Been there, done that.....

[MikeOregon]

OK, newbies, just so you don't feel too stupid out there in the field, it's time for some confessions from someone who has actually done everything that's on the list below. Maybe you can learn from my mistakes. Anyone who feels the urge can post their own if they like.

1. First trip out, wore steel-toed boots. Amazing how many "hits" I got that disappeared when I went to dig them...
2. Pinpointed with my right hand while my left hand was in the hole. Found my wristwatch and wedding ring. Did it again. Did it again. Did it again.....
3. While at a local high school, going through some bark dust, my keys fell out of my pocket. Got back to the car and realized I had no keys. Had to re-trace my steps, using the detector to find my own keys.
4. In the tot lot, was so intense in my examining the ground that I walked into a monkey bar and had to sit down for a minute until the stars quit circling. Did it again. Did it again. Probably more than that.
5. While setting up metal detector and getting ready to use in a tot lot, walked past and ignored a stack of coins sitting openly on the end of a slide. Local kids came to check me out, then went to slide and found more than I did. "Hey mister, we found a bunch of quarters!!" GRRRRRRR........

However, I want you to know that despite my stupidity, I still have a lot of fun with this hobby and even though every now and then I do something totally idiotic, it's still a great way to spend a few hours!

All the best to everyone,

Mike

 

[TerryC]

I can relate to bumping my head on tot lot equipment! I always wear a hat now to absorb the hit! Also, how about digging digging and digging to find you are "locating" the trash in your apron!? TTC

 

[AZ-Mtnman]

LOL great post, Mike. We all hope the next generation will be smarter, but seems they have learn the same lessons we did. Only thing I can add to your list is using a VLF and your hands for small target recovery. Never have gotten a straight answer on why they will sound off on your bare hand, but it's an exercise in frustration trying to find that one tiny target outta all the dirt you just dug since your hand will give a bigger response. Can't tell you how many gallons of material I've had to dump on my coil because I forgot my scoop!

 

[Kentucky Kache]

confessions of your silly stunts are good. If I had any, I would confess them.

 

[Tony66]

Hey Mike,
I am a newbie, been at it for less than a year, and I'm no stranger to things that make you go duh. I got my MD as a gift for x-mas and went about learning how to use it. I was told different metals would emit different tones so I was waving things under the coil to hear the different tones I would get for different metals. I kept getting the same tone no matter what I waved under my coil. Being new to this I was totally stumped, ready to return my machine. I was at it for at 30 minutes or more before I realized the error of my ways. I had a pretty good bike wreck in the late 80's that left me with 2 metal rods in my left forearm. It was at least 30 minutes before I realized which arm I was using to pass things under the coil. I told my wife and after the laughter subsided the said you'd think you would remember something like that. That's my "duh" moment, but since I'm new I'm sure there will be plenty more.

 

[EE THr]

MikeOregon;

When I started reading your post, I couldn't help chuckling on the first couple of items.

But the "Did it again, etc...." really hit home! I was howling!

I guess if we can laugh at ourselves, we know we're having fun.

eethr

 

[Born2Dtect]

Mike,

Watch out when the seasons change. I got had when I wore my nice new winter jacket detecting, the one with the liner held in place with metal snaps at the cuffs. Enough said. Took me about 2 hours to figure it out.

Ed D.

 

[AZ-Mtnman]

Cache, I'm very glad I had my boots on when I read that one!

 

[Kentucky Kache]

Cache, I'm very glad I had my boots on when I read that one!

 

[Digginman]

I wasn't hunting, but going home from work last spring. I pass a small family cemetary in my travels. The road is kind of up and down, you can only see the cemetary if you know where it is. Passing by one day, I catch a glimpse of a guy moving his arm back and forth. The dude is detecting the cemetary!!! My blood boils. I slam on the brakes to the shoulder, leaving a cloud of dust. Out of the car, the door slamming, I take off towards him. Gonna read this guy the riot act. I'm in full stride when I top the rise right beside the cemetary. I quickly slide to a halt when I see that he is.....running a weedeater. I felt like a fool. Turning around, he yelled something at me, but I didn't hang around to find out what it was.

DM

 

[nudels]

I've been gone form the hobby for about 17 years? Can't remember the exact year, but anyhoo I was showing my two young'uns how you detect in our front yard and dig a hole and some of the tricks of the trade. So we get a nice solid BEEP, and there I was digging a pretty big hole not finding anything initially, so when it was pretty deep and I was still getting the BEEP, I thought i'd show them how you can take a big clump of dirt and wave it in front of the coil to sense if the object is in that clump, so I grab a big chunk at the bottom of the hole and wave it at the coil "BEEP", I half the clump and wave it again (BEEP), half it again and wave it again (BEEP). The dirt clump was now easily in the fist of one hand, and I thought, WOW this item must be real small and WOW I can't believe my detector picked up such a small item at 10 inches!

So I told them, "See using this method I don't have to look through as much dirt, I just keep halving the amount and waving it in front of the coil till I find the object!!"

(BEEP), halve it, (BEEP), halve it, (BEEP). By this time I had perhaps 2 tablespoons of dirt left and that is when it sank in. I wasn't married 17 years ago, and the hand that I used to wave in front of the coil had no ring on it way back when.

So yea we ended up waving it over the pile and the hole again, and eventually dug up a rusted ball peen hammer at about the 12 inch mark .

Then there was the time I went beach hunting the first time, and I thought i'd save the $6 on a scoop and use a small garden trowel to dig the loose sand... I only did that once.

 

[Iskuli]

Great idea for a post! Ahhhhh, those first blunders...

1. How about losing a ring, trying to find a ring? I no longer hunt with jewerly on!
2. NEVER HUNT WITH A TOE RING ON! Talk about your moving target!
3. Drive really far from home and civilization and forget to pack fresh batteries.
4. There is nothing quite like knocking the coil off the detector when aggressively swinging around rocks and tot equipment.
5. Having you dad go over a hole you just dug and finding the coins you left behind because you didn't check it after the first coin.

Quite frankly, the blunders keep coming....it is a right of passage. Happy Hunting and when in the tot lot....don't wear a hat. I still have a knot on my head from running into a swing...so embarassing!

 

[XT18000]

When useing a Minelab SD2200d be very sure you have no metal on you
and if you use a shovel to dig with be sure to drag it on at least a four (4)
ft. rope unless you just like digging very large deep holes for SQUAT!

 

[LuckyBeeps]

Heh, funny stuff for sure, I realized my first time out that I was detecting my wedding ring... but the time after that I did it again. At least I am consistant!

 

[CanadianTrout]

DO NOT let your very eager and aggressive daughter dig with the Leche while you are focused on scooping dirt out with your hand. Failing that, have CLEAR LINES of communication at all times as to whos turn it is to go in the hole.


Ya, she drew blood....

 

[RandyNorthridgeCa]

I've had my Senior moments:

For you that have a Sunray pinpointer. Forgetting to switch back to the coil after you have used the pinpointer. Then detecting 10 or 15 minutes and you can't understand why the ground got so quite. I know you've all done it

Driving two hours to detect a spot and finding out I left my headphones at home. I've also done that with my digger

I carry two battery packs. One is the rechargeable one and then I have a spare with batteries in it. Got done detecting and had already switched to the extra battery pack. Got back to my truck and placed the rechargeable battery pack on the roof of my truck and forgot about it. Took off down the road and when I hit the brakes I saw my battery pack slide down my front windshield and off my truck. It broke into pieces when it hit the pavement. Just like throwing $75.00 out the window. LOL!

Now for the "Coupe De Grace".

How about getting home after a morning of beach detecting and finding out that I left my $150.00 sand scoop laying on the parking lot at the beach. Then drove 30 miles back to find it gone.

It's a good thing my head is attached to my shoulders

 

[kickback]

I took my English Cocker pup Tuffy with my detecting at an old park.I dug nice small plugs,replaced the soil and sod carefully and went on to the next target.This was a target rich enviroment.Tuffy comes up to me after 45 minutes of detecting.She dug up all my plugs.Some of the holes were so big she could lay down in them.I spent the rest of the time fixing up her holes.It was a good thing it was in an old abandon town.She has learned to not dig now.Bill

 

[geode97]

Still being relatively new to this great hobby I admit to already hitting my head on playground equipment while detecting, number 4 above. Glad to know I haven't been the only one.