Why did you ...

[Gator]

start this hobby?
Well, as most of ya know I havent exactly started yet,lol. But, I did do it back in the late 70s,early 80s with my dad.
I was an avid hunter and fisherman, still fish a bit. But now days,at least around here, it seems everybody and his brother do these things. Every year we read where somebody gets shot,accident and sometimes not accident, arguing over a hunting spot. I bow hunted, and loved to scout the woods looking for hot hunting sign(I wasnt a corn thrower, feeding and attracting the deer). Plus Plum Creek,GP, Manville has raped all the land thats not privately owned cutting every stick of the beatiful hardwoods that once grew, nothing but pines now. I said, enough, Im not going to pay these compainies money to hunt on this land while they ruin it.
So, I love the outdoors,I cant stay inside. I havent had a real hobby for some years now. I started thinking about MDing over a year ago. My wife laughed,youre no old man yet. Anyway I started watching and looking and havent seen anyone in parks,schools MDing, so I decided to go for it. Its something no one is doing around here,and I enjoyed doing it with my father so I already know I will like it. So here I am. Just wished now I would have taken more of an interest with my dad. Hes gone now but I was able to run down one of his last machines, that was a treasure hunt in itself,lol.
How bout you guys, what got your interest up??
HH
John

[The TINMAN]

When I was a Kid between 5 & 12, I use to go scrapping with my old man for Brass & copper, Iron and such. In the old houses we would pull the old steam radiators and got to explore around in basements and attics and once in awhile find something neat hidden somewhere so I always looked at it like treasure hunting like I'd see on the TV. in the Pirate Movies and Always wanted to do that. It took me 40yrs. to actually get there as I took alot of lifes sideroads. Several yrs back I kept seeing the Whites commercials for detecting and kept writing the number down but for one reason or another I never followed thru, usually lack of funds but I was working a job and said I don't care what I have to do without I'm getting a detector so I worked for this guy for a month and told him just give me $50.00 a week and hold the rest. One month later I was starting to live a life long dream. Sure wish I would have started a long time ago but I'm doing it now and thats all that counts. My GREATEST Find to Date is The TQ. Site! Big Find, Little Find, even the Trash, doesn't matter to me cuz the anticipation of what may be there can't be Beat. This is the greatest Hobby there is. Where else ya gonna meet the kind of people ya do here ?

The TINMAN

[DougsGraphics]

Well, John, my story is not that dissimilar than your own. I grew up in ND, with a father that virtued hunting and fishing. As a kid, I picked up the bow about the same time I started trapping for some spending money -- along with the two jobs and school. My family wasn't exactly well off, so we scraped up all we could. Like Tinman, we used to pick up scrap metal here and there and cash it in, as well as collecting returnable bottles from along the river and the parks -- recycling aluminum was something we did long before it was the "in" thing to do. At some point, I saved up and bought a kit from Radio Shack to build my own metal detector -- used to dig up the yard finding nails. I always remember enjoying it...

I had gotten away from hunting for quite a while, as college and then grad school, then young family/new job got in the way. I'm back to that now, but mostly with the bow -- I don't trust others out there with guns, so I kinda avoid that by staying primative, plus, it's much more gratifying. I still love to hunt quail, grouse, rabbits, and squirrels though and those I sometimes (but not always) pick up the gun to chase.

Now, I have a budy that is into metal detecting, and a few others that are avid gold panners/sluecers. They sort of resparked my bug. So, last year for my BDay, I bought myself a grand detector. Now, I look for just about any chance I can get to be out digging. Of course, there's always a competition this time of the year between hunting and dirt fishing! LOL!

[EPC Guy]

I've always enjoyed history, museums, artifacts, relics, etc...and after seeing a guy in the Atlanta area using a MD and talking about how much he enjoyed it - I knew I'd enjoy it too. Like Tinman said - the value of the find isn't important - it's the anticipation of what I'll uncover next. My goal is to use as many of my finds as possible in some form of display in our home (tastefully - my wife reminds me...)

I enjoy TQ immensely - and look forward to meeting and hunting with as many of you as I possibly can!

Shawn

[MinelabMan]

When I was a kid our family used to go to the beach and I'd always see 1 or 2 guys detecting and walking all over and rarely picking something up, it seemed cool to me but not as cool as playing in the ocean. After going home, I really didn't think about it anymore. It would be that way everytime at the beach and fade once I left.

Then, I don't remember when, there was a show on tv about metal detecting that I ran across by chance. It was sponsored by a MD store in Glen Burnie, MD and it followed guys as they detected. After seeing some of the finds they were making I was hooked, and the rest is history

[dougdann]

I've always liked history.
But in 1999 I discovered ancient coins and relics on the internet.
Started reading more about history, not only Roman and Greek, but also Texas history and metal detecting goes hand in hand with this.

And even if I'm not finding anything, it doesn't matter. I just enjoy being outside doing this.

Doug

[Denverjoe04]

love coins and treasure! Also all the "keepers" will be good for retirement funds 50 years down the road...yah im only 23 so i gotta ways to go til retirement lol

[anne]

When I met my partner Mike in the early 80's he was heavily into Metal Detecting, I knew nothing about the hobby and I found myself trailing around behind him often carrying his digger for him, I have always enjoyed the peace and tranquility of the countryside and walking so didn't mind to much and then one day he invited me to have a go.....the minute the headphones were put over my ears I was hooked he had a job that day to get the detector back and within days I had my own machine and as they say THE REST IS History

[JCWhite]

I started it because I am a dreamer and now I am finding friends.

[pris]

I had a bit of extra $ burnin' a hole in my pocket around Feb and have never forgotten going MDing with my folks when I was young. I just love the fact that the next target could be gold or silver or $ of any kind. It's like a good book because I can't stop, have to go to the next chapter or target. LOVE IT