To all the newbies out there!......

[Mike from MI]

I went digging Saturday with my daughter. After a couple sites we stopped by one more on our way home. This was a small tot lot at an elementary school yard. The play areas were all sand. First thing I noticed was another guy detecting around the play sets. Next thing I noticed was the full size shovel he was using! If you are new or a seasoned pro, DON'T TAKE A SHOVEL IN ANY PUBLIC AREA!!!
Shovels are made for digging a lot of dirt. That is exactly what the public thinks when they see you with it. Don't get places closed for the rest of us! This area was sand, you can use a scoop, or move the sand with you shoe to find your target. Then last night I went to another public school with a large grass area where I dig some silver now and then. I found some 12" diameter plugs where someone else had been. They were sticking up like a cork partly out of a bottle. Come on you guys. Do it right or put the detector back in the closet. We welcome all you newbies into the hobby, but don't want places closed to to poor digging practices.
Can I get an AMEN?

P.S. I did get some keepers!

 

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[CoilyGirl]

Nothing like watching someone take a plug by the grass and shaking all the dirt loose from it, not finding the target(or deserving it for that matter if they do find it)and then putting the grass back over the hole like a toupee. Really??

Sorry but that made me laugh.

 

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[Rick (Nova Scotia)]

An excellent thread. should almost be a sticky ? I mean, preserving our hobby should be pretty important, and messy holes are a BIG problem that joepardize it.

I agree with pretty much everyone on this.

And, not a plug for garrett, but the pro pointer is the best thing to come along since the metal detector itself. For those who don't have one yet it is worth every penny. (maybe garrett should pay me (smiley face))

 

[cjon455]

this is also part of the reason im leary of asking permission to hunt private properties. This and the stupid tv shows that show fat ex wrestlers smashing away at the ground with giant tomahawk shovels, bulldozers, bobcats, etc. I can imagine them thinking id destroy their yard, id like to think i got pretty darn good at making small plugs that arent even recognizable afterwards, i learned 5 very important things in the 10 months or so ive been doing this: 1. small digging device 2. rag on the ground for loose dirt 3. leave the roots intact. 4. Pinpointer if u can afford one 5.dont be an idiot

 

[Rick (Nova Scotia)]

this is also part of the reason im leary of asking permission to hunt private properties. This and the stupid tv shows that show fat ex wrestlers smashing away at the ground with giant tomahawk shovels, bulldozers, bobcats, etc. I can imagine them thinking id destroy their yard, id like to think i got pretty darn good at making small plugs that arent even recognizable afterwards, i learned 5 very important things in the 10 months or so ive been doing this: 1. small digging device 2. rag on the ground for loose dirt 3. leave the roots intact. 4. Pinpointer if u can afford one 5.dont be an idiot

5 Excellent points Cjon.

I would rather be out diggin', but for the good I'll agree those "reality" shows are no good for anybody, frankly I don't watch anymore after they said a rusted piece of junk was worth 600, who believes that $hit anyway ? watch pawn stars same item worth 5 bucks.

 

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[davehky]

I had the same thing happen to me Saturday . Big plugs out of the hole and trash on top. sometimes coin still in the hole. What a Jamoke

LOL happens to me too,they can't even find their own coin in their hole!It kills me.....

 

[cti4sw]

While I do agree with 99% of what you guys are saying, I must say you're coming at this like those people do about guns. A shovel, much like a gun, is a tool. A tool, used properly and with a little care, will always perform well. That said, I happen to use a small spade and occasionally, a transplanting shovel when I MD - and my plugs are very nearly nonexistent as well, even the ones where I DO cut a huge plug. I do own a Lesche trowel and I have to say, I don't much like it. I live in an area where the ground saturation and root density is very high, and the Lesche doesn't help at all with either of these issues despite its nifty saw-like blade. But I am very conscientious about the visual evidence I don't want to leave behind so I cut my plugs and sift in such a way that you really can't tell I was ever there.

Don't bash the tool because the turd using it has no idea or regard for what he does.

 

[Mzjavert]

Amen........BUT I have sure seen alot of not so newbies using those 8" wide blade shovels lately. I think some of this thanks to the stupid antics on the TV show "Diggers". I noticed they use shovels in a numbers of shows or the Whites commercial with the guy who thinks he is going to put himself through college md'ing.

The American Saavage website sells those old army folding shovels...that's probably where these came from...or an Army Navy store. Funny thing the AS site has no information about "recovery" services they offer...it's just a site to sell stuff from the show.

 

[cjon455]

i really hate that show, every time i see one of their "finds" i die a little inside. they are a total staged, fraud, sham of a show. U guys may hate me or disagree for saying this but i kinda like diggers, even though their antics when they find things are a bit off the wall, it gets me motivated to get out and hunt

 

[WHADIFIND]

While I do agree with 99% of what you guys are saying, I must say you're coming at this like those people do about guns. A shovel, much like a gun, is a tool. A tool, used properly and with a little care, will always perform well.

I'm in agreement with you, cti4sw. To a point anyway. One needs to use the proper tools for any job. If I need to, I'll break out the jackhammer listed in my equipment list. There's more to the issue than what tools being used though. Also, there's no exact way for everybody to comply to any one set of rules. The ground determines those. Too dry, too hard, muddy, roots, rocks, clay, etc., etc.

I don't even practice everything I preach. Such as, one thing everyone is taught is to use a drop cloth for loose soil. Most times, I don't. However, I do have many, many years experience in groundskeeping. I have hunted beautifully manicured lawns and asked the owner to walk around with me to see if my repairs are sufficient. Then, I ask them to give me a call in about a week to see if ANY of my digs are causing issues. In many, many years, not a single one has ever complained and I have been back to see if they pass the worst inspection, mine.

The key is, being aware of the impression being given. I was asked to leave a small park once, (out of fear that I MIGHT damage something), but, the golfers who were just down the way continued to use the grass toupee technique of replacing their divots. I shared a few pictures with the management and they said they saw my point BUT, the golfers are not going around digging up the grass.

If I had walked in there carrying a shovel, think they would have let me even get started?

We are fighting a warped perspective that has been made worse by the idiotic tv shows.

I'll finish with this. Like the gun people you refer to, the tool is not the problem. It's the perspective. If people have the "right" to carry for self protection and they do! What do people think when they realize someone is carrying a gun? "OH NO!!! It's Tombstone all over again!!!! OH MY!!!".

You see? Perspective. We don't see too many pistol packin' petes out there now. Do we want our hobby to follow suit?

All is IMHO, of course.

Thanks!
HH!

Oh and watch out for Sheriff Gumby!