Newbie in Austin, TX

[drumking12]

My girlfriend and I are in Austin, TX and have been to every lake river, creek and huntable field in the Austin area looking for points with no luck. I have done the research and even talked to people on another forum specific to artifacts in the Austin area with no help except for the name of a few pay hunting sites that through further research have concluded are hunted out. Do any of you have any advice? Also, I know of a great site for hunting sharks teeth in Austin that I would be glad to share advice about. Thanks,

Rick

 

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[COUNTRY GIRL]

Try reading this post, great advice. Just keep browsing throgh these posts, you can't lose, you will learn alot!

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,76303.0.html

Good luck!

 

[Johnny X]

Welcome aboard my friend!
I don't know much about Texas hunting but here in Illinois it's all about creeks and plowed fields.
I'd browse through some of the posts, there are a lot of knowledgable people here!~

xstevenx

 

[drumking12]

Thanks for the advice guys. I have been browsing through past articles and it is really helpful. I guess the key is to just keep lookin'!

Rick

 

[jbl04410]

Welcome ,Newbie dont give up.When I moved to Maine I tried to get back into hunting artifacts.I lived in the southern part of Maine.I give it a pretty good go there with no luck.I quit until I moved a little further north.Last year I started up and have found over 100 pieces.(motivational-speach)What I would do is get on line.Punch in something as simple as archiac indians of Texas or of a more general area.I have found so much stuff this way it has saved me many man hours.Also you can go to the library.It sounds like you have spent enough time walking so alittle research is in order.Good luck..........Jay

 

[Adena_man]

It would be nice if you had some plowed fields close by, but I doubt that anyone down there plows anymore. You know pretty quick when you're on a site. There will either be a bunch of flint flakes laid out everywhere or there will be nothing but dirt.
I haven't tried creek hunting. I guess that will come when the tobacco farmers finally give it up. Hopefully that will be a few years. I would try cut banks ( I have seen photos of arrowheads sticking out the sides of banks). Definitely try the shoals. The bad thing is there are a lot of rocks to look through. Try and research where the indians from the 1800's and 1700's camped. If they liked certain areas, it is a good bet that their ancestors liked them too. I look on a site that has everything from Paleo up to Historic artifacts. They really liked that particular area. No matter what, get permission wherever you hunt.
My best site is owned by a man who told me that I was the first person to ever ask permission to hunt artifacts on his land. Everybody else always jumped the fence and tried to "storm" the field before he could run them out. He told me that I could drive my truck right up to the field from the main gate and look anytime I wanted to since I asked for permission.

Good luck!

 

[coalfire]

I posted this a while back and several people thought it was good advise. Hope it helps. Like most of the folks here(I believe) feel free to email me or PM and ask. I have added a bit to this also.

The best advice from me would be...
1. Talk to other collectors.
2. Go to the library and look up books...
a. about artifacts.
b. Artifacts and Native American culture in your area.
Check the backs of any book you find for the bibliography section and ask the librarian to get them through "Inter-Library Loan".
3. Go out in the fields you have permission to hunt on and look at everything.
4. Check with your area for archeology publications. Or your stste should have some also.
The best areas are along and in rivers, creeks, and tributaries. Also check in caves and IN shallows of waterways.

BEST TIMES...
1. After the farmer plows AND after it rains on the newly plowed field. (knocks down some of the bigger clumps)
2. My favorite time to look is while it is drizzleing and/ or overcast. It is easier on the eyes and the sun does not bleech out your vision.
3. If the farmer is useing the "no till" style...Still look after or during rain or drizzle. I have found alot even when the don't till the ground.

As you get better at recognizing flaked material and the types of stone. It will get easier. I don't want to dissuade you from looking but it takes some time to "get the eye" for it. It took me several years to "get the eye". But it will come easier as you look.
I surface collect only. So get a walking stick screw a screw into the bottom. Get a pouch (cloth carpenter aprons are cheap at walmart and hardware stores) Get a good pair of boots and a hat. (I also take a bandanna to either wear under my hat or tie it around my neck.) I also bring a snack and a canteen of water.
Hope that helps. Remember to ask other hunters. Be nice, alot of other hunters will NOT tell you where they hunt but some might. They will usually have good tips.
Take Care and good luck!
~Z~
PS I was standing in an arrowhead field for this pic.

 

[steve71]

not sure of your area.just hit them spots that you look right after it rains

 

[ohioriver hunter]

My girlfriend and I are in Austin, TX and have been to every lake river, creek and huntable field in the Austin area looking for points with no luck. I have done the research and even talked to people on another forum specific to artifacts in the Austin area with no help except for the name of a few pay hunting sites that through further research have concluded are hunted out. Do any of you have any advice? Also, I know of a great site for hunting sharks teeth in Austin that I would be glad to share advice about. Thanks,

Rick

I,m not real familiar with Texas but both my brothers live there one in san antonio does not hunt but one in plano does . I,ll talk to him and see if I can find out something . keep on looking and HH

 

[drumking12]

Ohio River hunter,

It's kind of funny that you mention your brother in Plano because before I moved to Austin 5 years ago, I was born and raised in Plano. My family is still there. Strange coincidence. Thanks for all the advice guys. I have few pieces that could possibly be points. They aren't as clear as some of the ones yall post on here but when I get photos I will post and yall can tell me. Thanks,

Rick

 

[warsawdaddy]

I was stationed at BergstromAFB back in'60.At that time the AF had a camp up on the Perdenallis River.Beautiful location and good white bass fishing.I know the AF has been gone from Austin a long time,but if you can locate that spot,it would be good.Then there should be some areas around Round Rock.

 

[fossis]

Welcome, Remember that lots of lakes are man-made,
& were not here in ancient times, look for rivers, & old lakes,
everyone & everything must have water.

Fossis............

 

[drumking12]

Here is the closest I have gotten. Please tell me what yall think. Thanks,

Rick

 

[drumking12]

All of them are thin and flat except the reddish brown one which is probably about 1/4" thick in the center and tapered toward the edges. The images are a front and back.

 

[steve71]

just some flint flakes the knocked off.keep lookin

 

[drumking12]

I guess I'll keep lookin then. I went to a field next to shoal creek and then went down into the creek and looked for a little bit. Haven't found anything yet. Shoal creek has a hike and bike trail next to it though so I wasn't expecting much. I'll keep yall posted. Thanks again for the advice.

Rick

 

[razor]

Rick, what context did you find them in? And what size... looks like 2" or less. I've found an old site and I've pulled out several pieces not to disimular from those. Razor

 

[razor]

By the way Rick, I'm only about three hours north of you. Razor

 

[drumking12]

All were found in creeks. The reddish one is from the area around enchanted rock. Razor, I have family in Plano that I visit. How far are you from there?

 

[razor]

I live in Greenville, which is about an hour east of Plano. I have some distant kin that live, or use to live in Plano. Nice area. Razor