SIDEWALK HUNTING FOR dummies

[Michigan Badger]

Since I can't hunt my favorite back-woods sites I've decided to hunt sidewalks and other easy sites in the various small towns I travel through here in northern Michigan.

We'll call this series "SIDEWALK HUNTING FOR dummies."

This should appeal most to those just getting started and those who like to remember the old days when they were just learning.

Today's lesson: Recognizing a sidewalk plus some typical ordinary finds.

1. picture 1 is a sidewalk

2. picture 2 are typical finds by sidewalks

3. picture 3 is a typical friend you meet on the average sidewalk

4. final comments (in next post within this thread)

Watch for more lessons in this series.

 

[civilman1]

Nice find's MB...But seriously,how far lrft or right can you go before "Gramp's" get's off the couch with the rabbitt-eared side by side...People are kinda funny these day's.Congrat's and HH!!

 

[Michigan Badger]

So,I didn't see where the M-80's go into the sidewalk to make it break up? Geez this is hard to figure out...

Man! talk about treasure I ain't had no M-80's in so long! They were just about as cool as crackers come. I remember sitting one under my sister's hairspray can....OH MAN! It made like this big shooting star way up in the sky. Good thing it didn't come near the house.

Thanks! Your comment added much to this course.

 

[Michigan Badger]

Hey Badger, I have always wanted to rip into a logging camp. Can you give any tips about where to start once a camp is found? I mean, what do you look for? I'm interested in the coins that might be found, but I especially like the old tools. Please advise, even if it's only by PM.
Thanks!

I've never done the camps in California but basically this is how it goes anywhere.

1) Research to find out where the main lumbering centers where in your state back in the 1800's.

2) Narrow your search down by learning of the locations of lumbering era Ghost Towns. During the great lumbering era, many towns sprang up and died once the trees were gone. Some of these towns never totally died out. Some may still have 20 to 200 people still living there. You have to get into history.

3) Once you locate a few possibilities, go to those areas and visit the nearest museum. Often they have info not available anywhere else.

4) From what you learn at the museums, go to the library and read the old newspapers there that pertain to the areas and happenings you learned about at the museums.

5) Check old maps and also the online satellite images.

6) Visit coffee shops in select small towns and chat with the old timers.

The best sites are those only known about by a few old timers. Usually the Ghost Towns are very poor hunting sites. You're looking for the location of the blacksmith camps for the lumbering company or the bunkhouse site for the Jacks.

NOTE: Most early lumberjacks buried their pay and many never lived to dig it back up. Many were foreigners and didn't trust anybody.

Now this is the way I do it. Is it the best way? Probably not. I usually do things sort of cock-eyed.

But, for some reason it works for me.

One more thing I'd add. Learn the laws of your state in regard to state owned lands. In most states, 50 to 90% of the best lumber era sites are on state land.

Enjoy the hunt.

Badger

 

[Michigan Badger]

Last sidewalk I did was under 4 inches of sod. Pretty annoying to get nice mellow deep hit, dig down and there's a side walk in the way.

Hey, check with the person living at that location. He may let you tear up a small section if you repair it.

I'll tell you, if a got one of those extra awesome mellow coin signals in the middle of a junky old sidewalk I'd be seriously looking into a mini cement job. In the bad area of town it's not that big of deal.

 

[TreasureTales]

Badger, thanks for the reply to my questions. I already have some sites in mind, but they cover large areas. Therefore, I am trying to determine the best place to begin the hunt so that my limited time is used most productively. The blacksmith shop sounds good for finding old tools, but how can you tell which was the blacksmith shop just by looking at a tumbledown pile of timber? I guess the only way is to detect and see what comes out of the ground. I know, there is no easy answer and no easy way to tell.

Sidewalk hunting is frowned upon around here. People get a little touchy when somebody starts digging and probing in their planted areas. I admit I don't like it either when somebody does that. Not only do they often leave a mess behind, but they might get hurt and sue me since the land is considered city property when they assess taxes but private property when problems arise.

 

[Michigan Badger]

Badger, thanks for the reply to my questions. I already have some sites in mind, but they cover large areas. Therefore, I am trying to determine the best place to begin the hunt so that my limited time is used most productively. The blacksmith shop sounds good for finding old tools, but how can you tell which was the blacksmith shop just by looking at a tumbledown pile of timber? I guess the only way is to detect and see what comes out of the ground. I know, there is no easy answer and no easy way to tell.

Sidewalk hunting is frowned upon around here. People get a little touchy when somebody starts digging and probing in their planted areas. I admit I don't like it either when somebody does that. Not only do they often leave a mess behind, but they might get hurt and sue me since the land is considered city property when they assess taxes but private property when problems arise.

When hunting sidewalks ALWAYS ASK PERMISSION if there are houses by it. Many I hunt run by vacant lots.

As for the lumber camps, if you already know where the timbers are you're 90% home. Just look over the area and watch for old roads (two-tracks). The old blacksmith sites had roads running by them. And too you're right, you just have to search until you hit a hot spot. All blacksmith sites had trash pits. This is where they dumped the goofs and worn out tools. You will also often find bottles and coins at these sites.

The hottest for coins and caches are the bunk house sites. These were often a bunch of small shacks in a row.

 

[Jeffro]

These "side-walks" you speak of.... what was their purpose? Also, where are the "front-walks" and "back-walks"? Hmmmm... is there a "right side-walk" and a "left side-walk" and how do you orient youself? North or south?

 

[TreasureTales]

The hottest for coins and caches are the bunk house sites. These were often a bunch of small shacks in a row.

AHA! That's what I was hoping to learn. I thought the bunkhouse would be one large building, and there are lots of large buildings, so I didn't know where or how to procede. But a line of shacks also exists, so I'll check around them first. Thanks for the tip!!!!

 

[stud564]

So,I didn't see where the M-80's go into the sidewalk to make it break up? Geez this is hard to figure out...

This is what i use....It get the job done even though the neighbors don't like it

 

[Marty-Graw]

ok i have seen some of those sidewalks..... they are a little different in my neighborhood though..... most of them around here have streets running alon side them..... are these as good to hunt as the ones in your area?

 

[Michigan Badger]

So,I didn't see where the M-80's go into the sidewalk to make it break up? Geez this is hard to figure out...

This is what i use....It get the job done even though the neighbors don't like it

Great idea! Kind of works like an armoured car too. No buckshot could stop that baby.

 

[Michigan Badger]

ok i have seen some of those sidewalks..... they are a little different in my neighborhood though..... most of them around here have streets running alon side them..... are these as good to hunt as the ones in your area?

Is there a full moon out tonight?

 

[Boobydoo]

Looks like a Badgerific day to me.
Congrats on those finds and thanks for the interesting
and entertaining post. Glad you could get out
and satify that "itch". I can dig it!!!

Smiles!
BDoo

 

[ringfinder]

Hey Badger, nice finds and I think if you look at your pictures real
hard you will se a Badger Dog found you! lol

HH, keep us informed on the side walk replacement. I'm always looking for
them. In fact today I found a couple tore up, hunted them, they both
had about 2 inches of water in them, didn't find anything. Maybe next time!

HH, Ringfinder

 

[mlw67]

Great thread Badger!

And those finds aren't bad either...

Keep up the good work!

 

[mumszie]

Now THAT is the way to teach how to detect. I am looking forward to many more "How to's". I hope you do a whole series of them. Beach hunting for dummies, Playground hunting for dummies, Ballfield hunting for dummies, Soccar field hunting for dummies, Old house hunting for dummies.... well the series could be unlimited. I love it! Great job!

 

[Bavaria Mike]

Nice post and finds MB, enjoyed the post! I'll have to check on the legalities of sidewalks here in Germany, I think the home owner owns the walkway here, in the winter they have to clear the snow or be fined for not clearing the walkway and if someone falls because of an uncleared walkway they can sue the homeowner. I have no walkway or neighbors. HH, Mike

 

[Michigan Badger]

Now THAT is the way to teach how to detect. I am looking forward to many more "How to's". I hope you do a whole series of them. Beach hunting for dummies, Playground hunting for dummies, Ballfield hunting for dummies, Soccar field hunting for dummies, Old house hunting for dummies.... well the series could be unlimited. I love it! Great job!

Hey thanks! I had in mind doing the basics on all these things drawing from the knowledge of other members BUT, my knee worsens so I may be out of the dummies lecturing business until next spring

One must post here on Today's Finds or the thread will go mostly unnoticed. The only way to get into Today's Finds is to have some finds for today. There won't be many more finds for me until after the surgery.

I was so much looking forward to Lumber Camp for dummies. I wanted to show all the steps in research down to how to read the free online satellite images.

As it is now I'm fortunate to get my office work done each day. Bummer!

Oh well, I can still congratulate everybody else on their finds.

Thanks again and it's always a blast being a part of a forum with so many others of like passion....Metal Detecting...YES! 8)

Enjoy the hunt!

Badger

 

[wirelessworldinc]

Had to laugh aloud because I havent had my detector long. I bet I have read the manual dozens of times, looking for some secret trick that I have missed. Not counting the times I have watched the video that came with it. I would go out in the yard and dig around and find junk then go back to the manual thinking "I am missing something". Love this post.

 

[Michigan Badger]

Nice post and finds MB, enjoyed the post! I'll have to check on the legalities of sidewalks here in Germany, I think the home owner owns the walkway here, in the winter they have to clear the snow or be fined for not clearing the walkway and if someone falls because of an uncleared walkway they can sue the homeowner. I have no walkway or neighbors. HH, Mike

Gosh Bavaria Mike...that would be super awesome!

I sure hope you do work on this. It would be super cool to see what you dig by those sidewalks! I'll bet you'd make your best finds ever!

This is exactly what we all need! You, bk, and the other hot sidewalk folks to continue this thread! 8) Man, I'm having visions of loot as I type!

Mike, I'll bet most of your sidewalks have never seen a metal detector. And the tear-ups would be out-of-sight!

Enjoy the hunt,

Badger