Swimming Holes?

[fourleaf]

I have gained permission to hunt a 1800's swimming hole this weekend. Does anyone have any experiance with hunting around thses areas. This is a virgin site, so i want to make sure that i do everything i can to make the most of it. I will also be in about 4' of water at some times during the hunt. I am using an excal 2. I have had it on auto for a while until i got used to it so now i am going to set the sensitivity between 6 and 8 so i can get deeper targets. Any experiance would be appreciated, thanks

 

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[s.c.shooter]

Try all metal/pinpoint. Should get you a little more depth. HH

 

[Produce Guy]

Try a wet suit and a pair of goggles and maybe an underwater flashlight,if the water is not that deep,an look for things on the floor of the hole,other than that,don't foret the bank.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

"This is a virgin site"

What makes you think this? Who told you this? Is the site a "secret" to the history books, so simply no md'rs knew about this spot?

Or was it the person(s) who granted you permission, that told you this?

I can't tell you how many times, in my 35+ yrs. of this, that I have heard this same "no one's ever hunted here before" line. And truth is, the person telling you this simply doesn't know. Even if they are the owners themselves! Multiple explanations are:

a) the previous owner let folks in, but the current owner just doesn't know that, hadn't heard, etc..

b) another person granted others access, and not the particular family member or worker you happened to be talking to. Ie.: the son, or the uncle, or a worker on the ranch who felt had say-so to let a buddy in, etc...

c) or quite frankly, people just walked in and hunted it (if it's something that could simply be hiked to, and is not under super scrutiny of some sort).

I've even heard non-md'rs say the "no one's ever hunted it before" of things like schools or parks across the street from their house. When you ask them "how do you know?" they say: "because I've never seen anyone doing that there before" Doh! And oddly, I'll know for a fact the school or park has been beat to death.

 

[Mackaydon]

If it was a popular place in the 1800s, you might find photos in your local, county or state archives of specifically where the swimmers rested and ate. If access to the area can only be reached by foot, work the path.
Don.......

 

[fourleaf]

Thanks for your help everyone! The owner has had this land in is family for a long time and he said he does not like people on his property that he does not know. How many times have we heard that. I work with the gentelman and i gained access to hunt all 800 acres of his land. One of the homes used to be a stage coach stop but the home was moved. There was a church that used to be there and they used the swimming hole for revieals for baptisms and the gentelman said his great grand parents swam there when they were young. You are right though, there is a chance that someone hiked back in there to hunt it but i am going off of his word. I am glad that i have a chance to hunt there anyway. He said that no one has hunted there and i should find many years worth of stuff. This isn't a swimming hole that everyone knows about which is good. Family gatherings and church folk knew so i will try today and see what happens. I have also been hunting a real good park and getting hits every time i swing the coil. Lots of pull tabs but some coins and kids stuff so far. A really cool copper gun! You guys have a good day and again thanks for the advice, thanks

 

[TerryC]

I tend to agree with Tom-in-CA. No such thing as a virgin site. That is not to say there is nothing there. If you're better at hunting than the last bunch, you'll do good. Let us know what you find! TTC

 

[fourleaf]

Well just got back and thought i would update you. I hiked back through the thorns and thick bushes for about two miles until i found 2 trees with dates on them. The dates were incased by hearts with intials. The first date was 1800 and the next was barely visible at 1831. The owner said there was a big blue rock that he could remember at the hole but i could not locate it so i am not sure if i was at the right place. I just could not go another mile or so. I had my excal,sand scoop,shovel, bo jangles tea, and a change of close for the water. I decided to go ahead and hunt by the trees with the dates. I found several pennies, dimes , pull tabs and a chunk of silver or metal. By the time i got there i was dog tired. I am not sure if i will go back but it was a great day for maybe finding something.

 

[d2]

Four leaf, I promise there are virgin sites. My detecting buddy and I have been wearing them out here where we live. Better than 4 grand worth of gold and coinage out of 3 holes last year. There are a jillion virgin sites. May not be any in Ca. or where ever but Arkansas is full of them. Also we have found Civil War bullets and silver coins from the time of the war at every swimming hole so far. Keep looking for the swimming hole...d2

 

[fourleaf]

Thanks for the good advice. I figured there are some out there though. I tell you what though, if someone hunted out there before i give it up to him because he or she sure had fun going through those thorns all the way down the river. Dag gum, i even looked for a place to get out of the pricklys and walk but it was no good. I really don't think i was at the right spot.

 

[kieser sousa/rip]

Why not paddle in and avoid the pricklys I would be prepared for some hard diggin if it's in a river. Compacted sand gravel and rocks can be a major pain in the .....foot to dig in.Look at the area from the air (Google maps etc) and look for areas on a bend or calmer water areas.....and low banks or beach type areas ...if your lucky maybe there'll be a bikini clad babe there next time to show ya the way !