F350Platinum

Here's the vicious loop: https://www.dhr.virginia.gov/metal-detecting-and-permits/ And we have the DWR, police with SUVs, handcuffs and guns, we see them all the time, I know people who ended up cleaning the roads for violations (community service): https://dwr.virginia.gov/conservation-police/ They even do undercover arrests. Not just for hunting and fishing. You have to look for "DGIF" to find old accounts, they changed their name, a moving target. I believe that the webpage exists because people ask, it says so. 👍 But it's also there because people detect without asking. Ratios aren't available. Here's an interesting publication from the Archaeologists worth a look: https://www.archeologyva.org/PDF/HICKS-TIMECRIME.pdf I love how they call it "time crime". Cue the show tunes. Isn't it putting the cart before the horse to assert that it's because people ask, when the laws and regulations came because people did it in the first place? I believe that history should come to light, envy is the worst sin. Apology to the OP. 🙂

Hey Tom, I agree that this is a discussion, not some ornery or polar stance I've taken. Heck I went to a VA State Park, and was told by the ranger who I had to ask for a permit (VA State law) to metal detect the beach, the Ranger told me I had to ask DCR, a state agency that gave the rangers the authority to grant such permits. 🙄 I wrote them and got a boiler plate reply including the law except - conveniently - the part about granting permits. I'm definitely not a fan of even bothering now with that sort of ignorance. 🤪 It would have been nice if they did grant it, that beach is so loaded with discarded fishing gear they won't let anyone go swimming. 😵 Yes, my situations regarding farmers are all about private property, but I do consider those who detected their farms without permission are lucky to not have records or had surgery. This place hasn't changed much in 300 years. And one bad apple will spoil the whole bunch. There are stories... 🤐 I'm just a little confused about your stance that the majority of people who cause new laws and other hindrances are those that ask permission, is that right? 🤔. Have not Tomb Raiders and other nefarious critters always existed? More recently, there appear to be more people that "just do it", and leave holes and damage. Those are the new hordes. There are "self-appointed authorities" everywhere now too. I'm a little leery of encouraging people to do stuff until they get thrown out, that's bad press too, isn't it? The OP asked for rules/laws, I gave them what they asked for. 🙂 One more parable if you will: When I was in Turkey with the Army, we were on break after it was over at a Turkish resort on the Black Sea, a couple of guys in my unit spotted a watch in the water, and they borrowed a fishing pole to get it out. They returned the pole and were walking away with the watch, before they got back they were arrested by the police, not for retrieving the watch, but for not giving it to the man they borrowed the pole from. Cost the unit a pile of hush money to get them out. You have to be aware of customs and laws no matter where you go.

Thanks! I'm still really a fan of using Relic, and with Tekkna find my success varied as well. For sure I dig lots of NF trash with it, not so much with Relic. Relic has improved a lot with V2, I wasn't on V1.1 for long enough to know whether it was improved then. I can do just as well with my version of Relic, but it does tend to be trifling in heavy trash, so I'm glad to have a more subtle alternative. 🙂

Tom, I wondered how long it would take you to jump on a topic like this. 🤔 While I am a supporter of dissent, and sort of agree with you regarding asking "authorities" about metal detecting, I have a few scenarios for you. I've read your opinion on one of the forums I listed above: First one was when I stopped into the Tybee Island Police department to ask about metal detecting on the beaches. I had "heard" it was ok, but was so new to detecting I wanted to make sure of all the locations it was acceptable. They were very kind and told me it was any beach as the beaches are island property. Well as expected some self-appointed "beach monitor" called the police on me, and I watched the police woman radio in to the HQ from afar, and the angry face on the woman who wanted to ruin my vacation when the cop shrugged at the woman and left. 🤣 She never approached me. One thing for sure where I live, if you just decide to hit a place where you think "no one will care" or get told by a third party "oh, I don't think they will mind", just about anything can happen to you, from getting arrested for trespassing, to a butt full of buckshot, or worse. Ever run into an angry Hunt Club? I've found that while farmers may leave you alone if you detect without permission, your name will get around and someone could well object in any manner above. Is it worth the risk to "skunk" someone with valid permission? There are towns in Virginia whose police will arrest you and confiscate your gear if they merely see you walking around with a detector, even if you're not currently using it. Williamsburg, with all its history, is a prime example. Here's my last scenario: A portion of one of my permissions is part of a National Wildlife Refuge. While it is a farm for the most part, and the owner said "just go there, I own it", I have seen state Wildlife Officers driving by, who have the same authority as police and possibly more. I don't think I'd like to stand a federal trial for detecting there despite any lofty ideals, or with permission of a person who didn't understand the possible consequences. Consider also that if vast hordes of detectorists adopt your stance, it would also be cause for detecting to be banned. Quite frankly that has incurred more damage than asking ever will. I think every detectorist should at least know some of the ground rules to avoid the other side of the coin, and always be mindful and respectful of property that they don't own.

Hey Cap! 👍 Glad to see ya back here, one of your pals put up a notice about your situation, I could not be more thrilled to hear from you. 🙂 🥳 I've had one hell of a year so far, and really missed ya. Hope all is well. 🤞

Thanks RVP, The only thing that is good about the weather here is that it's cold enough to keep the bugs from hatching out. March in April (high winds) is just not pleasant, no matter the thermometer reading. 🙄

I read somewhere that there is some media in the Propointer AT that aids with "rattle" when it vibrates. 🤔

Thanks Colonel, It was another 7 mile hike over almost 8 hours, but I only searched about 3 acres in one spot. There are other productive places I could have gone but didn't want to spoil future hunts, it may be a full season before I can get back there, next crop will be corn. The coins were from previous hunts there, and yes, they were all finds of the day. I think I have personally found over 100 buttons there along with other interesting relics. It's my best permission by far, and was fairly hard won. 🙂

Thanks VL, It's hand size, about like a Barber scissor, about 2.5 inches long. The hole is about 1/32" or less and only about a quarter inch from the top to the side diagonally. It has always been in the shape it appears as. If it was straight I'd think it was a pistol barrel key. 🤔

You have seen the first coins coming from here, it's a 500 acre place so there have been quite a few. I wasn't able to get to this side of it until this past season, but some pretty good stuff like this came from there: 1798 Draped Bust large cent 1724 half Reale cob Another half Reale cob, just noticed it might be a 1720. It's been a busy season 😅

What a week, I hardly remember the last time I was out hunting. Been stuck inside by the dual nor'easter we had this week, it's still going. On Wednesday an EF1 tornado passed about 2 miles away, the only tornado in Virginia that day. It wrecked some houses and left a few miles of trees down, I could see and hear it from my porch. Yikes. Yesterday was supposed to be nice, but the second meandering low just kept throwing rain at us. It finally ended in the afternoon with this: A double rainbow that ended in the yard. No pot of gold 🙄 Today again was supposed to be nice, it started out that way anyway. I went to my biggest permission hoping to get some really old stuff. The cover crop has been killed and the bean stalks were knocked down a bit more, it hasn't been planted yet but soon will be. The rain has held things up. Today I was exclusively using the Deus 2 WS6 Master with the 11" coil for greater coverage, and my trusty version of Relic. I just bought the Deus "Lite" shaft to use with it, if I use the 9" coil the whole detector weighs 1.8 pounds. I have to say I really like the lighter shaft, if feels sturdy and comfortable. I have the 11" on the "CF" lower which is carbon fiber but doesn't look like it. There is no flex that I can feel. Got a good amount of really old stuff today, I concentrated on one small area: 6 buttons, a couple pieces of saddle decoration, and buckle bits of some very old buckles, all sadly broken as usual. One of the buttons is fancy with a "whorl" And this one is probably the most incredible cast Tombac I have ever found: I'm not sure whether that is a crop or sword the rider is holding. If anyone can tell me what this was used for I'd appreciate it, at first I thought it was part of a scissor but it has no joint, and has a hole drilled in one end diagonally to one side. Maybe some sort of candle lighter that holds a wick? By the end of the day it got cloudy with a really cold wind blowing. I hope it won't be long until things warm up. Not much trash as usual with Relic, mostly lead.

It's not going to be too impressive to you folks across the pond, but the first explorer to visit and later settle my part of the USA was Captain John Smith of the UK in 1606. He navigated the Chesapeake Bay and up the Potomac River. In 1607 he settled Jamestown in a peninsula of Virginia just below mine. I was in a farm very near the Potomac River last year and dug this half of a 1607 King James I hammered silver sixpence: Man I was shocked. I also dug these other items around it, it must have been from a subsequent exploration up the river. 3 buttons, some pewter shards, and a buckle. I reunited the halves of the buckle this year. It's possible to find older coins in the USA that were from shipwrecks or dropped by earlier Spanish explorers, but this is probably directly attributable to the first explorers of this area. I often wonder what happened then. 🤔

Wow, what a great Easter egg. 👍 What detector were you using?

Sometimes the sand just won't sift through the scoop, so I try to keep one with me, and regret it when I forget it. It's all about target retrieval time for me.

Nice stuff Swiftsword. Your can cover is from the S.S. Pierce Company of Boston, started in 1831. The can could have been for tea or cigars, he was a big grocer. The only half I've ever found was a '43, bravo! Be on the lookout for any Revere silver. 👍

Terrific tale and finds, JCR. That's a rare feat to get something with that much family juju. 🙂 Oh, to pay $680 for a new vehicle, especially a Superior Utility Coupe... 🤔

The easiest one is http://historicaerials.com They have many topographic maps and aerial photos. You can overlay current roads, and see where the old ones were. CalTopo has some historical topos and Lidar imagery.

Here ya go... But I think that's an Axiom. 🤔

Hey Palzynski, Have you looked into getting the newer carbon fiber XP lower? I looked up the part number "D03-B", and it's available in some places. It may not be as stiff as the Nokta lower, but it is an improvement, and will take the least amount of work to get it right. BTman does great mods, I'm just suggesting an easier path. I'm working on better ways to mount the 13" on other shafts myself. Remember it's all about pushing the coil to the bolt head side, and not doing stuff that bends the bolt. 🤔

I bought a used Tesoro Vaquero some time ago, and do like to use it now and again, as it does well with nails. However, I am not turned off at all by the "cell phone on a stick" but do hope not to see actual cell phones replace dedicated machines on a stick. 🙄 Apps are toys. The framework isn't there. Specialty miniaturization has always improved certain industries, I for one am glad to see that I don't have to lug a 5 pound box around to find history and valuable stuff. I think the power is there now to make Pulse Induction more popular again with lighter machines, and am cautiously excited to see what Garrett and others might bring soon. I do not fear having many options to adjust over a few potentiometers. The more I do this the more I see the need for control over the ever changing environments I visit each year, and not having to have one machine for each place makes my wife happy. 😏

Welcome Mikhail, Thanks for translating, most members have English as their primary language here. It must be difficult sometimes but you are doing well. 👍 I started metal detecting in 2021, and also now own a Deus II. I found gold my first year, a ring in back of my house on a hill, but I didn't know it was until I learned to test it from the good people here. I have found almost as many gold rings in the field as I have on beaches, but again thanks to what I have learned from people on this forum and my dedication to the hobby, the number gets greater every year. I also have not found a gold coin, not for lack of trying 😅 I live in one of the oldest English settlements in America, and expect to find one at least before I can't detect anymore, I retired from work in 2021 and detecting is my main hobby. I have already found about the oldest silver coin I will ever find. I'm just writing all this because we seem to have a similar interests, and I wish you the best of luck in your detecting and look forward to your input and questions in the future. 🍀

Yes, I think that is the reason most lower iron volume to 7. 👍 In a clean field I use Relic with many modifications, the 00-00 notch being the most important. I can tell most times that a target is aluminum, but do the same as you mostly.

Translation: Kind. I make tekkna based on 1st in such places. I don’t set the iron above 7, and it’s too noisy. Good luck

I have wondered why the people that created Tekkna would use a Frequency Addition program instead of basing it on a program like General. So I tried it, using many of the same parameters, and it wasn't good. I've used Tekkna on the day after a rainstorm, and it worked just fine. We don't get much snow here but we get a lot of rain this time of year, I usually wait until the second day to go out, but I have no problem using it when it is wet or dry. What specifically did you encounter when using Tekkna that caused you to not like it? I will say that varying reactivity in almost any program will produce similar results, but Tekkna gives less false signal on iron. It may be "witchcraft", but it is not a magic perfect program, if there is a lot of non ferrous undesirable junk (can slaw, pull tabs, bits of wire), it will identify it all as good by giving you a repeatable positive tone and ID. About the only thing you won't dig is iron if you hold yourself to only digging good repeatable tones and ID. A good trick even with Tekkna is to notch 00-00 like in Relic, it works even better with iron. Welcome to the forum! 🙂

Sorry about that! I had a DetectorPro and broke it, and the Ready Shovel that a bolt fell out of. 😅 Not the Hip Clip.