Things I wish I had done when I started metal detecting?

[Monty]

I wish I had more knowledge of history . I wish I had studied books on coins. I wish I had more time to do it. Next? Monty

 

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[Swartzie]

For me, learning about local history is what got me into metal detecting. I learned about an indian village nearby (which now has an interstate running through it). Also, a couple 18th century military expeditions that came through the area. Have a book with maps and journals. Before I had a detector, I would hike around in hopes of finding something from one of these expeditions. Then I had a bright idea that maybe a metal detector would help and viola! So, I always get excited whenever I dig a lead ball in one of these areas. Still hunting for a button or buckle. Something that can be dated with some accuracy. I have found a tool used to clean the touch hole of a musket that matches one from the 18th century. Also, a ball mold. But I think it may date later. If I get a collection of stuff I'll probably eventually donate it to a local museum which houses some artifacts from Ohio's only Revolutionary War fort. It's nice to hunt an area that has some history regardless if I find anything that day or not. Just being in the same place where indians, pioneers, and soldiers once walked is neat enough.

-Swartzie

 

[ThTx]

I wish I had bought a Garrett machine FIRST! (Would've saved a bunch of money.)

 

[FunWithTreasure]

I wish I knew I wasnt supposed to rub coins

 

[Smudge]

Start with a simple detector, learn the basics, then move up.

 

[Produce Guy]

Take lots of pictures of land,fields and woods before they get developed,also learn how to use google maps better,talk to the old timers who use to live where you want to detect now.

 

[DigginThePast]

I wish I had tried harder (sometimes tried at all) to gain permission for some sites that others got years later.

 

[liftloop]

I'd say more pictures too, should of went out more,worked it harder

 

[SvenS]

Got into water hunting, would have been much more productive for gold and silver.
While everyone was concentrating on land, could have been one of the few across the country
hunting the water. Basically still virgin territory. I went water in 1979-, found my first virgin beach.
A gold ring every 15 minutes, ended up with around 70 the first 5 days. Countless silver rings,
jewelry, quart jar of silver coins, 5 gallon pail of junk. Haven't found a beach like that since.
Got close tho. Back in '82, State Park beach, had only two hours to water hunt. There were signals
every 3 feet. Coins. Decided to make a return trip two weeks later. When we did, barely a signal.
The Park ranger came over to talk to us and told us there were two guys water hunting from out
of state for the entire week before....................ooooh well.

 

[stefen]

I wish I had more knowledge of history . I wish I had studied books on coins. I wish I had more time to do it. Next? Monty

History is the key word...

Researching a find makes history come alive and is more meaningful than reading a dull text.

 

[littletwig]

I just wish I'd started when I was younger...Back in the 60's. But noooooooo...I had to start rodeoing. Paying for it now...snap, crackle and pop. Oh well

 

[Woodland Detectors]

I sometimes wish I never stopped fly fishing

 

[bigscoop]

I sometimes wish I never stopped fly fishing

You sinner!

I use to load up my touring kayak with fly rod and metal detector all the time........those days were my heaven!

 

[Woodland Detectors]

I sometimes wish I never stopped fly fishing

You sinner!

I use to load up my touring kayak with fly rod and metal detector all the time........those days were my heaven!

I still have my Fly rods.....And my vice to tie. I just took a break...LOL

After fishing the Madison, I kind of got spoiled you know?

 

[rockhound]

i wish I had started years earlier when silver coins were the norm everywhere you detected.All they had to contend with then were bottle caps.Sure,the detectors dd not discriminate well,if at all, but almost everything you would dig were either silver or wheat pennies,wow. rockhound

 

[deepskyal]

I wish I would have hung on to all the silver from when I first started to hunt. Cashed in all I had amassed in the mid 80's when gold spiked to record highs. I guess back in the day you just take for granted there aren't too many detectorists out and about and silver abounded. I never knew there'd be an internet or silver was going to be so scarce to come by any more.

I guess too I wish I never got married that second time too. That sure screwed up my detecting for a few years.

Al

 

[Monty]

Well, I wish I had not got married that first time! But the second was a charm. Still going at 39 years!
I also wish I had started earlier but I had other interests. I shot military bolt action rifles in matches and was 2nd or 3rd in the state once upon a time. But then my eyesight got to where it wasn't acute enough to shoot championship class and it lost some of the challenge. But metal detecting has filled the gap. Monty

 

[Mi$$ouri Jim]

I wish i had started when I was around 18.

And bought a lesche digger instead of buying walmart junk.

 

[BamaBill]

4-H,

I still fly fish, it was my overriding passion for a long time and when I'm not fishing in the dirt, I'm fishing a tailwater somewhere. Just wish my relic hunting success was anywhere near as good as my fly fishing. I've about given up on relic hunting a few times. Lately, I'm working on going to the last few possibles on my list and then I'm gonna start hunting early homesites. At homesites I usually go home with something, even if its not CW period.

To keep with the thread, I wish, feverently wish I had stuck with MDing the first time. I met a guy down the street in our neighborhood in the 70s that was into it and went to a detecting meeting even. I then bought a cheap whites machine, but quickly got discouraged (I was 13) with digging nails and rusty metal. Took it to the beach and found a few old coins, but it wasn't enough to keep me interested. Too bad Virginia was 5 hours away or maybe I could have gotten into relic hunting during the golden age. Sigh...

 

[bigscoop]

I wish I would have stuck with my very first passion in life....."treasure hunting"......and actually gone to school and earned a degree or two. But back then, I never dreamed the laws would change as they have. If only I would have had a crystal ball back then!