How did you get started detecting?

[lab rat]

Just thought it might be interesting to hear how people got started in the hunt! My story:

When I was 10 years old I lived on a beach in the San Fransisco area. One day while digging in the sand I pulled out a Mercury dime in fine condition. I had never seen a Mercury dime before that. Ever since then I thought about digging for treasure. Then one day (many years later) I went to a beach to hunt for seashells after a storm. I was surprised to find that all the sand was gone, but among the cobbles I was finding LOTS of old coins that had been there for years. After hunting awhile I found 3 gold rings, the most gold I had ever found in my life! 8) So I was hooked, and bought a detector within a week after that.

I still have that Mercury dime!

 

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[Lasivian]

I guess I just always knew I would enjoy having a detector, it was just a luxury I couldn't afford until I sold out of another hobby. I knew there was no point in starting with a el-cheapo machine.

Of course lately I haven't felt like hunting during the non-blazing-hot season here oh well, such is life.

 

[coinshooter]

I joined a gold prospecting club and got tired of actually having to work to get my gold fix. A guy had a detector for sale at the club and so I bought it from him in my quest to get all of the latest equipment for finding gold. A friend of mine had joined a detecting club and I decided to check into it, so I went to a meeting. They were finding so many more things than the gold club members and I just got tired of the politics in the prospecting club. As all clubs, this one had too many politics and not enough fun. The new club has just enough of both and plenty of people who are willing to take on the political side of things for me! And.......the gold is way more plentiful!! A friend of mine has said, if you are into prospecting for the idea that you are going to get rich (which, unfortunately way too many people think), then you should go out and buy yourself an ounce of gold before you even start and can the idea of even getting into it since the machinery alone will cost you way more than any gold you will find (thats for the average hobbiest).

 

[blazen70]

I got interested about five years ago after talking to someone who was into the metal detecting hobbie. I've always been interested in archeology and digging things up since i was a kid. Joined a detector club, quit the club after about a year because i could never go on the hunts whith them, and I couldn't get anyone to team up with me on days I could go out. (I hate going by myself ops: ) Got introduced to the GPAA by a friend, and now we try to go prospecting at least once a month. I still detect when I get a chance. Just wish I was into detecting when i was visiting the gold fields in Western Australia :shock: .

 

[Lasivian]

You're not alone blazen, I hate going out alone too

 

[Dave (Pa)]

It's so much more fun to have someone there to share the find with when it happens! I useualy drag one of my kids with me. They get excited every time it makes a noise.....

 

[lab rat]

Yeah, it's fun to share the great finds. I do that at the clubs though, and actually prefer to hunt alone, unless I am in unfamiliar territory. I've found that often one guy does better than the other, and if you hunt equally with similar equipment, it's okay because the guy who didn't do as well this time might to better than his friend next time. But it isn't much fun to go with someone else who is always finding better stuff.

Then there's the hassle of sharing finds, if you get something really nice that can't really be split up, like a diamond ring or gold coin. What do you do?

 

[lab rat]

Hello, Doug!

Don't forget to hunt those greens-- I've heard a fellow found some gold rings (dropped when setting the tees? or used as markers?) and another found a $5 gold piece-- lost before it became a golf course. So you may not want to give up your membership just yet! :lol:

 

[coinshooter]

Oh man,
I'm sure they are going to love the heck out of you for digging up their greens x

 

[Chiz]

just think.... you could add at least 36 more holes!!!!!!

How I got started was a little strange. I too wanted to be an archeologist, but that is another story.... About 4 years ago, I built computers in my spare time for people back in California, so I had a lot of extra components onhand. One of my friends needed a whole lot of stuff that I just went ahead and gave to him. He wanted to pay me, I declined, so he offered me a Garrett GTAx550 he won in a raffle, I said I always wanted one. Made enough with the Garrett to afford the MXT!!!! and here I am! lol... cheeesy, I know......

8)

 

[Holyfield]

About 8 yrs ago a friend of mine kept asking me if I wanted to use his Garrett Detector, I finally gave in and said "yes" so he'd leave me alone. Unfortunately I'd thought metal detecting was for "old people". I finally decided to take my buddies detector with me on a long weekend.. I remembered the instructions Mike gave me about listening to the tones (coins vs trash). I practiced on pocket change and then set out on my 1st TH'ing expedition. It was trash city, with a few clads at first, but I decided detecting was'nt for me. I decided i'd start back towards the cabin. With my coil swinging from right to left, and walking very fast, I got a tone on that little Garrett that made me turn around and refind where the tone came from.. I took out my handy garden tool and started to dig..Three inches down,-nothing. Four inches down ,-nothing. Five inches down I saw an unbelievable site, and Benjamin Franklin was unearthed. It was my first Franklin Half 1950.. the same year as my late mothers birth, a coincidence??No way, nobody could ever convince me otherwise. That 50cent piece has hooked me for life. Needless to say I did'nt return that Garrett for about 6 months. I then saved up$ to buy my own machine, and it has paid for itself threefold..As for the 50cent piece and a few of my other finds I will never part with..Thanks Mom. Holyfield

 

[Holyfield]

Oh man,
I'm sure they are going to love the heck out of you for digging up their greens x

About 8 yrs ago a friend of mine kept asking me if I wanted to use his Garrett Detector, I finally gave in and said "yes" so he'd leave me alone. Unfortunately I'd thought metal detecting was for "old people". I finally decided to take my buddies detector with me on a long weekend.. I remembered the instructions Mike gave me about listening to the tones (coins vs trash). I practiced on pocket change and then set out on my 1st TH'ing expedition. It was trash city, with a few clads at first, but I decided detecting was'nt for me. I decided i'd start back towards the cabin. With my coil swinging from right to left, and walking very fast, I got a tone on that little Garrett that made me turn around and refind where the tone came from.. I took out my handy garden tool and started to dig..Three inches down,-nothing. Four inches down ,-nothing. Five inches down I saw an unbelievable site, and Benjamin Franklin was unearthed. It was my first Franklin Half 1950.. the same year as my late mothers birth, a coincidence??No way, nobody could ever convince me otherwise. That 50cent piece has hooked me for life. Needless to say I did'nt return that Garrett for about 6 months. I then saved up$ to buy my own machine, and it has paid for itself threefold..As for the 50cent piece and a few of my other finds I will never part with..Thanks Mom. Holyfield

 

[Chiz]

Friends who have seen me play have assured me
that I made the right decision. I think so too...it's a great hobby. Anyone
interested in a set of clubs?

I think I will add my MXT to my Club Bag.... That way, when I am waiting for the other people to clear the Tee Box, I can annoy them with the detector!!! hmmmmmmmm.... could have some merit..... hmmmmm....... HEY, it's worth a shot!!!!!

8)

 

[Holyfield]

Hello Doug, So far that 1950 half is the only 50c piece I've ever found. However I have found at least 20 pieces of silver in this particular area. I have also found about 10 indians, 2 gold rings, and approximately 50 wheaties, 1 buffalo, 1 large cent (1843), 1 really old (real) silver spoon that I sold to a collector, an old military dagger(sold that to). In this area I also found a copper arrowhead. This place is in the Farwell, MI area and the lake I detect by, I'm told used to be an Indian Community in the 1800's-1840's. I Went last weekend and found a 1908d Barber dime(Thats three for that area) 8 inches down in sand and not a scratch on it(It looks perfect) I may have it graded. I am saving up a little cash to purchase a water detector, that's where the gold is. A lady asked me acouple of yrs ago If I could take my detector in the water-tempting but to risky-She said her 3carat Platinum ring slid off her finger while swimming. I got her phone # and told her If i ever found it I'd return it (Which I will), She also said another couple was looking for another ring the year before W/o a detector...This place is actually my mother in laws cabin and we really dont get along to well, so I spend all my time outdoors when our family visits. When I show my wife my finds, my wifes mom always gives me the most eviled eye looks..Reply back and tell me a little about yourself..Thanks for listening+Holyfield

 

[warthog steve]

Believe it or not, I had the treasure hunting bug LONG,LONG AGO,however, I did not buy one until I got divorced in 1989!!! My ex seemed to think it was a waste of time, and said no!!!! Now, the woman I am married to knows my hobby is #1 in my life, after the Lord and her, of course!!!!