Your *most important* piece of advice in MD'ing

[davidrrt1]

Get permission to hunt a property that's not yours. Know where you can hunt and where you can't. Take care of your hunting area like it is your own. It only takes an act of carelessness to cause more restrictive laws to be passed or even banning the hobby altogether.

[mtpockets]

Alot of good advice SO far.. Hmm Makes it difficult to add to.

So.. Here's my shot..

Be aware of your surroundings at all times.

Download Google Earth "Free" and look for any Abnormalities on your hunting site.."Parks & Fields" mostly..

Last but not Least...

Do not bite your fingernails !!!!!

[INDY]

Its a good idea to Wear Gloves.
Sometimes when you are scooping out dirt from a hole you can run into pieces of glass and other projectile. So gloves can save you from a nasty dirty cut. And they also can protect you from some of those poisonous plants ( poison ivy) if you should accidently grab some.

[1911d]

not fib to you, if it says there is something there, THERE IS! learn what it is trying to tell you and you will be successful.
don't learn and you will only find 2-4% of what is there. My 20+ years of looking( 7 of which have been great) only after i was showed this rule by an old timer, know your machine ,listen and learn....forget the display it will fib to you........
respectfully,1911d

[PABill]

Always be considerate of other peoples property! Treat it like you would want people to treat your own. Once they see how professional you are operating they will open up and tell you about other great places to hunt.

[MeNstick]

Wear Knee Pads! It's so much more comfortable to have your knees covered. No need to worry about Wet or Muddy conditions, the shards of metal or pointed rocks (been stabbed a couple of times, and it hurts). It also can add some speed to the recovery of targets if your blowing through a park or beach before a storm. HH Rick

[MinelabMan]

Leave only your footprints behind. Definitely not any coins, jewlry or relics

[Zman]

Do your homework. I have learned a lot about the area and found some great places to hunt through my local historical society.

[slack768]

do it only if you love it, ive met some strange people hunting, the ones that treat it like a job and never smile need a new hobby...

[toye026]

1. On hot days take a bottle of water with you. (everyone)
2. Girls Bring along some TP (toyes special)
3. something to wipe the hard earned sweat off your face (kkfrys special)
4. Bug spray lots of bug spray (Mr silver special)
5. sun screen lotion (toye is allergic to sun)