wet ground? better or worse finds while the soil soaks...

[mfitzy111]

new-be question: does soaked ground make for better finds? here at my location in the north eastern PA area, we've been getting killed with rains... does this make it better for finding coins at depth? does water logged ground help or hinder metal detecting? I've never seen this addressed in Garrett's book on coin finding and haven't heard anything really about it on here....anyone? my recent finds have been good- and the ground has been wet, but dig-able! (not slushy)...

anyhow -just wondering about wet conditions making searching better or worse...

 

[fistfulladirt]

For three years I've hunted wet and dry soil. Explorer II/SEF 10X12 coil. I don't care for saturated soil. Way too much mineralization and EMI. Gimmee slightly damp or dry anytime, the silver sure "pops right out" in the dry soil.

 

[Goes4ever]

I will take damp but not wet ground, really wet ground causes a lot more falsing on deep iron. When the ground is dry, I almost never get fooled by deep iron and it seems like silver just pops at you when ground is dry

 

[gleaner1]

I will take damp but not wet ground, really wet ground causes a lot more falsing on deep iron. When the ground is dry, I almost never get fooled by deep iron and it seems like silver just pops at you when ground is dry

What Goes4ever said.

 

[bootyhoundpa]

this is a great question.... in my opinion 3 days after a good soaking rain is best..that is to say when the soil is consitantly damp thru and thru... it has also been my experience that to much moisture will cause halo effecct on iron targets especially square nails--i know because my yard is full of them...ive also got a small test garden in my back yard that i tune up on prior hunting local fields..its a mazing how often the optimum sensetivity setting and depth ability change due to moisture content--in my opinion... however i have also experienced a benefit from saturated soil and that is that it seems the small aluminum targets dont produce a halo effect while the copper targets in the same soil do thus making for quieter hunting in trashy areas and hitting on a copper target that might otherwise have been masked by the aluminum one..... set up your own test garden and see for your self...results may vary with soils and models ..great question....

 

[jeffmrgan]

got to agree with goes4ever, copper coins seem to hit better in damp ground, but rusty iron kills me when wet. In dry ground i can easily tell the junk from whats good

 

[mlw67]

Bootyhound hit my preference on the nose: The best time to hunt is the 3rd dry day after a good soaking.

 

[gallileo60]

Damp to wet for sure.Here in Texas we are having a record dry spell...I could not dig if I had too...Would have to have a jack hammer...If it is too wet here the soil is hard to dig, as my area is a gumbo kinda soil..When it gets dry it turns into something like rock..Im not kidding..The only thing is, I am right by the Gulf, so I can do some sand digging...HH...Tom

 

[oneeye]

I prefer wet ground. I always do my best in the spring and fall, when things tend to be wetter (at least around here).
Dan

 

[mfitzy111]

nice feed back guys. I'm glad I asked- so it looks like it's best to detect when the ground is damp...

 

[worldtalker]

Had a nice soaking last nite,hittin it after I drop My Love off at work,post the goodies when I get back!

 

[CRUSADER]

& no-one mentioned lightning/thunder storms Try it directly after one of these.

Anyway on the Wet ground subject, best have it wet deeper & dry (ish) on top.

 

[worldtalker]

Had a nice soaking last nite,hittin it after I drop My Love off at work,post the goodies when I get back!

Told ya I'd show you my goodies,Ground is still to dry for me!

 

[underarock]

Wet dirt doesn't get into your lungs either. Surprised no one here really talks about the very very bad health risks of breathing in dirt.

It's why they spray down construction sites while they dig them.

That sparkly stuff that floats in the air when you start digging is floating right into your lungs…

Be safe more than anything and lets keep everyone here digging well into there 90's and beyond!

Don't make me start a health and well being section on tnet guys.

 

[Newt]

In georgia, wetter the better. All I can speak for is a tesoro tejon.
I'll try to prove that today .
No doubt,
Newt

 

[Silver Searcher]

You don't usually have much choice but to detect in England in the wet....It's always raining , but wet or damp conditions are the best, to much rain can be a pain

SS

 

[worldtalker]

SilverSearcher,That's why you Bloaks get all the finds,your name says it all!GOD BLESS from a Bloak over here,Chris HH

 

[extractor]

Wet

 

[Diggin Dan]

From my years of detecting, I have always found wet ground was better. It gives better depth detection. Just keep diggin.

 

[up north]

In my experience wet ground allows better target separation. We have had a really wet spring here, and working trashy sites has never been more productive. Wet ground also makes it a lot easier to dig increasing your rate of recovery.

 

[allen]

i hate digging in mud, but I actually
do better and get deeper signals in it.