Club Guy or Lone Wolf?

[13rannon]

I have tried a Club.

My opinion is that Clubs are over rated and are too often times saturated with politics, jealousy, and greed.

I feel you are better off sticking with a handful of friends who all share similar interests bypassing the whole Club idea and the drama that comes with it.

If you do decide to join a Club hang around long enough to get a good impression of it's members and how it is ran before investing a lot of effort and money into it.

A little homework saves a lot of headache.

 

[Captain Silver]

I'm one of the 'hardcore'...I will hunt 'bout anytime, anywhere, so I just do the lone wolf deal, but have one good friend I always hunt with when he can get away from work and wifey, at least once a week....Any kinda land hunting and we're there have done park hunts, cellar hole hunts, field hunts, urban ghetto hunts and private home hunts...MXT vs F75LTD, and we always have fun, regardless of what we find or don't find. We share all info, check the other's signal for a 'second opinion' if needed, been to each other's favorite and/or private hunting grounds, all the while teaching each other how to be a more successful hunter because our strong points are different, he's the 'tech' half, I'm the 'terrain reader' and 'sign' half. I have, and would, land hunt with other MD'rs in CT if invited to.

 

[snowdak]

I mostly hunt by myself. Mostly because there is no one to hunt with around here. But I like to hunt with others when I can.

 

[ROLL METAL ROLL]

Lone wolf....I want everything to myself!!!!!!!!!

 

[RWJR13]

I'm the HuntMaster and Treasurer of our club.....Always have a hunt every month and usually thats about the only time I get.......I do like some "me time" just by myself, no one around asking questions or gettin' in the way....

 

[BrakingGnus]

I've tried both. I prefer the solitude of the lone hunt, but I'm ok with a buddy also. I tried a big club hunt once and would do it again just for the fun of it, but something about the calm of hunting alone works for me.

 

[stagger]

I am a lone wolf. No other detectorists in my town, population about 800. And our town is about 20 miles from the next very small town. There are no clubs within 3 hours of me

 

[Xaquin]

I've only ever gone alone until two days ago when me and a buddy went. It was his first time going out, so I had to teach him a few things (which was no big deal)

The first few digs were awkward with the extra detector and shovel almost constantly in the way, but after maybe 15 minutes and 5 or so digs, we got into a really good system.

All said, I look forward to hunting with a buddy again, but am perfectly happy alone =)

 

[Joves]

Well being a nature photographer who took up MDing as a side hobby, it is always alone. I know we dont have any MDing clubs up here they are further south of me.

 

[John in NC]

Mostly alone.....

I am disabled. I can walk fine, but I can't drive. I would love to get out more, but only get out when I can get dropped off somewhere.
John in NC

 

[HiDesertHunter]

Lone wolf by choice and environment somewhat. Detectorists are few are far between in Oregon. I have rarely run into another while out and sometimes don't even see another person in the areas I roam. Also I tend to 'combine' my hobbies. I'll sometimes pack my MD along with me on a quad ride or when I am out shooting in case I find an interesting looking area.

 

[(Heavy)]

Wow, all this time I thought you guys were members of clubs. I just got comfortable with having my new friend along. He talks about the club and how they seed hunts for fun and profit. Donations are a joke at 25 bucks a year for the items they plant. I'm hearing what he is saying but I won't member because the (fish in a barrel) thing seems silly to me.

However the guy is wealth of info and a master of extraction plus he has balls. We are off to hit a soccer field together that I wouldn't even consider but this guy would say he was looking for his daughters lost ring today (and if that didn't work produce the ring from his pocket and thank the athority for his time) or any number of other believable yarns only a 70 year old guy could pull off. I'm going to follow him around a while even if he is a little unethical, the guy can teach me stuff.

Did you guys know that a whites 950 coil will sound off if you drive a screw driver though the center of the coil right down and just touch the target. He also alerts me to over hunted locations and rival hunters in my area. The other day under his instruction I pulled more coin for a record day of finds. I didn't know these township carnavals clean up after themselves with MD's either (and they know exactly where you lost your stuff LOL) so that's why I couldn't get anything good after they move through.

I thought I was a lone wolf but maybe I could use the experience of just one seasoned buddy for now. I could get used to the idea of his connections to the water parks when they are out of season too that might be the highlight of my fall this year.

put me down for apprentice for now... then lone wolf someday

 

[Smudge]

I'm a club guy, but I mostly hunt by myself.

Our club meets once a month where we chat and compare finds. Its a really nice group of people. We have one club hunt per month on a Saturday that are a lot of fun.

I work M-F 9-5, so I can only hunt weekends (usually Saturdays) and on those occasions I usually hunt on my own.

I guess I have the best of both worlds.

 

[BlueDuck]

Probably about 70% of the time I go alone. Its nice to compare and see what others do once in a while. In order to go when you can, you need to just go. If you wait for others to fit in with your schedule You loose out a lot. I like to go early and come home when I feel like it.

 

[MICHIGAN CZ-20]

clubs

Just tell a club member where you hunt and you'll get about fifty of his friends to help screw up the spot and maybe get you all band....as in higgens lake north state park sign now reads no metal detecting

 

[13rannon]

I know what you mean. ^

 

[SBA701]

The wife and I belong to two clubs, but mostly it's just she and I. When we go to a park, she's usually a distance away. We really don't hunt next to each other.

 

[Charlives]

I won't go deep in the woods without a partner.

 

[ftgokie]

I like to go alone or with my 10yr old son...He helps dig and MD for about 30 minutes then loses interest and he will ride his bicycle or explore. When we go to the soccer fields he loses interest fast...but when we go to an old home site, he is usually right there all the way.....But, I go late at night and he doesnt get to go so I am usually alone. The alone time is relaxing to me.

I have a Veteran friend that is 100% PTSD so with me being 90% disabled and I work for the VA in Education, I see what this terrible disease can do....so I have invited him to go and man, he has really gotten into this sport. So, I may have just found a hunting buddy that will enjoy this as much as I do. With me being a combat Vet of Desert Storm, Somalia and Bosnia me and him can relate to alot of things.

I have been thinking of joining a MD club, just to hook up with someone who knows more about MD'ing than I do (which is not alot) Just so I am more efficient at MD'ing and can learn as much as I can about doing this. I know in my lack of experience I have missed alot of good coins and relics...So, I have a big list of places I have went and will hit them again when I am a better metal detectorist person

 

[Onaug]

At first this hobby was my way to get away from everything and everyone but found myself wanting to share my fun with like minded friends. So, I guess I am both a lone wolf and group hunter at times.