Is metal detecting still fun?

If anyone here detects with the fuel of finding something of value.
Then fuel will be on empty soon... and it will run out.
You could go years without finding anything of significant value.
And when i say "significant value" i mean something that equals a value to your time money and efforts to finding said item(s).
Some... will never recoup those things in the entire life of their detecting.
Just how the crow flies.
Location location location.
IF your not in a good one... AND IF your not in this for the love of it... then you will be more frustrated than not.
Face it.... the places we all detect grow smaller... more hunted... and increasingly off limits even in the good locations.
Thinking outside the box seems to net the best results in this now competitive hobby / craft.... which is what i call it.... a craft.... for me its not a hobby.
You guys worrying about the bums... Go where the bums aren't... you will dig less trash anyway.
When your relaxed things can happen.
When you are frustrated... nothing good seems follow that.

Go with the intention of digging nothing good... keeping expectations to a minimum.
Leave smiling no matter...
For...
You at least did it... you gave a try... which is satisfying in itself.
Savor this.
Savor the feeling that you left the place in better shape than before you got there.
Awesome response brother. There is a lot to be said for just being alone with God and nature, and getting some great exercise, and that rare treasure will come every now and then.
Always nice to find something like a class ring, and get it back to the rightful owner.
I've always been a loner, so I can go out by myself, and really get some thinking done.

God bless all, and thank you all for being great friends, regardless if it is only online.
 

Some if not most may call me wierd for the following... but hey what else is new....

I look at each time i have ever detected as an experience...
As a bonding with that spot.
I get to know that spot.. forever embedded and filed away in my mind.
I learn that spots history or just its story as it reveals its contents...
Each spot has a story... even if it was a simple boring one... even when nothing is there that story is also told and learned.
I like to read the stories each and every spot is telling... even if it is minor or futile.
FOR...
Had i not detected it...
I would not know anything... HEH !
:)
 

Some if not most may call me wierd for the following... but hey what else is new....

I look at each time i have ever detected as an experience...
As a bonding with that spot.
I get to know that spot.. forever embedded and filed away in my mind.
I learn that spots history or just its story as it reveals its contents...
Each spot has a story... even if it was a simple boring one... even when nothing is there that story is also told and learned.
I like to read the stories each and every spot is telling... even if it is minor or futile.
FOR...
Had i not detected it...
I would not know anything... HEH !
Exactly right.
 

Best thing any of us could do, take a pause, and make a plan on watching the BBC series, "The Detectorist". The BEST Metal Detecting film/movie/video or whatever I have ever watched about Metal Detecting, and the people who have loved it for years. 'bout sums it all up. Just saying...
 

Best thing any of us could do, take a pause, and make a plan on watching the BBC series, "The Detectorist". The BEST Metal Detecting film/movie/video or whatever I have ever watched about Metal Detecting, and the people who have loved it for years. 'bout sums it all up. Just saying...
Lol, I have watched it over and over. Awesome show, and i love the characters.
 

First of all, I don't have an "attitude". So keep your bully comments to yourself. In my previous post I said twice I wasn't bragging. So you missed that part. You make an assumption that I criticized their detector--which I would never do. And, Brian, I never asked for and don't need your "suggestions".

There have been other disrespectful comments made and I will ignore them, report them, or add them to the blocked list as needed.

I think some of the replies we're seeing is the reason we are losing a lot of members. Be disrespectful to other people and they probably won't come back.
Yeah, this is kind of the response I expected. I'm not getting pulled into a debate with you, OP. And I'm not going to defend or apologize for my comments.
I'm just going to wish you good luck with your detecting, and I hope you find the "fun" again in this hobby.
- Brian
Best thing any of us could do, take a pause, and make a plan on watching the BBC series, "The Detectorist". The BEST Metal Detecting film/movie/video or whatever I have ever watched about Metal Detecting, and the people who have loved it for years. 'bout sums it all up. Just saying...
Totally agree, love the series!
Lol, I have watched it over and over. Awesome show, and i love the characters.
Had not thought of re-watching the series, but that's a great idea!
- Brian
 

Yeah, this is kind of the response I expected. I'm not getting pulled into a debate with you, OP. And I'm not going to defend or apologize for my comments.
I'm just going to wish you good luck with your detecting, and I hope you find the "fun" again in this hobby.
- Brian

Totally agree, love the series!

Had not thought of re-watching the series, but that's a great idea!
- Brian
I'm in a battle with stage 4 cancer in my liver and colon, I don't think there is anything I haven't watched since March 14th lol.
They really had a great thing going, I wish they would film more. And the actors are believable.
Ill get out again but have a lot of work ahead to make it happen.
 

I'm in a battle with stage 4 cancer in my liver and colon, I don't think there is anything I haven't watched since March 14th lol.
They really had a great thing going, I wish they would film more. And the actors are believable.
Ill get out again but have a lot of work ahead to make it happen.
Hope ya get better soon.
 

Some if not most may call me wierd for the following... but hey what else is new....

I look at each time i have ever detected as an experience...
As a bonding with that spot.
I get to know that spot.. forever embedded and filed away in my mind.
I learn that spots history or just its story as it reveals its contents...
Each spot has a story... even if it was a simple boring one... even when nothing is there that story is also told and learned.
I like to read the stories each and every spot is telling... even if it is minor or futile.
FOR...
Had i not detected it...
I would not know anything... HEH !
:)
I find that very inspiring. Great way to put things in perspective. Thank you👍
 

I hear this, I really, REALLY do. I'm lucky enough to have access to some pretty sweet spots to hunt in but it's not always easy, I have been chased out by cops once now, I'm really sick of modern coins, digging and searching are a lot of work, lotta work, it's tiresome excavating hole after hole out in the elements only to find weird disappointments. I was about ready to quit but instead I'm just taking a hiatus, it's tedious finding junk and crap, things I wished I'd never bothered digging. I've gotten picky about the where and what of it to improve (theoretically) the quality of finds but it's still a shot in the dark. It's a thrill and a letdown at the same time for sure. I continue to push for quality over quantity but some things are beyond my control
 

Referring to me as "Dude"(try to be more respectful of other posters).

I like the idea about putting your hand out to say stop. I carry the hammer around more often. It's more of a deterent than the digger.
Some of your other arguments I couldn't make sense of.

I did say in my original post, it was just a rant and wasn't expecting the vitriol and some of the long-winded replies. I actually thought I would get more relatability in replies. Some people said, "I can't relate".

In general, be respectful of others on the site. And maybe people will stick ar

I hear this, I really, REALLY do. I'm lucky enough to have access to some pretty sweet spots to hunt in but it's not always easy, I have been chased out by cops once now, I'm really sick of modern coins, digging and searching are a lot of work, lotta work, it's tiresome excavating hole after hole out in the elements only to find weird disappointments. I was about ready to quit but instead I'm just taking a hiatus, it's tedious finding junk and crap, things I wished I'd never bothered digging. I've gotten picky about the where and what of it to improve (theoretically) the quality of finds but it's still a shot in the dark. It's a thrill and a letdown at the same time for sure. I continue to push for quality over quantity but some things are beyond my control
Sometimes a little break helps. I've done it in the past and been away from detecting for a year or more at a time.
It can be discouraging at times depending on the weather (hot and humid but the ground is like concrete).
It is unfortunate that people think it is ok to throw so much garbage around but I see all kinds of stuff when detecting that really should have never been thrown down.
We have to be realistic with this though, and take into consideration the hunting is getting harder than it was say 20 years ago. A lot of nice places of the past are forever destroyed or out of reach today due to human development and "modernization".
We're losing a lot more than a metal detecting spot though.
 

I still enjoy detecting. But there are hassles to it:

1. Worrying about trespassing and someone getting irate, calling the cops, or maybe even shooting at you
2. People staring at you like you're a martian.
3. The ubiquitous homeless ppl who seem to be wherever I want to detect!!--and the threat to safety that they impose.
4. Many days it seems like all I dig is copper pennies. They are everywhere!!
5. Hunting partners leave without an explanation.
6. All the good spots have been hunted out completely and finding a new spot is very challenging. Furthermore, to get to a good spot it seems one has to drive further and further out

I could probably go on. But we'll leave it at that. It's just a rant :coffee2:

7up2000, I read through the replies, no member was being disrespectful to you. You post a "rant" as you call it, not sure why you would be surprised to get replies about a "rant".

1. Don't trespass, ask permission, don't have to worry then.
2. Who cares if people stare, people stare at me when I detect, I couldn't care less.
3. Always have the means to defend yourself, a knife, hammer something. I personally am always armed with a firearm, even when I hunt in the water I have a firearm up high on my chest, under wetsuit or hunting vest. I am legal, and lcensed to carry concealed. I am armed 99.9% of the time, so detecting armed is normal for me.
4. Digging pennies is normal, I have large jar full of them, I have another huge jar full of clad coins, I have also dug thousands of pull tabs.
5. I have had multiple partners, many left and for different reasons, the ones hard to accept are the ones who left due to their death, those are the hardest.
6. I started detecting about 18 years go, they were saying then "all the good spots were clean out already", I don't believe that, just the easy targets are gone.


Let's please keep it cordial.....Thanks😁👍
 

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