When I finally get out there, will I feel like a dork?

[Bucket Lister]

I was going to entitle this, "... will I BE a dork?" but I've had other "dork hobbies" before... 🤓 (IOW, GUILTY! )

Maybe the question should be, "How much of a dork..."?

Ever since I got this thing (the climate/weather have been uncooperative)—and probably before—I've been driving around noticing this potential site and that, thinking about getting out there and swinging away—eager to find my first hundred or so ring-tops, bottle caps, and other unrecognizable lumps of "metal" that only last year I would have deigned to call POS!

I'm also envisioning some possibilities:

• Getting inundated by the... insufferably/obnoxiously curious (they don't mean to be—they just are 🙄)
• Getting hassled/harassed by real (or self-appointed) authority figures
• Getting assaulted/mugged
• Waiting around for some person(s) or activity to vacate

Part of the game? Possibly/probably. I'm thinking at least some of you folks who routinely search beaches, parks, etc. have at least felt a tad self-conscious at one time or another.

Any experiences/thoughts? Solutions? Coping mechanisms?

For those who haven't seen it, the difference between dorks, geeks, & nerds...

dork vs. nerd - Google Search

 

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[TORRERO]

I was going to entitle this, "... will I BE a dork?" but I've had other "dork hobbies" before... 🤓 (IOW, GUILTY! )

Maybe the question should be, "How much of a dork..."?

Ever since I got this thing (the climate/weather have been uncooperative)—and probably before—I've been driving around noticing this potential site and that, thinking about getting out there and swinging away—eager to find my first hundred or so ring-tops, bottle caps, and other unrecognizable lumps of "metal" that only last year I would have deigned to call POS!

I'm also envisioning some possibilities:

• Getting inundated by the... insufferably/obnoxiously curious (they don't mean to be—they just are 🙄)
• Getting hassled/harassed by real (or self-appointed) authority figures
• Getting assaulted/mugged
• Waiting around for some person(s) or activity to vacate

Part of the game? Possibly/probably. I'm thinking at least some of you folks who routinely search beaches, parks, etc. have at least felt a tad self-conscious at one time or another.

Any experiences/thoughts? Solutions? Coping mechanisms?

For those who haven't seen it, the difference between dorks, geeks, & nerds...

dork vs. nerd - Google Search

Well, I'm a 30 year veteran of metal detecting and I can answer SOME of your questions / concerns

• Getting inundated by the... insufferably/obnoxiously curious (they don't mean to be—they just are 🙄)

This probably WON"T happen, although you MIGHT get the occasional kid asking what your doing, realistically Metal detecting has been around so long that almost NOBODY even gives it a second glance. I've hunted playgrounds where even the kids don't come over and ask what I'm doing... nobody even looks your way on a public beach...
If I see someone hunting on a beach, I might approach them to ask how they are doing, but I never see anyone else do that...

• Getting hassled/harassed by real (or self-appointed) authority figures

Rarely, and generally it's when I'm at a place that might be questionable, such as a church yard where I didn't ask permission (oh my God I've done that ) Maybe a public park where some ass wipe park attendant thinks they know more than you etc...

• Getting assaulted/mugged

In 30+ years its never happened so its not something I really have considered... Although I have known people to lose their machines to car theft, pilfering etc.
That being said, I have hunted beaches all over the world during the day and at night and never had anything happen.... Things to be aware of, DON"T ever tell someone how much your machine costs... this is inviting trouble.
DON"T ever show people you DON"T trust, items of value that you have just dug, UNLESS you believe they are trustworthy. (Someone could claim they just lost that $1000 Gold ring you found and now they know what it looks like and call the police, now you have to explain why you won't return THEIR lost ring after THEY give a description to the Police..... ) Just me, but if you can help it, ESPECIALLY at night, DON"T wear headphones on the beach, so you might be able to hear someone close by and ALWAYS PAY ATTENTION to your surroundings... CRIMES are normally crimes of OPPORTUNITY !!

• Waiting around for some person(s) or activity to vacate

This might actually happen from time to time, but why not try going somewhere else while waiting ?
OR get your COHONES out and hunt it anyway while people are there, like kids playgrounds...

a tad self-conscious at one time or another

Occasionally, but this too shall pass, as you do it more and more you will stop worrying about what others think and start worrying about what you might find ha ha ha

Good Luck !!

 

[ticndig]

I never have been one to chase pennies, I Hunt the woods and feel alone and relaxed.

 

[TORRERO]

I never have been one to chase pennies, I Hunt the woods and feel alone and relaxed.

Tell us some good stuff you have found wandering the woods ...

 

[ticndig]

Tell us some good stuff you have found wandering the woods ...

🥇 BANNER - Civil war Sword found

I found this sword yesterday and was hoping to confirm it being a U.S cavalry . I found it on a rock outcrop overlooking the river on my property . it was only in the ground 2'' deep and overloaded my machine with an iron tone. I took these pic with my phone as soon as I figured out what it...

www.treasurenet.com

also many other civil war artifacts from both union and Confederate as well as war of 1812 and the revolutionary war.
spanish silver and just tons of other stuff found in the past 35 years.

 

[sibbley]

🥇 BANNER - Civil war Sword found

I found this sword yesterday and was hoping to confirm it being a U.S cavalry . I found it on a rock outcrop overlooking the river on my property . it was only in the ground 2'' deep and overloaded my machine with an iron tone. I took these pic with my phone as soon as I figured out what it...

www.treasurenet.com

also many other civil war artifacts from both union and Confederate as well as war of 1812 and the revolutionary war.
spanish silver and just tons of other stuff found in the past 35 years.

I'd say that's good stuff. 👍

 

[ticndig]

I'd say that's good stuff. 👍

it's the tip of the iceberg.

 

[Davemill]

Getting inundated by the... insufferably/obnoxiously curious (they don't mean to be—they just are 🙄)

I can't remember a hunt in a public place where someone didn't ask, "Find anything?" I pull something out of my junk bag, hold it up and say, "Just junk!"

 

[McKinney_5900]

I never have been one to chase pennies, I Hunt the woods and feel alone and relaxed.

Junk-to-treasure...what ratio of each do you expect to find in the woods? I always figured that junk would be monotonous. so I never hunted the woods myself as a habit.

 

[Blackfoot58]

On public property I always carry a junk sack. I do pick up trash, but I start with junk in my sack. Most folks see I’m helping and we get along better.

 

[ticndig]

Junk-to-treasure...what ratio of each do you expect to find in the woods? I always figured that junk would be monotonous. so I never hunted the woods myself as a habit.

well in a civil war camp almost no modern trash , at old long gone homesites tons of trash , one home site I hunted for years and dug 50 targets per visit. over the years it only produced about dozen relics but they were well worth the effort. open woods about 75% shotgun brass and bullets throw in some cans and a few relics.

 

[bottlebum]

Don't worry about it, and just do it. We've all been there.

 

[McKinney_5900]

Don't worry about it, and just do it. We've all been there.

Basically though, hunting the woods sounds like it is generally low conductor and much trash.

 

[bottlebum]

Basically though, hunting the woods sounds like it is generally low conductor and much trash.

I was referring to hunting in general. I missed a lot of good opportunities back in the day because I was too shy or embarrased, worrying about what others might think.

 

[pepperj]

Basically though, hunting the woods sounds like it is generally low conductor and much trash.

Well it depends on the woods. Some can be deathly quiet, while others are some real fine hunting.
It depends on what was in the woods before it went back to its natural state.
1st, 2nd, 3rd, growth, or planted.
I have had many great hunts in them, better than any urban park. (Though in the wooded sections of the parks I have done really well)
The relics and coppers are in better shape also.
The Mrs said one time why do always shave before you go detecting?
I have to look good for the squirrels dear.

 

[pepperj]

I was going to entitle this, "... will I BE a dork?" but I've had other "dork hobbies" before... 🤓 (IOW, GUILTY! )

Maybe the question should be, "How much of a dork..."?

Ever since I got this thing (the climate/weather have been uncooperative)—and probably before—I've been driving around noticing this potential site and that, thinking about getting out there and swinging away—eager to find my first hundred or so ring-tops, bottle caps, and other unrecognizable lumps of "metal" that only last year I would have deigned to call POS!

I'm also envisioning some possibilities:

• Getting inundated by the... insufferably/obnoxiously curious (they don't mean to be—they just are 🙄)
• Getting hassled/harassed by real (or self-appointed) authority figures
• Getting assaulted/mugged
• Waiting around for some person(s) or activity to vacate

Part of the game? Possibly/probably. I'm thinking at least some of you folks who routinely search beaches, parks, etc. have at least felt a tad self-conscious at one time or another.

Any experiences/thoughts? Solutions? Coping mechanisms?

For those who haven't seen it, the difference between dorks, geeks, & nerds...

dork vs. nerd - Google Search

As far as urban settings go a person gets more comfortable each time they go out.
Go to a quiet section, early in the day helps also.
Learn to dig a proper plug, and remove everything dug.

 

[Peyton Manning]

I used to be shy about it at first, but soon you realize no one cares.
Besides at the beach I understood that I’m soooo handsome the ladies liked seeing me.

 

[Bucket Lister]

The Mrs said one time why do always shave before you go detecting?
I have to look hood for the squirrels dear.

Besides at the beach I understood that I’m soooo handsome the ladies liked seeing me.

Speaking as one who hasn't shaved—and been happily married to the same woman—for ~50 years, I think I may be missing something