Big difference between a "metal detectorist" and a "treasurehunter" !! The hobby of metal detecting, is just that....a hobby using the various metal detectors to find metal objects buried on land or in the sea !!
Treasure hunting is a mind set and lifestyle choice !! The use of a metal detector is a tiny part of treasure hunting, and the detector is just one tool out of many that a treasurehunter uses in the trade of treasure hunting.
A metal detectorist is concerned with machines, and there ins and outs, and how they compare to one another, and often has a "stable" of machines to play with !!
A treasurehunter pursues mysteries, and and stories, and is hoping to make meaningful discoveries that also come with a good chance of successfully recovering something of value !!
A metal detectorist is happy to look around in school yards, tot lots, and sanded in public beaches. They tend to look at the machines as the only method of finding anything, and often love to speak of tones, settings, and discrimination.
A treasurehunter is a creature of opportunity and will often make valuable discoveries without the detector by any number of other techniques. I will drop the machine to pick up gemstones, pan or sift material, collect valuable shells and sharks teeth, etc.etc. the machine may be shouldered for miles, or in the pack until needed. It's just my hammer, and I might need a screw driver for certain treasure opportunities.
A treasurehunter talks tales of adventure and quotes research material.....a metal detectorist compares brand names and talks of seeded hunts and metaldetecting clubs. All of this is just fine, but let's remember just who each of us really are, and be realistic with yourself !!
A treasurehunter is more interested in a chip of pottery, and a shard of black glass than the comparison of test gardens and depth testing of machines. A treasurehunter just asks the metaldetectorist which machine is best, and worries if his sources and research are correct !!
As far as goals are set....the treasure hunter never relents in the pursuit of a major find, no matter what he's searching for, there is an end goal !! Set up the goals and knock them down with relentless pursuit by all means necessary !! Your damn right I'm trying to find a gold bar !! I want a shipwreck full of gold bars, and will continue to set goals that others would never dream possible!! That's how you win big, even when you fall short....example...went looking for gold bars, but only found a few silver 8 reales !!
Which ever you are, never be ashamed of it...there is a little metal detectorist in every treasurehunter, and a little treasurehunter in every metal detectorist !! We are closely related creatures. But for the sake of being true to ones self....reflect a minute and ask yourself which of the 2 you really are....once your realistic with yourself about these differences you will find more satisfaction in which ever category you fall under !!