Relic Hunting for Dummies

[BamaBill]

Since I'm having to puzzle out this arcane art of relic hunting myself, it occurred to me to ask, if you were mentoring a newbie with your wealth of experience, what tips would you be passing along? Like how do you look at a piece of ground and figure out where to start? How best to handle hard ground or roots? At what point do you figure its time to move on when hunting an already hard hit ground? The kinds of things that experience tells you how to handle and that perhaps someone more experienced, helped you with when starting out.

 

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[treasurehound]

No place is completely hunted out. You just may not find as much but the targets are still there. Yesterday I hunted a site that has been absolutely hunted to death. I still managed to find a bullet. Also look at the terrain and ask yourself where would most people not go and go hunt that area. We found stuff in the middle of briar patches that most people would avoid. The ground today is not like it was back then. There probably was very few trees and vegetation as there is now. Also research research and research some more. I hope that this helps and I am sure others will help out as well.

 

[stefen]

Like how do you look at a piece of ground and figure out where to start?
Answer: Each site is different so the hunting method would vary accordingly. If its a residence use common sense, and always hunt the primary structures starting with a house, outhouse, barn, water tower, parking areas, and lastly, the fields.

How best to handle hard ground or roots?
Answer: With any appropriate digging tool, however, leave a smooth site when finished.

At what point do you figure its time to move on when hunting an already hard hit ground?
Answer: If you're bored or fed up, then move on. If not, stay focused. Your MD may be more sensitive that others in the past and may give a positive signal.

The kinds of things that experience tells you how to handle and that perhaps someone more experienced, helped you with when starting out.
Answer: As stated, if you're bored or fed-up, then relocate. It depends on what you're hunting for...like wheaties...then you must make the decision what is important. There is no way I'm going to get a backache from digging if the finds are pennies I could as easily find in a bubblegum machine.

Lastly, this is where the term, "To each his own", was crafted.

 

[John (Ma)]

Don't be afraid to dig! Yes your going to dig trash, but you may be surprised what may really be under your coil. Have fun

 

[pmccartan]

Maybe a dumb question, I'm new at this - how can I differentiate between old mini balls, circa Civil Wa,r and more modern black powder projectiles?

 

[CSbrasshunter]

Some of the best means to learn quicker is to buy and read the most regarded reference books, particularly if you don't have a veteran relic hunter in your area open to a new partner.

 

[BamaBill]

"buy and read the most regarded reference books, particularly if you don't have a veteran relic hunter in your area open to a new partner."

Ah, there be the rub. There aren't many how to relic hunt books. Most are just stories of people relic hunting without much advice on the how. It seems that without a mentor and this late in the game, there isn't much hope of success at this; so I, for one, have moved on. I don't have time to chase empty holes. Good luck to those that follow.

 

[CSbrasshunter]

"buy and read the most regarded reference books, particularly if you don't have a veteran relic hunter in your area open to a new partner."

Ah, there be the rub. There aren't many how to relic hunt books. Most are just stories of people relic hunting without much advice on the how. It seems that without a mentor and this late in the game, there isn't much hope of success at this; so I, for one, have moved on. I don't have time to chase empty holes. Good luck to those that follow.

Aye, there be the rub. Perhaps there won't be any more Tom Dickeys or Sydney Kerkises. It is a bit late to realistically believe a 10 plate day is around every tree. But it is ashame you found relic hunting so esoteric. Much of the interest in relic hunting comes in the chase, the comeraderie, and, of course, the recoveries, which they in themselves can be only part of the personal success.

In my more than 30 years of relic hunting, I've experienced much success. I spent time with my dad. I made new friends. I learned far more from a single chewed minie than I did standing before an entire display in a museum. I learned about the outdoors and have seen beautiful creatures of the wild.

Sometimes I chase empty holes. I think the reason is that after 30 years of this preservation effort (which is really all it is), I've come to appreciate that each minie ball, each percussion cap, each rare item that turns up, will extend the knowledge beyond who I am to a child somewhere in the future. And it will let him know who he is.

To me, that is being successful.

 

[rovnrbl]

Check out the pics at this site

http://www.mytreasurespot.com/forums/images/div/index.html and on the Diggin in Virginia forum. There's still plenty of stuff to be found, it takes lots of research, lots of knocking on doors and the occassional friendly property owner. Seems you may want things handed to you on a silver platter. All the good relic hunters and detectorists for that matter have put a lot of time in swinging a coil. Good luck!!

 

[BamaBill]

Actually pal, I've been doing heavy research and hunting for the last two years, but it always seems somebody beat me to it, or its been destroyed by the hand of development. Unfortunately, the real probable stuff is about an hour or more in any direction around me and I just don't have the time as-of-late. I love to TH as much as anyone, but with family matters and a changing job situation, I can ill afford to keep going out to maybe sites. If things have improved by fall, I'll be going out some again. Relic Hunting is real tough to do in a vacuum. It really helps to talk to other hunters and get some idea of what's a waste of time. Otherwise its like hunting for a grain of rice in a sea of foam. I love history, should have made it a career with all the research I've done over the years, but I don't live in VA or anywhere close. North Alabama is a real tough place to relic hunt, for a variety of reasons. I haven't completely given up, but I'm putting it on hold until I have the time to it dedicate again.

 

[armchairQB30]

The more research I do the luckier I get.

 

[Sky Pilot]

http://www.mytreasurespot.com/forums/images/div/index.html and on the Diggin in Virginia forum. There's still plenty of stuff to be found, it takes lots of research, lots of knocking on doors and the occassional friendly property owner. Seems you may want things handed to you on a silver platter. All the good relic hunters and detectorists for that matter have put a lot of time in swinging a coil. Good luck!!

That's not a very friendly thing to say, rovnrbl!!!!! The man is simply doing what others should endeavor to do. Instead of arrogantly thinking that he has mastered relic hunting (as a lot of folks do), he is seeking experienced advice!! That is a sign of wisdom, not slothfullness! Believe me, Bill doesn't want anything "handed" to him.
The only dumb question is the one left unasked. I'm sure you didn't mean for your post to come across that way, though. I am a master at sticking my foot in my mouth like no one I've ever seen! LOL!! I try to read my posts before sending them, and that way I can change it, if it comes across wrong, and I don't end up sounding like a jerk. No harm, no foul rovnrbl? 8) Warmest regards, Skypilot

P.S. PM or call me Bill, and I'll be glad to do anything I can to help!!

 

[BuckleBoy]

It takes years to mentor someone in this hobby. I was Rodeo Recon's mentor, and I taught him almost all of what I know. (I saved back a few little bits so that I wouldn't get skunked )

I have tried to put some tips on this forum over the years, but it's really the tip of the iceberg.


Best Wishes,



Buckles

 

[Sky Pilot]

It takes years to mentor someone in this hobby. I was Rodeo Recon's mentor, and I taught him almost all of what I know. (I saved back a few little bits so that I wouldn't get skunked )
I have tried to put some tips on this forum over the years, but it's really the tip of the iceberg.
Best Wishes,Buckles

That's a fact, BB! Bill is already very knowledgeable in a great many aspects, so that will help a lot!! Regards, Skypilot

 

[jhnbaker41]

I am currently using a resource called "Finding Civil War Campsites in Rural Areas" by David Poche Associates- Roger Hager and Roger Baker. This resouce gives all the ins and outs of locating Civil War campsites using topographic maps Google Eart to dtermine wher possible Civil War campsites were. I am still a newbie and don't claim to have any expertise but it is proving very helpful in dtermining wher the best sites are. Here is the link: http://www.pochefamily.org/books/findingcwcamps.htm or you can google it.

 

[BamaBill]

Hey thanks for the tip on Poche's book. I do have it, in fact I have the CD and have emailed back and forth with Dave. It is a very good reference manual, but as I was pointing out before its nothing like having the advice of a mentor that's familiar with your area. Since I originally posted this I've come to the conclusion that my son and I need to go to some of the established areas that have been "hunted to death" (and we haven't been there before) and work the hard to access/less obvious areas, digging up everything in efforts to unmask stuff. Maybe this way we can find a few things and learn more about this.

 

[Patriot474]

on relic hunts do you set your detectors to all metal mode and dig any hit?

I ask this question for a possible old black smith shop that was once present or still present.

 

[BamaBill]

A blacksmith shop is going to be awash in nails. You will need to dig everything for a little bit and figure out what nails sound like and to clear out some of the nails that are going to be masking other targets. I am curious though, what you hope to find in hunting an old blacksmith shop? If he were also a silversmith/goldsmith or if you're aware of a buried cache there somewhere, best of luck, but if it were me I would look for a more lucrative site to hunt. There might be old coins there if its also a colonial site with a tavern not far away, but if its an isolated spot you'll be digging tons of iron. Anyway, the answer for relic hunting is yes, most of us don't discriminate much at all, especially when on a hot spot, where you might find anything. But, when you get tired of the iron it's tough not to dial in some discrimination to see if there's much there.

 

[Ray_Reed]

Since I'm having to puzzle out this arcane art of relic hunting myself, it occurred to me to ask, if you were mentoring a newbie with your wealth of experience, what tips would you be passing along? Like how do you look at a piece of ground and figure out where to start? How best to handle hard ground or roots? At what point do you figure its time to move on when hunting an already hard hit ground? The kinds of things that experience tells you how to handle and that perhaps someone more experienced, helped you with when starting out.

BamaBill the best thing I did that increased my finds hunting Civil War relics was to purchase a Whites MXT and skip over the loud tones and just dig the faint sounding tones at 8+ inches, most of my finds were at 10-12", a easy start would be to find a battlefield and talk to the owners of the surrounding property that is not state or federal also look for old trees in developed areas and search around them...I have found Civil War artifacts next to a Mickey D's doing this no kidding!, I am in North Mississippi and the MXT has done wonders at increasing my finds.

 

[BamaBill]

Thanks RR! The digging deep signals advice is what I'm hearing from a lot of the pros, like yourself. I'll have to try it with my analog Tesoro. I don't know of any digital machines that will give you a different volume signal with depth. Its great advice that should allow me to pass a lot of the junk I've been digging.