Let's Give The Detector A Little More Credit

[mn90403]

On 3/8/2015 at 8:29 AM, Steve Herschbach said:

The 80/20 thing is based on many years of watching detectorists with similar equipment at Ganes Creek and Moore Creek, Alaska so there is actual field observation to back it up. At my Moore Creek mine almost everyone used the latest Minelab gear. The novices were lucky to find any gold in a week, the experts found gold every day. That is not an exaggeration. I will post a compilation of results which we recorded weekly for several years plus some I have from Ganes Creek to illustrate when I have time. 

It is not that better equipment does not matter. Where equipment matters is when you eliminate the novices and only deal with experts. If I am in a hunt with a number of guys that really know their stuff, I will if possible use better gear than they have. However, that does not always mean what you think. Sometimes that means breaking out the Gold Bug 2 when everyone else is running a PI. That again is where the skill and knowledge thing kicks in.

Operator skill being equal better detectors do matter. But the difference between what an expert prospector/detectorist can do versus the run of the mill types is stunning. I have seen it in action way too often to have any doubt at all in that matter.

So Steve, this brings up the question which may be due for a separate thread which would be 'Who would you least like to 'follow' in a hunt?'

By this I mean ... who would least likely miss something on a field, a patch or hunt?  Who 'knows their stuff' best within your hunting group or within the industry.  Kind of like a 'detect off' of operators.

This would be one of my scenarios:  I am given a choice between two one acre fields to detect.  The fields are 'equal' from a geologic standpoint with small placer gold.  One field has previously been detected by a novice and another field has been detected by an 'expert.'  I want to find as much gold as possible.  Which field do I choose?

Now let's say the fields have both been detected by experts and I am told the name of the experts (JP and SH  ).  Which field do I choose?

Now let's say it is your choice to follow a certain operator on a field.  Who are the operators you would like to follow least to get their 'crumbs?'

So fellow prospectors ... who are the operators that consistently use their equipment at the highest level ... just like the expert marksmen or fishermen?

[Steve Herschbach]

It depends. If hunting in Australia, follow me. If Ganes Creek, Alaska, follow JP. Do not underestimate the home team advantage! JP has forgot more about PI than I know. VLF in tailing piles I reckon I might be a bit quicker on the draw than JP.

Same applies most everywhere. The locals always have an advantage in knowing the ground and target conditions, whether it is coins, relics, beach hunting, or gold.

I am not really super efficient. It is doubtful my detector is always tuned for maximum performance. I have probably left more gold in the ground in the last 40 years than many people will find. I just try to make up for it with hard work and long hours.

[mn90403]

Let me be a little more 'positive' in my approach to finding about the best operators in our industry.  We've heard about some of them but many we have not.

 

Who is the best of all of the people I know?  Who is the best in each of the clubs? Who are the best of the present and past by both deed and reputation?

 

What are they doing or did they do that I am not doing?

[flakmagnet]

Half kidding here, but the best operators are most likely out there using the 7000

instead of writing about it.

 

JP, Steve and Chris have had a fair amount of experience with the 7000

and, most importantly, are involved with the detecting community to a degree that is rare.

 

That being said, there is some good info. beginning to trickle out in the various forums.

[Rick Watkins]

I can understand what your saying about people and new technology steve, my thinking is say my neighbor won the lottery he has tried to find gold recently with say a ATX but didnt have any help or training but he was in gold ground and never found anything so now he thinks the new 7000 he heard about is the ticket, he's thinking smart now invest in 4 7000s for the two klds wife and himself , this will pay off now he thinks. He has invested their money wisely, only spent with the extras $38.000 after getting all the gear he needs to compliment his investment. Then he buys their own gold claim for $382,000 because he got some inside information no one else heard about yet, he's set up now.

Long story short they have a very miserable time at it for 6 months, they found 1.5 oz.gold in their new venture they have spent now most of their lottery money and sell out for pennies on the dollar.

What im getting at it is no different than most of us without the real knowledge to begin with to take on something your really not familiar with to this extreme without the many many days of experience to say the least. Kinda like me winning the lottery and buying a nascar to win with, just not gonna happen..

I have seen guys want to get into gold in a big way with no knowledge whatsoever and im sure you guys have to, it is the person that will make or break himself with whatever he is using and the way he is going about it for sure. I know what your saying steve. Rick

[Norvic]

I think JP will remember being introduced to some gold as a young fellow, he had a SD and this old codger a VLF, he run rings around me, regardless that I`d had 10 years or so start. I don`t expect it would be any different now even if we were both armed with the same detectors. Comes down always to the persons ability, attitude and experience. Learning how to use a detector and getting gold with one do not necessarily go together. But it has been a exciting detecting gold rush, and a new detector always adds a little extra. Perhaps we should give a new detector 25% rather than 20% while it has it`s gloss. 

[goldquest]

For what I read looks like that nobody believes in luck, what about 70% ability, knowledge, skill, 20% the machine and 10% luck, you can be as knowledgeable as you want, have the best metal detector but if you don't have at least a bit of luck in your side, you will be keeping researching, upgrading metal detectors and watching others find gold.

This is only my opinion.

Cheers

[RickUK]

For what I read looks like that nobody believes in luck, what about 70% ability, knowledge, skill, 20% the machine and 10% luck, you can be as knowledgeable as you want, have the best metal detector but if you don't have at least a bit of luck in your side, you will be keeping researching, upgrading metal detectors and watching others find gold.

This is only my opinion.

Cheers

 

I did mention the luck aspect in my earlier post on this thread,luck does have a big part to play with detecting :D

 

But you are correct no one else seems to have mentioned it

[Gold Hound]

For what I read looks like that nobody believes in luck, what about 70% ability, knowledge, skill, 20% the machine and 10% luck, you can be as knowledgeable as you want, have the best metal detector but if you don't have at least a bit of luck in your side, you will be keeping researching, upgrading metal detectors and watching others find gold.

This is only my opinion.

Cheers

There is no luck for me just hard work determination and reserch!

[Relichunter]

I suppose we will never know who is doing well or not since our activity is very   , well you know. But I would go with hard work and determination also. I have seen a many detectorist out on good grounds and they find way less or nothing than some others. I know of one fella here in my area who uses an old Whites gold master v-sat and he is hitting multi-ouncers and bits with it....WHY ?? Because of his determination and he puts time behind his machine, and at times appears like its part of him...so you dont need the latest and greatest , just a will to succeed.