Top Ten New Detectorist Mistakes

[Terry Soloman]

I was asked recently by a writer, about the most common mistakes new treasure hunters make. Here is my top ten new hobbyist mistakes. What would your top ten include?

10) Too much reliance on peer advice and suggestion.

9) Not thinking ‘outside the box’ when looking for possible detecting spots.

8) Not carrying extra parts – i.e. coil bolts, straps, extra headphones.

7) Not willing to devote enough time to become proficient.

6) Insufficient hunting site research.

5) Unrealistic expectations.

4) Ineffective search patterns and technique.

3) Lack of physical preparedness.

2) Making rushed, wrong, or ill-informed equipment purchases.

1) Trying to find the cheapest deal instead of the best service and equipment.

 

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[Bum Luck]

7) Not willing to devote enough time to become proficient.

Probably should be no 1.

It takes time and digging to get to know your detector. And some are much easier to use than others.

I still am more efficient with my Tesoro Golden Sabre than any I've used since - I developed a system that worked well for me.

I hunt with the discrimination turned up just to a carefully tuned pull tab reject, when I got a signal, turn the dial down until the signal disappeared.

Quick and dirty.

I've moved on because I think the GTI 2500 and Infinium have more potential, but I'm still learning them.

 

[savant365]

The biggest thing I would add to you list is:

Learn how to recover a target without ruining the grass.

The city parks here are off limits now because one guy dug holes as big around as basket balls and left dead splotches of grass all over the parks. Common sense and common courtesy should be number 1 in my opinion.

HH Charlie

 

[birdman]

I think #5 on your list is a big one. I was one of the ones that spent a bunch of money at one time on detecting gear ,went out in to the gulf and almost drown and did not hunt again for several years.
It is actually work in some cases to find something but as soon as you get a good dig you forget about all of the work that went into it.

 

[Coin Digger]

I think 10, 7, 5 and 2 equals someone that thinks the next higher cost detector with all the bells and whistles is going to help them find that great find, only to be disappointed they still haven't found it.

 

[stefen]

You're right on the mark...

And it really doesn't matter what order the mistakes are placed...

 

[Mzjavert]

I'd include buying too complex of a machine to start off with.

 

[sandtrout]

not putting the time in to learn the machine you have. I've heard it said that you need at least 100 hours and have found that it's true. And I'm still learning it. You'll know when it's time to upgrade....when the finds from your 1st machine completely pay for your second machine. My ACE 250 paid for a sniper coil, a Garrett propointer, headphones, and a new Vaquero. The Vaquero paid for a 2nd Garrett propointer. This really is a self sustaining hobby. It may not support you but it definitely supports itself.

 

[bearbqd]

I dunno, I see some older dudes that look like they've been doing it forever at the beach that have horrible technique. They swing their coil in a large arch away from the sand and fail to keep the coil even remotely parallel to the surface. I have seen many beach combers detect this way. They also don't cover 50 percent of their previous pass. What's with all the horrible technique out there?

 

[SeaninNH]

If you only do 1 thing make sure it's bring extra batteries.

I forgot batteries one time when I drove to a park 40 minutes away and 15 minutes into the hunt my batteries died.

The hunt was over...

I'm also a firm believer of dig neatly no matter where you dig and always fill your holes. Even in the woods.

 

[nsdq]

i am still new do this and i argee with digging plugs without killing grass is a big deal so i dont dig in parks yet till i get it down , lots of practice in my own yard with a cheap flower box spade till i can afford the right tool

 

[Bum Luck]

i am still new do this and i argee with digging plugs without killing grass is a big deal

A pin pointer is a huge addition, will prevent that and save time and effort.

 

[Silver Searcher]

I noticed that know one metioned headphones, proberbly as important as the detector itself, no1 for me to new comers, would be dig every target.

SS

 

[nsdq]

i am still new do this and i argee with digging plugs without killing grass is a big deal

A pin pointer is a huge addition, will prevent that and save time and effort.

yes but need $$$ first it is not easy finding work as a disabled vet

 

[lookindown]

I dunno, I see some older dudes that look like they've been doing it forever at the beach that have horrible technique. They swing their coil in a large arch away from the sand and fail to keep the coil even remotely parallel to the surface. I have seen many beach combers detect this way. They also don't cover 50 percent of their previous pass. What's with all the horrible technique out there?

I notice the same thing, guys that have been detecting for years, swinging like they are using a swingblade to cut weeds. Their coils never get closer than 3 inches above the ground, and at the end of the swing the coil is sideways, shooting a signal into thin air.

 

[sandtrout]

Here's a card I made that I review from time to time....

-USE HEADPHONES-it tones outside noises “off” and inside noises “on” & stops others from hearing your detector and also discourages "dumb questions".
-SLOW DOWN—THIS AIN’T GOLF...stop missing the targets
-KEEP YOUR COIL ON THE GROUND-1” off the ground is 1” lost in depth
-SHORTEN YOUR SWING TO KEEP THE COIL PARALLEL TO THE GROUND
-USE MINIMUM DISCRIMINATION…. & MAXIMUM SENSITIVITY
-OVERLAP YOUR SWINGS-the bottom of the electrical search pattern is only 2”
-HUNT WHEN THE GROUND IS WET for more depth & conductivity
-GO AS OFTEN AS YOU CAN-100+ hours of hunting will change your toy into a serious target hunter

 

[pennyfarmer]

I agree with a few suggestions.

Not the proper recovery technique nor the ethics to remove the damn trash.

Galactic expectations. (I have had people call and ask if they could support themselves on their finds. Yeah if you enjoy eating pull tabs and zinc pennies)

Not understanding that this is really a skill that is learned not only a matter of luck. (learn your machine) Luck does play a role but only after your skill has raised to a certain level.

This hobby is really a crazy experience. It seemed like it took for ever to find a silver coin.

Some people can handle a complicated machine right off the bat. My first machine required manual ground balance. Yeah It took me a while to understand it fully but I had so much invested that I made it work.

Headphones. GET SOME. No one wants to hear your machine while they are having a picnic. You also don't want to attract every obnoxious kid within 40 miles.

 

[Lowbatts]

Right on Terry!
Top of my list is failure to adhere to the words of whatever mentoring you can get. It covers a lot of ground, especially the etiquette, locating targets, and decent recovery methods.

If people don't realize how self-defeating they are in their zeal to recover a target and leave holes, laugh at the very suggestion of returning some recovered items, etc., then they are so far down on the list...

Well they are actually at the top of another list.

 

[47thelement]

People also have to remember that some people who post on this sitte are retired. They hunt upwards of 8 hours a days.

You are going to pay over $1000 for your machine. You are going to want to use it as much as you can, but your wife won't let you, your boss won't let you, your boss's wife won't let you....

That is until you find that one item that makes them want run out and get their own machine.

 

[RGINN]

I really like #9. I like to wander out into the middle of nowhere basically and search it out. I ain't got rich and come home empty handed most of the time, but I ain't bothered by other detectorists, and have rediscovered a few archeaological and historic sites that were previously lost to history.