The "Sport" of Metal Detecting? Not Even Close.

el padron · Jun 19, 2015

Garret follows this site closely and took the subject and its new ad campaign strait off a thread that was popular a few months back.
I would like to be compensated for my 5th Ave ad campaign prowess.

Actually how's this for a slogan?

"Garret, We have proven our capacity to make well built, well innovated, and well designed products, especially for government contracts whereby our prototype gets rejected two dozen times in a row before final acceptance."

Rawhide · Jun 20, 2015

When in a group it is a sport. You should see some of my hunting buddies go at it, they dig till they drop. We dont stop till the last man is standing drops. Also we are always buying and building things to get better and faster at target finding and digging. While its is represented as a hobby, it is also a sport. I have never participated in a seeded hunt. Just doesnt seem fair to me, it would go to the guy who has the most time with his detector I would say. I have been on a few club hunts, but had to travel out of state to do it. Cant seem to get a club going here and I have tried for years. If your in a club, stick it out. Will end on this note, I always find my best stuff when hunting alone. In that case, it is just a hobby lol.

jeff of pa · Jun 20, 2015

at least in my mind, Metal detecting is an "Adventure"

noun 1. an exciting or very unusual experience.

2. participation in exciting undertakings or enterprises: the spirit of adventure.

3. a bold, usually risky undertaking; hazardous action of uncertain outcome.

4. a commercial or financial speculation of any kind; venture.

5. Obsolete.

peril; danger; risk.
chance; fortune; luck.

Msbeepbeep · Jun 20, 2015

jeff of pa said:
at least in my mind, Metal detecting is an "Adventure"

noun 1. an exciting or very unusual experience.

2. participation in exciting undertakings or enterprises: the spirit of adventure.

3. a bold, usually risky undertaking; hazardous action of uncertain outcome.

4. a commercial or financial speculation of any kind; venture.

5. Obsolete.

peril; danger; risk.

chance; fortune; luck.

That, plus it's my pursuit of happiness!

Since very few post their happy dance, can't tell ya if that aspect qualifies as a sport. Maybe if you're running from the wild life, an irate property holder, hot lead, your detecting buddy cause you stabbed his toe with your digger, or the drone that keeps buzzing your head...the list is endless!

cruiserkev · Jun 20, 2015

I love my Garrett equipment but they are way off. This is a hobby. It requires some degree of skill and luck to be successful at it but calling it a sport does not seem accurate. Too many variables like skill level, machine time, site location, listening ability, concentration level, weather and just plain luck involved to ever put us all on a level playing field. Even the best of us get skunked once in a while. If we are now calling this a sport then let's rename all casino's "sports stadiums". Not much of a difference to me, it's all a big gamble in the end. HH! :thumbsup:

G.I.B. · Jun 20, 2015

Hummm..... by all definitions so far it would seems that the Sports Bar I'm heading to better prepare for my speed drinking-- I'm gunna beat 'em all~

I'll need to ride a Hobby Horse home tonight.

:occasion14:

Msbeepbeep · Jun 20, 2015

Rock the hobby horse slowly, in a straight line and don't speed, and you just may make it home with the speed drinking title! Better yet they should have some of those self driving cars there for their patrons.

Tnmountains · Jun 20, 2015

No its treasure hunting. I bow hunt. I kill deer. I do not kill for sport. I hunt for meat.

Cow tipping is more of a sport.

A seeded hunt where it becomes competition could be sporting to some. But then again it would be like shooting an animal in a fence. That is not sporting to me.
Competitive maybe.

Treasure_Hunter · Jun 20, 2015

Tnmountains said:
No its treasure hunting. I bow hunt. I kill deer. I do not kill for sport. I hunt for meat.

Cow tipping is more of a sport.

A seeded hunt where it becomes competition could be sporting to some. But then again it would be like shooting an animal in a fence. That is not sporting to me.
Competitive maybe.

Not all competition hunts are seeded, there are hunts that you pay to enter that are relic hunts on old property with old history..

wainzoid · Jun 20, 2015

Higgy said:
I say hobby. Enjoyable pastime. Sport to me means competition. The only competition I see in detecting would be to get there first... kind of like a sperm. Is that sport? The SPORT of reproduction! Just think! Each and every one of us is the result of a touchdown! Golly, I feel better already.

Seems like quite a few in this world, are more of a result of a foul ball

Tnmountains · Jun 20, 2015

Treasure_Hunter said:
Not all competition hunts are seeded, there are hunts that you pay to enter that are relic hunts on old property with old history..

True but I still have a hard time categorizing it as a sport. To me it is a hunt. Like when I play golf. I hunt my ball.

jeff of pa · Jun 21, 2015

when I think of sports I think events People Bet money on the Outcome &
others Rig the events to win money on the Outcome .

Msbeepbeep · Jun 21, 2015

jeff of pa said:
when I think of sports I think events People Bet money on the Outcome &
others Rig the events to win money on the Outcome .

Those are the televised or illegal sports.

Treasure_Hunter · Jun 21, 2015

Doesn't really matter to me, just mean I can see where some could call it a sport. Hunting is a sport and when I go detecting I am hunting gold..😁

coinman123 · Jun 21, 2015

I think it's a hobby, there is a specific structured "challenge" in a sport, not sure if there is one in metal detecting, sure finding a gold coin is a challenge but not the same kind as in a sport.

Ogre1190 · Jun 21, 2015

I can see it now...the National MD League and the American MD League. There could be divisions for specific areas of the country, playoffs, diggers being traded to other teams, a draft...even nectar scandals! Ooooo...And don't forget the Olympics!!! 😁

For me...not sport...not hobby. Obsession!!! 😁

Tnmountains · Jun 21, 2015

Ogre1190 said:
I can see it now...the National MD League and the American MD League. There could be divisions for specific areas of the country, playoffs, diggers being traded to other teams, a draft...even nectar scandals! Ooooo...And don't forget the Olympics!!! 

For me...not sport...not hobby. Obsession!!! 

I can see the mine lab head bands and At -Pro wrist bands and all the sponsors on my my shirt as I scurry through the woods.
A good British accent commentator saying " There he is now . It looks like has a target.. He does! He is digging slowly now and you can see him reach for his pin pointer. He has the target he is looking.......Oh no !!! I'ts a blooming pull tab. That will really set him back a few points. He will have to get his act together if he is ever going to catch up with the rest of the field.

Treasure_Hunter · Jun 21, 2015

Tnmountains said:
I can see the mine lab head bands and At -Pro wrist bands and all the sponsors on my my shirt as I scurry through the woods.
A good British accent commentator saying " There he is now . It looks like has a target.. He does! He is digging slowly now and you can see him reach for his pin pointer. He has the target he is looking.......Oh no !!! I'ts a blooming pull tab. That will really set him back a few points. He will have to get his act together if he is ever going to catch up with the rest of the field.

Sounds like episode of diggers...