"Digger" inspired newbie

[nose picker]

Hello all fellow DIGGERS! I found this thread inspired by the show diggers, and wanting to get into the hobby.

Any how, I love all the stories and advice for the new guys on the block. This site has awesomeness every where!

I am waiting for my tax return to buy my new equipment...I'm thinking of the AT Pro, and pointer as that is what seems to be a popular brand on the threads and the show.

Can't wait to use the terms like "nectar", "roundness in the hole" and dance around and tackle bushes when I find cool things

Ready to strike it big time so I can retire with my chest of pirate gold! As soon as I get my first fruit from the nectar of the ground, I will post some pics!

 

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[normalizer]

I too am here because of Diggers... saw two episodes of it and could do nothing but dream about getting a detector... bought a Garrett Ace 350 and had a great time with it, then within a month upgraded to the AT Pro and a ProPointer.

Now when I watch Diggers I flinch from all the lingo they throw around, and the stupid antics... but it got me into the hobby and I love it.

My tips as far as the gear goes - the holster that comes with the propointer fits PERFECTLY on the arm cuff of both the Ace and the AT Pro, and puts it in a perfect position when detecting without getting in the way. I went through several different digging tools before settling in on a Lesche knife/digger and a smallish Husky shovel from Home Depot. Most things only need the Lesche to get to them, and a well made shovel beats an army surplus e-tool for the bigger work. The Lesche holster ALSO fits well on the cuff of the Garrett, but flops around a bit - not perfect like the pointer, but for me better than having it all hanging off my belt.

For carrying it, rather than use a standard detector carry bag I use a bass guitar soft sided gig bag I got at the local music shop. Plenty of pockets for finds, gloves, flashlight, etc and both the shovel and detector fit in it perfectly. I like being kind of stealthy when I am hunting, and at least in Nashville, TN walking around with a guitar bag over my should gets a lot less attention than a detector bag, which frankly to me looks like I'm carrying a rifle in a case.

Have fun, I still get excited thinking about all my firsts... my first coin, my first coin cache, my first silver, and this weekend my first possible civil war relics.

You'll learn a LOT about all kinds of things while researching detectors, hunting spots, figuring out what your finds are as well as how to clean and preserve them.

Good luck!

 

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[wingmaster]

They don't dig the neatest plugs for sure and I don't believe they have been at it very long as one show the one guy finds a large cent where he says its his first one. I don't live or have ever hunted the east coast I've been detecting for 4yrs and have 4 large cents and some of the places they get to detect and only pull a few old coins out. It seems they aren't very good at detecting and wouldn't be suprised if they just started when they got the show, some of the places they get to detect was probably off limits to detecting for a long time, just seems they would do alot better at places they get. HH

I am definitely here in the hobby cause of the show, and it has inspired me to join a hobby!

I think the show is fun and responsible. They work with an archeologist and get permission to dig and leave no trace of their holes.

Keeping that all in mind, they still have a lot of fun...silly yes, but that's TV! A couple of Grumpy guys digging up stuff might not have inspired me, or been entertaining.

Looking forward to getting started....hopefully the Nectar Gods will smile down on me and give me some roundness in the hole....I've already been warned not to tackle the nearest tree....just a discreet dance.

 

[Muddyhandz]

They don't dig the neatest plugs for sure and I don't believe they have been at it very long as one show the one guy finds a large cent where he says its his first one. I don't live or have ever hunted the east coast I've been detecting for 4yrs and have 4 large cents and some of the places they get to detect and only pull a few old coins out. It seems they aren't very good at detecting and wouldn't be suprised if they just started when they got the show, some of the places they get to detect was probably off limits to detecting for a long time, just seems they would do alot better at places they get. HH

LOL. First seated half-dime and first shield nickle also. That poor tree lost a few branches because of the "nick" find.
Here, in the center of Canada, I've found at least 4 seated half-dimes, and almost a dozen shield nickles.
I remember finding my first shield nickle at a hunted out park (they easily disc. out) and I looked at it and thought "COOL" and stuck it in my container and carried on.
The only time I ever "fell over" for a coin was when I dug a Vicky quarter worth $2,000. No branches were harmed in the process!
Call me grumpy but I would find more enjoyment from watching real professionals than these clowns.

 

[Iron Patch]

The irony is that the more you learn about this hobby the more you'll look at them as just another dumb reality show. You just can't compare real people with real stories of real finds to something that's fiction and made for tv.

 

[Trollfish]

I too have become re-interested in metal detecting because of Diggers. The endorsement they recieve from the Nat Geo Organization gets them permission to hunt where most of us don't have a chance. And I think it is clear they are not about profit like the other shows. I really like the historical backgrounds they show about the places they hunt.

Then on the other hand, I can see why some MD's don't like the exposure it brings to the hobby. It puts a lot more players in the field that didn't "earn" or "work" for the skills. With that, the newcomers may actually ruin a good thing by not following some of the basic ethics of the hobby.

I for one had a huge disdain for certain Gold Prospecting shows that have become popular in recent years. I have been gem hunting and gold prospecting since I was old enough to walk with my Dad. He researched every bit he could find on Appalachia Gold and Gems through libraries and legends and some old fashioned shovel work. It took years to develop that knowledge because the resources of that knowledge were notoriously secretive. And rightly so I might add.

However, I have also found that only the tried and true will stick with it through the failures and dissapointments. Plenty of those await you if you become serious. The reward however is so much sweeter when all your hard work, trial and error lead to that first time where you see flash in the pan or a ruby in the screen. Therefore, I am not secretive of the basic knowledge of what I do, I will even take someone who is interested with me on scouting trips. Most don't go again after not finding the motherload or being introduced to a number two spade and pick. LOL

I have been prospecting when I can for 40 years. I still have to work at a "real" job to make a living. And I have never sold one ounce or carat in that time, because I don't like giving my memories away.

Good luck with the new MD and your new hobby. Hope you strike it rich, but most of all have fun doing it.

 

[Reppie2roo]

I have been interested in starting MDing for a while. Been a member of Treasurenet before the show came out, but when I saw it advertised, I knew I'd love it.
Still don't have my MD yet. I can't make up my mind about which one to buy. I can be very indecisive, especially when I don't know much. I guess I should just get one and dive in.

 

[JoeB_OH]

Welcome to T net. With all that has been said, I would advise to forget that show. Learn the law's, metal detecting code of ethics, and your detector. I' ve only been detecting for a year and, I have seen changes that are disturbing. There are a lot of newbies leaving holes, trash. Read & research, then go and have fun!
HH.

 

[Gold Maven]

I have been interested in starting MDing for a while. Been a member of Treasurenet before the show came out, but when I saw it advertised, I knew I'd love it.
Still don't have my MD yet. I can't make up my mind about which one to buy. I can be very indecisive, especially when I don't know much. I guess I should just get one and dive in.

I think they are all pretty good, 3 or 4 hundred bucks will get you a decent machine. Variable discrimination, and and an all metal/discriminate mode are two important features. good luck.

 

[Dylanger22]

I think a big part of why some detectorists don't want a million newbie detectorists running around is rather simple. For years this has been somewhat of a less-popular and less-known activity. Those of us doing this for years now know how hard it can be to find good places to hunt, and the new ones that are doing this to "Strike it rich" and "Find a chest of gold" make most of us look like greedy pigs. Most of us enjoy the historical significance of our finds, not how much it can boost your bank account. Sure, its great to find something valuable now and again, but going out just to get rich is unrealistic and I think somewhat irresponsible. All it takes is one new detectorist with an ace 150 to gash up a local park's grass, and ruin it for everyone else. I know people have said stuff like this before, and I was a newbie at one time myself; just with different reasons for getting into it, and different expectations.

 

[gsxraddict]

when you get permission to hunt on other peoples properties, and you find something good and dance and scream over it, expect problems.

If you want to keep what you find, dig it and put it in your pouch the same way you'd do with junk, and keep hunting. Scream on the inside, but if they think you've found something valuable then they will want claim to it.

I was just digging miniballs once in a yard a nice old lady said I could hunt. After I found 5-10 of them, a cop showed up and she came outside and said "I let you hunt because I didn't think you would find anything here. Give me what you found and leave the property". I was quiet, couldn't even tell I dug any holes they plugs were great. She was watching me out of her window.

I just gave her the mini balls (already have a ton anyway) and went to her neighbors house and kept digging them, he didn't care. He had no interest in it.

 

[roygpa]

Welcome nose. One other thing I saw the guys on diggers do was splash around in a bird bath. I recommend against that unless you are looking to get sick.

I am looking at the AT Pro and pinpointer too. have already received permission to hunt in local parks, working on the county, and have a good friend with a few hundred acres that I am going to ask.

 

[ivan salis]

just so long as you do not think its "real' -- like fishing shows on TV where they catch lunker after lunker one after another * -- please know that the tape is edited , with all the "boring' stuff removed -- and also know that the "values" obtained for some of the stuff they dig up is "highly questionible" at best --if you are metal detecting as " a fast way to get rich quick" --please save yourself a lot of greif and hassle -- metal detecting is some of the hardest "easy money" you can make -- although I must admit me and my nephew were once given a $100 tip for finding a rich mans wedding band that was lost in a horse stall (he insisted we take it ,and would not take "no" for a answer.) he during a horse show had looked for 2 days trying to find it , at the horse stall --- it took me and my nephew 20 min to get it.-- I split the cash with my nephew 50/50

 

[ivan salis]

if the old lady said she gave her permission to you , because she though you would find nothing in front of the cop---* you should have said to the cop "see she said I could , so I was not tresspassing " and as far as these mini balls go - yes, these came from her yard,
she is correct -- so now she can go fetch em up for herself cuz I do not work for her for free --and chucked them out in the yard as far as I could have . and told the cop see I got nothing of hers and I'm leaving now just like the greedy " give it all to me" old woman wants me to .--(the mini balls started ou in her yard and they are still in her yard - just like before I came here -- she is not entitled to work me and then steal the finds I made by "back crabbing" on her permission --she will get "no free labor" from me to find and recover stuff for her beneifit ) so we are back to the beginning square 1--a person that does this to you is in effect committing "theft by deception"--in that the land owner wants you to dig for them but they intend to keep all the finds you made , they let you dig for a while , then call the cops and try to strongarm you into forking over all the items you found -- basically by trickery they are forcing you to metal detect their land for "free' --this is a form of theft on their part , greedy lil buggers -- others follow you as you dig always "looking over your shoulder" to be sure that if you find anything of value they can "swoop" on it and run you off afterwards

I always agree to show all finds to the landowner and in the event of the recovery of valuible items we do a landowner gets first pick then me next back and forth -- or if its only one good valuible item we can do a 50% of sale value to each of US-- known "lost" family jewelry items are inquired about "before" I hunt and if found are returned free of charge to the land owner .

 

[ivan salis]

I use a delta 4000 --cost $279 bucks -- has 0 to 99 numbers display --it has all metal , and disc modes and runs off 1 9 volt battery --its light and easy to understand how to use has decent depth and ID's items metal make up pretty good

 

[ZR2guy]

I have been MD'ing long before the Diggers show. I will be the first to admit that I am very envious and wish it was me instead of them getting to hunt those normally off limits locations with the support of Nat Geo. Say what you want about Ringy and King George but they are getting paid to do what all of us would love to get paid to do ; Metal Detect ,and they have fun doing it. I don't see any other members on this forum with a TV show on Nat Geo.

 

[roygpa]

I have a friend who produces a fishing and hunting show and he says it is common to have to pay the network to get the show aired. He raises funds by finding sponsors and inserting their commercials into his show. I guess he gets to keep whatever is leftover from the sponsor money after paying to get the show aired.

Sorry for high jacking the thread but just thought some of you would find that interesting.

Roy

 

[olfacere]

I think that perhaps "Ringy and King George" are some of those guys who can best help the cause by not helping. The part that annoys me the most is the constant BSing of artifacts. I found a button AND I'm looking for pirate stuff. This button could have fallen off of a pirate jacket! It could have or it could have come from a well-kept slave's jacket, or a planter's jacket, or a worker's jacket, or just about anyone else. In fact, the odds against it being a button from a pirate's jacket are so great that one should feel stupid just for suggesting it. That crosses the line from conjecture into just plain BS.

Yes, there are fishing and hunting shows that unfairly glamourise their activities, but I've never seen a fisherman on TV land a crappy and call it a blue fin tuna.

 

[vpnavy]

The heck with your AT Pro, Digger Show, etc. - WHY in the world did you pick the name Nose Picker?

 

[roygpa]

I just brought up the fishing show because Diggers may be paying NatGeo to air the show.

 

[EnigmaKing]

ok.

Who is this?

Tim or George?

I second that question