351maverick
Elite Member
this forum is great - what part of PA are you from?
"Sharing" spots......
- Thread starter Chihlidog
- Start date
Pittsburgh, live within the city proper actually but in a neighborhood that feels more suburban.
Skrap
Full Member
I'm still waiting for Raphis to tell me where the park is that he scored 31 silvers in a day is. Suppose I'll be waiting a loooooong time.
ronfin
Elite Member
- Joined
- Jan 12, 2012
- Messages
- 883
DonVitoD
Senior Member
I share 100% of my locations with my pops, seeing that the reason I got into MDing was to spend more time with him. I'm not afraid to go out on my own though when he can't. I have also chatted with other MDer's around town, and on this forum from around here about locations. Haven't really gotten out on a hunt with them though.
Hook
Elite Member
joee5
Elite Member
I'll give up some of my spots once I am pretty much done with them and consider them to be "hunted out".
So far it really hasnt backfired as nothing of real value been found YET.
So far it really hasnt backfired as nothing of real value been found YET.
F8fullyDesigned
New Member
- Joined
- Feb 9, 2012
- Messages
- 1
New to Metal Detecting
Hello all! I am new to metal detecting and live in Manassas, VA and am wondering where I can go without Government and County officials to have to worry about. The laws seem stringent in VA and really just want to hunt for jewelry and lost items from people as opposed to relics and artifacts. Please help and if there are group hunts going please let me know. Thank you all!!
Hello all! I am new to metal detecting and live in Manassas, VA and am wondering where I can go without Government and County officials to have to worry about. The laws seem stringent in VA and really just want to hunt for jewelry and lost items from people as opposed to relics and artifacts. Please help and if there are group hunts going please let me know. Thank you all!!
joee5
Elite Member
Maybe, for starters, you should introduce yourself then ask and we'll chime in.
stewart73
Forum Supporter
Maybe, for starters, you should introduce yourself then ask and we'll chime in.
Uh...he did say "hello" and tell us where he's from (and say thank you at the end). What were you hoping for exactly?
joee5
Elite Member
Well, an intro such as we all posted then a question in the appropiate thread is all. Is that too much to ask for??
stewart73
Forum Supporter
No, I suppose not.
gtoast99
Forum Supporter
It depends on the site, and the person. But I almost always hunt with a friend these days.
Old house sites, older parks, etc I have no problem taking people to. There's enough old houses to go around, and I love seeing other folks make cool finds. It's the Civil War sites I'm particularly picky about, for a couple for reasons.
First, like Terry said about his gold sites, they're a non-renewable resource. Once those sites are cleaned out, they won't ever come back.
Second, they take a LOT of research to find. And I'm not talking battlefield sites, those are easy to find, it's just a matter of getting permission. They've been hunted for 50 years already, and I love hunting them with other people.
But the camps and smaller skirmishes can be tricky to track down. I might go out three times getting nothing before I finally nail it down and pull some minie balls. If you're not willing to put in the work to go out with me every time and get skunked repeatedly when we try to find it, I'm not going to take you with me when I finally do find it. Also, you have to be willing to share your research as well, it's a two way street.
Third, I want to make as sure as I can that these relics are going home with people who value them for the true meaning of the history they represent. If you toss all your bullets in a box without regard, or you're just in it to get the most and the coolest stuff, I'm probably not going to enjoy hunting CW sites with you. I document all my hunts, and organize my finds by location. I enjoy knowing where things came from, who they were dropped by, and their significance to the overall picture. Even though it may just be a 3 ringer, it still tells a story about this nation's history, and deserves to be recovered and recorded with respect. It's not about the stuff - the stuff is a connection to the people and the experiences. Coinshooting, which I also enjoy, is one thing. A merc is a merc. But I think of detecting historical sites differently.
Fourth, is discretion. I need to get the feeling I can trust you with my sites. That means not telling folks where we're detecting, not bringing anyone else out there without me, and whoever is the "primary finder" of the site ought to be present every time you hunt the site unless explicitly stated. That kind of trust takes a while to develop. It's about respect.
Finally, there are just some folks who I don't get on well with, morally and philosophically. They won't be invited out with me, ever, and I'll avoid detecting with them whenever possible. And if you're likely to invite those sort of people, or you knowingly interact with them on a regular basis, you won't be coming to my sites. I have to draw my line somewhere.
There's one other forum member that I've really gotten into a research/detecting groove with CW sites. There's a few more at the club that I trust or am beginning to develop a relationship with, we just haven't done quite as much together. I very rarely go out detecting alone anymore, and I much prefer hunting with friends. But those sites are very special to me, and I am protective of them. Some people may think me miserly for not sharing all my sites all the time. But I've seen good sites raided by unscrupulous detectorists in the past, so I don't feel it is unwarranted to be careful. I just wanted to explain my feeling on the subject, and provide a counter-point to the share-everything folks.
That said, if you want to detect with me, I'm always willing to give it a shot. Case in point my own farm - I'm super protective of detecting my own land, and I've gotten a lot of great things out of that ground over the years. But *every* single person who has asked me to detect it has been allowed to. I'm not unreasonable, just cautious
Old house sites, older parks, etc I have no problem taking people to. There's enough old houses to go around, and I love seeing other folks make cool finds. It's the Civil War sites I'm particularly picky about, for a couple for reasons.
First, like Terry said about his gold sites, they're a non-renewable resource. Once those sites are cleaned out, they won't ever come back.
Second, they take a LOT of research to find. And I'm not talking battlefield sites, those are easy to find, it's just a matter of getting permission. They've been hunted for 50 years already, and I love hunting them with other people.
But the camps and smaller skirmishes can be tricky to track down. I might go out three times getting nothing before I finally nail it down and pull some minie balls. If you're not willing to put in the work to go out with me every time and get skunked repeatedly when we try to find it, I'm not going to take you with me when I finally do find it. Also, you have to be willing to share your research as well, it's a two way street.
Third, I want to make as sure as I can that these relics are going home with people who value them for the true meaning of the history they represent. If you toss all your bullets in a box without regard, or you're just in it to get the most and the coolest stuff, I'm probably not going to enjoy hunting CW sites with you. I document all my hunts, and organize my finds by location. I enjoy knowing where things came from, who they were dropped by, and their significance to the overall picture. Even though it may just be a 3 ringer, it still tells a story about this nation's history, and deserves to be recovered and recorded with respect. It's not about the stuff - the stuff is a connection to the people and the experiences. Coinshooting, which I also enjoy, is one thing. A merc is a merc. But I think of detecting historical sites differently.
Fourth, is discretion. I need to get the feeling I can trust you with my sites. That means not telling folks where we're detecting, not bringing anyone else out there without me, and whoever is the "primary finder" of the site ought to be present every time you hunt the site unless explicitly stated. That kind of trust takes a while to develop. It's about respect.
Finally, there are just some folks who I don't get on well with, morally and philosophically. They won't be invited out with me, ever, and I'll avoid detecting with them whenever possible. And if you're likely to invite those sort of people, or you knowingly interact with them on a regular basis, you won't be coming to my sites. I have to draw my line somewhere.
There's one other forum member that I've really gotten into a research/detecting groove with CW sites. There's a few more at the club that I trust or am beginning to develop a relationship with, we just haven't done quite as much together. I very rarely go out detecting alone anymore, and I much prefer hunting with friends. But those sites are very special to me, and I am protective of them. Some people may think me miserly for not sharing all my sites all the time. But I've seen good sites raided by unscrupulous detectorists in the past, so I don't feel it is unwarranted to be careful. I just wanted to explain my feeling on the subject, and provide a counter-point to the share-everything folks.
That said, if you want to detect with me, I'm always willing to give it a shot. Case in point my own farm - I'm super protective of detecting my own land, and I've gotten a lot of great things out of that ground over the years. But *every* single person who has asked me to detect it has been allowed to. I'm not unreasonable, just cautious
gtoast99
Forum Supporter
Sorry, that was a bit longer than I anticipated :P
gunwolf
Elite Member
when I first got started last year I was really excited about the new hobby. I asked around locally and found a few guys(friend of a friend ) that had detectors. so I took them to my "spots" ...a few older houses that I got permission to MD. we did this a few times and they never once asked me to come to thier spots. took me a while but I figured out they were only calling me to use my location.
so now I would love to Group hunt or even with just another MDer but at parks only.
I have permission to hunt some new spots this year but without having that "regular" hunting buddy...I'm sceptical about sharing again.
I often go on woods hunts...the more the merrier in my eyes, but that 1900's house with the small yard, ALL MINE!
so now I would love to Group hunt or even with just another MDer but at parks only.
I have permission to hunt some new spots this year but without having that "regular" hunting buddy...I'm sceptical about sharing again.
I often go on woods hunts...the more the merrier in my eyes, but that 1900's house with the small yard, ALL MINE!
gtoast99
Forum Supporter
I do have one solution for this type of individual, ie. the sort of person who doesn't provide locations, but is otherwise a good person and fun to detect with. I'll go door knocking. That way you get to hunt something more exciting than worked out parks, but neither one of you is giving up a spot you worked hard to research and get permission at. It seems to work for me anyways. That can also be a good way to build up trust with new folks that may become your "regular" hunting buddy. Just a thought.
Of course, for me that only applies if the person has trouble getting spots to provide. If someone obviously has great sites already and won't ever share them, and yet they constantly want to use yours... well, that's different.
KT has no problem with sharing with anyone his spots....Look up Little Rock elementary schools on Google.com...you got 95% of my spots! HA HA
Now its just a race to see who can get out there first and hunt em!
Oh and the other 5%??, look under Little Rock City Parks and you got the rest!
Now its just a race to see who can get out there first and hunt em!
Oh and the other 5%??, look under Little Rock City Parks and you got the rest!
WildDigger
Elite Member
Heck if I don't find it I want one of my MDing friends to find it..lol
I like the attitudes here too. There may always be a spot or two that you don't want to reveal, for whatever reason. I've yet to do any major hunting, but I have plotted a couple of sites to hit once the ground is less frozen (and I did check them today, still rock hard) Once they are workable, I'll share with anyone interested.
I'd love to meet up with anyone to go hunting with. I don't mind solo, but meeting another MD would be wicked cool!!
I'd love to meet up with anyone to go hunting with. I don't mind solo, but meeting another MD would be wicked cool!!
Silversmith45
Elite Member
I don't mind telling where I have made my finds as long as they don't keep coming back time after time and cleaning it out. We had a woman in our club that wanted to know almost to the inch where we found something. When we asked her where she found something, she would say Wichita.
