How You Got Started Detecting

[Coin-Saver]

When I was a kid (Mid 70's) I used to see an old guy metal detecting. He was the only one I had ever seen doing it so knew it had to be something special. People made fun of him but I thought it was about as cool as being a Rock star. Fast forward 2006. I was 41 and had just had a Kidney surgery. When I was able to get around some I bought a bounty hunter pioneer 202 just as a way to keep moving and get back into shape. by the end of my 6 weeks off work I had went to a bounty hunter pioneer 505 and wasn't long I got an MXT. I think I was hooked when I first held one. I hunted a LOT over the next 6 years then life took me other directions. I don't get to do it as much as I'd like because of work but I'll always have a detector.

 

[oldkoot]

Just something that I always wanted to do, so I finally did it.
I remember when I was a kid and seeing old guys detecting I'd think, poor saps, scrounging for pocket change ,,, Hope I don't grow up and get that desperate ! Well, I did Ahahhaa, but I never really thought about finding oldies and relics, I thought they were just looking for pocket change [which they actually were at the park down the street from me] I never got curious enough to ask them if they found anything, in fact I had contempt for them, I thought, get a job, sheesh.
Because of these suppressed memories I think that held me back from starting earlier, I started around mid 30's and now in my mid 50's. I was self conscious at first and tried to stay away from the public eye, but I got over that. Started hitting playgrounds myself and I looked around for any kids with contempt in their eyes, shaking their heads thinking sheesh, what a loser ! But it was alot easier with my own kids tagging along, they liked to help or detect themselves, so that way I didn't feel like such a peon. I go out where I please, often in public view but I won't hunt tot lots with kids around [meaning mostly at night], would not hunt a strip with alot of traffic around, and never have asked any permissions, so by the standards of alot of you guys, I am somewhat inhibited.

yeah it is funny how us old people thought when we were younger now we are the SAP's LOL, doing the detecting me personally I do not care what someone thinks or cares about what I am doing, people can think what ever they want, I do this great hobby for one reason and that is the pure joy of getting out in the fresh air instead of sitting around in the house being bored as all get out, cant stand watching TV any more so, I do what I love, it is hard for me at times because of my Wife's medical condition but we manage, I had to take a step back in 2019 because my wife was struck by a hit and run driver while she was walking, which has taken its toll on me, I have to help her with everything because of it, late 2011 or early 2012 she was diagnosed with early stages of dementia, when she was hit by the hit and run driver her dementia increased 10 fold and has continued to get worse every day since she was hit by the hit and run driver, I am her in home care giver, it took me from 2019 too mid 2021 to finally be able to start detecting again, but I was able to come back to what I love to do, it is funny how when tragedies happen they can change your perspective on everything life has to throw at you

prior to 2019 my wife and I was living completely off grid and enjoying life after she was hit I completely took a step back and re assessed what we were doing, sold our off grid property (had no Choice), prior to her getting hit we saved every bit of coin we could and lived by the Motto
(if we didn't have cash we didn't need it ) we lived pretty modestly and by sticking to our motto was able to save quite a bit of money, when my wife was hit, i took a look at myself in the mirror and thought to myself what in the heck are we doing, we cannot take all the money we have saved to our graves with us so I started purchasing things my wife and I both had always wanted and no you cannot take material objects through the pearly gates with you but you can dang sure enjoy nice things before you reach those pearly gates

 

[Coin-Saver]

Sorry to hear that Oldkoot. Just a reminder that no matter how bad we think we have it, others have it worse. Good luck

 

[grinsebring]

I started in the early 70s. My uncle had a salvage ship, barge ,and pile driver. they would salvage boilers, props, rudders, etc for the scrap.
He had a metal detector the diver would use to locate then plant explosives. That was the first time i saw a detector.
The first time I used my own was at Mathas Vinyard while on vacation.

 

[hikerdude]

In about 1975-ish, while in Jr. High school (7th grade ? 8th grade), I met a kid in my school who had a 77b (or 94b ?). I followed him out to one of the local school yards, and watched him dig a few coins. Including a wheatie or two ! I was immediately hooked, and the rest is history

You've been detecting for over forty years? Is there anything you haven't found yet?
HH everyone

 

[hikerdude]

My son asked me, where is my metal detector? Andrew, I haven't seen that thing in years. I had given it to good-will. So I bought him a detector I saw on line. He took it to a local school and came back with a lot of jewelry/bling and a few coins. The next weekend I stopped at a store to buy a beer and the lady gave me a 1942 quarter in change and a guy at a yard sale sold me a one ounce 999 silver round for $3.00. So I told myself, maybe I should get a detector and my son and I can have something we can do together. That was in 2012. I took him to an old town (Santa Paula) and he dug an Indian Head Cent, and a silver coin. When I dug my first Mercury Dime, I didn't believe my eyes as it was lying in the bottom of the hole. I hadn't seen one since 1964 when I was 19 yo. I was so thrilled with the Mercury Dime I was totally hooked.
HH everyone

 

[SageGrouse]

I wish I still had that old Radio Shack detector.

Check EekBay! I have two of the old Microntas, one doesn't work and the other I have not yet had time or opportunity (or energy) to test. Simple, beep and dig machines, but I LOVED them!
Sage("Get a HORSE!!")Grouse

 

[Princess]

When I was very small, it was always a treat to visit the local playground. Sometimes, my older brother (@Torpedo) would take along his Bounty Hunter Tracker IV, and he'd let his two little siblings try it out. But by the time I was older & we had moved to a new area, the metal detector mostly sat forlorn & unused. But one day late in 2016, my two brothers came across some videos online that helped to reignite our interest in the hobby. At first, I saw these videos as amusing... after all, what's the big deal about finding a metal button in the dirt? At some point, I realized the history behind these otherwise menial objects, and, having long been fascinated with history, that probably helped to change my perspective. Before long, we were intrigued! We could hardly wait for the frozen earth to thaw.

And so in the spring of 2017 - even before the snow had disappeared - we bundled up and headed out to the yard, armed with shovels & a pair of metal detectors. To our disappointment, we discovered that the ground was yet too hard for the shovel to pierce, so we gathered our gear and went inside... defeated but not deterred.

Almost as soon as the earth had softened, we tried again. At the time, my younger brother (@Wolf-Dog) & I shared the Bounty Hunter BHJS, taking turns throughout the hunt. My finds from our back acreage that day? Rusty nails & screws, mostly; throw in a couple of .22 casings which possibly dated back to the past few summer's target practice... but best of all, an afternoon of fun with my two brothers, and a happy start to a hobby that we would enjoy for years to come.

It's rather hard to believe it's been nearly 6 years since we began detecting & joined this forum. In that time, I've made some fun finds, though nothing yet that's very old or valuable. (Even the traditional silver coin has eluded me.) But I can be okay with that. To me, there's more to the hunt than the finds.... like the excitement of listening to a pure, strong signal... the thrill of hearing the pinpointer sound at the clump of dirt in my hand. Digging a plug, spotting the find. Swinging the detector, and - for me - humming a favorite hymn as I walk. Pausing, with my detector in hand, to enjoy a sunset, or to watch the birds play while the waves gently lap at the lake shore. Exploring God's creation. Knowing that, regardless of the quality or quantity of my finds, I am blessed to have this opportunity to pursue a hobby I enjoy!

 

[JeffInMass]

As a kid in the late 60's, I was always interested in coins. Lived directly across the street from a park and remember seeing a guy using a detectoor and watched him dig up a walking liberty half- thought this is something I need to do! Didn't have the means for much of a machine and the plastic one I got didn't find much of anything. Put that away for years. Fast forward to the early 90's- working at a hospital, get to talking with a guy about starting up again, he hunts with a guy who has a Whites 6000 Di Pro for sale- first real hunt in March of 1991, coming up on the start of year 32 next month!

 

[Jski2011]

years ago I had an old I think radio shack detector I attempted to use it a few times but never took the time to really practice with it or get to know it and became frustrated with it and packed it away, fast forward to a couple of months ago cleaning out old treasures I came across that old detector, well I gave to a neighbor, he installed a new battery and to my Suprise the thing still worked, out into his yard he went.
a couple days later he says he can't get it to stop beeping and is somewhat frustrated with it, so I am like I don't know but suggest checking you tube for some answers, that got me started watching these vid's watching modern detectors and how they worked what people were finding had me intrigued more watching more research etc.etc.etc.
So, we spend our vacation's each summer at the beach mostly in the Carolinas and over the years have seen plenty of detectorists have talked to a few of them, I have always been intrigued and interested just never took the time to learn the hobby, now at 69 and retired I have more time and interest, so jumped in with both feet, just got my Nokta Legend pro pkg. have been going through the operators manual and playing with it in and around my house trying to learn the machine I can't wait to get out, it was minus 17 this morning at my house in western Ma., but next week should be in the 40's I have been doing some research into some local areas, I don't know if I will be able to dig anything just yet but I am going to get out and learn all the bells and whistles of this machine , tones also, so when we are able to dig hopefully we will be ready.

 

[robby4570]

From my blog (to verbose to re type)

I have always been interested in Metal Detecting, probably because on one of our family vacations from Illinois to Florida, I must have seen someone using one on the beach. Over the years I toyed with the idea of getting a Metal Detector but back in the days before the Internet, all I had to rely on for information was magazine articles. The authors all seemed like they were trying to “amaze” me with their tales of detecting finds while implying that Metal Detecting was a black art that should only be practiced by a few select folks. When I moved to New Mexico, I seriously considered then getting into Metal Detecting but I did not know anyone willing or able to lift the veil of secrecy surrounding detecting. So it remained just something that I really wanted to try but didn’t have either the funds nor the time to justify the investment. If I have any regrets in life, one is that I did not get into the HOBBY – and yes, it is a HOBBY, not a BLACK ART – while I was in New Mexico.

We moved to Florida in 2010 and I told my wife then that I wanted to get into detecting and I would do what it took to get into it. With the internet and a renewed interest in Metal Detecting, I was able to find several websites and forums (more on Metal Detecting forums soon) where I finally met up with a hunting buddy named “Buster” – his screen name – who was willing to drive 60 miles to come meet with me and show me a few of his detectors and accessories. Additionally he took me by the hand and guided me in my research and learning about the different detecting styles, types of machines, and all the assorted support equipment that you will need to have.

So with Buster’s help I researched the different machine types and price ranges and agonized over what machine to get until finally I decided it was time to “just do it”. I picked the Garrett ACE series and chose the ACE 250. I found a local dealer who was willing to trade me a brand new 250 for an old 22 caliber rifle that I had no use for any longer.

So, with the deal done I launched my career in Metal Detecting and as I headed home I contemplated what I would need to get for accessories, since I figured I’d split my time detecting the beach and the land. Boy did I still have a whole lot to learn!

If you want to read my whole blog it's HERE

 

[GKman]

Think it was 84 or 5. My father was helping a friend of his that cleaned out home sites after fires. As my father was shoveling a bunch of debris through a hole in in the second floor to a wheelbarrow below, he started to hear what he thought was coins. It ends up they must have had a giant jug of change that had melted or broken burned up whatever. So, he came home with a bunch of 5 gallon buckets of debris. We then used a sifter to sift through all of the debris to find the coins. We then went right over the hill from us to visit Gary Storm who started Detectorpro, Gray Hhost and designed helped design the Minelab Excalibur housing. Anyhow, we purchased our first detector using that found (perhaps kinda sorta stolen) (but hey I was just a kid) money. It was a Fisher 1210-X
In my late teens I ended up working for Gary at his detector shop. I did a lot of the assembly for the early gray ghost headphones and a lot of pressure testing on the Excalibur housings, coil testing, putting knobs and things together. It was a lot of fun. We're still in touch to this day!


I still have the original receipt for the detector. I guess it was 1984. And I never went to a family party without my detector.. I was always the weird cousin. But of course everyone else wanted to try it...

 

[Princess]

years ago I had an old I think radio shack detector I attempted to use it a few times but never took the time to really practice with it or get to know it and became frustrated with it and packed it away, fast forward to a couple of months ago cleaning out old treasures I came across that old detector, well I gave to a neighbor, he installed a new battery and to my Suprise the thing still worked, out into his yard he went.
a couple days later he says he can't get it to stop beeping and is somewhat frustrated with it, so I am like I don't know but suggest checking you tube for some answers, that got me started watching these vid's watching modern detectors and how they worked what people were finding had me intrigued more watching more research etc.etc.etc.
So, we spend our vacation's each summer at the beach mostly in the Carolinas and over the years have seen plenty of detectorists have talked to a few of them, I have always been intrigued and interested just never took the time to learn the hobby, now at 69 and retired I have more time and interest, so jumped in with both feet, just got my Nokta Legend pro pkg. have been going through the operators manual and playing with it in and around my house trying to learn the machine I can't wait to get out, it was minus 17 this morning at my house in western Ma., but next week should be in the 40's I have been doing some research into some local areas, I don't know if I will be able to dig anything just yet but I am going to get out and learn all the bells and whistles of this machine , tones also, so when we are able to dig hopefully we will be ready.

Thanks for joining us! Since you can't get out detecting yet, it's great that you're putting in the effort to study the manual & do some research. Once the temperatures warm & the ground thaws, it might be a good idea to practice detecting in your own yard. (That's how I started, and I'm glad I did.) This helps give experience in digging & filling nice, neat plugs; plus, it's sometimes surprising to discover what's buried beneath your own turf!

 

[Jski2011]

Thanks for joining us! Since you can't get out detecting yet, it's great that you're putting in the effort to study the manual & do some research. Once the temperatures warm & the ground thaws, it might be a good idea to practice detecting in your own yard. (That's how I started, and I'm glad I did.) This helps give experience in digging & filling nice, neat plugs; plus, it's sometimes surprising to discover what's buried beneath your own turf!

went out in the back yard for a little while today threw some modern coins in the snow took out the nokta and retrieved them in about 20 min.s it was cold -6 degrees, field mode stock settings 2 pennies, 2 nickels, 2dimes, 2 quarters, should be in the 40s next week I will hit a local park no snow to speak of there, I have an easy 6-10 inches in my yard need to go down the mountain into the valley probably won't be able to dig but we'll see what happens

 

[MiddleofMo.2185]

Well, I haven't been able to actually go detecting yet. After a stroke four years ago I've been recovering slowly. I've been interested in metal detecting for years but never persued it. To busy building and riding motorcycles. That ended four years ago. My brother in-law has a precivilwar homestead with a hundred acres about forty miles from me. Central Western Missouri. Anyway, you all will get to experience my detecting journey with me ! I plan to detect every square foot of this place. Lots of civilwar and Indian artifacts to find. Can't wait to post my first find.
P.S. If I repeat myself you'll have to excuse me. The stroke fried my memory so every moment is a new experience.
Ron

 

[kozman4907]

it was in the late 1980's my father got a bounty hunter. We went out a few times,never found much with that old machine. It sparked an interest in me that never really left. I purchased my first machine Fisher F2. been hooked ever since.

 

[Jski2011]

went out today to practice went to a local park/ball field to practice spent a couple of hours swinging I am pretty sure I am getting hooked, I think it might be time to invest in a bulb shovel,

 

[hoser]

I was stationed at Guantonamo bay in 1970. One of the guys in my division sent home and had a detector sent to him. He had access to ship services and built a waterproof housing for it. The day he came back with a gold doubloon was the defining moment for me. Sadly, it wasn't for a long time before I could actually join the ranks of treasure hunters. To this day I remember when he showed me that shiny coin and all I can do is go after my own treasure now. And to be honest, I look forward to each and every trip out. Just remember, treasure is what you make it. Gold, silver, lead Civil War bullets, or just dropped clad coins. Get out there and go for it while you can.

 

[SeabeeRon]

I was stationed at Guantonamo bay in 1970. One of the guys in my division sent home and had a detector sent to him. He had access to ship services and built a waterproof housing for it. The day he came back with a gold doubloon was the defining moment for me. Sadly, it wasn't for a long time before I could actually join the ranks of treasure hunters. To this day I remember when he showed me that shiny coin and all I can do is go after my own treasure now. And to be honest, I look forward to each and every trip out. Just remember, treasure is what you make it. Gold, silver, lead Civil War bullets, or just dropped clad coins. Get out there and go for it while you can.

Didn't know you were stationed at Gtmo! In 1970 I was at NAAS Fallon, in the desert!

 

[hoser]

Didn't know you were stationed at Gtmo! In 1970 I was at NAAS Fallon, in the desert!

Yep I was working for public works on the power line crew.