I agree, digging near a 2 lane or 4 lane road, nobody could care less. The only thing that would come to ones mind is, "Oh they must be digging for water or sewer, or who knows" I don't really think anyone would be paying attention unless you had a film crew or news agency all over with big video cameras everywhere.
Renting a backhoe is not that expensive, heck depending on how deep you want to go, you wouldn't need a big one, or even a small excavator, of which, FYI, I am EXPERIENCED in operating heavy equipment and there isn't anything I can't operate! Heck, I am not even affraid to use a shovel, I am 49, still military part time and in darn good health and shape!
Now back to reality for a minute.
This is a SERIOUS THOUGHT;
How DO YOU KNOW, the STATE or COUNTY, is NOT going to STEAL the treasures that you find and recover? It happens to many people who found it legally an just by accident and some of them who help steal them are the archies, because they want it under their roof and claim antiquities law. Now if you have covered YOUR ground on paperwork, research yada, yada, yada, one thing YOU WILL NEED ON YOUR SIDE, providing YOU TRUST ONE prior to and after you recover said treasure, is an attorney to make sure NONE of YOUR treasures and findings, get stolen from you, landowner and partners by the grabberment!
By video taping or doing a show, can open you up for a lot of problems, and maybe not so many problems. Yes, getting TVO time and a show is good pocket money and it gives a new program to watch for the viewers interested in treasure hunting.
Recovering small things isn't that big of a deal, but in my opinion, you start recovering said treasure chests full of gold, silver, jewels, etc, you and the people involved may get it taken from you. Also, if you do recover said treasure and the word gets out, you will be open to being robbed or worse by other thieves wanting the treasure. So security is also needed. I have extensive miltiary background. PM me and I will explain more.
I feel it is a good idea that you want to use the treasure to help certain things, like schools, education, needy, etc. I watched a show a long time ago about a man who met a WW2 vet and was told of rough diamonds that was taken off a German officer that was killed in a battle in France and the diamonds were buried in France in a trench and a couple of the guys who had the diamonds on them during the battle ended up getting killed one by one and the one man who had taken them from a soldier who legs were getting cut up by the diamonds in his pockets didn't want them because he felt they were cursed took them out of his pocket and buried it in a trench.
The man a few years ago around 2002 I think, went back found the location and recovered the diamonds and sold them and the money went to a good cause and he didn't keep none of the diamonds or money from the sale for they were cursed for anyone using them for profit. It was a pretty darn good show. The man used all his own funds to travel to France, located the diamonds, etc.
So, if you STILL need physical help, and or security, Let me know!