??How to move from tot lots to turf??

[Calvin]

:tumble: Hi all. I've been having a blast with my ACE 250 since getting it two weeks ago. I had been using an old Radio Shack Discovery II that actually had been doing okay. Anyway, after digging about 300 coins out of tot lots (as well as a few junk rings, tokens and pieces of coat zippers) I'd like some practical advice for starting to search grassy areas. So far, I've dug "flaps" and broke apart the sod to find the coin; but I am wondering if there is any practical advice for probing and extracting; other than practice practice practice.

So all you veterans......how about a pocket spill on the best tips you've collected over the years! Right now, I just can't see myself digging up the sod at the local parks, churches, etc.

Now I'll pass along some information that someone in Milwaukee might be able to use. There is an existing site of a drive-in movie that is still intact in Menomonee Falls. The property is owned by a non-profit called the Menomonee Falls Festival Corp. I have been unsuccessful in contacting anyone on the board. The property is located on 45/41; you would have to know you were looking for it to find it. I drove onto the spot and looked around. Scratching through the dirt with the toe of my boot tells me that there is a LOT of trash. Also found 2 dimes the same way. I'm from MN so it's not going to be a spot I can get to often. I was there last week and it looked like the weeds had been mowed recently and some of the larger debris cleaned up. I don't know if something is going on but someone in the Milwaukee area could check it out. If you do, please let me know what you find out! I also am checking out a large park in Siouc City, IA that has been used for decades for festivals and fairs. I've been told that a lot of silver keeps turning up! I travel the Dakotas, Iowa, Wisconsin and MN on business and am staying at a Holiday Inn 6 or 7 nights a month; so finding places to detect has become a mission. I checked out a nice tot lot in Green Bay last week and found out later than the city requires a permit of MDing.

Some of my interesting finds with the ACE 250: Australian 20 cent piece. An English penny, a cuff link, a .38 caliber bullet that hadn't struck anything, three Wheaties from the 50's, and a handful of "hot rocks" from north of Green Bay.

 

[rcasi44]

Most of the coins I find in old parks and school yards are deeper than I would want to probe. Most of my coins are deeper than 4". This I would quess is due to grass build up from grass cutting. I usually dig plugs, school grounds and parks are more like mowed fields than mowed lawns.

A pinpointer helps me keep my holes smaller. Plugs and flaps show no brown spots or less brown spots when the ground is wet. They get more brown in the dry hot summer. They won't show at all in the fall when the grass is dorment and not at all the next spring when the grass greens.

I don't hunt the woods all year either. I hunt when the weeds and bugs are gone. I hunt different areas at different times of year. Just try to make it look like you haven't been there. Rob

 

[jcham]

Just do it!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jamie

 

[Skybox7]

Almost impossible!

You're right, Green Bay does require a permit, ($6.00) at the Parks & Rec dept of city hall. But even with permit in hand the restrictions on how you are allowed to retrieve anything are completely ridiculous! No plugs, no knives, no lifting of grass, and the list goes on. Why don't they just say no detecting?
Allouez however is a different story, (village status right next to Green Bay). Called the parks director there and he was VERY helpful, no problems just fill your holes. Allouez has a ton of parks, ball fields, soccer fields etc.
If you know you're going to be in the area let me know, we can put our new Ace 250's through their paces together. I'm having a lot of problems pinpointing deeper finds with mine. I too had a cheap Rad Shack unit and could usually be right on with my digging.
Practice, practice, practice, and maybe a pinpointer?
hh