I wont promote!

[steve from ohio]

I won't promote!

I've been down in Florida for the last month. I like to detect for fun and profit. I have noticed a few things.

There are too many people now on the beaches with metal detectors. Too many in the water. Too many with dreams of finding a nice big gold ring or chain. Even their kids are hunting. Just too many. I no longer will tell people to give it a try. Never again. Not my job.

Was at South Beach in Miami. Got there early, or at least I thought. As it turned out, there were at least two dozen people detecting at the beach already at 5 am. Four people in the water and were in the water most of the night! It seems that everyone and their mother have a metal detector now. Just too many. And be honest. I am willing to bet that I am not the only one who gets a little bit peeved when you get to a beach to find it over run with people with metal detectors. I have noticed a bit of anger from the newer MD people as I say HI! They don't want any more people with metal detectors taking away their finds.

Several of the Gulf Beaches are loaded at sunrise with guys and women in the water hunting away. Some have been in the water for several hours hunting at night.
They are everywhere. Siesta beach had at least a dozen people hunting the sand on Monday morning. Hitting the volleyball courts and the towel line. I was going to hunt the water but there were 4 guys already in the water. It was still not even sun up. At 9 am. the parking lot was full at Siesta beach and the famous Siesta cruise, people driving around the parking lot looking for a parking space was in effect. The full parking lot but very few people in the water and almost no one on the beach wearing gold.

I have noticed that there are tons of pawn shops and "We buy Gold" businesses in Florida. They are everywhere! They advertise on TV. So what has happened since the price of gold and silver has shot up, people have sold off their bling. They are not wearing it in the water any more! So findings are mighty slim, at least from what I've seen.

I hunt most of the beaches on the Gulf Coast, Tampa area. Desoto, Siesta, Holmes, Venice, Clearwater, Lido...you name them, I was there. Hunting for hours and hours finding nothing this year. The years before, lots of rings and blings. This year, almost nothing. 4 Weeks of hunting the main and not so main beaches and just a little bit of clad and a few bobbles here and there. No gold at all.

Spent 4 days at the Treasure Coast. Hunted for at least 6 hours each day. The conditions at the Treasure coast is poor with lots and lots of sand. A few good storms and things might open up. I have hunted the TC in the past and have always found something...even if it was modern stuff. This year is different. I always go to the Mclarty treasure museum and talk to the guys there as they are MD'ers. They have pretty much given up hunting the Treasure Coast as the conditions are so poor. Not much modern stuff is being dropped as the beaches were empty even when the temps were in the mid to upper 80's. One of the days I had not one decent signal. It was detecting hell. Lots of can slaw and nothing else. It was a desert.

Getting back to the Gulf Coast, Before I hunt, I watch. I have noticed that there are very few people in the water. The water temps last weekend were in the mid 70's with air temps in the mid 80's. In the past, that combo meant lots of people in the water wearing lots of gold and silver. This year is way different. Not sure why. Maybe the oil spill and the use of Corexit? Not sure but it is very noticeable that there are not a lot of people in the water. And those in the water are not wearing gold. Probably sold off their gold to pay for the gasoline.

When I hunt, I often get lots of questions. Seeing how I am a water hunter, I get lots of the usual....Oh you can use that in the water? or How deep can you go with that? I often get the ....Oh, I've always wanted to do that comment. I no longer tell them to give it a try. Nope. Not any more. It's not my job to put more people on the beach to compete with me. It's not about competition. It's about finding things. And I won't be foolish to tell people to give it a try.

I tell them to truth. I tell them that up to about last year, it was a lot of fun. But now there is very little to find and that the economy has taken its toll on detecting. Modern gold is becoming a thing of the past as it has been pawned or sold outright because of the high prices. I tell them that now, you can find tons of pop can pull tabs and very little else. I tell them that they will have to spend at least a grand on a good detector with very little chance of a payback. I tell them that it takes dedication and lots of free time with a very small payback.

Yeah, you can say that detecting is more than finding gold rings or making the big find. It is about getting out and having a bit of fun. But it just isn't the same when you know that you just aren't going to be able to find what in the past was at least a hope. Now, with all the people on the beach and in the water, it just is not as fun as it used to be. Too many people trying to find what is just not there anymore.

Next year I'm going to forget about Florida and hunt the outer banks. At least I won't have to depend on modern people losing things that are not even going to be there as they have sold it off already. Or maybe get back to land hunting.

 

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[steve from ohio]

Re: I won't promote!

I guess I just don't understand what it is that makes you a "real" metal detectorist and what makes the ones that haven't been doing it as long less "real". I'm sure that their goal, just like yours, is find the gold and silver. If that wasn't your goal you wouldn't be swinging a detector.

A "REAL" metal detectorist is a figure of speech. Someone who does it because they like it and not because of GREED. It gets them out and about enjoying the out doors and the fun of the hunt. Someone who knows how a metal detector works. Someone who knows a little about history. Someone who cares enough about the hobby to fill in his or her holes. Folks who pick up trash at the local beach or park. Someone, who if they find a ring that is returnable, does so. Not the newbees who are looking to score a lost ring that if they could return it, would not. Not the ones who dig up pull tabs and leave them in the sand or in the grass. Not the ones who come so close to you while metal detecting that their coils almost hit you.

Yep, Pull tabs can be your friend as there are so many of them around and they will filter out those who are in it for a quick buck.

Yeah, finding stuff is all part of it. I am sure that you would not detect if there was not a chance to find anything. Why would you promote the hobby when having more people out there reduces your chance of finding things? What possible reason would you tell someone to try it if it stops you from your goal of finding something.

I hear a lot that we must promote metal detecting. I say no. It is not my job to do that. The metal detector companies can promote all they want. The dealers can promote all they want. I won't do it because I don't like spending time and effort detecting on the beaches and finding almost nothing. I won't be the engine of my own frustration.

Again, my purpose for this post was to point out that metal detecting has changed due to the economy. My last four weeks in Florida pointed out to me that there are major changes going on. I am not complaining about the newbees but I am pointing out that they are not the same type of people who were detecting just a year or two ago. They are a different type of person. Their REASON for detecting is different than the veteran detectorist. They are almost desperate. Due to the economy, there is not as much gold and silver being worn and being lost. So more people looking for less targets means a very small chance of finding anything.

I was pointing out that We as seasoned detectorists must adjust our tactics and find other areas to hunt. Or if you continue hunting the popular beaches in Florida, don't expect to find what you found in the past.

I am not giving up. I am adapting and changing to the realities of todays world. In order to do that, I won't be telling anyone new that they should try metal detecting. I'll have to spend even more time detecting. Getting to know my machine even better. Be better at it than anyone else. I realize that there is very little I can do about the influx of all the newbees but there is one thing I can do ......... I won't promote!

 

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[Smudge]

Re: I won't promote!

This has turned into a really interesting thread. It's funny, I used to hunt beaches exclusively and never found a single piece of gold. I started to hunt on inland sites, and I hit two gold rings in as many months. Go figure.

One reason I think we're finding less gold is the economy. Fewer people are buying it because its gotten so expensive and those that have it are either being very careful with it or selling it for scrap.

There are a lot of detectorists out there, but most of the time the only place I encounter other detectorists is at the beach. It seems the obvious place to hunt if you live near the coast.

I've stopped beach hunting for awhile, not because I fear the competition, it just that all the municipalities near me are now charging to park at the beach, anywhere from $5-$10. Ridiculous.

As to posting finds, I do it all the time. And most of my posts are pretty routine and unspectacular. Just your average detectorist here. But all these posts do remind us that there is still an awful lot left to be found out there.

We're in country where in many places you have 200 years worth of drops and less than 50 years of metal detecting. I'd say this hobby is in good shape for awhile.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Re: I won't promote!

I still feel one of the problems this year are the beaches are sanded in real bad, at least on the east coast of Florida, I have heard they are sanded in on the west side too, although have been seeing some nice finds by a few...

I know on the east coast there is LOTS of new sand, you can't help but see it, and when there are few nulls on a Minelab that tells me it is sanded in, when I hunted in 2008 and 2009 there were nulls everywhere from all the tiny pieces of iron, last year they were fewer, this year there are even less, and the sand at the seawalls, piers, and poles has built up high.

 

[lookindown]

Re: I won't promote!

I think another reason finds are low is the water temp is just now getting to where people are going in the water. Ive been to the central west coast twice and there were tons of people on the beach but not in the water. People will go in the water, the finds will start coming, and all will be right in the world. Some people are making good finds despite how bad everyone says it is. I myself have found 7 gold in 10 trips water hunting......3 rings ,a cross, a chain, and 2 earrings. I know that is not the norm, but it happens. Don't give up.

 

[thrillathahunt]

Re: I won't promote!

I don't usually water hunt, I mostly hunt public parks and school grounds when I am not relic hunting and I can tell you uneqivocally my silver and gold finds are down, way down compared to past years. I have only found two silver rings so far this year and no gold. Clad count is down too. Sign of the times!

 

[biggmike]

Re: I won't promote!

Hang in there Steve. On my last 3 trips combined (about 18 hours in the water) I have found exactly NO gold. Hell, I haven't even found silver in the last 3 trips but I know it's out there and I will be back out there Thursday for another 7-8 hours. Sometimes when I get frustrated I just take some time off and get away from hunting for a little while and all the sudden I can't wait to get back in the water again. I think the lack of finds is a combination of a lot of things but look at it this way. It can only get better and I hope I can post something good when I get back this Thursday. If not I might have to take a little time off. Good Luck Brother.

 

[Michigan Badger]

Re: I won't promote!

After posting my finds, it became apparent there are those who monitor sites like these for there own benefit. They dont ask questions, and they dont add to the conversation. Maybe some do add, but its not to the forum, but the troll looking for fights.

There is nothing worse than going to your spot and see others there. We dont own it, but spent time and trouble to get to that spot. Another reasons laws enacted overseas to have permits and such to detect is a good idea to our own.

At that point I have a little fun. I would suggest you fill your bag with rings, coins, items like a watch. As you search, pretend to find a signal, then pull out a ring or what ever, holding it high into the light. Do the dance. Do this repeatedly as you go across the beach. Do this at the worst places to search, oh and drop a bb in the holes you just dug from...........then grab a lawn chair and watch the show when your done with your 2 dozen finds or so.

Please post a video for all of our amusements.

Good post and I agree.

 

[Michigan Badger]

Re: I won't promote!

I guess I just don't understand what it is that makes you a "real" metal detectorist and what makes the ones that haven't been doing it as long less "real". I'm sure that their goal, just like yours, is find the gold and silver. If that wasn't your goal you wouldn't be swinging a detector.

Right on.

Basically we're all treasure hunters and not librarians looking for ways to inspire local kids to be interested in "what the world is really like."

All those "the more the merrier" concepts sound good to the emotions but the bottom line is we're treasure hunters. And unlike pot, treasure don't grow. Ya don't harvest it and have more come up in it's place.

I love the online fellowship and sharing but I knew from day one of the invention of the internet that this would eventually bring down the hobby for the poor working class. In the future there will be hunting for those who can afford it or have ownership of key sites.

But for now---lets party!

 

[steve from ohio]

Re: I won't promote!

I guess I just don't understand what it is that makes you a "real" metal detectorist and what makes the ones that haven't been doing it as long less "real". I'm sure that their goal, just like yours, is find the gold and silver. If that wasn't your goal you wouldn't be swinging a detector.

Right on.

Basically we're all treasure hunters and not librarians looking for ways to inspire local kids to be interested in "what the world is really like."

All those "the more the merrier" concepts sound good to the emotions but the bottom line is we're treasure hunters. And unlike pot, treasure don't grow. Ya don't harvest it and have more come up in it's place.

I love the online fellowship and sharing but I knew from day one of the invention of the internet that this would eventually bring down the hobby for the poor working class. In the future there will be hunting for those who can afford it or have ownership of key sites.

But for now---lets party!

Yes...let's party. But the sad part about it is that eventually the party is over and the fat lady sings. There is no free lunch and if you see the fork in the road, take it. I love those sayings.

I guess my main complaint....yeah I admit, I am complaining.........is that Florida beaches are no longer the easy pickings that they once were.

I'm now back in Ohio for the summer and the weather was really nice. So I decided to go to a local park and try a bit of detecting. I've been there several times and never saw another detectorist. I got there and wouldn't you know it, there were two guys there detecting up a storm. I stopped and talked to them and they said that they were new to the hobby and dream of going to Florida to hunt the beaches. OH BOY. I told them about my recent stay in Florida and they said that maybe Florida isn't the best place to go to.

To top it all off, there were holes left everywhere as they were digging up everything in sight. I had to show them how to dig correctly as I don't want them messing it up for myself as local officials hate having big holes left in their community soccer fields.