Ghettoburger
New Member
- Joined
- Jul 3, 2016
- Messages
- 10
I don't use a lot of forums so I'm not even sure what's the most effective way or place to ask a question. Probably either here or in relic/coin hunting section. Basically I'm pretty new to the hobby but have been busting my rear for about a month. On average a few hours everyday. Put in 7 today alone. I had a bounty hunter 2 until I just got the Garrett at pro w 5x8 dd coil a few days ago. Huge difference obviously. Also have the pinpointer by Garrett, lesche shovel and garden knife. But the thing that's killing me is I have access to what should be an amazing place but I am not having much luck.
I have been given permission to search on 300 acres of property that sits right off of route 11 near Winchester va. It's prime location for civil war relics. But this property is more. There is a home on this farm land that was built in the mid-1700's. Owners still live there. This place has been documented to have had the likes of George Washington stay here, as well as Stonewall Jackson. They farm probably 1/3 of the land. I was told the they have let people metal detect a bit in the fields over the years and they suspect a few people have done it at night without permission. I can't use the fields now because they have crops growing. But I was told I can go pretty much anywhere else I like and that likely no one had really ever detected much in the woods (thick). I wasn't told specifically if I could search near the home and so I've been a bit timid and haven't searched very near to the home due to the lawn being nice around it. But, I've searched a lot within 50 yds of the home on the lawn as it heads downhill towards rt 11. Today I focused on the path that was once the road/driveway that led to route 11. I've searched around old trees, and ground depressions...and all over the front yard (about 25-50 yds away from the home. The owner told me some "legends" like where they were told the slave quarters once were, and where there is a spring maybe 100 yds out the back of the home that had been built up w stone and that maybe there was a tunnel that led from the house to the spring, and there is a quarry where they got the stone from for the house...and right next to the house are two log cabins that are original and still stand (leaning pretty far though). Sounds amazing right? I haven't had the opportunity to be in the house yet but likely will soon.
But the biggest problem is, there is iron EVERYWHERE! In most places I search I can't go 6-12 inches in any direction without hearing one or several low beeps from a variety of iron large and small. Nails to pieces the size of your whole hand. I have been using the pro setting. The first 10 hours using the at pro I used coin setting and iron disc to 40, then would use the iron audio when I thought I heard something good. Usually it was a mass of several iron pieces and I would move on. But if I wasn't sure I'd dig it up and sure enough it was usually a very thick piece of old farm or plow equipment iron or maybe a horseshoe. This place was extremely active. Today I searched all afternoon and tried using zero -pro and just listen to all the iron. Thought I had a good plan working my way slowly on the path that was the driveway back in the day. I only found junk metal...and lots of it. Usually it's about 6 inches down. Sometimes more or less. Usually if I dig it up its a large chunk of heavy iron or flat folded up tin or something like tin or old nails etc. mostly large chunks of iron scattered literally everywhere. The only things I've found of any significance is a brass button - Union general infantry - with the eagle on it. I found a minie ball and a piece of grapeshot. But those last two were found in a field far from the house before the crops started growing and with my old detector. Since being near the house I'm really focusing on coins. The only coin I've found is a 1982 nickel.
So I know it's a lot to read, but I was so pumped to be able to detect on this property and now I feel like I'm losing my mind. I just need one good find to keep me going. I know I have a lot more to explore at this land. It is so huge. But I keep asking myself if my AT pro can handle the depth here. I'm sure it can. I just wonder if stuff is way deep due to how I've found almost nothing, but I'll periodically find bullet casings 6 inches down that are likely less than 100yrs old. I've read lots on how to defeat the iron beast. But right now it's winning. I would really appreciate any advice anyone can offer. Including if I should ask this really long question elsewhere. I'm close to bringing in a more experienced person to come in and see what they think. I think I know what I'm doing but maybe I really just don't...sigh...Thanks everyone. hope to hear some good ideas.
I have been given permission to search on 300 acres of property that sits right off of route 11 near Winchester va. It's prime location for civil war relics. But this property is more. There is a home on this farm land that was built in the mid-1700's. Owners still live there. This place has been documented to have had the likes of George Washington stay here, as well as Stonewall Jackson. They farm probably 1/3 of the land. I was told the they have let people metal detect a bit in the fields over the years and they suspect a few people have done it at night without permission. I can't use the fields now because they have crops growing. But I was told I can go pretty much anywhere else I like and that likely no one had really ever detected much in the woods (thick). I wasn't told specifically if I could search near the home and so I've been a bit timid and haven't searched very near to the home due to the lawn being nice around it. But, I've searched a lot within 50 yds of the home on the lawn as it heads downhill towards rt 11. Today I focused on the path that was once the road/driveway that led to route 11. I've searched around old trees, and ground depressions...and all over the front yard (about 25-50 yds away from the home. The owner told me some "legends" like where they were told the slave quarters once were, and where there is a spring maybe 100 yds out the back of the home that had been built up w stone and that maybe there was a tunnel that led from the house to the spring, and there is a quarry where they got the stone from for the house...and right next to the house are two log cabins that are original and still stand (leaning pretty far though). Sounds amazing right? I haven't had the opportunity to be in the house yet but likely will soon.
But the biggest problem is, there is iron EVERYWHERE! In most places I search I can't go 6-12 inches in any direction without hearing one or several low beeps from a variety of iron large and small. Nails to pieces the size of your whole hand. I have been using the pro setting. The first 10 hours using the at pro I used coin setting and iron disc to 40, then would use the iron audio when I thought I heard something good. Usually it was a mass of several iron pieces and I would move on. But if I wasn't sure I'd dig it up and sure enough it was usually a very thick piece of old farm or plow equipment iron or maybe a horseshoe. This place was extremely active. Today I searched all afternoon and tried using zero -pro and just listen to all the iron. Thought I had a good plan working my way slowly on the path that was the driveway back in the day. I only found junk metal...and lots of it. Usually it's about 6 inches down. Sometimes more or less. Usually if I dig it up its a large chunk of heavy iron or flat folded up tin or something like tin or old nails etc. mostly large chunks of iron scattered literally everywhere. The only things I've found of any significance is a brass button - Union general infantry - with the eagle on it. I found a minie ball and a piece of grapeshot. But those last two were found in a field far from the house before the crops started growing and with my old detector. Since being near the house I'm really focusing on coins. The only coin I've found is a 1982 nickel.
So I know it's a lot to read, but I was so pumped to be able to detect on this property and now I feel like I'm losing my mind. I just need one good find to keep me going. I know I have a lot more to explore at this land. It is so huge. But I keep asking myself if my AT pro can handle the depth here. I'm sure it can. I just wonder if stuff is way deep due to how I've found almost nothing, but I'll periodically find bullet casings 6 inches down that are likely less than 100yrs old. I've read lots on how to defeat the iron beast. But right now it's winning. I would really appreciate any advice anyone can offer. Including if I should ask this really long question elsewhere. I'm close to bringing in a more experienced person to come in and see what they think. I think I know what I'm doing but maybe I really just don't...sigh...Thanks everyone. hope to hear some good ideas.
But persistence has paid off several times. I've pulled out several nickels so I know that if there's a gold object down there I will hear it, and have recovered several silver rings and cross pendants from that area. Now after about an hour and a half I get hearing fatigue and usually call it for the day for that area and go to a less noisy area.
aboard!
