Question

[Randeecobra]

I'm new to this and here is a question: I scan google maps for older home foundations in the desert west of Maricopa, there are more than you would think. Then I spend half a darn day getting there on a quad, but the ride and views are fun, to only spend the entire time finding nails, wire and today, after a two foot deep hole, a spring! A rusty old spring!

The home I was at today appears to be from the 30's and, I'm a retired real estate asset specialist and ways of determining these things, not lived in since around the 50's.

I have found nothing but nails, spark plugs, wire, staples, and that darn spring at nearly every foundation I have found. And of course bullets and brass.

There is no evidence that there have been hunters there before me so, what, if anything am I doing wrong.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

DR.ÖTEK Metal Detector, Waterproof Gold Detector, Pinpoint & Terrain Modes, Professional Metal Detector - Grab it through Amazon!

[Treasure_Hunter]

I'm new to this and here is a question: I scan google maps for older home foundations in the desert west of Maricopa, there are more than you would think. Then I spend half a darn day getting there on a quad, but the ride and views are fun, to only spend the entire time finding nails, wire and today, after a two foot deep hole, a spring! A rusty old spring!

The home I was at today appears to be from the 30's and, I'm a retired real estate asset specialist and ways of determining these things, not lived in since around the 50's.

I have found nothing but nails, spark plugs, wire, staples, and that darn spring at nearly every foundation I have found. And of course bullets and brass.

There is no evidence that there have been hunters there before me so, what, if anything am I doing wrong.

First you do realize that all of us find a lot of trash along with the small "treasures" that we do find, with that said what detector are you using? Some detectors give you the ability to descriminate out some of the junk and give you a slightly educated guess of what "might" be there...

It sounds like your hunting areas with a lot of junk and it will take time to find the "treasures" that are there hidden among the junk.....Unfortunately it is not as easy as just going out and picking up the nice finds.....

You might look around and see if you can find a hunting partner, or check for a local club it would help to have someone to hunt with that has a little experience.....

Good luck and good hunting........

 

[Randeecobra]

Thank you...

I did expect to fine "some trash" but I'm amazed at the amount. I've swung over sites that never stop going off. Maybe I was a clean freak growing up as I don't remember tossing metal on the ground all day long every day. It seems that that is what I find.

Not complaining but wow! I guess I had no idea.

The other day I came across an old cattle ramp. Really old and figured this may prove interesting. Well what I learned was those old cowboys carried more metal that fell out of their pockets than Henry Ford could have dreamed of.

Who knew that cattle dropped wire, nails, cans and sharp rusty bits. Not a dime to be found.

Did those old cowboys use nails as currency?

 

[Skywola]

I have metal detected several old home sites, and pretty much found the same thing, junk all over and rarely a coin. Even with a good discriminating detector. That does not stop me from exploring new ones, for I am sure that there are those who did not trust the banks during the great depression and stowed their piggy bank away.
I suppose it is just a matter of perserverence and luck.

 

[Randeecobra]

I'm using a Tesero Lobo and really enjoying it.

So, I'm not giving up and I'm sure that some day I'll find that Lost Treasure of Franko De La Maricopa and the Three Wild Sisters of Pain and Purcupine Quils or at least a buried canvas bag of nails. With my present stream of luck I'll find the nails and half will be defective with the heads put on the wrong end.

 

[GreyGhost]

Obviously money has ALWAYS been valuable to people, but I think particularly so in the harsh environment of the Arizona desert. I don't think many of the amazing banner finds on this site of gold coins and valuables are from this state. They were recovered from places in the midwest and back east that had a lot higher population densities. In Arizona back in the old days losing a dime might have been a matter of life and death. It could have meant not being able to afford a meal at the next stage stop or buying feed for your cattle. For people living and travelling through this state 'back in the old days' it was probably a lot like navigating the Sahara desert or Congo jungles: you had to have your act together and you probably didn't drop much loose change along the way.

 

[Randeecobra]

So very well put.

I head out from my home in Maricopa and within ten minutes I'm entering an area that can kill a person in seconds.

I've raced cars, the deadly 427 cobra, flown, and done many other stupid things in my life but when I leave the safety of home on my quad for the desert I take three cell phone, three separate lines, a wifi generator, two guns, maps, tire repair kit, water, shelter and a dozen other life saving Nick nacks.

The area I search are scary remote, steep and unforgiving. I never go over my abilities and never push the quad to make that last hill. It's not worth it.

Today it was in the high 20's in the Estrella Range. If I had fallen off or broken down, I would not have survived the night if I was not prepared.

But, if I never find a nickel, the views out there are worth it.

 

[j.n.]

Randeecobra, if you take the Maricopa to Gila Bend road and go west until you get to Mobile which had a school and some houses in the fifties, don't know what it looks like today. Then cross the rail road tracks on a south road until you get to Vekol Interchange on I- 8. There are many house places along this road probably from the thirties and some still had walls still standing but the last time I saw them was about 1969 so I don't know what is there today.

If you take this road I would not go further south than the I-8 roadway as this seems to be a drug smuggling route from the south.

Money was in short supply in the thirties I would not count on finding many coins, but near where Vekol wash crosses the rail road I was told of a farm hand that had plowed out Chinese coins. This was told to my father and me by the farm owner and it had been done that day. The date was probably 1959--1960.

j.n.

 

[j.n.]

`Randeecobra, I googled the area I was speaking of and I could not find much of the remembered landmarks. In my minds eye I see it as it was fifty years ago. Roads that I used many years ago no longer seem to exist. I do know that there were house places scattered in the area I denoted but I am not sure I could find them today even If were capable of this.

j.n.

 

[Randeecobra]

Thank you.

I live in Maricopa. Mobile is just down the road from me. Today, a school, Mobile city hall, a trailer, a closed community center, an old babtist graveyard and a burnt out home, I may purchase. A possible horse boarding operation. The road you remembering has my tracks all over it. Travelled many many times.

The other day I came across a cattle corral and forth first time was able to really hunt it, only a few nails, but nothing else.

There is so much trash out there that neatly any spot is nothing but noise and impossible to work. I look for the most remote spots and the quad is the only way to go...

As for the Vekol valley, simply far to deadly out there any more. It as been taken over by drug gangs and human cargo dealers.......not safe at all. I predict a serious gun battle very soon.

 

[onfire]

Randee where is the verkol valley? not familiar with that one. Know the Brads very well

 

[Randeecobra]

Really poor spell check on an IPad. It is the Vekol valley.

http://itouchmap.com/?d=13204&s=AZ&f=valley

 

[tesoro dog]

RandeeCobra! I hope this will help some,, a tf-900 is set up too find non-ferrous metals, gold, silver, not sure how it does with coins! Plus it does not have a depth meter, it is about $500, you might try it under bedroom windows, around old trees, around fence posts, places like this that I have read folks would bury their valuables and be able to keep an eye on the spots from their bedroom windows. It is not cheap, but it goes deep, up too 9ft. ! Like I said, I don't know if this machine would work well for you,,,,,,,, Good Luck! td

 

[mrs.oroblanco]

If you are using the Lobo, in very trashy areas, I find that a sensitivity at around 5, and the discrimination around 7, will eliminate most stuff, make a great sound on coins, and will still pick up rings.

Remember to take all your trash with you so that you don't have to find it a second time

B