First permission on 49 acres.. advice would be appreciated.

[Pit 4 Brains]

I am fairly new to detecting. I did a little research through the county GIS mapping on a property near my home. I got ahold of a gentleman who was listed as the owner and respectfully explained what I wanted to do. He said he owns the property and it is up for commercial development but he instantly gave me permission to hunt it. I was floored. He said he hopes I find the pot of gold out there.... I told him I would be happy to find a radiator cap. The land is 49 acres with some super creepy empty houses, barns, etc. What gets me on the defensive is he mentioned all the theft and vandalism and being so close to a truck stop and an interstate, I'm skeptical about who might be in the buildings and up to no good. I did a little site survey armed and nobody seemed to be there. I'm bringing out a buddy tomorrow with his detector just for some other eyes and camaraderie.
Back to hunting this track.. I have a Nokta legend and I'm thinking I should adjust the 4 different modes to fit the landscape. That would be like field for the thick grassy areas, farm icon for near the houses and barn (that was a horse stable) and maybe beach for the rocky, not so grassy areas next to roads and pavilions. There was entertaining / tourism there so I might need to change from iron relic to coin hunting quickly.
Due to the height of the grass I'm gonna saddle up the small search coil and get into the grass near the gate to practice and then slowly move inward towards the buildings.
Any input on good settings for the different modes? When should I switch back to the oval coil?
BTW, I'll be packing my S&W Governor for self defense.
Here's the property here in Berkeley County SC off of I26 and Jedburg road.
Sandman road is the entrance.

 

[CTwoods]

If that's old farm fields surrounding the structures, my best luck comes from the best looking field for crops that is also closest to the home site.

I don't know about modes, but I'd use a standard to perhaps larger size coil while determining which field has more non ferrous targets, then only if you had time for unlimited trips there, I wouldn't use the smallest coil.

Small coil is absolutely great if you have the extra time after finding the best field. It's good imo, because it slows me down and less likely to miss good targets.

Nothing wrong with starting where you said or even near structures, but if it's likely been hunted a lot, the fields might be better odds.

 

[Assembler]

Some of the fields appear to be of little or shorter grass. Perhaps a large coil can be used there if the small coil does not find much?
Finding areas where the people have dropped things is where to focus on the most.

 

[Pit 4 Brains]

I don't know about modes, but I'd use a standard to perhaps larger size coil while determining which field has more non ferrous targets, then only if you had time for unlimited trips there, I wouldn't use the smallest coil.

That is a GIS image... It is not updated. The place is heavily grown over with grass and other vegetation. I do know what you are saying but my first trip out with my oval coil was very difficult since the grass is thick and almost knee deep.
It's down the road a few minutes, I'm semi retired, I can go every day.

Some of the fields appear to be of little or shorter grass.

In the photo, yes. After a few years unchecked in South Carolina, not so much now.

I'll get a few more pics tomorrow to showcase the area.

Nothing wrong with starting where you said or even near structures, but if it's likely been hunted a lot, the fields might be better odds.

As far as I can tell and after talking to the owner, nobody has swung there. There are some tire paths in the grass that I assume are maybe from the sheriff deputy poking in once in a while on patrol or other looters.

 

[Assembler]

That is a GIS image... It is not updated. The place is heavily grown over with grass and other vegetation. I do know what you are saying but my first trip out with my oval coil was very difficult since the grass is thick and almost knee deep.
It's down the road a few minutes, I'm semi retired, I can go every day.

In the photo, yes. After a few years unchecked in South Carolina, not so much now.

I'll get a few more pics tomorrow to showcase the area.

As far as I can tell and after talking to the owner, nobody has swung there. There are some tire paths in the grass that I assume are maybe from the sheriff deputy poking in once in a while on patrol or other looters.

Perhaps a very large coil can be used above the grass with loss of depth in the process?