Lacky

Apparently there are lots of silver coins laying around down there. If you start posting about them too you might start a migration 😀

1 hour ago, phrunt said:

but I have too many detectors anyway. 

 

I dont know much, but I do know that deep down you dont believe that.

I'm going to make my prediction now. GPX 6000, mostly the same as the 5000, other than the chip system to prevent off brand coils 😀

I made this version and it worked well and is light as can be. Only change I made was I used a 3/4 inch tubing I spliced to make a circle for the shape instead of PVC, mostly because I had it sitting in my garage.

Have you seen any studies on prices in new Zealand compared to others and how much of the difference is due to consumer protection laws? I like the protections but they tend to get built into prices.

If it's an area silver has been found silver ore is possible.  All I really know though is watching meminer vids on youtube. They rub the silver ore samples hard on their pants or something and the silver will show in some of the rubbed areas. 

How hard would it be to convert a GPX battery pack to removable 18650's . If possible that might be the easiest solution for long trips. Then you could just leave the batteries home and buy/borrow new ones when you get there that you leave behind. 18650's are common and cheap pretty much everywhere. 

It will be interesting if someone can find the actual regulations. Every single person on the flight is carrying one or more lithium battery (cell, tablet, laptop, power bank, ecig, etc). They power everything now. They could do a size restriction,  but anything that restricts a detector should also be hitting laptops size wise. It would be interesting to see the actual regs and probably a good idea to know them better than the check in agent.

As a more general note, I havent tried to put the equinox in a backpack yet but I used to do it lots with the lobo. I personally never found reassembling and disassembling the 3 peice shaft to be cumbersome at all. I doubt it took me a minute. 

This is a thread I though was interesting with Steve testing different detectors for gold

That's exactly what I was going to suggest is do some testing. If it passes the bic pin test or detects tiny lead shot it should be fine for occasional gold hunts. If it doesn't detect that small maybe not. 

Interesting,  didn't know it was an option,  although it makes sense.  Do you have a link to the part? I'll search around too.

49 minutes ago, Lunk said:

I use an aftermarket discriminator when prospecting with my GPZ 7000. It is 100% accurate at identifying iron, doesn’t require batteries, and it will even remove the iron from my digs for me...it's a neodymium super magnet!

If they can make the magnet strong enough to suck the iron out of the ground without digging I think everyone will be sold on that solution! 

Kindred spirit Norvic, I will take the advice to heart.

Haha, everything I do in nugget hunting falls under the "prospecting" heading, I intentionally go to areas that were mined 100+ years ago and ignored since. I do that because there are no current claims to worry about, but there is obviously potential for gold.  That said, my recovery rate is currently zero. It's fine, I have fun, but minelab (etc) should hope I find something because the only way I pay thousands on a new detector is cleaning out a new area with the equinox and knowing I can likely find more with xxx detector worth the investment. So far that is certainly not the case. I'm not discouraged,  I already have several spots picked out for when the snow melts. But I'm a realist, I fully understand I'm most likely tilting at windmills. 

I have a severe cold and am quite drunk,  so if that doesn't make since, well, sorry...

I believe there are some in Alaska,  I assume Steve H. knows of some. I know Gerry does training trips if that interests you. I'm basically just chiming in to say yes they exist and keep your post fresh till someone that actually knows something sees it.

Is the creek a known gold producer? If not you may want to start with panning in the creek to see if you can find small trace amounts of gold, pinhead sized flakes, flour gold, etc. If you can't find any small gold in the creek the chance of finding detector sized gold is slim to none. That's true where I'm at anyway. 

1 hour ago, mn90403 said:

Ok, where is the 'value equation' or 'sweet spot' of detector/coil price and finds?  How much is a 'fair price' to pay for a detector and still enjoy it?

Detectors are pretty equivalent to hunting rifles price and purpose wise. You buy it as a tool to pursue an activity.  You can buy one that works fine for $300ish, or a more refined version that works marginally better for $700-$1000. Most of the time it makes no difference which you are carrying.  I went upscale with the equinox,  but could pursue the same activities, same trips, etc with the simplex. 

If a person is wanting to go hunting but hasn't because they are waiting saving up for the dream model rifle I would encourage them to just buy/borrow whatever rifle they can afford and go hunting. The enjoyment is the activity,  not the possession,  or even the results. I feel the exact same about detectors. 

I have a lobo super traq and an equinox 800, neither paid for. It's not their fault.  I dont get out often enough, and when I do I often go to random remote places just because I like going there. If maximizing return was my priority I would do it differently,  or not at all. Since it's just to have fun I go wherever I wanna go and find whatever. Even the good stuff I've found like Henry's rifle casings, etc dont really have value except to me.

I've been trying to convince myself to go hunt the river now that the water is low and life has slowed down but it's pretty damn cold. My problem has always been I like the researching and planning more than the actual hunting.

9 hours ago, kiwijw said:

Nice going Rob👍 Perseverance pays off. Looks like a smaller coil on the Zed would be great to have in there.😉  The pocket knife is a cool find. Have come across a few of those too over the years but sadly they are in not so good a nick. I always wonder the stories they could tell from the persons who lost them dating back to old gold rush day workings from the 1860's here in New Zealand.

A very Merry Christmas & Happy New year to you to.

Best of luck out there

JW 🤠

My favorite knife finding story doesn't involve a detector.  I was hunting a really isolated spot that requires boating across a lake and climbing lots. I found a buck 110 folding knife, older but in great shape, laying in a saddle all the deer move through. Two years later I found another much newer Buck 110 laying in the same spot. I assume the same hunter got a deer in that spot twice and forgot his knife both times 🙂

5 hours ago, Jim McCulloch said:

For those of you who might like to see some actual "live digs" of Idaho gold, check out the YouTube channel "Spud Diggers," and view the video entitled "How to find gold with a Metal Detector - private lesson with the White's Goldmaster 24K." Featuring our esteemed colleague Gerry McMullen, and the irrepressible Rob "Spud Digger" Johnson, be sure to view the video to the end, where Gerry recovers a nice specimen. HH Jim

Im trying to find it but that doesn't match any of spud diggers titles. How old is the video? 

5 hours ago, Gerry in Idaho said:

As for N or S Idaho.  You are in luck.  There is detectible gold in both regions.

Here's a book that should be in your collection.  Notice the top 2 photos came from me.

Ok Gerry, it's your moment to shine...do you happen to have that book for sale in your store?

So, Gerry, your telling me there is detectable gold somewhere in Idaho. I already figured that. Can you narrow it down any? How about northern or southern Idaho? 🙂 (I'm hoping for southern,  as it's the only areas I get to)

Very well done and enjoyable video series.  Thanks for sharing!

I really dont want to buy anything.  I just want to get out more with what I have.