Some tips for metal detecting in woods?

[chicagobulls567]

I need some tips for metal detecting in the woods later today. What are some good spots to look for?

 

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[Tom_in_CA]

The places to look in the woods (or ANY type terrain, for that matter) is: wherever people gathered, played, ate, slept, recreated, etc... in the past.

You don't just go out into "random woods" or "random desert" etc.... to hunt. There has to have been some reason for hunting there. Eg.: a stage stop, or a camping grounds, or a foundation evidencing a pioneer habitation, or a defunct park, etc...

Perhaps in Europe they can just go to any random furroughed field or forest and eventually "find things". But that's because they've had thousands of years of history there. So just random furroughed field losses of coins can occur. But here in the USA our history is much to short. So you've got to research to know where stuff went on in yesteryear. Also has to be post-european contact, of course, since the indians here had no refined metals.

 

[Backbacon]

Bring a gun and try to look for any water.

 

[Backbacon]

The places to look in the woods (or ANY type terrain, for that matter) is: wherever people gathered, played, ate, slept, recreated, etc... in the past.

You don't just go out into "random woods" or "random desert" etc.... to hunt. There has to have been some reason for hunting there. Eg.: a stage stop, or a camping grounds, or a foundation evidencing a pioneer habitation, or a defunct park, etc...

Perhaps in Europe they can just go to any random furroughed field or forest and eventually "find things". But that's because they've had thousands of years of history there. So just random furroughed field losses of coins can occur. But here in the USA our history is much to short. So you've got to research to know where stuff went on in yesteryear. Also has to be post-european contact, of course, since the indians here had no refined metals.

You might want to research that a little bit more....

 

[watercolor]

Welcome to TNet!. . . I see that you're located in Ohio. . . a historic "jumping off" point for folks that went "west" back in the day.

For the past 4-years, most of my hunting has been in the woods (Chicago areas) and as "Tom in CA" mentioned, go where folks have gathered in the past.
These areas tend to produce optimum returns. . . if you're looking for some of the older stuff.

If you're unable to confirm (via researching historic mapping or 1938-39 aerial photography from "HistoricAerials.com") that these areas were "used" as Tom described, look
for the higher ground areas with older trees, and lowland areas with creeks & streams. . . ideal areas for hunters, Boy Scouts, and weekend picnickers (back in the day) wanting to get away from the crowds.

Good indications are shotgun shell heads, "wide-mouth" dairy bottle glass, eating utensils, pot-metal CrackerJack prizes, and rusted iron relics.
Also look for stone remnants of campfire rings, thick broken glass bottle shards, or any surface remnants that may indicate older human activity.

Good luck & HH!

watercolor