Die hard Skunked ..advice for the newbies

[Spectra1]

Spent this week in prospect sites in TX, Louisiana with no War relic love. Tried to secure spots in Alabama but neighborhood looked a little rough so I thought the door knock would result in death from a 9 mm..... Going to finish driving through Alabama Mississippi and Nw Georgia today, maybe some light at the end of the tunnel. Long trip and only an hour of swinging.

Guess my point is I see a lot of people comment " wow that's a great site" " can I come?".... Then get offended when some people say" sorry I don't hunt with others " or ignore newbies ... Some of us die hards invest a lot of research , time and money and more often than not get skunked. Pickens have brome slim. I know a spot that if the landowner would give permission buckles galore. In the. 80s some guys got caught poaching, he came up to them with a shot gun and tossed at least 3 CS nickels from their pouch back onto the woods. Plus everything else. People have offered him substantial amounts of money but the old man won't budge.

I have spent 1000s of hours researching, plotting, driving, knocking, reading and the like.
My reference library is easily 6-7 k.
Since keeping track in 2011 my gas to find sites is 3500$ and to hunt is 1900$.

Don't get me wrong I do take people out but am very selective and usually only hunt with those who do the same research and hard work as I do. Just saying to the newbie.... It's addicting... And once your hooked you want more....hang on there do your research and find a few guys you can trust. Offer to show them yours if they show you theirs and gain some trust. All us die Garda have been burned and that's why you might see the apprehension of response. Don't take it personally just overcome it with gaining credibility.

 

[duggap]

From the "for what it is worth" department, I would suggest you try staying in your own back yard. South Carolina has a lot of civil war sites. Concentrate your research and work to your own back yard and you will be surprised what you may come up with. Try old maps and hunt house sites if they are on a road bed the troops traveled. Hunt every mill site you can document that went back to the war. Try your county history books, you may find a civil war basic training site. And avoid wives tales, there never were any confederate nickels to find.

 

[ecoast]

^^ that'll keep you expenses down

 

[Spectra1]

Don't get me wrong... I have much success normally . You can't dig 61st Illinois items in sc, or army of the Potomac in adams run. I like the variety of bullets and buckles( not nickels darn auto correct). I agree with all the information. I have all the maps read the ors. And they are invaluable. My point is you win some you loose some.my other point is some of us invest a lot of time and energy and it pays off sometimes and sometimes does not. I hunt near ft donelson a lot and items found their are sometimes unique to michigan or Forrest .... Then theres early 1861-62 items vs reissued items 63-65 that can't be found in different theaters or camps
I am not being defensive... I very much think everything is good conversation.

 

[Spectra1]

Important note. I like the challenge of following leads.... I'm not complaining.... Just want to point out it's not as easy as.... Getting a detector....there's a lot of legwork involved new guys should be prepared.

 

[Spectra1]

Agreed, I've hinted with quite a few great forum members here. They have come to my sites and taken me to theirs....but finding a new area or camp is a challenge. I don't just drove around aimlessly... Many hours of research.... I used to write letters to property owners and have a lot more success with a personal meeting.

I agree with you .... Headed your way right now! Jk lol

 

[Spectra1]

The other issue is all civil war activity was in low country I'm in upstate.... Not too much activity... Barely none some I'm going 2-3 hours no matter what some of my sites I have to hall our my boat and it's a big ordeal and three hour drive.

 

[Digger70pa]

I know its special when you do find that first relic at a new spot. It doesn't get much better then that. I know I have done a lot of door knocking met with failure & success. But you have to do your resurch & then hit the ground. I'm lucky to live in a area that's rich with history. From French Indian war to present. Not to mention two of the largest civil war battles are within a hours drive. So keep your chin up & be persistent. I've got spots that the property changed owners & that has been the difference of getting permission. Good luck & HH

 

[Spectra1]

Well one of my spots I'm saving for you and beast.....remember my offer digger

 

[sekypaleo]

I feel your pain...and more!

I hunted old coins for 20 years and then 15 years ago, was taken on my first Civil War relic hunt by Dorian Cook (anybody remember him from Detex, Garrett and numerous articles in treasure mags?)...any ways, after finding my first Civil War bullet...old coins just didn't cut it much for me. Problem was/is...I live in Cincinnati...not alot of CW activity around here and NO possibility of CS relics. My parents live in Se Ky so I started researching there and east Tenn....did pretty good for awhile (including locating a virgin early war union camp), but after about 5 years I found myself making trips down there and often not even coming back with a bullet. I finally gave up and left the hobby...just too much time, money and effort for too little rewards. Came back into the hobby 5 years later and revisited my old spots and did well...I guess I became a better detectorist amd newer technology. But here lately all my spots have dried up..I am back to where I was 10 years ago asking myself "do I really want to continue doing this?" For me it just comes down to my location...minimum 4 hour drive to get to spots...I have burned up many weekends after doing research driving around trying to locate property owners to come home empty handed. For those of you who live within an hour or two of colonial, rev war, CW etc...you are very lucky. Wish i did. I planned a trip 10 months ago to go hunting with Addam Coe in the low country area over the Thanksgiving break(a dream of mine for many many years)...had to cancel it due to torrential rains down there the days I was going to hunt I will stop now since it sounds like I am whining...but kinda sitting on the fence at this point. I will say that I feel priviliged to have met and made some good friends here on this forum, who graciously allowed me to hunt with them in the Gettysburg campaign area (another long time dream)...THANKS Tim and Adam! Ya'll are more than welcome to come hunt in Tenn with me ANYTIME. Oh and if Seven is reading this...haven't forgotten ya buddy...I promise I will still get the research/leads I found for your area to ya...I just gotta locate that obscure book again at my local library. Bill

 

[61chip]

Great post Spectra. And some good points and conversation by all. It does take a lot of time, effort and research to find some CW relics. And Tim hit it on the head when he said there's nothing better than finding that first relic at a new site. Bill, don't give up buddy. You've made some terrific finds. The quantity might not be there for you, but still good stuff. The few sites Bob and I have don't give up a lot, except round balls, but continuing to hunt them has yielded some nice finds.

I guess I'm trying to say to all -- don't give up boys! The hard work makes the finds all the more sweet. Keep hunting and keep posting. GL and HH

 

[Spectra1]

Well my unrealistic goal is to leave behind me a collection that shows my travels so one day when I'm gone my kids can see " dad found this near Vicksburg or Gettysburg." Then they might read and learn why I went there... And one day maybe their kids will say" can we go there?" Or "what happened there?" Don't get me wrong they go with me sometimes but at 10&13 it's still kind of like Clark Grizwold at the Grand Canyon .... I hope they get a resparked interest in our history later in life..... Or hock it all for some cash lol jk

 

[Curbdog]

This was from Thursday morning, before a hunt. Pouring over maps, researching new leads, with friends we know.



I've been in this hobby for almost 5 years. I have been lucky, and I do mean lucky, to have a hunting partner who has been doing this since the 70's. My bud's strong point is knowing many, many people and having an extensive map collection. He retains all the knowledge and records hunts in many states. You just can't purchase knowledge like that. It's almost like a Jedi Master and padawan relationship! There are really good people like this and they are a rare find. I am simply privileged just to know and hunt every week with him.

Don't lose hope, man. This hobby can be like fishing in more ways than you know. Master fisherman don't disclose their best spots. Give it time and you may meet that awesome person who doesn't mind opening up new possibilities for you!

 

[Spectra1]

[A[/ATTACH]

Heres a picture of my war room for research and detecting. I'm glad to see others like curb dogs. I don't normally have any issues with spots I have tons all over east coast from NH to Florida....I was explaining how I get them, and trying to make a point sometimes even us hunters get skunked. Did get a new spot in Mississippi but only had an hour and only dug a roundball. I will hit it again later.

 

[Spectra1]

Here it is messy.... When being used

 

[Spectra1]

For anyone new to this read this post carefully all the advise is good advise.
For instance don't ever go far before you hit your back yard.

I just want it to be clear.....research and friends are the most important aspects of hunting war relics in my opinion... It doesn't matter if you have a ace 250 or a CTX.... You gotta be where the stuff is....I'm not saying there are only relics at these sites...people find lots of stuff on farms and homesteads where soldiers brought things back after the war or they were on furlough but finding concentrated relics requires concentrated research, time , and money. Even if someone takes you out remember your friend did a lot to find the spot, gain permission ... Remember to remain grateful and respectful of his/ hers hunting grounds. Thanks everyone for the comments... The title was supposed to read advice not advise. Sorry for the confusion.... But it got a great post going so no harm.