Effective grid marking of a search area

[Coinucopia]

Given permission on a late 1800's homestead that has never been detected according to the owners. It's not occupied and off the beaten path so we can pretty do what we want on the property. Vegetation is very thick so we sprayed roundup yesterday to knock down the weeds. To give you an idea of the size, it took over an hour on a 4 wheeler with a boom sprayer to cove the grounds entirely. Hunting partner has suggested we grid the yard areas, which are quite large, using stick and string so we can methodically search the grounds and not potentially overlook anything.

I'm in agreement about the grid but the front area is huge and I'm thinking it's going to take a lot of string and staking which may end up being a hindrance. Seems like a lot of work too. I'm leaning more toward utility marking paint on a wheel roller but don't know how long that will last long term and possibly have to refresh it often . How do you do it?

 

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[xcopperstax]

I hope you wore protective gear as roundup has been proven to cause cancer. Sounds like you are serious about not missing a thing. I appreciate your zeal for finding it all but you could probably do just as well if you just take your time covering the area and make sure you move slowly. One of my biggest downfalls is that I am not always patient and I probably move too fast. Dig it all and go over the area multiple times. You might not want to invest all that effort on gridding unless you are certain that there are tons of coins / relics. Good luck on it!

 

[rcb187]

I'm not sure I'd want to be digging around in roundup weeds and soil for long-term, plus once it dries out you'll be inevitably breathing in roundup dirt dust. I've never had a cool opportunity like that though. I'd imagine I would use a combo of wooden stakes and neon paint. Also you could probably do a drawn map if it's a long term project. Best of luck sir!

 

[digger460]

I think I might have just used a brush buster and cut sections at a time. Be careful!

 

[Toecutter]

I use mental markers, a tree, post, things like those and I can tell my self i went over that area, Im sure the method you speak of is better and i would use that method at a site that has produced nice relics,,, also just about every person Iv asked permission from has said it hasnt bin detected then i find out that the place has bin cleaned out and neighbors say "oh ya its bin detected a few times" sounds like your getting invested and might wanna check for the relics before getting to invested. Hopes this helps and good luck!!

 

[Coinucopia]

Appreciate the concerns about roundup. It breaks down organically in the soil pretty quick but yes residual effects definitely do linger. I've worked in the agriculture industry many years around these chemicals and take all due precautions with them. Different variants of (glyphosate) can be sprayed the same day ahead of planting new crops, but yeah I really wonder sometimes if we know all there is to know about it. I discovered the homestead while tagging along with a land surveyor while I was on the property for work and were brush busting looking for previous survey markers. There have been a few surface finds made by owners over the years and they assure me it's never been detected.

Kinda snaky too, so that put a little more emphasis on getting rid of the tall weeds.

 

[Icewing]

To grid you really only need one or two long strings and a couple stakes per line. You just detect along it in both directions then move it over 3-4 feet and repeat. You aren't doing an archeological dig so it's not super critical.

As far as roundup goes, it shouldn't be shocking to anyone that it's a highly toxic and powerful poison and probably not good for you considering it will kill any plant it touches within hours. It's just more profitable to buy bunk science than get your best selling product banned. Money talks.

 

[Coinucopia]

To grid you really only need one or two long strings and a couple stakes per line. You just detect along it in both directions then move it over 3-4 feet and repeat. You aren't doing an archeological dig so it's not super critical.

That's a great idea!

 

[boogeyman]

Icewings technique is really all you need. I've got two lengths of mason twine with a tent stake on both ends. I had access to shrink tube & put a piece on each line 2' apart. Yeah, it was a boring job. To mark right angles. Turned out to be overkill. Made three of them, lost one & the other two are ten (wow has it been that long?!?) years old. Might make another set now that they have the hot pink and fluorescent green colors! Like said above, unless you're going out with a paint brush & trowel two will be all you need.

 

[Terry Soloman]

I just use two piece of 20' rope. Lay them down 3' apart, when I finish, I move the first rope over another 3' - rinse and repeat!

 

[mh9162013]

I think I might have just used a brush buster and cut sections at a time. Be careful!

That would be a good way to keep track of areas searched, too. Clear an area and search it for a few days. Clear another area and search the newly cleared area. And so on.

 

[TheGreenBoy]

A map, few wisible markers (natural or artificial) and a good magnetic compass (i.e. geological one) might be helpful.

 

[Professor of Engineering]

When a grid is needed, I use the orange flags from Lowe's 100/+/- $20 dollars. Place in a row and move them as you complete two passes.

 

[Got-Good-Tones]

Coinucopia,

How about a "Grid Overlay" using "Maprika" for desktop...and a satellite photo... Load map on your cell phone or tablet and Maprika will show you moving around on the grid...make note of which grids you have hunted and keep on swinging...

PM me and I'll walk you through the process... I can also send you the grid overlay(s) I use when doing fairly large areas...


Got-Good-Tones

 

[gallileo60]

Best of luck, dont worry too much about the roundup...The amount of time you will be there will be inconsequential....

 

[boogeyman]

When a grid is needed, I use the orange flags from Lowe's 100/+/- $20 dollars. Place in a row and move them as you complete two passes.

Wow! The price sure jumped!!! Are they cheaper at Depot? Had a blast with a neighbor everyone hates. We laid a line across the neighbors yard from the street up to his house, picked it up in his backyard and down the alley. Threw in some upside down paint for effect. Neighbor calls city thinking they're getting ready to rip up his yard. They came out spent most of a day locating and scratching their heads all the while the neighbor is ready to pop a pump. Great prank we're thinking! Then the frosting! Neighbors wife told one of the other neighborhood wives a couple weeks later they got a bill from the city for "all the work".

Hey ya just gotta have fun with it!!!

 

[dts52]

I've lost too many friends to Agent Orange to screw with ROUNDUP or any other herbicide, even though the manufacturer may tell you it won't hurt you. That's also what they told us long ago and far,far away... Please be careful. no artifact is worth dying for (except maybe the authentic Holy Grail).
HH
dts