size of the hole

[jimzz977]

I hunt city parks and usually dig a 8 in. Hole size of my coil wondering if im digging to big of a hole

 

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[Steveo]

I'm sure you'll hear two schools of thought about that.Some say bigger plugs are better since you would have to do less digging to the sides of the hole if the target is off to one of the sides,also it is claimed that it's also better for the turf roots.
Myself,I tend to keep plugs on the smaller size,just enough to find my target.I mostly hunt for coins so I really see no need in digging large plugs several times the size of the coin.If you pin point proper with your detector for the most the target will be near the middle of the hole. or in the plug.At times I have been off a little on pin pointing so I just shave the side of the hole till I get it.
As long as you can dig a neat, 3 sided flip plug,recover your target, back fill the hole and replace the plug and you can't tell that the ground was distrubed,then I would say your good ta go.
That's my two cents and good luck to ya...........................................

 

[Sandman]

If you dug a 8 inch hole in our parks you'd be fined for distruction of public property and have to pay for the reseeding of the area. I've seen it done. You did not say you cut a plug which is way different. Since most coins are very shallow, a good zero motion all metal pinpointing mode is a time saver as then you can just pop the coin out with a knife or screw driver. The knife or screw driver can be used as a probe to touch the coin and then popped out. Naturally deeper coins will need a plug cut on only 3 sides. Any dirt you remove should be placed on a cloth for reinserting back into the hole.

 

[rockhound]

I agree with the above indformation except, I have seen many potentially valuable coins damaged with a screwdriver or knife whli attempting to pop out of the ground. I use a small diameter digging tool and remove only enough dirt to retrieve my target. If you become proficient with your detectors pinpointing ability, then you will be able to know exactly where your target lies. You can have someone hide a coin under a newspaper and hone these skills. Old timers used probes with a ball bearing welded on the end to find their targets. Some say they became so proficient they could determine, not only what material they were going through but also how thick the material was. Some say they got to the point they could read a newspaper underground. Practice, practice and practice more and only cut three sides of a plug so the grass roots will not be comprimised. Good Luck. rockhound

 

[gunntekk1]

hey does that elite have pinpointing if not use the cross method and watch the meter because if u r digging 8" holes u r doing something wrong. i have a 2200 not elite and i can usually do a 2 inch hole and i get the target

 

[gunntekk1]

i even try to see how small i can the plug and still get the target

 

[Sandman]

i even try to see how small i can the plug and still get the target

I too have scratched a few coins and have brass tips on my probes now. Now we have electronic probes.

 

[cudamark]

I think the concensus is that the bigger plugs are better for the grass recovery and less likely to damage the target but the big plugs are also most likely to get you thrown out of the park and having detecting banned. I know it sounds like it should be the opposite but that's because the complainers are ignorant. Giving that, I recommend the smallest, least invasive way to get the target out. It will take a little longer this way but at least we will still be able to hunt.

 

[ticm]

Holy crap! Size does matter. Doh!!

 

[deepskyal]

I dig a hole, horse-shoe shaped about 4 or 5" across, and as deep as my TDI tells me, and hit it every time. This leave roots intact and a nice plug to push back into the earth without leaving a trace. Time and experience will get you here.

Practice your zeroing in capabilities...no reason why you shouldn't.

Al

 

[jimzz977]

Thanks for responding and help me out ,im going hunting again this weekend and try to pinpoint the target better. Im going hunt a high school that was built in the fifthies and maybe the dry lake im trying to hunt for a while.