2 hour notch experiment park hunt. 5 rings.

[DJW]

I also find reducing the sensitivity helps find the stuff in parks that has caught in the grass; helps avoid the deeper trash.. Some good info here.. Deus 2

 

[drsilver]

I hunt mainly jewelry. I have for quite some time now. I see people all the time post that to find rings, you've got to dig that trash. I have been saying for a long time, but, you can increase the odds of finding rings and not dig all the trash. Notching out the known stuff, like tabs, is simple enough, but for me, I notch, often just in my head, each site. If you find 3-4 pieces of aluminum at VDI 18-20, then don't dig those, but a 17 is worth a looksee. It isn't about knowing what VDIs you know what they most likely are, but the ones that you don't see often.

Size. Once I have a VDI of interest, I switch to pinpoint a good 6" above the ground and go over the target to get the size and shape. if It is pinpointed as small and the same from all sides, and an out-of-the-ordinary VDI, it is worth a dig.

And this is where not all detectors are good for. XP Deus & ML Equinox 800. Very good at pinpoint sizing and shape.

This is good stuff right here. I wish my inner discrimination setting was better than it is. Most times it's a "what was that last foil ring up?" Then I dig it anyway. Time for me to enact this inners disc plan a little more seriously.

 

[IDXMonster]

It is 1,000% agreed that using the features of our modern machines to give us the best relative chance of finding what we want to find is excellent practice. There will always be something of value that we will miss no matter the settings or machine. But like the OP said, in order to make a hunt enjoyable instead of mindless tedium, it should be realized that we CAN hunt with notch and be successful. It’s a numbers game, a game of odds….the gamblers mentality. What gives the best chance of finding what you want to find in a given time frame? Notch!