As a frequent lurker and infrequent poster I have learned a lot about our hobby by reading all of the excellent posts (and some of the absurd ones!) on TN. The best threads for me have been those offering advice from long-time detectorists.
I cannot call myself a "seasoned" MD'er, with only a few years of experience, but I do have a few observations that I hope can only add to the foundation of great advice here. ( I have owned a detector for almost 10 years but only been serious about the hobby for three years.)
So, from a relative "newbie," here are my thoughts.
1. When the experienced folks talk about the importance of learning your machine, listen to them! I have had only four detectors, and have done my best to learn as much as I can about how they work and the nuances of each. This year I have been learning my Vaquaro, and it is amazing. Out for a short hunt last evening, a small variation of tone that died sharply at the nickle discrimination point made me stop and dig. I thought it was going to be another bottle cap or foil (there were lots of similar signals) but a small change in the tone made me wonder.
Well, first gold was the result! Not a big ring, and the stone (onyx, I think) was severely damaged by being buried for a long time, but GOLD! And, it is marked "Tiffany & Co," so it is a nice piece.
If I had not known that this signal sounded just a little different, it would still be lying there. Learn your machine! Everyone has a favorite, and I understand that, but whatever you are using take the time to understand what it is "saying." So far, after this summer, the Vaquaro and I are very good friends!
2. Stuff is where you find it not just where you think it should be. The ring I found was in a place that I had walked over at least a hundred times. It is a path in a small park that is frequented by nature lovers, birders, and hikers. I actually went there to see if my assessment of the spot was correct; I was sure there was nothing there. First good signal produced a quarter, second a penny, third a dime, forth a Tiffany gold ring. In all, I only dug six targets, two of which "fooled" me. One was a piece of 9 AWG solid copper wire and the other a piece of can slaw.
There are no "useless" places. If people go or have gone there it is worth a shot. That is my new mantra.
3. Patience is key. Go slow, enjoy the hunt, and be happy with the little things. I found a nice silver earring earlier this week. It made my day!
What a great way to spend a few hours or, like last evening, a few minutes, enjoying the anticipation of what could be in the next hole!
Input is always welcome!
Skip
I cannot call myself a "seasoned" MD'er, with only a few years of experience, but I do have a few observations that I hope can only add to the foundation of great advice here. ( I have owned a detector for almost 10 years but only been serious about the hobby for three years.)
So, from a relative "newbie," here are my thoughts.
1. When the experienced folks talk about the importance of learning your machine, listen to them! I have had only four detectors, and have done my best to learn as much as I can about how they work and the nuances of each. This year I have been learning my Vaquaro, and it is amazing. Out for a short hunt last evening, a small variation of tone that died sharply at the nickle discrimination point made me stop and dig. I thought it was going to be another bottle cap or foil (there were lots of similar signals) but a small change in the tone made me wonder.
Well, first gold was the result! Not a big ring, and the stone (onyx, I think) was severely damaged by being buried for a long time, but GOLD! And, it is marked "Tiffany & Co," so it is a nice piece.
If I had not known that this signal sounded just a little different, it would still be lying there. Learn your machine! Everyone has a favorite, and I understand that, but whatever you are using take the time to understand what it is "saying." So far, after this summer, the Vaquaro and I are very good friends!
2. Stuff is where you find it not just where you think it should be. The ring I found was in a place that I had walked over at least a hundred times. It is a path in a small park that is frequented by nature lovers, birders, and hikers. I actually went there to see if my assessment of the spot was correct; I was sure there was nothing there. First good signal produced a quarter, second a penny, third a dime, forth a Tiffany gold ring. In all, I only dug six targets, two of which "fooled" me. One was a piece of 9 AWG solid copper wire and the other a piece of can slaw.
There are no "useless" places. If people go or have gone there it is worth a shot. That is my new mantra.
3. Patience is key. Go slow, enjoy the hunt, and be happy with the little things. I found a nice silver earring earlier this week. It made my day!
What a great way to spend a few hours or, like last evening, a few minutes, enjoying the anticipation of what could be in the next hole!
Input is always welcome!
Skip
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