Post by speekergeek on Apr 29, 2004 17:06:23 GMT -5
Retrieving Your Treasure
Its one thing to locate a target with your detector and it's another thing to retrieve that target from the ground, the sand or the sea bottom. Practice searching and retrieving on your own property. Unless your yard borders a beach, you'll probably be working in soil and you'll have to dig in order to find your target. You must learn to do this without leaving your yard looking as if gophers have moved in.
First, pinpoint your target, and then locate it with a probe. After you have probed gently and touched your target, note the depth of the probe. Remove the probe and insert and center an 8-inch screwdriver just above the target and rotate it slowly to open the ground. Then insert the screwdriver just under the target (remember that measured depth) at an angle, and lever the target to the surface. Tamp the earth back into place with your foot, leaving the ground as you found it. This system works well if the target is 1 to 4 inches deep and the ground is damp. If the ground is
hard and the target deep, use a sharp, sturdy hunting knife, cutting three sides of a 3 or 4-inch plug of soil and leaving the fourth side intact. Fold this plug of soil back. With your search coil relocate your target. If it's in the plug remove it with your fingers and replace the plug. If the target is
still in the hole, dig it out with your trowel. This may involve removing quite a bit of soil. Pile this soil on a cloth or a piece of plastic. After you've retrieved your target, funnel the soil back into the hole and replace the plug. Tamp on it with your foot. If you've worked carefully, it's unlikely that anyone will be able to tell where you've dug.
What did you find? Coin? Ring? Pull-tab? Whatever you find, it's a keeper. Your apron should have at least 2 pockets - one for trash and one for treasure. Removing the trash and disposing of it properly improves our environment, prevents you from finding the same trash next week, and makes one less piece of junk for another hobbyist to contend with.
In Iowa where I do a lot of my treasure hunting, the soil during mid-summer gets almost rock hard. Some treasure hunters recommend water hunting during these dry periods, but I've found that hard dry soil needn't completely defeat me. While valuable silver coins may be deeply buried in inaccessible places during drought times, many modern coins are hidden only 1 or 2 inches deep. In fact, some are barely covered by a thin layer of grass or leaves. Such targets are easily found with a probe or sometimes by merely brushing the grass aside. When searching hard ground, I save time by setting the sensitivity low so I won't hear about the deeper targets that I'm unable to dig.
Don't give up during drought periods. Those clad coins are fun to find and they're still accepted in the shops. I've also found silver coins very near the surface - coins the old-timers who searched the area 20 years ago must have missed. Remember: nobody finds them all.
If you want to search on private land, get permission from the property owner. If you want to search in public parks, get permission from the person in control of the area. Sometimes this can be as simple as talking with the caretaker. Other times it may require a visit or a letter to City Hall. Do it.
If you're working in the shallow surf, from the water's edge to a depth of 4 or 5 feet, use your sturdy long-handled scoop. Here, pinpointing is very important. Once you've located your target, hold your search coil over it. Move your right foot until your toe touches the search coil, then move the search coil away and place the blade of your sand scoop a couple of inches behind your toe. Bend forward as you force the scoop into the sand with your foot, then straighten up and lift the scoop. As the scoop comes up, water action will wash the sand away, revealing your target. If you missed, scoop again. At first you may feel as if you need either 3 hands or a caddy, but practice will smooth your retrieval technique.
The Treasure Hunters Code of Ethics
I will respect private property and do no treasure hunting without the owner's permission.
I will fill all excavations.
I will appreciate and protect our heritage of natural resources, wildlife and private property.
I will use thoughtfulness, consideration and courtesy at all times.
I will build fires in designated or safe places only.
I will leave gates as found.
I will not destroy property, buildings, or what is left of ghost towns and deserted structures.
I will not tamper with signs, structural facilities or equipment.
I will not litter.
Keep this code in mind as you pursue and enjoy your new hobby.
Again, i did not write this article, just thought it would help someone eventually. ;D
Its one thing to locate a target with your detector and it's another thing to retrieve that target from the ground, the sand or the sea bottom. Practice searching and retrieving on your own property. Unless your yard borders a beach, you'll probably be working in soil and you'll have to dig in order to find your target. You must learn to do this without leaving your yard looking as if gophers have moved in.
First, pinpoint your target, and then locate it with a probe. After you have probed gently and touched your target, note the depth of the probe. Remove the probe and insert and center an 8-inch screwdriver just above the target and rotate it slowly to open the ground. Then insert the screwdriver just under the target (remember that measured depth) at an angle, and lever the target to the surface. Tamp the earth back into place with your foot, leaving the ground as you found it. This system works well if the target is 1 to 4 inches deep and the ground is damp. If the ground is
hard and the target deep, use a sharp, sturdy hunting knife, cutting three sides of a 3 or 4-inch plug of soil and leaving the fourth side intact. Fold this plug of soil back. With your search coil relocate your target. If it's in the plug remove it with your fingers and replace the plug. If the target is
still in the hole, dig it out with your trowel. This may involve removing quite a bit of soil. Pile this soil on a cloth or a piece of plastic. After you've retrieved your target, funnel the soil back into the hole and replace the plug. Tamp on it with your foot. If you've worked carefully, it's unlikely that anyone will be able to tell where you've dug.
What did you find? Coin? Ring? Pull-tab? Whatever you find, it's a keeper. Your apron should have at least 2 pockets - one for trash and one for treasure. Removing the trash and disposing of it properly improves our environment, prevents you from finding the same trash next week, and makes one less piece of junk for another hobbyist to contend with.
In Iowa where I do a lot of my treasure hunting, the soil during mid-summer gets almost rock hard. Some treasure hunters recommend water hunting during these dry periods, but I've found that hard dry soil needn't completely defeat me. While valuable silver coins may be deeply buried in inaccessible places during drought times, many modern coins are hidden only 1 or 2 inches deep. In fact, some are barely covered by a thin layer of grass or leaves. Such targets are easily found with a probe or sometimes by merely brushing the grass aside. When searching hard ground, I save time by setting the sensitivity low so I won't hear about the deeper targets that I'm unable to dig.
Don't give up during drought periods. Those clad coins are fun to find and they're still accepted in the shops. I've also found silver coins very near the surface - coins the old-timers who searched the area 20 years ago must have missed. Remember: nobody finds them all.
If you want to search on private land, get permission from the property owner. If you want to search in public parks, get permission from the person in control of the area. Sometimes this can be as simple as talking with the caretaker. Other times it may require a visit or a letter to City Hall. Do it.
If you're working in the shallow surf, from the water's edge to a depth of 4 or 5 feet, use your sturdy long-handled scoop. Here, pinpointing is very important. Once you've located your target, hold your search coil over it. Move your right foot until your toe touches the search coil, then move the search coil away and place the blade of your sand scoop a couple of inches behind your toe. Bend forward as you force the scoop into the sand with your foot, then straighten up and lift the scoop. As the scoop comes up, water action will wash the sand away, revealing your target. If you missed, scoop again. At first you may feel as if you need either 3 hands or a caddy, but practice will smooth your retrieval technique.
The Treasure Hunters Code of Ethics
I will respect private property and do no treasure hunting without the owner's permission.
I will fill all excavations.
I will appreciate and protect our heritage of natural resources, wildlife and private property.
I will use thoughtfulness, consideration and courtesy at all times.
I will build fires in designated or safe places only.
I will leave gates as found.
I will not destroy property, buildings, or what is left of ghost towns and deserted structures.
I will not tamper with signs, structural facilities or equipment.
I will not litter.
Keep this code in mind as you pursue and enjoy your new hobby.
Again, i did not write this article, just thought it would help someone eventually. ;D