How old are you?

TrpnBils · Jan 13, 2016

I'm curious as to whether our hobby lends itself to one particular age group...is the stereotypical old, retired guy on the beach the norm or is it more for younger people whose joints can handle the constant standing/kneeling that detecting requires.

gunsil · Jan 13, 2016

There are thousands of young hunters starting out every year, likely near that many older folks just starting out every year. I have been doing it since I was 23 in 1970, so I was once the new kid on the block with a detector and am now the old retiree with one, although I am not that much of a beach hunter.

TrpnBils · Jan 13, 2016

gunsil said:
There are thousands of young hunters starting out every year, likely near that many older folks just starting out every year. I have been doing it since I was 23 in 1970, so I was once the new kid on the block with a detector and am now the old retiree with one, although I am not that much of a beach hunter.

That brings up several other things I've wondered about.... Although I think it'd be about impossible to accurately determine, I'd be curious to see of everyone who gets into the hobby during a given year whether they're still with it a year later. I wonder what the turnover rate is, or how long people stick with it. I'd also be curious to know if there has been any kind of a surge in younger people enter the hobby as a result of all the TV shows that have come out in the past couple of years (and their ridiculous implications that gold and silver is hiding under every blade of grass).

Mackaydon · Jan 13, 2016

All right'geezers'; we're in the lead. :occasion14:

One of the very few races where this is possible.
Don..........

Charlie P. (NY) · Jan 13, 2016

This is depressing.

I'm the guy at the park or on the beach with horn-rim glasses, black socks, knee-length shorts, Birkenstock sandals and a pocket-protector for the pen and pencil in the pocket of my Hawaiian shirt.

DeepseekerADS · Jan 13, 2016

I'm a "geezer"...

Third "Age" survey in the last 6 months....

Somebody wanting to feel young?

bill from lachine · Jan 13, 2016

Folks,

Well I just turned 66 so that puts me in the last group.....lol.

Regards + HH

Bill

Davers · Jan 13, 2016

TrpnBils said:
That brings up several other things I've wondered about.... Although I think it'd be about impossible to accurately determine, I'd be curious to see of everyone who gets into the hobby during a given year whether they're still with it a year later. I wonder what the turnover rate is, or how long people stick with it. I'd also be curious to know if there has been any kind of a surge in younger people enter the hobby as a result of all the TV shows that have come out in the past couple of years (and their ridiculous implications that gold and silver is hiding under every blade of grass).

I would be curious about this as well.

DeepseekerADS said:
I'm a "geezer"...

Third "Age" survey in the last 6 months....

Somebody wanting to feel young?

Yep , I asked not long ago , if I recall Correctly 25 years & up were all well represented .

I would like to be younger but then again NO!

TrpnBils · Jan 13, 2016

DeepseekerADS said:
I'm a "geezer"...

Third "Age" survey in the last 6 months....

Somebody wanting to feel young?

Hadn't seen the others... just curious. Everybody I hunt with around here is my age (32) or younger except for one guy who's about 40. It seems to me though, for as expensive as this hobby can be, that it might be the older, more established people that get into it and stick with it longer.

Bizzo · Jan 13, 2016

I may be one of the youngest here at 19. History was always my favorite subject in school. My grandpa was a big metal detectorist and my uncle actually owned a metal detecting shop back in the day so I guess I had a headstart. I also had to find hobbies that were less time consuming when I had my son. My wife jokes that I'm an old man because my hobbies are metal detecting and staying home on weekends lol.

DeepseekerADS · Jan 13, 2016

TrpnBils said:
Hadn't seen the others... just curious. Everybody I hunt with around here is my age (32) or younger except for one guy who's about 40. It seems to me though, for as expensive as this hobby can be, that it might be the older, more established people that get into it and stick with it longer.

You have a point with that. The new guys oughta be careful and serious before they start jumping from detector to detector. Right now I'm sitting at around $4k in equipment, and that doesn't count all the others I've purchased over the years. My 4k is probably somewhere around average for serious hunters in it for years.

GA_Boy · Jan 13, 2016

Bizzo said:
I may be one of the youngest here at 19. History was always my favorite subject in school. My grandpa was a big metal detectorist and my uncle actually owned a metal detecting shop back in the day so I guess I had a headstart. I also had to find hobbies that were less time consuming when I had my son. My wife jokes that I'm an old man because my hobbies are metal detecting and staying home on weekends lol.

Wow, 19

? I got detectors older than you, and blue jeans and shoes. :laughing7:

Marvin

GA_Boy · Jan 13, 2016

TrpnBils said:
I'm curious as to whether our hobby lends itself to one particular age group...is the stereotypical old, retired guy on the beach the norm or is it more for younger people whose joints can handle the constant standing/kneeling that detecting requires.

I fit in the 76-80 category. :occasion14:

Marvin

stefen · Jan 13, 2016

Let's see, I'm at that age where I use Viagra to cure my water on the knee problems...

Hmmm, not sure I stated that correctly...

What was the question again?

pepperj · Jan 13, 2016

GA_Boy said:
Wow, 19? I got detectors older than you, and blue jeans and shoes.
Marvin

Got towels that are 40, just tossed a sweater that was coming up on 42. :laughing7:

Loco-Digger · Jan 13, 2016

I was too busy chasing skirts when I was young, then came parenthood. After the kids were grown and gone, I did a little wood working, then added fishing as a hobby. I bought a detector 5 years ago and did not have the 1st inkling on how to use it. It sat idle for 4 years. During the winter of 2013/2014 I found Tnet, when I was just killing time on the internet. Read every post in the forms that interested me and even found the settings and info for me to use the TC-1023 successfully. I am not a one a done here, I recon, if God willing, I will be detecting the rest of my life.

whammy · Jan 13, 2016

I guess I fit the geezer category, although I don't feel it. I hit the big 72 the end of the month, but I'm waiting impatiently for spring so I can start swinging the tector again.