SLOW MD SEASON BLUES

[relicmeister]

Well, I started metal detecting in the spring and have been so into it I've spent nearly all my spare time-mostly hunting wooded areas in Northeast PA as well as Sussex and Morris Counties in NJ.
I have a nice collection of relics (mostly iron) to show for it all.My most notable finds are a
3 3/4 inch , 7 pound cannonball, an 180? Draped Bust Large Cent, about 8 colonial period buckles
and a few flat buttons. Oh and a 14k gold ring.

I've made a great effort to beat the clock after work to get in 45 minutes or so of detecting before it gets too dark, relying on my trusty LED cap and making sure I can see the road and get out of the woods alright. Since daylight savings time even thats out. I don't like to take lunches at my work but I will occasionally take one to do a brief hunt in the woods near work, which contain old homesites and are near colonial era iron mines. But for the most part its down to weekends, weather permitting.

Hoping for a season with minimal snow and ground freeze and when I'm unable to do detecting
I have a sizable backlog of relics to restore and a lot of research to do to line up the best possible
sites for next season.

How do others cope?Does anyone really MD when there is snow on the ground?
just curious. Of course theres always bottle hunting.

 

[Mzjavert]

I've MD on/off for years, but the last 16 months or so I've gotten out every opportunity. Since last winter was so mild, I was able to hit at least the tot lots most of the winter. But I don't think we'll get that lucky two years in a row. So, yeah, I'm starting to feel your pain. I'll probably do more coin roll hunting...I normally search cents and nickels... and spend a ton of time drooling over old issues of W&E Treasures.

 

[detroitdigger]

I try to drive around when I can and look for new sites to hunt the following spring, and read the MD'ing mags and what not.

 

[WHADIFIND]

I know just how you feel. When I first was bitten by the MD bug, I had purchased a cheapy from Radio Shack. I bought this for myself as a Christmas present. The one thing I hadn't considered was the winter. I'd found a few pennies and was just plain hooked!

Then, the freeze moved in to stay. I went out a few times but very quickly discovered that one does NOT dig in frozen ground without a jackhammer! I even went over to a beach where I figured that I could at least dig in the sands. But, guess what? Water & sand freezes too! LOL

I absolutely KNEW that I had a good target, but I couldn't even dig with a hatchet!!! LOL

I suppose that's when I learned about doing research.

My sympathies!

HH!

 

[Gridwalker306]

I get the winter blues too. Detecting here is impossible usually from November to March. The frost line is 4 feet, so even if you could get to the soil, it's frozen solid. Bummer.

I do research and sort/organize my finds from the previous season to pass the time. I also let my wife go to her art studio when ever she wants all winter , it makes getting detecting time so much easier when spring comes lol!

 

[Rick (Nova Scotia)]

"Does anyone really MD when there is snow on the ground?"

Guess you haven't seen many of HEAVYMETALNUT's posts. I've seen him hunt with ALOT of snow on the ground. He's a NUT.

I have hunted with a smaller amount of snow, and have video of it, it really makes it easy to grid. I found my best bell this January 8th, the ground was only frozen on the top one inch, and was soft under that.

That said mostly winter is for research, and other interests.