Why And How did you get started in Metal Detecting ?

[PAPPY]

Well, Ole' Pappy is getting ready ( I HOPE) to create another good monster.

I would be interested in how and why all members of our TQ Family got started in Metal Detecting.

Post your answers to WHY AND HOW

EVERYONE HAD TO HAVE A REASON AND STARTING POINT

[FinalLastDays]

Well Pappy,

My reason to start metal detecting is simple: I was bored!

My other hobby is astronomy and now that I am a husband and a father, I am unable to spend the time with my other hobby anymore. It also reflects against my work schedule, where I wake up at 3am and don't return home until 4:30pm six days per week... My scopes and equipment sit in a corner of my home - bored too. I get out a few nights, but not as often as I would like.

I remember a number of years ago my cousin showed me his metal detector, he said it was the best of the best (don't know what kind it was) and had all these great features. But, unfortunately, it was broken at the time, so I never did see it in action.

That day really got me thinking over the years of what a metal detector could possibly do. So, one day, sitting here at the computer, bored - I typed the word "metal detector" into eBay's search engine and viewed what people were selling. There was so much to choose from, I didn't know where to begin. I then typed "metal detector consumer reports" into Yahoo's search engine and then things really started getting interesting. I was able to quickly learn which name brands were on a higher end of detectors, and was blown away at their prices.

After a few days of researching for metal detectors in the price range I was able to afford at that time, I decided to purchase the Garrett Ace 250. Once it arrived I was already anxious to get it out of the box and try it out... however it was almost a week later after arriving when I tried it out in my backyard. $.04 is a price I will never forget, because that is all I found that first night. My wife by my side, we hunted that backyard for about 90 - 100 minutes. Digging tons of trash, I didn't think I was going to find money.

That was in October of '06. I am very happy with my purchase of the Ace 250 and recommend it as a great detector to anyone. The only disadvantage I have with metal detecting is that it is definately a "buddy hobby" unlike astronomy. I am now anticipating the soon-coming purchase of a Minelab Explorer SE. This way, I will have two machines, one for me and one for a hunting buddy!

To conclude, metal detecting is a wonderful hobby that I can enjoy in the daytime. It has already brought me to Treasure Quest and the "family" here is wonderful! It is truly a hobby that pays for itself, and one will never know what he/she can possibly find. This hobby has started a few other new interests to me... coin collecting and local historical research. I have learned so much about my town and area since October, it amazes me!!!

[lordgrinz]

I to have my other hobby as Astronomy, I have a Celestron Celestar 8 Deluxe that I haven't used as much as I would like, mainly because its hard to get a good clear night and also have free time to go out. Plus I like taking on a new hobby once in awhile to try new things. And I was interested in finding Meteorites, which I will do this spring/summer while going for hikes in the woods, which will also get me some more exercise.

If I get bored I usually take on a new project or hobby, I will never be happy being a couch potato. Plus Metal Detectors have always fascinated me, so I am going to spend some time getting used to my new toy. And who knows, if I find a meteorite it could help pay for my new hobby, theres a plus!

[JoAnne]

My story is totally different. I am divorced and have been for about 10 years. I live alone - well me and my 4 Bichon dogs. I found myself wasting time sitting in front of the computer for hours on end. My typical day was get up - read email - go to work spend the day on the computer at work - come home - eat dinner and then back on the computer til time to go to bed. My life was passing me by. I needed a hobby. Something to get me out in the fresh air and away from the computer and food. I also wanted something different, something that would set me apart from every other person out there. I am terribly shy and insecure so needed something that would allow me to be out and about but not really have to leave my comfort zone and mix with alot of people. I did some research but just could not find something that I thought would work for me. I was lonely and depressed.

I sat myself down and had a long talk with myself about life passing me by etc. There had to be something that I could relate to. Then like majic I was flipping thru the channels on the tv and I saw a commercial for a Whites metal detector. It was a channel that I usually don't watch but it clicked. I could be outside in the fresh air but yet if I wore head phones I could be selective about who I talked to and who I pretended I could not hear. Plus in the winter I could spend my time on the computer but reseraching local history and not just surfing. After very little research I bought a Bounty Hunter Tracker IV. I found quite a few great things with it but nothing really fantastic. So I thought geeze maybe I need a better detector, one that can go deeper. Now I own a Whites Prizm V. I have only had it a few months so have not really gotten out there much.

I still spend days when I just drive around because I am too shy to ask for permission to hunt on someones land. The ironic thing is that I started this hobby so that I could be alone and now I am finding that I wish that I had someone to hunt with.

My TQ family has helped to draw me out of my shell and I have learned tons of stuff on this forum. Not only about MD but about myself. I am so glad that I found this forum and this hobby. Thanks TQ ( and all the people who make it a great place) you have touched my life more than you will ever know. Happy Hunting JoAnne

[rip]

Great idea Pappy ! Good for you Joanne !I also hunt mostly alone,but in the last couple of years i have been detecting with My good friend Dan.Dan bought his Son Daniel an ace 250 for christmas and now i hunt with Dan & Dan ! Today we brought along Dan's Daughter Katherine,she was following me around today and she says to me "Uncle Terry if any bad people bother you dont worry I know Karate ! lol,so now i also have a bodygaurd ! But getting back to the main subject,I started hunting with my Dad back in the 70's.I got a bounty hunter bfo unit for christmas when i was around 11-12.And as Chuck said the rest is history !

[kestrel0222]

I have been interested in metal detecting for many years now but never took the "plunge". I thought this hobby was too expensive so I never pursued it any further. In the mid 90's, I took up my other life long interest of astronomy. I am still very active in that hobby, but I found myself "bored" on weekends during the daytime. I am at the point in my life that I can now afford to venture into another hobby, MDing.

I am a divorced father of (2) teenagers. I found myself with nothing to do during the evenings (especially during the summer months when it stay light past 9:00PM here in Michigan). I only see my children every other weekend. I needed something to keep me busy.

I was not sure were to start. One day I was reading a post on the forum that I belong to for astronomy, when I noticed that one of the other members had mentioned that he was involved with another hobby, MDing. Within that post he mentioned the name of this site, the rest is history. Once I started reading a lot of the post here, I soon realized that this hobby was not as expensive as I originally thought. So, now I have (2) hobbies that I will (and have been) involved with for many years to come. I will not mention that particular members name here (if he reads this thread, he will probably realize that he is the one), but he has opened my eyes to this great hobby.

[canadian detector]

Good idea pappy. Well here is my story, I got interested in md by my father, he lives in pennsylvania.He left when I was real young and when we met again he used to take me detecting around coraopolis pa he found a lot of interesting things and I thought that was pretty cool that you could dig stuff up like that.Well when I got back to Canada and about 25 years later I bought my own detector although the coins are not as old or worth as much as american I get a big thrill when I dig up a good ole canadian silver coin. I should hook up with my father again in Mckeesport Pa and go detecting with him, if he still does detect.

[dri-wash]

I have be interested in Mding for many years. I have hunted and fished for as long as I can remember. Five yrs ago I moved to Florida and the have not hunted since...I have done a little fishing but not like before. This November the wife and I stayed in a condo on Daytona Beach for one week. We have been doing that for our Vaction for the past 5 yrs. We live about 25 mile from daytona and work keeps us from getting there as musch as we would like. So Vacation with no air fare.....This year we decided to go to the same condo again and just relax and do nothing...good for the brain and stress.... On the second day I was on the balcony drinking coffee in the early morning watching the dolphins in the surf, when a man came down the beach Mding. That was all it took, I got on the lap top and looked up as much as I could read the rest of the that day. The next morning I was on the phone to the local Daytona Mding shop. The next day I was the proud owner of a MXT and here I am on a great forum for Mding with great people. I get out on weekends and love the Idea of maybe finding a peace of history. The clan coin jar is filling up,,,,,

Tom

[Warrant]

Dad was the luckiest man I ever knew. As a boy he would take me along on trips fishing and we'd wind up on the deserts instead looking for piles left by long defunct farms and ranches. He'd pull up coins (really old ones) gold coins, silver and indian heads and buffaloes at evey site. He found old bottles, opium pipes, militaria and log cabin tins. Jewelry would appear for him at the drop of a hat, like majic. He never had a Metal Detector and I learned a lot from him through watching how he searched out good sites.
Years went by and I joined the Navy then served 25 years and retired a Chief Warrant Officer. I needed another hobby, since sailing has gone out of the picture. I knew he'd have loved this too and I do it for me and for him both. It's like I have him with me again and as a military strategist I make my game plan and it's paying off.
I know my detector isn't the top of the line but it's kicking tail and taking names right now! It's a terrific hobby and in the heart of gold country I exepct this to be a really profitable and healthy hobby.

[PABill]

I started with the hobby when I was in my young teens. I was riding by bike one afternoon in the small town where I lived when I came across a man Detecting in a Church yard that was going to be torn up for an addition to be placed on the building. I stopped and asked him what he was doing and was amazed at the amount of coins that he was finding. This church was very old and there was always local fairs and events held in this yard. Many of the coins were old silver. He was using a White's 6000 series detector and told me where he bought it.
I immediately looked up the coin dealer that sold it to him and soon after spent my hard earned allowance and bought my first White's detector. It was a 6000 di Pro that I used for many years with great success and now own an XLT. I am also having great results with it.
This has always been a great hobby that I have spent time on and off with it over the years. I am now trying to spend more time again with it and intend to stay more steady. I have a number of years before I retire but if my health is still good when I do, I intend on spending much more time on it. Having to work just gets in the way of everything!!!!
Also being involved with the hobby has brought me to this site where there is many great people with alot of knowledge. I am pleased to be a member here with all of you and hope to be talking to you for many years to come. Bill