Old, old farm

[HoustonRedfish]

I have an opportunity to hunt a farm in Texas outside of Houston that has had 4 houses on it since 1875. I'm told that there have been no visitors with detectors before me and I'm pretty stoked.

Now, here's the catch. I probably will only have about 2 hours there this weekend. And I'll have my really "involved" six year old with me. Which is cool.

I'm told that there are 2 old foundations and two houses that are in poor shape. Where should I start?

Are there any clues I should look for? Any tips from you pros to know where I can find things? I know to look at old trees. And walkways. Anything else?

I hope to send pictures of my finds. If I can figure out how to post them, that is... unless you just use the paperclip.

I'm very excited. It's like Christmas coming early. Or a Texans playoff win...

[HoustonRedfish]

By the way, the farm is about 100 acres... whoa.

[jkress]

Sounds like a potential treasure chest!

If I had the opportunity, with your listed variables, I would start off a little bit away from the foundations. This might eliminate digging any of the potential unwanted 'house pieces' that show up when a house is removed. I would go for items in the yard that were dropped.

Keep in mind that this opinion comes from someone that has only been detecting for a couple of months. But with the very limited time you mentioned, I would want to be focusing on the better signals from your metal detector. Plus, I might only choose to dig coin signals that are 3-5 inches deep... maybe closer to the 4-5 inch range.

Definitely dig your first half dozen coin signals to get a dated feel for the area you are hunting.

Perhaps in the future you can hunt it without any constraints.

Good luck to you and please post your results. Looks promising for sure.

jk

[metaldetectxlt]

yes definetly the big oak trees. there was no a/c back then and often still to hot in a house with windows open. they would pick a nice shade tree to read a book or picnic. stone walls or chimneys are another. those chimneys should be nothing but brick. back then...it was believed to be good luck to stick a coin in a stone wall...often a penny lets see.....if there is a front porch (and if safe enough) try to get under it if room allows you. no telling what might have fell through the cracks and holes....do this at your own risk
make sure when u do along the walkways....literally do it cenimeters from the concrete...thats where the majority of sidewalk coins are found....and another thing, if your get a shallow signal around the roots of a big tree...DIG IT! the roots often hold up coins....good luck:tumble:

[Spectrum_a]

Best of luck on your virgin hunting grounds, all my best to ya!

[Lightningjack]

WOW!! That sounds like a great site..2 hrs will fly by fast so "as already stated" I would also start out near the foundations or front lawns & dig any 3 inch+ deep solid repeatable signals, You may dig a lot of trash but don't get discouraged theres definitely good finds to be made there..Best of luck to you.

[Hook]

Originally Posted by HoustonRedfish

I have an opportunity to hunt a farm in Texas outside of Houston that has had 4 houses on it since 1875. I'm told that there have been no visitors with detectors before me and I'm pretty stoked.

Now, here's the catch. I probably will only have about 2 hours there this weekend. And I'll have my really "involved" six year old with me. Which is cool.

I'm told that there are 2 old foundations and two houses that are in poor shape. Where should I start?

Are there any clues I should look for? Any tips from you pros to know where I can find things? I know to look at old trees. And walkways. Anything else?

I hope to send pictures of my finds. If I can figure out how to post them, that is... unless you just use the paperclip.

I'm very excited. It's like Christmas coming early. Or a Texans playoff win...

you might also try to locate where the old clothes lines were near the houses, they are always a great spot to hunt for the old goodies!

[tater]

Yes definately only coin mode and hit the south side of the foundations where the clothes line would be.