Potential Newbie from SE Missouri

[BS1975]

Hello all,
I'm once again gaining interest in metal detecting and eyeing the Nox800 as my first detector. It seems to be one high on the list. I want one good enough to not discourage me quickly for my first go at detecting.
I have never seen anyone in my area using one and from what little reading i've done it seems there are so many rules and regulations that make it impossible to seem to truly enjoy the hunt. I didn't want to spend $900 on something to look around in my own or a friends' yard.
Now, if it's possible, can I get some honest feedback on whether this is is a hobby worth the money spent in light of what seems to be hidden behind a bunch of red tape and whatnot? I'm fine with playing by the rules and all; but has it really taken the fun out of it all if you can't just take your MD with you and hunt around on a whim (obvious places off-limits of course)?

 

[jimther]

Welcome from Boston!

Don’t be overly concerned about some of the negatives you may have seen or heard. Once you get started (and hooked), you’ll quickly find plenty of positives to counter those negatives. If you are still unsure about laying out that much dough for a good detector, maybe you can find someone experienced near you, with a spare machine you could team up with for a few hunts, just to get a sense of whether you really want to do this. Good luck. Have fun! Any clubs near you?

 

[groundhog53946]

Welcome from Wisconsin. If you really want to give it a try without spending a bunch of money, I would look into the simplex by nokta. I have several machines and I love the simplex. Whatever you get just have fun with it. You will find places to hunt


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[BS1975]

It's not so much the amount of money spent as you typically get what you pay for. If I'm going to do it I want to do it right. The kicker is once doing that I didn't want to find out I rarely get to use it for one reason or another. Any locals I've seen have posts 10 years old or so. That tells me this area is pretty much dead for the hobby. Also supported by the fact I have never seen anyone out using a MD in my life that I recall. I've even looked briefly for ppl/groups up north at a bigger city and links are dead or "meetings" are YEARS old. They've all gone underground, interest has died, or everything pickable is all but dried up. I may be late to the game that's already been played out here.

 

[Cfmct]

Do you have any lakes or swimming holes near you? Parks? Farmland where farmers will let you hunt?

http://www.swimmingholes.org/mo.html

Personally when I dirt hunt its strictly private property... less trash generally...

https://www.silverrecyclers.com/blo... each park's designated metal detecting areas.

https://mostateparks.com/metal-detecting

 

[BS1975]

Do you have any lakes or swimming holes near you? Parks? Farmland where farmers will let you hunt?

http://www.swimmingholes.org/mo.html

Personally when I dirt hunt its strictly private property... less trash generally...

There are a few city parks in town and swimming holes within an hour or so. There's a state park or two a short drive away. Our area is rich in farmland but have no clue who owns any of that land. Would have to do a lot of asking around beforehand and without knowing a house once stood there would it not be a huge waste of time to think a coin would be out there in the middle of nowhere?

 

[TorqueMaster]

There are a few city parks in town and swimming holes within an hour or so. There's a state park or two a short drive away. Our area is rich in farmland but have no clue who owns any of that land. Would have to do a lot of asking around beforehand and without knowing a house once stood there would it not be a huge waste of time to think a coin would be out there in the middle of nowhere?

I'm in Missouri too. Unfortunately, State Parks are off limits, except certain sand beaches, with a free-for-applying permit. Google local city codes, but usually city parks, public spaces like town squares, public schools (not during classes of course,) and curb strips are fair game. Likely metal detecting is not mentioned at all in the local codes. Where's CA Tom? DO NOT ASK for permission, if it's public, and you rightfully did your research. It's best to be low profile, and asking just raises awareness of those who are asked. If asked to leave (it happens, but rarely), be polite, ask why, and decide whether it's worth escalating the conversation... Dig neat holes, fill them back. I avoid bringing/using shovels in maintained areas where the general public might be -- one more bad image us making of big holes. Remove any trash you create/find.

Minelab just announced two new Equinox models that address some weaknesses of the 600 and 800, you may want to wait for the 700 or 900.
The Notka Makro Legend is said to be holding it's own performance-wise against the Equinox 800, and priced way less...that would be my first choice if starting over.

So, yeah, go for it. Detectors hold their value pretty well, so if you decide it isn't for you, the experiment won't have set you back much.

 

[Reelfoot Relics]

Do a little research on Historic Aerials.com and the State property assessors website and you will find many old homesites. Most family farms were 40 acres of less in the early 1900's, there more than you think. I live in North West Tennessee and there are 10 sites with in 5 miles of my house. Most farmers won't care if you ask to hunt when the crops are out. Pick up a old house or two, hit a park or a school or church. Finding the permissions is almost as fun as detecting them. Just a few ideas. Get the Simplex+ you'll find plenty with it and won't break the bank. Upgrade later if you want.

 

[Cfmct]

There are a few city parks in town and swimming holes within an hour or so. There's a state park or two a short drive away. Our area is rich in farmland but have no clue who owns any of that land. Would have to do a lot of asking around beforehand and without knowing a house once stood there would it not be a huge waste of time to think a coin would be out there in the middle of nowhere?

if you have Lidar in your area you can check for old foundations in the woods just use grey scale using it strips all the trees and growth leaving where old trails and cellar holes..

 

[Tom_in_CA]

... and from what little reading i've done it seems there are so many rules and regulations that make it impossible to seem to truly enjoy the hunt. ....

BS1975, here's the psychological trick that snared you: It's the same psychology as "shark attacks": When people read an account of someone getting chomped by a shark, guess what they're going to fear the next time they go swimming ? Even though, truth-be-told, MILLIONS OF PEOPLE PER DAY swim no problem. See how the *only* headline you remember and worry about, is the odd ball account, from somewhere that has nothing to do with you or your area or your odds ?

It's just human nature. And the irony is, it merely becomes self-fulfilling. Because if you already have this notion (think you are despised by every passer-by, and ... gosh ... there might be something wrong), then guess what body language you're going to be displaying to every passerby ? Or it will prompt you to "go ask" (at city hall and ranger kiosks everywhere), which then subjects you to the "No one cared UNTIL you asked" phenomenon.

Contrast to if you "act like you own the place", then the reality is, no one gave 2 sh*ts about you. Just 1) Avoid obvious historic sensitive monuments, 2) Don't do highly manicured turf during high traffic times, 3) And if you're still skittish, look up any rules for yourself. If it doesn't say "no md'ing", then presto, not disallowed.

... I've even looked briefly for ppl/groups up north at a bigger city and links are dead or "meetings" are YEARS old. ....

Brick & Mortar clubs have gone the way of the dinosaur. This is because the internet (forums and FB, etc....) are now the social connection these days. No one gets off their duff to go to a 1x per month meeting anymore.

But sure, if there were a lot of yesteryear md'r traffic in your area (1970s to 1990s), then yes: The obvious older parks and schools will be pathetic. For example in my area we had lots of md'rs in the '70s to the '90s, so there are parks where it was routine to get silver on any day you went (even beginners could test their machines and get silver on their first day out ). But I wouldn't touch these same parks today with a 10-foot pole. They are riddled with zinc, foil, screw caps, etc.... No amount of added depth or new-tech. will do any good. I pity the poor newbie that follows in our footsteps at these same parks that used to be good.

So you'll have to do research and get creative. Like doing the Post WWII (late 1940s /early 1950s ) yards are always good for common silver. Or watch for old town urban demolition (sidewalk tear-outs, etc...). Or research for yesteryear defunct picnic spots that maybe yesteryear guys didn't chance on to, since they were pre-google research days.

A quick look down the show & tell pages here shows you in an instant that people are still finding old coins & rings all-the-time. So the yesteryear or geographic member voids do not mean : "Nothing good to detect"

.... Where's CA Tom? DO NOT ASK for permission, if it's public, and you rightfully did your research. ...

haha

 

[BS1975]

BS1975, here's the psychological trick that snared you: It's the same psychology as "shark attacks": When people read an account of someone getting chomped by a shark, guess what they're going to fear the next time they go swimming ? Even though, truth-be-told, MILLIONS OF PEOPLE PER DAY swim no problem. See how the *only* headline you remember and worry about, is the odd ball account, from somewhere that has nothing to do with you or your area or your odds ?

It's just human nature. And the irony is, it merely becomes self-fulfilling. Because if you already have this notion (think you are despised by every passer-by, and ... gosh ... there might be something wrong), then guess what body language you're going to be displaying to every passerby ? Or it will prompt you to "go ask" (at city hall and ranger kiosks everywhere), which then subjects you to the "No one cared UNTIL you asked" phenomenon.

Contrast to if you "act like you own the place", then the reality is, no one gave 2 sh*ts about you. Just 1) Avoid obvious historic sensitive monuments, 2) Don't do highly manicured turf during high traffic times, 3) And if you're still skittish, look up any rules for yourself. If it doesn't say "no md'ing", then presto, not disallowed.




Brick & Mortar clubs have gone the way of the dinosaur. This is because the internet (forums and FB, etc....) are now the social connection these days. No one gets off their duff to go to a 1x per month meeting anymore.

But sure, if there were a lot of yesteryear md'r traffic in your area (1970s to 1990s), then yes: The obvious older parks and schools will be pathetic. For example in my area we had lots of md'rs in the '70s to the '90s, so there are parks where it was routine to get silver on any day you went (even beginners could test their machines and get silver on their first day out ). But I wouldn't touch these same parks today with a 10-foot pole. They are riddled with zinc, foil, screw caps, etc.... No amount of added depth or new-tech. will do any good. I pity the poor newbie that follows in our footsteps at these same parks that used to be good.

So you'll have to do research and get creative. Like doing the Post WWII (late 1940s /early 1950s ) yards are always good for common silver. Or watch for old town urban demolition (sidewalk tear-outs, etc...). Or research for yesteryear defunct picnic spots that maybe yesteryear guys didn't chance on to, since they were pre-google research days.

A quick look down the show & tell pages here shows you in an instant that people are still finding old coins & rings all-the-time. So the yesteryear or geographic member voids do not mean : "Nothing good to detect"



haha

I hear ya. I just read fines/jail time and think wow.. jail time over a pulltab? There is an early 1900's home that just got leveled. Nice, fresh dirt lot now. I bet it's prime hunting grounds. Afraid it will be redeveloped before I pull the trigger and get a detector of my own. What I need is a buddy to head out on my first go around. Maybe it'll take the nervousness away. Lord knows how many times my town's parks have been hit over the past 30 years or so.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

.... I just read fines/jail time and think.....

Yup. The shark attack psychology.

...What I need is a buddy to head out on my first go around.....

Sure. And ....if it's old coins you're after, then : Not just a sandbox hunter, but : Someone who routinely comes in with the oldies. Someone who's got decades under their belt and isn't timid. Trade off flagged signals to see what he'd elect to pass , versus what he'd elect to chase.

Trouble is, that a lot of these old-pro's don't want to give up their good sites, or baby-sit newbies. But sometimes you'll find a kind-hearted-soul .

 

[BS1975]

Yup. The shark attack psychology.




Sure. And ....if it's old coins you're after, then : Not just a sandbox hunter, but : Someone who routinely comes in with the oldies. Someone who's got decades under their belt and isn't timid. Trade off flagged signals to see what he'd elect to pass , versus what he'd elect to chase.

Trouble is, that a lot of these old-pro's don't want to give up their good sites, or baby-sit newbies. But sometimes you'll find a kind-hearted-soul .

Ah-hah... Fishermen. Don't want to give up thier honeyholes. I get it. I'd be more interested in coins I'd think. Not as a sales opportunity; but more so for collection and the thrill of the find. I don't anticipate being some hardcore, fulltime detectorist.

 

[robby4570]

Hello all,
I'm once again gaining interest in metal detecting and eyeing the Nox800 as my first detector. It seems to be one high on the list. I want one good enough to not discourage me quickly for my first go at detecting.
I have never seen anyone in my area using one and from what little reading i've done it seems there are so many rules and regulations that make it impossible to seem to . truly enjoy the hunt. I didn't want to spend $900 on something to look around in my own or a friends' yard.
Now, if it's possible, can I get some honest feedback on whether this is is a hobby worth the money spent in light of what seems to be hidden behind a bunch of red tape and whatnot? I'm fine with playing by the rules and all; but has it really taken the fun out of it all if you can't just take your MD with you and hunt around on a whim (obvious places off-limits of course)?

Greetings and welcome aboard. I'm shocked you haven't seen anyone in your area with a 'Nox, it's such a wildly popular machine in most places. I would suggest you look into a Nokta Simplex, it's ONE THIRD the price of a 'Nox, waterproof as well (I've heard fewer people complaining about flooded Simplexes - none in fact - than I have 'Noxes, but mine has never flooded and it has hundreds of hours in the Gulf of Mexico) has a wireless headphone option and is a pretty darned decent starter machine.

As far as rules and regulations go, I hunt private properties with permissions or city parks. In the parks, if there are no signs against it, I detect until a city official tells me to stop. But, I'm very careful to cut good plugs. And I've gotten some pretty cool stuff out of a friend's yard, so don't knock that venue either...

Freshwater beaches may be another place you want to look, anywhere that's a popular swimming hole.

 

[BS1975]

Greetings and welcome aboard. I'm shocked you haven't seen anyone in your area with a 'Nox, it's such a wildly popular machine in most places. I would suggest you look into a Nokta Simplex, it's ONE THIRD the price of a 'Nox, waterproof as well (I've heard fewer people complaining about flooded Simplexes - none in fact - than I have 'Noxes, but mine has never flooded and it has hundreds of hours in the Gulf of Mexico) has a wireless headphone option and is a pretty darned decent starter machine.

As far as rules and regulations go, I hunt private properties with permissions or city parks. In the parks, if there are no signs against it, I detect until a city official tells me to stop. But, I'm very careful to cut good plugs. And I've gotten some pretty cool stuff out of a friend's yard, so don't knock that venue either...

Freshwater beaches may be another place you want to look, anywhere that's a popular swimming hole.

I meant that I haven't seen anyone ever metal detecting before aside from the kid down the street 30 years ago goofin around and the one time i hired a friend to help located my lost class ring back in 93.