on the Euro and income on the Armenian Dram.

It's a 'feel good' kind of math.

 

[Boatlode]

It would only take that one find, that one find.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is what keeps us going.

 

[NJcigarman]

Hell I am on the beach all the time. Never get back to my vehicle when I expect too. I spend about 300/400 dollars a year on parking tickets. They write you here one minute over the allotted time.

 

[justdon]

Iam coming up on my first year of mding.When i go out its usually 2 to 3 hours.I have found a few gold rings and silver charms.A dollar coin or two.And for the year so far 41.38 in clad.If i wanted to earn money i would do better to stand in front of 7/11 with a tin cup in my hand.I have spent far more on detectors/digging tools and gas than i probably will ever get back.If i depended on this for an income i would be living in a cardboard box and getting most of my meals at the salvation army.But you know what i still love this hobby.

 

[Red James Cash]

No worries birdflu,chime in.Personal questions like you asked always lead to repercussions,you have to expect it when you start to get personal.It wouldnt of mattered who asked your question,I would of of posted the same thing regardless of who you were.

 

[Limitool]

Some day they'll be a market for old mule, horse and oxen shoes... and then I'm cashing in big time!!!!!

 

[lastleg]

Yeah Limitool, most people don't know what a mule is much less an ox.

 

[pat-tekker-cat]

LAWL! By income, you men how much everybody ELSE is making off our hobby, right?
Like the gas station, city parking meters, detector supply stores, vendors, etc.... right?

Me, if I keep going the way I have been, I'll soon qualify for welfare and food stamps! LAWL!

 

[thebirdflu]

Thank you everyone and I appreciate your comments. I think I asked my question the wrong way. Let me explain...

There aren't many MD'ers around me and no clubs etc for me to "talk shop" with - compare finds, discuss sites and techniques etc. I only have you great folks on TN to compare my personal experiences with. After all, reading your posts is what got me in the hobby in the first place. And this is a hobby and most hobbies aren't profitable. They almost always cost more than any income you can receive from them. But we participate in hobbies because of the enjoyment they bring more than anything. And I do enjoy metal detecting... I like getting outside and enjoying the peace and quiet and the focus that MD-ing brings. I like the excitement that comes from digging up that nice signal to see what has been lost in the ground for so long.

However, because I don't have anyone to talk to I can't compare what I'm doing with the "norm". We all see posts of nice things in Today's Finds but I think they're atypical. Most people don't post their "average" days. Everyone will agree that finding a relic, a silver coin, or piece of jewelry is a "good" day. We all have varying degrees of "bad" days. But what is a "typical" day?

For instance, I went out yesterday for about an hour and searched around some older ballpark bleachers. I found one quarter and three dimes, all clad. There was so much trash that I couldn't get good target separation and I'm sure there was a lot of masking going on. This has been "typical" for me for the past 15-20 times I have been out over the last few months, and I have been out to several types of spots: vacant lots, private properties, public parks, schools, ball fields, crop fields. So is this a "typical" day for others?

Thanks again.

 

[masterjedi]

Great post! I have been MDing since the late 70's in Oregon...A typical day now is 30 coins... I have found over 1000 coins since February... only 3 silver... 20 keys... 20 toy cars... 8 rings (2 silver)... I dig as much trash as I dig the good stuff...
Back in the day silver coins were everywhere... We found over 100 silver dimes on one field... but those are the good old days...
So you must enjoy just the thrill of the hunt to stay in the game It's not about making money... I have to old Bounty Hunters, an ACE 350 and an AT PRO with 3 coils...
I love it...
Good luck!
Gary from Oregon

 

[justdon]

Great post! I have been MDing since the late 70's in Oregon...A typical day now is 30 coins... I have found over 1000 coins since February... only 3 silver... 20 keys... 20 toy cars... 8 rings (2 silver)... I dig as much trash as I dig the good stuff...
Back in the day silver coins were everywhere... We found over 100 silver dimes on one field... but those are the good old days...
So you must enjoy just the thrill of the hunt to stay in the game It's not about making money... I have to old Bounty Hunters, an ACE 350 and an AT PRO with 3 coils...
I love it...
Good luck!
Gary from Oregon

I need to move to your area.

 

[gollum]

LAWL! By income, you men how much everybody ELSE is making off our hobby, right?
Like the gas station, city parking meters, detector supply stores, vendors, etc.... right?

Me, if I keep going the way I have been, I'll soon qualify for welfare and food stamps! LAWL!

Been that way since the 1849 Gold Rush. The guys selling the shovels and food made WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY more money than the greatest majority of the prospectors.

Mike