oneguy

Nice V..... (my favorite coin to dig for some weird reason?). That one held up in really good condition which is hard to find in nickels. I've only found one V in great condition like yours and it was under a spruce imbedded in deep spruce needles and not dirt....just something to keep in mind maybe?????

There isn't one person on this forum that wouldn't mind laying claim to that nuggie….good job! Now go find his friends...... Just now realized this is from 2016....DUH....lol

My first thought was an older Blake & Lamb #1 or # 1 1/2 or possibly a Triumph brand? If there is/was a V cut out in center of the pan that would be a Victor trap. If a #1 or #1 1/2 it'd be normally used for muskrat/mink/marten? For fox you'd want a #2. If the bottom of the trap has a curve in it when sprung (we used to call them "jump traps") the purpose of that curve was to "jump" the trap upwards for a higher hold when the compressed spring sprung....when set the bottom curved part was flat. That probably didn't make an ounce of sense, hard to explain in words. I may have one laying around....if so I'll post up a set pic and sprung pic. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Blake-Lamb-1-1-2-Jump-Traps-in-Good-condition/184044410277?hash=item2ad9e6d5a5:g:~jsAAOSwqK1drJ4U

Clear and cold today so headed out and took my saw to cut some wood as I expected a skunk on gold. The dredge tailings I've been scratching around have pickings that are between slim and next to none. I figured I'd at least come home with some wood if nothing else? I cut a jag and got in about 2-2.5hrs tecting and scared up this little guy! Wood and gold....better than the skunk! Have a good weekend guys & gals!!!! Got another dink today and for some reason this place seems to only give up one at a time....to me anyways? I'll take em anyway I can get em though....lol Can't believe I'm still able to hunt in late November. This will most likely be the last hunt as snow followed by artic air is in store for us next week. Enjoy your Turkey day…!!!!!!

you're definitely on em….!!!!! good job and gotta luv the Monster!!!!!

Nice today so I headed out but the sun never did come over the mountain so I cut it short as my feeties got cold....lol Dredge piles gave up this cute little .800 gram noogie!!!!!! I managed 1 more bit and this specimen outta the same area yesterday and got skunked today......

Nice gold guys!!!!! I'm finding out lately I do better if I really slow down rather than covering more ground faster? If nothing else if I slow down I can stumble onto some of those tiniest bits and sometimes avoid the skunk. Like someone mentioned tho…. kinda depends where I'm at and how much time I have to expend there and also how well I know the location??? Already going stir crazy waiting for springtime...….

Had a skiff of snow this morn (3rd snow this yr already) and a bud from Idaho called and said he had 2" last night.... Ain't sticking here YET......

Weather gorgeous yesterday so I grabbed the Monster and headed out. Teamed up with another and found 2 bits and gave him one because he dug the hole! thought my season was over but I guess it ain't over until it's really over....😉

gorgeous rock!!!!!

Pretty much done for this year. We've had snow twice already and it's hitting the teens at night. Last season I got 106 bits for just under an ounce and this year I only detected 40 bits for just over an ounce so an improvement over my 1st season! 18 bits from Montana and 22 bits from Idaho. FULL DISCLOSURE: 1 gram of the tiniest bits came from crack scratching/panning in the creek. I had fun and met some locals from Helena area (BIG help) and that helped me stumble onto the two bigger pieces (25g/4.5g) that saved my season. As long as I can improve weight at the end of season over the last I've reached the main goal. good luck guys......

patience, persistence. and a whole bunch tenacity helps. When you get disgusted....keep swinging. Always keep in mind that you won't find anything sitting at home.....

swung a Tesoro Golden Sabre II for 22yrs that is almost identical with the notch, 2 tones, etc. Bought it new in '92. Dug a LOT of old coins with it. Sold it last yr as I got spoiled with the eTrac and all the info it gives (more deep coins and less trash). That GSII was definitely a tuff old warhorse....!!!!!!

Cool Steve.....!!!!! Glad you guys found a spot. I'll most likely be scratching around your neighborhood next week sometime?

Say what??? You know where I've spent most my time this year and I've only been to Helena twice this season and once last year when you showed me that drainage (I thank you for that). Why do you make it look like I'm always riding your coat-tails when last weekend I showed up 5 hrs before you, meet a local prospector who shows me a nugget he just found and tells me directions to the spot. I tell him I got a bud coming a couple hrs behind me....he says that's fine but don't mention the spot to anyone else. It takes me 1.5 hrs. to find the spot, I find the above gold and show you. Next day "I" load you up on my quad and take "YOU" to the spot and you say you'd never been there before! I also got no credit for scoring US over 1000 acres of private that we can hunt anytime in same area? Remember you wanted to go home because snow kept us out of X gulch this spring....I said "I didn't drive 200+ mi to turn around and go home". I wanted to check out an area I seen on Google...you said there's a locked gate, I convinced you to follow, no gate what so ever, we continue, I see a farm house and stop, tell you I hate to do it but I'm gonna door knock and ask questions...we end up with 1030 acres we can hunt. It goes both ways buddy....You scratch mine and vice -versa! I wanted to set the record straight from my perspective...think about it. Good luck in your endeavers

Thanx Steve and everyone else for the comments!!!! Steve....I've been over "in your area" most all season.....maybe 35-40 times and have managed only 14 bits with detector and spent 6-7 days crack scratchin on the creek. Have access to 2 of Daves' claims and one other private claim with 3 nuggs off one of Dave's. Only got maybe 4 grams total. Only been to Helena twice this season. got a couple nuggs off one of the club claims..... You doing any good this season????

Finally had a good sized nugg turn up for me. Hunted Fri. and Sat. over near Helena and drug up 8 pieces but I lost one little dink so only 7 in totals pic. Definitely did the happy dance and still can't believe I finally stumbled onto a big one!!!! Enjoy!

I have one I use on my eTrac when the occasional need arises. It's a great coil, lightweight, and has a place in my arsenal when needed which is not very often. I can say that it has got me a couple deep thin barber dimes that were on edge in the 9-10" range that I doubt a smaller coil would have got...but who really knows? I can't personally say I got any real increase in depth over the stock 11" Minelab coil but still believe the Ultimate snagged those on edge deepies. If you relic hunt that Tejon coupled with the Ultimate should be a depth monster(?).....no opinion on the ATP. I think it's a great coil WHEN NEEDED...……...jmo

Had fun and it's a start!!!! No ticks this trip unlike last trip and weather was GREAT!!!!!

Maybe this can help you decide? If nothing else a vlf is much cheaper than a PI and to be really complete you should eventually have one of each???? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcL04ZHki6Q

There's some detectable yellow over there...we just didn't find the hot spot....YET! Had fun, we got LOTS of ground to snoop, and met some truly fine folks!!!!!! Next time....!!!!

Hey Cabin....did you get up to the Depot site yet???? OP...Nice Walker...one of my favorites!!!

Don't try and dig or scrape with it (like I do with my black Garrett...lol) and you'll be fine...….

I have one and probably shouldn't comment as I've only used 2 PP's now, The original black Garrett and now the Pro-35. I should ad that for the small nuggets I normally find the "divide & conquer" method works best for me. Myself and Goldseeker did a sensitivity test between the Garrett Carret and the 35 and the 35 was a tad more sensitive on some small nuggs by maybe a 1/2 in. The really small bits both PP's had to touch or almost touch the end of PP and half the time neither would sound off on the smallest bits. The 35 also does weird go crazy stuff and I needed to shut it off and turn back on (retune maybe?). That bugged me, the go crazy stuff. Like mentioned...PP's for my small gold really doesn't help me much but I do still pack it and get by with the 35. What I mainly use it for now is when I'm chasing that loud banging signal you know might possibly be a large chunk of iron and you've worked your butt off getting closer to it....then the Ferrous/non-ferrous function of the 35 comes in real handy and could save you some digging if indeed an iron target or nail. If I was back coinshooting I'd be ok with the 35 but most likely prefer the old Garrett? For nuggets I really have no real need for any PP?.....jmo

I think it's from Monopoly?????