Sometimes less is more...

[DiggerJohnPA]

I went to my father in law's house over the weekend and I didn't take my detector because we had alot going on and I didn't think I would have the time to get any detecting done. He lives in a 150 year old farm house that I have detected many many times and I've never found so much as one stinkin' wheat penny there. Anyway, early yesterday morning I was standing on the back porch thinking to myself that I should've brought my detector with me because I refuse to believe that there isn't at least one good coin out there in that yard. Well, he happens to have a cheap-o $79 detector leaning against the wall in his back room so I decided to pull it out and play around with it. It's a very primitive BH with absolutely no frills whatsoever. I started to check around the stairs to the back porch and I am digging up pull tabs and nails all over the place. Finally, I get a signal, dig the plug and wouldn't ya know it... out pops a 1906 V Nickel!!!! My first!!!! I was thrilled.... so I continued to detect for a little while and ended up finding a 1950 wheatie and a little metal ostritch???? Now keep in mind that I have detected this property year after year with my $400 Bounty Hunter with all the "bells & whistles", yet I've never had such a productive day there. Go figure. ?
I think the fact that I was working with a non-target ID and non-display detector was just forcing me to dig more. Lesson learned!

[NC_Hunting]

Cool finds and a good lesson learned and one we all should pay attention to!

It doesn't matter if it is the $79 or the $1000 machine.
If the coil doesn't pass over a target you ain't gonna find it.
GO FIGURE

......."I think the fact that I was working with a non-target ID and non-display detector was just forcing me to dig more. Lesson learned!"

If not right on, you are very close! I believe that what was really happening is that you weren't relying on a "target ID" to confuse you! Instead, listening to your detector's sounds and tones, and letting your brain (with input from your ears) be the FIRST Discriminator!

In other words, listening to and learning the language of your machine!

If everyone spent more time doing that......and less time trying to figure out their target ID as it bounces around, the success rate would climb rapidly. If you must have a Target ID machine, please don't waste so much time looking at the meter, listen, listen, listen...when the sound repeats...then confirm what your brain has already decided, by checking the meter.

I can't help but think that so many good targets.....small gold rings, nickels, and deep old coins have been passed up by confused operators, glued to their Target ID meters.

[Steve in PR]

Nice finds!

[INDY]

Great finds, the ostrich is interesting....an d congrats on your first V nickle . Thanks for the lesson.
HH