Looks like there are a lot of MDers, they just don't visit the forums very often.
I live near Montgomery and used to visit in Destin in the fall and winter months and hunt the beaches. I never had much luck, a little change once in a while but nothing glittery.
I enjoy hunting old school yards, church grounds and home sites. Camp Grandview just north of Montgomery was very productive once upon a time, but the housing boom used up much of the ground I wanted to hunt on, and so many people have moved into that area that the camp is busy almost year 'round.