Talking to old timers for leads?

[neo]

Just wondering how you go about it. I'm guessing just walking up to someone and saying hi I'm looking for treasure you know any stories is probably the wrong way to go about it.

 

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[jeff of pa]

Just wondering how you go about it. I'm guessing just walking up to someone and saying hi I'm looking for treasure you know any stories is probably the wrong way to go about it.

LOL Yea Would probably get ya Snickerd at but not much More

Unfortunately at my age (59) , there ain't many older Timers around any more

But Seriously,

I am not the type of person who can just walk up to strangers and start rambling.
I've always respected peoples space & privacy, As I normally Expect of others.

however What I normally do when out treasure Hunting,
is if I see someone nearby, I look them Directly in the Eyes, Smile & Nod, Then go back to my business & Hope they are the type of person who talks to anyone who will listen.

Once the Conversation gets started, It can usually be manipulated to leads.

an Past friend of Mine, Very Colorful & Recently Deceased was so outspoken,
whether he was on a bus to Atlantic City, Or in a Bar, He would carry a cigar box of Fake finds.
If he knew I & most others knew they were fake finds I don't know. But it wasn't hard to tell.

But anywho..... He would Talk about his Fake adventures Loudly to the point people would give him leads.

Bad thing B.S.'rs most likely attract more B.S.

Just smile when your doing your thing.
let people know your approachable & manipulate those conversations would be my suggestions

 

[Red James Cash]

Give your town historian a call,theyre usually an old timer.The one here was close to 90 years old,he told me about a shooting range that was used before the spanish american war.

 

[neo]

Are they usually friendly with treasure hunters I've heard a lot of Archie's aren't happy with us so I'm afraid to tell anyone at a historical society my interest in ghost towns or local historic sites, i once asked about detecting a local fort and got a very nasty email back.

 

[jeff of pa]

Are they usually friendly with treasure hunters I've heard a lot of Archie's aren't happy with us so I'm afraid to tell anyone at a historical society my interest in ghost towns or local historic sites, i once asked about detecting a local fort and got a very nasty email back.

to be honest it's a crap shoot .

One Village Hysterical Society I went to the Old "B" kept saying "They Won't Let you do that" !
"Why Do you wanna Do that ? " & was very Rude in her whole Attitude. wouldn't Give me any info.
So I told them I make donations to those who are Friendly & left her standing there with her
Greedy mouth hangin' open

another Village Historical Society, After I Donated a Find to them, Gave me a few Leads,
but the One I was really interested in, an Old Defunct Firemen's Park,
was owned by the People running the Society,
Their Private Property, Not society Property & They refused to let me hunt it.
claimed they have a detector .

The County Historical Society was Very Friendly.

 

[Mackaydon]

Direct your questions to those who are in the same hobby. For example, if you are interesting in only coins, join a coin club or treasure hunting club. If you're interested in only shipwrecks find a group like (out here) California Wreck Divers. The same technique applies to Ghost Towns, hunting for diamonds or rare minerals, etc. People with similar likes are attracted to one another. Determine what type (or types) of treasure you area most interested in then seek out those groups of similar minded individuals. In my experience, I have found members of these groups are usually most generous sharing about their finds--and possible locations--after you have earned their friendship and trust.
Don.......

 

[Jeffro]

Old timers are easy, lol. Just ask a GENERAL question and sit back and listen. Poke the conversation where you want it to go. You may want a tape recorder. I'm getting up there now, middle age. I have no problem sharing the wealth so to speak. Ask and listen. Easy-Peasy!

 

[Red James Cash]

The guy i talked to was friendly as hell when i was talking to him.He said i could go there any time i wanted to.I asked him what if the cops hassled me about it.He goes you tell them i told you that you could be there,in not to friendly a voice directed at the cops.Go there i did,unfortunately over half the land was gone,a school was built on it.but where i did detect i found a bunch of .30-40 krag shells and a few live rounds.

 

[DFX DAVE in M.D.]

20 years ago I worked at a gas station, we had a bunch of older retired guys get coffie and hang out with us. They knew I bottle digged and metal detected. They gave me several good tips on where to go. I was lucky that they hung out there. They loved to talk about memory lane about what place was here and there. I liked them and repected their wisdom, I was all ears.

 

[Petrifiedwoodhunter@59]

LOL Yea Would probably get ya Snickerd at but not much More

Unfortunately at my age (59) , there ain't many older Timers around any more

But Seriously,

I am not the type of person who can just walk up to strangers and start rambling.
I've always respected peoples space & privacy, As I normally Expect of others.

however What I normally do when out treasure Hunting,
is if I see someone nearby, I look them Directly in the Eyes, Smile & Nod, Then go back to my business & Hope they are the type of person who talks to anyone who will listen.

Once the Conversation gets started, It can usually be manipulated to leads.

an Past friend of Mine, Very Colorful & Recently Deceased was so outspoken,
whether he was on a bus to Atlantic City, Or in a Bar, He would carry a cigar box of Fake finds.
If he knew I & most others knew they were fake finds I don't know. But it wasn't hard to tell.

But anywho..... He would Talk about his Fake adventures Loudly to the point people would give him leads.

Bad thing B.S.'rs most likely attract more B.S.

Just smile when your doing your thing.
let people know your approachable & manipulate those conversations would be my suggestions

I'm an old prospector from California (unfortunately, but thankful we are gone from there), now here in Washington I've become a rockhound! So when I'm out on the river looking for agates, petrified wood, CBA's, etc I always carry a piece of Carnelian that I've found and walk up and give it to someone and that usually begins the conversation! Now that I've got their attention I tell them a story of my own...then that gets their information flowing.

 

[airborne1092]

Oh Shite! I could get a wooden Indian to tell me where his tobacco fields are!

 

[airborne1092]

Direct your questions to those who are in the same hobby. For example, if you are interesting in only coins, join a coin club or treasure hunting club. If you're interested in only shipwrecks find a group like (out here) California Wreck Divers. The same technique applies to Ghost Towns, hunting for diamonds or rare minerals, etc. People with similar likes are attracted to one another. Determine what type (or types) of treasure you area most interested in then seek out those groups of similar minded individuals. In my experience, I have found members of these groups are usually most generous sharing about their finds--and possible locations--after you have earned their friendship and trust.
Don.......

Ask their name and use it. It engenders trust and credibility.
Match their speech, accent, and level of vocabulary. People tend to talk more with and trust those that sound more like them.
'Lead' with open ended questions, 'pace' when they are talking about something that makes them happy.
When you don't understand something they said, don't ask Yes or No questions. Instead reflect back to them what you though you heard and how you understand it, or directions to it, and they'll most likely recognize your interest thus prolonging their patience.
Don't ask how it made them feel, instead formulate a question that involves a family member - sibling, parent, grandparent - and incorporate those feelings in the memory you're trying to uncover.
Lastly, follow up later and let them know their information was spot-on (even if was maybe less than) they'll probably have more information or a couple more stories to tell.

 

[Mackaydon]

Tell them what you are looking for, be it coins, caves, sunken ships, bottles or etc. Otherwise, you might get a (waste of time) earful of information about their hunt for diamonds in Botswana.
Don in SoCal