How do you keep track of finds, time spent detecting?

Sharryn · Dec 22, 2013

The weather broke today in central Pennsylvania and I was able to get outside and try out my new Garrett AT Pro and Garrett pro-pointer. This is my first MD outing and I was pretty excited.

Anyway, I want to keep accurate record of the time spent detecting and also what I found and where. Is there a spreadsheet or software that I can use to log this information? I'm interested in what you do to keep track of things.

smokeythecat · Dec 22, 2013

I hate to say it, but I don't. I will group the finds by location, but that's about it.

Peyton Manning · Dec 22, 2013

sheesh, I must be terrible. I don't track anything. I have all my coin finds in a box ( not nearly full)

airscapes · Dec 22, 2013

Been at this since Nov, have about 26 hours of hunt time.. Thought about what you are asking, but after my 50th pull tab figured it would be a worthless exerciser and I was getting enough exercise digging all the junk.
You will remember where you find the good stuff..
For instance, here is what I pulled from yesterdays first hunt at my cousins property.

Tom Slick · Dec 22, 2013

I used to track mine on an excel spreadsheet but it got way too time consuming and I had too many sheets of paper. Now I just throw out the trash and keep all the goodies in different Large Containers. Toy cars in a couple, keys, Clad that needs to be tumbled, Damaged Coins, Good Pennies, Bad pennies (corroded zincs), and a few filled with other good stuff. Silver coins, and tokens, etc. go into three ring binders with plastic coin sleeves, and Good jewelry goes into a treasure box.

sask hunter · Dec 22, 2013

Guys there is a minelab app for iPhone that lets you record. Time, place etc as well a photo and works and looks very well , and u don't need to run a minelab to use it , just type in minelab in the iPhone app center and you will bring up a few different things , there are also other non generic apps to record your hunts , hope this helped

D.A.D.D.-Dads against daughters dating

Peyton Manning · Dec 22, 2013

nerd alert!!

sask hunter · Dec 22, 2013

jeff-gordon said:
nerd alert!!

Lol ya with full sleeve tattoos , lol guess I've been called worse

D.A.D.D.-Dads against daughters dating

Msbeepbeep · Dec 22, 2013

I still use pen and paper in a note book by date, cause I'd never remember where I found most of what I found! Minds too full of the important stuff like where the matching sock to this one is! Lol! And there's the e-challenged thing!

Sandman · Dec 22, 2013

I used to record finds, location, etc. Then it got to time consuming and I would just place a tag on the rings and change goes in a bucket.

airscapes · Dec 22, 2013

HAHAHA and you can use the MD to find the phone in the mud! :laughing7:

Maybe there's an app for dat!

Flex68 · Dec 22, 2013

A friend who has a museum-quality fossil collection taught me to record only the "best" finds, with a find number, date, basic description, etc. The find number goes on the fossil, with all the information in a Record Book.
According to him, this provides a sort of 'provenance' and increases value to a place like the Smithsonian, as well as allowing him to keep an accurate record of what he finds, where it was found, when he found it, and a basic description in case he returns and locates 'associated' fossils.

He ignores the 'sub-par' or 'average' items.

I would think this might translate well to MD finds, and not require a huge investment of time.....

Me, I don't do it with my fossils or Native American artifacts, and likely won't do it do with anything I end up locating while MD'ing, either. Well, unless I unearth a killer cache or sumpin

sask hunter · Dec 22, 2013

airscapes said:
HAHAHA and you can use the MD to find the phone in the mud! Maybe there's an app for dat!

You know I bet If you look hard enough you will find one D.A.D.D.-Dads against daughters dating

Terry Soloman · Dec 23, 2013

You should be using the "Terry's Tried & True Spreadsheet App." Just send me $99.99 and I'll send you a sheet. Spread it out, throw all your stuff in it, and tell your old lady you don't spend half the time detecting that all your buddies do! :thumbsup:

auferret · Dec 23, 2013

Sharryn said:
Anyway, I want to keep accurate record of the time spent detecting and also what I found and where. Is there a spreadsheet or software that I can use to log this information? I'm interested in what you do to keep track of things.

I use this free software. Ginkgoware "I-Detect Community" Metal Detecting Software Journal

texasred777 · Dec 23, 2013

I don't record my finds; but I do keep them separate. I put bracelets, rings, etc. in a box; I put my coins in the little see-through holders that you fold and staple. I haven't been through my collection in several years. I have probably 600 coins. I save the wheats, pre-1950 nickels, and the silver. I have a couple of hundred, or maybe more, coins that I haven't put in the folders. I ran out and didn't get any more. I will do that between now and spring!

Jason in Enid · Dec 23, 2013

Sharryn said:
Anyway, I want to keep accurate record of the time spent detecting and also what I found and where. Is there a spreadsheet or software that I can use to log this information? I'm interested in what you do to keep track of things.

I don't keep track of that stuff. This is a hobby for me so no need to spend time number crunching. If I have a spot producing good, I know it. No need to write it down.

Sharryn · Dec 23, 2013

auferret said:
I use this free software. Ginkgoware "I-Detect Community" Metal Detecting Software Journal

Now we're talking! Thanks! That's what I'm thinking of. : )

Starree · Dec 23, 2013

I use an ipad app called good notes. I just started detecting this June and I wanted to keep track of the hours spent plus all finds, even trash! I just type out a brief description of my hunt i.e. : where, how long, interesting finds, etc. then take a picture of everything I found. I managed 50 hunts in all and spent about 75-80 hours in total. I love going back and seeing how much I've progressed.

Newfiehunter · Dec 23, 2013

I keep a written logbook of my finds going back to 1990! The journal itself even looks like a relic! I do this for posterity so I can look back and see where I found particular items, especially old coins. The coins that go in my collection album has the date on the holder so I can go back to my logbook and BINGO!, I know exactly where I found it, even though I pretty much remember where it was found...The logbook helps keep track of progress, best sites, finds (coins and rings mostly), and which detector did better over the other....For me, it does help by being meticulous. Others feel it may be a waste of time, but to each his own...