MT DFX
Greenie
The ground up here in NW Montana thawed early this year and I have been able to start detecting earlier than normal. I have put together this long post to first talk about my finds from the last month, but also to describe metal detecting in this somewhat remote part of the US. Many of the more interesting post I have read in this and other forums have not only showed me interesting finds, but also described the unique aspects of our hobby in different areas. For example, I have been captivated by stories about hunting along the beaches of Florida and California, and the thrill it is to hunt areas in New England where Revolutionary War relics and 300 year old home sites exist, or about finding and exploring Civil War site across the South, or about searching ghost towns and gold sites in the desert southwest. Learning about out these different aspects of this hobby is one of the great things about reading forums.
Any way, NW Montana has its own unique metal detecting character. One of the first things people think about when they think of Montana is cold and snow, but that is far from unique across the northern tier states. What is more unique is the vast empty spaces up here. The state is the fourth largest in terms of territory, but has less than a million people scattered across it. The whole state only has one telephone area code and only sends one member of congress to Washington.
Briefly, Lewis and Clark were almost the first white folks to explore the state in 1804. Gold was discovered in the 1860’s and that brought the first significant settlements. The next “big” influx came when the Great Northern railroad pushed through the state in the 1880’s. Much of the state still relies on ranching, farming, logging and mining for its existence. As a result there have been many booms and busts leaving many abandoned homes, towns and regions.
My first outing this year was to try to get back into a ghost town I had discovered last year. It is a thirty mile drive out dirt roads that are seldom driven, especially early in the spring because of snowpack in the passes. Below are a few pictures I took during my last visit. The history of the place is that it opened in around 1909 and closed for the last time (I thought) in 1965.
One of the unique things about detecting here is that when you are in the mountains thirty miles from the closest paved road you are not at the top of the food chain. Montana is the only place in the continental US where grizzly bears are expanding their territory, one of the few places where wolves have been reintroduced (there are several packs in this part of the state), and where mountain lions are numerous (they hunt by ambush and hit their prey running at full speed to try to break its neck). This is all a consideration when you are planning to be alone in the wilderness wandering around wearing earphones. The pouch belt I wore was somewhat different than most in the rest of the country (see picture below).
Unfortunately, when I got close to the area there were several new “No Trespassing” signs on the road, so it looks like it may be getting reactivated. I of course respected the signs and drove the thirty miles back out. I have another mine site I have not yet found that I will be trying for in the next month or so.
So far this year most of the rest of my detecting, and all of my keepers have come from the old downtown section of my town that was established around 1890. I have posted pictures of most of my keepers below.
I hope this was as interesting to you as reading other posts has been to me. This hobby is so diverse that almost everyone has a unique story to tell about it. Happy hunting.
Any way, NW Montana has its own unique metal detecting character. One of the first things people think about when they think of Montana is cold and snow, but that is far from unique across the northern tier states. What is more unique is the vast empty spaces up here. The state is the fourth largest in terms of territory, but has less than a million people scattered across it. The whole state only has one telephone area code and only sends one member of congress to Washington.
Briefly, Lewis and Clark were almost the first white folks to explore the state in 1804. Gold was discovered in the 1860’s and that brought the first significant settlements. The next “big” influx came when the Great Northern railroad pushed through the state in the 1880’s. Much of the state still relies on ranching, farming, logging and mining for its existence. As a result there have been many booms and busts leaving many abandoned homes, towns and regions.
My first outing this year was to try to get back into a ghost town I had discovered last year. It is a thirty mile drive out dirt roads that are seldom driven, especially early in the spring because of snowpack in the passes. Below are a few pictures I took during my last visit. The history of the place is that it opened in around 1909 and closed for the last time (I thought) in 1965.
One of the unique things about detecting here is that when you are in the mountains thirty miles from the closest paved road you are not at the top of the food chain. Montana is the only place in the continental US where grizzly bears are expanding their territory, one of the few places where wolves have been reintroduced (there are several packs in this part of the state), and where mountain lions are numerous (they hunt by ambush and hit their prey running at full speed to try to break its neck). This is all a consideration when you are planning to be alone in the wilderness wandering around wearing earphones. The pouch belt I wore was somewhat different than most in the rest of the country (see picture below).
Unfortunately, when I got close to the area there were several new “No Trespassing” signs on the road, so it looks like it may be getting reactivated. I of course respected the signs and drove the thirty miles back out. I have another mine site I have not yet found that I will be trying for in the next month or so.
So far this year most of the rest of my detecting, and all of my keepers have come from the old downtown section of my town that was established around 1890. I have posted pictures of most of my keepers below.
I hope this was as interesting to you as reading other posts has been to me. This hobby is so diverse that almost everyone has a unique story to tell about it. Happy hunting.
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