Hunting in grass.

[jridg]

I am sure this has been asked many times before.

I am very wary of cutting plugs in the local parks. I also have discovered that it will take some practice to get it right.

I am aware of the probe/slice method - but not really about how it works out - is it more of a patience/experience thing? Trying to figure out what the best method is for me and being new to this makes me wary about ticking off the local park groundskeepers. They have not bothered me at all in the tot-lots but I have a feeling that may change if they saw me digging in the grass.

Advice?

 

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[sniffer]

the probe and slice does work very well. after you're done you can't tell where you were.
the one thing you'll have to learn is, you have to be able to pinpoint on the money (pun) to really make it work.
plugs just plain take time and practice, and good pinpointing

 

[jridg]

So it's about pinpointing and then cutting in where the target is and using the probe?

 

[Tom_in_CA]

I pinpoint as best as possible with the coil, then cut a tea-cup sized saucer plate hole with a bayonnett digger tool. I carry a rolled up rubber mat - cut from a truck inner-tube - as a staging area for the dirt (lest you leave brown marks on the surrounding grass when you try to clean up).

Some persons have more tame methods, like: probe only, pry or pop with a screwdriver, leave one edge of the plug hinged/connected, etc..... But those methods don't work for coins below 4". When I'm turf hunting, I'm only digging coins 6" and deeper, so a totally removed plug, and subsequent handfuls of deeper dirt, are going to be needed. As for "ticking off groundskeepers", best to hunt when they're not around. Off hours, or days when they're not working that particular park. City parks are usually on a rotation of maintenance, that you can usually find out the schedule of days.

 

[Davisdog]

I use a combination of the slice/probe and plug cutting. When I do cut a plug, I always try to leave a "hinge", even when I'm going deep (doesn't always work - depends on the type of soil. Loose, sandy soil will break apart no matter how careful you are.)

For shallow targets, I use a probe I made out of a long aluminum gutter nail and a wood handle. I'll poke it in the ground a little, then rotate it at an angle to loosen the soil under ground. Then I'll stick in the pinpointer. A lot of times I can then put two fingers in the small hole and pluck out the target.

Some times I can flip the target out with the probe. That makes me feel like I actually know what I'm doing (can you say false pride?)

Just writing about this makes me want to get out there! Dang winter!

Happy hunting!

Davisdog

 

[jridg]

Thanks for the replies - I have to get moving on some new areas and then really hit the local park - perhaps later in the afternoon/early evening - that way I should be 'safe' to practice.

 

[Diggerbarns]

I always dig a horse shoe and flip it over.You guys who pop the coin out with a screwdriver/ ice pic,arent you afraid of scratching the coin?

 

[IndianaSmith]

One thing I've found that makes a big difference in leaving a dug spot undetectable is by using a ground-cloth (I actually use a 12" square piece of plastic sheeting). Place all your dirt/plug on it, and you can be sure it all ends-up back in the hole, and not scattered on top of the grass.

Smitty

 

[luvsdux]

The trouble with "plugs" , especially saucer sized ones etc. is sometimes they are pulled up and out by mowers leaving the hole you didn't want to leave. Too, the more roots you cut, the more likely you are going to have a brown spot in a few days. Not so critical when there is plenty of water and the ground is moist.
Bill

 

[TXPlugKutter]

I simply cut a plug as well. I try to pinpoint the best I can and cut as small a hole as I can. I also only hunt the well maintained lawns, football fields, etc in the winter time. All the grass looks dead this time of year and your plugged spots don't show up.

 

[Ray S ECenFL]

Lots of good information given. Many different techniques in use to recover a find.

Personally, I pinpoint the target, then use a probe to locate it. Once you locate the target it is just a matter of getting it out of the ground. Since I live in Florida, the ground is basically very sandy and not much of a problem getting to the target to remove it. I sometimes cut a small slit in the grass and push any roots that may be over the target, to one side and then extract the target. Since most of my finds are clad, I do not worry about scratching the target. If I was in an area that was producing older coins I would use the hinged plug method of recovery.

One size does not fit all. You have to apply the technique that best fits the situation. My advice is to learn several recovery methods and practice them till you feel you have them mastered. Then you can comfortably apply them in any situation that comes up.

Happy Hunting

Ray S

 

[Colonial KirkPA]

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BDD...Kirk