maxxkatt
Forum Supporter
Yes I use all the standard research resources, old Civil war maps indicating battle sites, routes and camps and then try to find the sites using google earth or historic aerials. Even local history books with text written by union and confederate soldiers can reveal some camp or scrimmage sites. One day I was hunting in a county park known for some old building sites dating back to the early 1900's. I was on a path through a swampy area in the park and met a gentleman. He ask if I found anything good. I replied, nothing so far. He then said you need to try that hilly area in the north end of the park. He said his older neighbor used to hunt Civil War relics in that area and found quite a few.
So the next day I hunted that area with my son. I found a carved CW 3 ringer and he found a CW era horse watering bit. (at least someone told us it was a Civil War era watering bit).
Another time I was hunting another park where there was reported to have 3 gold mines. The area was quite grown up and covered about 100 acres. A man walking the dog ask me did I find anything? I told him I was looking for the 3 gold mines. I had been searching for about 3 days with no luck. He lived near the park and grew up there as a boy. He gave me exact directions to two of the gold mines and the third one had a house built over it and developed foundation problems. The next day I follow his instructions and found the two remaining gold mines. Found the tailings pile of basket ball sized quartz rocks and seemed to get a signal on several of the rocks. Lugged the rocks back to the car and at home broke them up. No gold, it seems they were just hot rocks.
Another time I was curb hunting in an old neighborhood and again, got the question from an older gentleman , find anything good? I showed him some clad. He said I might try at the end of the street where there was an old abandoned small rock walled church that was over 100 years old.
So I went down there and found the church. Only problem it was completely covered in Kudzu vines. If you have never been to the south, you probably don't know about our famous Kudzu vines imported from China in the 1940's to control farm erosion. That vine grows about a foot a day during the summer growing season. Metal detecting in a Kudzu field is just impossible. But still had their been no Kudzu it would have been a great place to find coins.
So the point to this post is don't over look locals who live in the area for a long time. They just might have good information on old home sites or relic sites that you may never have found on your own.
So the next day I hunted that area with my son. I found a carved CW 3 ringer and he found a CW era horse watering bit. (at least someone told us it was a Civil War era watering bit).
Another time I was hunting another park where there was reported to have 3 gold mines. The area was quite grown up and covered about 100 acres. A man walking the dog ask me did I find anything? I told him I was looking for the 3 gold mines. I had been searching for about 3 days with no luck. He lived near the park and grew up there as a boy. He gave me exact directions to two of the gold mines and the third one had a house built over it and developed foundation problems. The next day I follow his instructions and found the two remaining gold mines. Found the tailings pile of basket ball sized quartz rocks and seemed to get a signal on several of the rocks. Lugged the rocks back to the car and at home broke them up. No gold, it seems they were just hot rocks.
Another time I was curb hunting in an old neighborhood and again, got the question from an older gentleman , find anything good? I showed him some clad. He said I might try at the end of the street where there was an old abandoned small rock walled church that was over 100 years old.
So I went down there and found the church. Only problem it was completely covered in Kudzu vines. If you have never been to the south, you probably don't know about our famous Kudzu vines imported from China in the 1940's to control farm erosion. That vine grows about a foot a day during the summer growing season. Metal detecting in a Kudzu field is just impossible. But still had their been no Kudzu it would have been a great place to find coins.
So the point to this post is don't over look locals who live in the area for a long time. They just might have good information on old home sites or relic sites that you may never have found on your own.
