Hidden Treasure in Virginia - Eight Places to Search

Virginia is a wonderful location to hunt hidden treasure. Not only is there a wide array of currency to be found, but civil war relics abound. Knowing where to hunt is the key. Frank Pandozzi selects eight locations you can both research and detect to maximize your chances of finding hidden treasure...

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You cannot locate hidden treasure in Virginia, if you have no idea where to begin your search. You need to research your treasure lead beyond just a story or a comment. You need to be like a detective solving a crime. If you follow my advice, and practice what I have been doing for thirty-five years, then you to can locate lost treasure.

Locating any treasure is the same as working like a detective. You need to read, talk to people, and ask questions. The best places to search for information regarding hidden treasure are historical societies, old newspapers, the archives in Washington, and to some degree the Internet. Read everything you can regarding the treasure you want to search for. The more information you have at your fingertips, the better chance you will have of locating one.

Talk to people who may know something about that treasure. Ask them questions and take notes. Then follow up on any lead. Be like a detective tracking down information.

You need to remember that stories about hidden treasures change over the years. Every time the story is told, it changes a little. People telling the story have a tendency to over exaggerate or to forget certain information, that is why it is so important to do as much research as you can. A good treasure hunter spends mote time doing the research than actually searching for the treasure.

It's a good idea to have a metal detector when searching for hidden treasure. Of course if you are searching inside homes or buildings you do not need a detector. You don't need anything expensive. You can purchase a reliable detector for between $300 and $400. Just read the owners manual, practice using the detector, and you will become proficient enough to search for any lost treasure.

Here are eight places that have been rumored to hold hidden treasure in Virginia.

Boswell's Tavern - located on the South Anna River in Boswell. In the 1750's the Boswell Tavern was constructed. During the Civil War a few battles were fought here, and during the Revolutionary War, a supposed treasure was buried on the property.

Carter's Grove Plantation - located on route 60, approximately six miles southeast of Williamsburg. There have been rumors that during the Civil War several treasures were buried on the property.

Portsmouth - during the Revolutionary War several ships containing cargo and treasures wrecked, and their storehouse of goods were tossed into the area behind Portsmouth.

The Abraham Smith Treasure - somewhere in the Poor Valley, Abraham Smith, a wealthy plantation owner, during the Civil War, buried approximately $60,000 in gold coins. Apparently he buried the treasure in an abandoned, old saltpeter mine, between Allison's Gap and Saltville.

Mount Rogers - during the Civil War, a Confederate major buried $350,000 that was stolen by his men.

Roanoke - located on route 81. A 1948 historical report stated that during the Civil War, Roanoke residents buried or hid more than one million dollars in both large and small caches. In the 1970's a treasure hunter located a cache of silver coins and plates worth $20,000 in a local park.

The McIntosh Farm Treasure - located about a mile south of Forest, on county route 811. A Civil War, Confederate General, with the help of slaves, hid more than $4 million in gold coins and bullion on the McIntosh Farm. There are two rumors about this treasure. One states that the treasure was thrown into the well, the other states that the cache was buried near the barn. The slaves were shot and killed to keep the treasure a mystery.

The Beale Treasure - one of the most famous treasure stories is the Beale Treasure. The story states that iron chests, containing almost three thousand pounds of gold, five thousand pounds of silver, and $13,000 in gems and jewelry, was hidden in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Montvale.
It is important that you always ask for permission when entering private property. If you are going on to State or Federal Land, in search for lost treasure, be sure to check with your State laws about any digging.
Good luck in your search for hidden treasure.

© Frank W. Pandozzi

Frank W. Pandozzi is an author, and the host and Producer of Exploring History's Treasures TV series. He is also a popular treasure hunter. He began his treasure hunting days thirty-five years ago. To learn more about Frank, you can visit him at his website http://www.metal-detecting-ghost-towns-of-the-east.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Frank_Pandozzi

How to Find Gold With Your Metal Detector

Here's a nice article by Michael Doyle, sharing his tips for hunting gold. No one can say metal detecting isn't a very popular hobby right now. It seems the worse the economy, the greater the number of detectorists hunting silver and gold. Finding gold, be it raw or in the form of jewelry, is very doable, and not as difficult as you might imagine...

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With the price of gold being at an all-time high, now is a great time to search for gold nuggets with your metal detector.

Metal detecting has greatly changed how we search for gold which means no more hoes and pick-axes. With that, it's brought a slew of hobbyists out creating a bit of competition for you and me. While it does take a bit of patience and persistence to find gold, you also need to know a few things before partaking in the find. Metal detecting for gold can be a complex adventure that requires more than just luck.

So before heading out to search for gold, it's best to figure out if the search is ideal for you. What I mean is, how much do you love metal detecting? If you just have a casual liking of metal detecting, you might be better off picking a different hobby. If you're a die-hard metal detector hobbyist, you'll have a greater chance of being successful.

Using the Right Metal Detector - There are so many to choose from and they all vary in what they're capable of. Your best bet is to get a metal detector that's specific to picking up signals for metals. There are 2 types to choose from:

VLF - The first choice to pick from employs VLF or Very Low Frequency technology which is specifically made to sense smaller pieces of gold.

PI - Your second option is PI or Pulse Indication technology. This type of metal detector is better at picking up signals of larger pieces of gold.

You'll have a better chance of finding gold pieces with either of these two types of metal detectors.

Metal Detecting Tips for Gold

1. I'm a huge fan of reading manuals. After you get your metal detector, you should read the manual that comes with it before you go out on your first gold hunt. Metal detecting for gold is a bit trickier than other hunts so learning the functions of your metal detector makes it easier for you in the long run.

2. Make sure to set your detector's frequency to the specific concentrations of the metals in the ground. Keep in mind that setting the frequency to a higher level will make it easier to pick up signals for smaller pieces of gold but it will also pick up signals for other minerals. Setting the frequency to a lower level makes it less sensitive to finding smaller pieces of gold but is better for dealing with iron in the ground.

3. Do some research at your local library to get an idea of the history of gold in your area.

4. When you find even the smallest piece of gold, you know you've hit a great location. Where there's one piece, there will be others.

5. Get the best headphones. Using the best pair of headphones will help you in getting the smallest differentiation of sound which gives you a better chance of finding gold.

6. Join a Metal Detecting Club. Joining a club of other metal detector enthusiasts will help you in getting expert advice on how to find gold. It also makes metal detecting more fun and you can meet some really great people.

Finding gold with your metal detector isn't hard but does take a little knowledge and patience. There's is no better time than now to find that gold and put a lot of extra cash in your pocket!

Michael Doyle is the owner of Metal Detecting Master and has been a metal detector enthusiast for several years now. If you'd like more great tips on finds metal detecting visit my site at: http://www.metaldetectingmaster.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=M_Doyle

Metal Detecting Meteorites

Can you metal detect meteorites? John Wright says 'definitely', and then offers some good advice to get you started. I can tell you this... meteorite is more valuable than gold. I have seen pieces of meteorite valued at up to a million dollars. And unlike gold, there are some REALLY big pieces out there, some in excess of one hundred pounds or more. Although rare, they exists, and are on display in museums and resellers around the world.

 

One interesting source is 'Meteorite Men' on the Discovery Channel. If you haven't watched, two partners explore the known meteorite fields of the world with detectors hopeing to discover small pieces of meteorites worth some big bucks. You can also watch as they take their finds to buyers and cash in on their efforts.  Read on....

 

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People often asked me the question: 'Can I find meteorites with my metal detector?' The quick answer is yes you can but it is a bit more complicated than that. It all depends on the composition of the meteorite.

 

There are basically three types of meteorites, Stone meteorites, Iron meteorites and Stone-Iron meteorites. The composition of a meteorite varies from almost only silica (stone) to almost only nickel-iron. The good news is that all meteorites contain some metal and can be detected, some very easily and others with more difficulty.

 

How do you distinguish a meteorite from an ordinary stone?

Meteorites contain iron so look for rocks with a smooth surface and a red-brown color that suggest rust. Meteorites are also a lot heavier because of the metal content than other terrestrial rocks in the vicinity. Another point is that almost all meteorites are magnetic. Look for rocks that are out of place or just looks odd in the area you are hunting in. Another very important indicator is "thumbprints" which is just indentations and depressions in the rock. These thumbprints are created as less dense material in the meteorite is burned away when it enters the earth's atmosphere. To be absolutely sure about the find you can test the rock for nickel as meteorites have a very high nickel content. An off the shelf nickel allergy test can be used to test for the presence of nickel in the rock.

Where do I hunt for meteorites?

You can look for the footprint of an impact also known as "Strewn Fields", most of the known ones have been searched but you never know. Deserts are also one of the best places to look for meteorites, meteorites will not weather and erode away as fast and there is no ground cover or vegetation which makes it a lot easier. Craters are a dead giveaway but are also well known and may be restricted. One can also do some online research with Google by searching the "Meteorite Database" which is full of great information on all classified finds in the world.

Are meteorites valuable?

Apart from the fact that they are cosmic treasures and have traveled billions of kilometers to reach the earth, to hold one is to look back into the past to the beginning of time. Meteorites are rarer than gold and often more valuable per weight. Some meteorites are even more valuable than diamonds. No wonder meteorite hunting is so popular these days with metal detectors.

I hope this answers some of your questions and happy metal detecting meteorites.

John Wright is a metal detecting expert. For more information on metal detecting meteorites, visit http://www.metaldetectingcenter.com.

Metal Detecting for Gold

Here's a very good article by Greg Strayhorn on metal detecting for gold. With the current astronomical gold prices, hunting for gold has seen a tremendous resurgence. A feature on the local news this week detailed two local gentlemen who are panning a local creek here in upstate South Carolina. They are finding gold, and had the vials of gold to prove it. Detecting for gold requires a different mindset and technique from detecting for coins. Read on to see how one veteran detectorist does it... 

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There are basically three kinds of metal detecting for gold: nugget hunting, metal detecting for gold rings, and detecting for gold coins. There are many different types and levels of metal detectors, so it is difficult to know which metal detector would be the best metal detector for you if you are hunting for gold.

For eons mineralized quartz arteries and unexposed ore bodies have been shedding pure gold for nugget hunters to find. The best spots for nugget hunting are the desert areas in Midwestern states like Arizona and California. Although many gold nuggets have been uncovered, geologists agree that 95% of the gold in our western states has yet to be found. Most of this gold is in the form of nuggets that are in reach of a good gold metal detector.

Remember that gold prospectors during the gold rush did not have a metal detector and could not see the gold. Therefore, many of these nugget rich spots have been left un-molested. For this type of hunting for gold the best metal detectors would have the correct frequency for gold detection. Metal detectors that operate at higher frequencies are good for detecting gold nuggets. This is difficult because most detectors operate at a low frequency to be able to ignore iron and to go deeper in the ground.

A good solution to this problem is the Treasure Hunter XJ9-3050 with its dual frequency technology. The problem is that gold has the same magnetic field as iron so many gold detectors will also get a lot of false signals. Pulse induction metal detectors are great for nugget hunting as they have a special technology and operate at extremely low frequencies and can find gold nuggets deep in the ground. The Minelab GPX-4500 is a favorite among gold nugget hunters but these are also not great at tuning out trash items. You should always consider a gold nugget find as a good indicator that there are more nuggets in the area. Gold nuggets are very rarely found by themselves. The best all around metal detector for gold nugget hunting is probably the Treasure Hunter XJ9-3050.

Hunting for gold rings is another type of gold hunting. Gold rings are different than gold nuggets because they are often alloyed with other types of metal. They are usually close to the surface and sometimes cannot be tuned out or selected for with a notch filter even with the best metal detector. By far the best place to look for gold rings is at the beach. Particularly in the shallows of a dropping tide at a popular resort location. The reason is because many vacationers do not realize that the colder water can make their fingers shrink and unsuspectingly lose their highly valuable ring jewelry.

Also, the shallow water is the most recent area that was occupied by vacationers. Miami's south beach is notorious for one of the most lucrative metal detecting spots on the planet and many of the local metal detectorists are very secretive and territorial about their spots. Because you will find many other types of jewelry besides gold, it is best to have an all purpose type of metal detector for ring and jewelry hunting. A great metal detector for beach hunting is the fully waterproof Treasure Hunter Poseiden detector.

It really helps to have a metal detector that can work well in the water fully submersed as well as being very capable in dry sand. Of-course dry sand metal detecting in popular resort areas is also highly recoverable detecting. Another great detector for these conditions is the Garrett GTP 1350 or the Treasure Hunter 3019. Both detectors have many different modes for different target selection or rejection and can detect small targets at large depths. Don't forget your sand scoop when detecting at the beach!

Metal detecting for gold coins is an entirely different animal and different strategies must be applied. This type of find is the most rare and valuable among treasure hunters. The best areas to find gold coins would be shipwrecks. The best and most valuable type of find and the fantasy of every treasure hunter is to find a new shipwreck with gold bullion coins and similar gold treasure. This type of find is extremely rare, but there are undiscovered shipwrecks with treasure to be found. The best place to look is along the shipping routes in the Caribbean where tons of treasure was taken from the Americas to Europe and of-course there is the notorious Pirate booty to be found.

For these spots you would need one of the more highly advanced underwater metal detectors like the Treasure Hunter Poseidon underwater metal detector. Also, rare gold coins have been found washed up at all the beaches of the East Coast, and indicates that there is much more treasure hidden out there. Overall the best metal detector for gold hunting would probably be the Treasure Hunter XJ9-3050 because of the dual frequency allows it to detect gold at great depths. Just remember that treasure is where you find it and you must be out there hunting it with your metal detector to find it!

Metal Detector Town is a website for all things metal detectors. Whether you are metal detecting for gold nuggets, rings, or coins, we have the best metal detector to suit your needs. http://www.metal-detector-town.com/index.php Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Greg_Strayhorn

Keys to Metal Detecting at the Beach

Metal detecting can be a wonderful hobby, but it can also be an unexpected source of income. Although you certainly cannot plan on paying your bills with your finds, you can plan on some nice finds, which make metal detecting one of the few hobbies that can pay for itself. Many detectorists have paid for their equipment many times over with their finds. 

The beach is one of the favorite spots for people who are into metal detecting.  Not only are they able to find coins and jewelry,  but they can enjoy their surroundings while at the beach. If your spouse feels left out when you spend a day hunting, then you owe it to them to take them to the beach. Maybe they'll love to lay on the beach or play golf while you detect.

The soft sand along the beach makes finding different kinds of treasures enjoyable. It is more like having fun than finding treasures even if there are not so many finds after a hard day's metal detecting activity.  Just getting the sand beneath your feet, listening to the rumbling waves along the seashore, and the beautiful scenery is worth the trip, treasures or not.

However, if you really want to get a good start in beach metal detecting, it is best to keep these things in mind as you head to the beach...

1. Saturate the area...

With the growing popularity of beach metal detecting, many people are enticed to try the activity. It is not surprising to find many people crowded onto a small area of  beach.

In this situation, competition in beach metal detecting becomes tight. This means that you probably will have a little less chance of finding treasures. It's OK. 

In order to get an edge over the others, why don't you saturate a small segment of the beach or find a beach that is not quite as popular. Any beach for metal detecting is always worth visiting. Be different. 

2. Do not be overly concerned about your metal detector...

Yes, the price of a metal detector cannot be underrated.  Yes, metal detectors as well as their coils can be expensive. I'm not surprised that many detectorists baby their coils and try not to scratch them by keeping them too far above the sandy beach. But if you're going to the beach, this is one of the considerations. If you don't get your coil on top of the sand, you're not going to find treasure. Consider buying a coil shield. They are generally less than twenty dollars and will serve you well. Be brave. 

3. If possible, avoid the common times...

Beach metal detecting is extremely popular these days. That's why a few people seem to get the best results. Truth be told, most of these are searching at times when others aren't. Your odds of finding a nice ring are much greater late in the afternoons than early in the morning. Likewise, if you can search a beach during the week when you're the only one detecting, your odds go up. Be smart. 

4. Search the unusual places...

Don't follow the other detectorists. Make your own path. Search areas where you're not expected to search. Get in the storm drains, and around the showers. Search the pathways to the beach. March to the beat of a different drummer. Be creative. 

Digging in the soft sand can be such a pleasure, compared to digging through roots and clay. Plan a trip to the beach and you might luck up and pay for the whole trip with one good find. Here's wishing you Good Luck and Good Hunting!

Metal Detecting at the Beach

Summer is almost here. Now would be a great time to go to the beach to do a little metal detecting. I almost went to Charleston this weekend, actually had my bag packed, but the weather wouldn't cooperate. John Wright has structured a good article on hunting at the beach and I'm going to reprint it here...

Metal Detecting at Your Local Beach....

Metal detecting on the beach is a very popular hobby among people who live near the coast. The beach is also a great place for new comers to the trade to start with metal detecting. It's very common to see someone metal detecting on the beach while you are having fun in the sun, as many people have the misfortune of losing valuable while at the beach. This is where the treasure hunters find their treasures.

With metal detecting growing so much in popularity, metal detecting on the beach is becoming more competitive. However there are still ways to come home with more than just trash.

Always think of where are spots that others might have missed. Places where people gather but treasure hunters miss. For instance, life guards only gather where people are allowed to swim at the beach, but on the other side might be people who just want to tan in the sun, foot paths that leads to the beach.

Another part of the beach you might want to visit is where fishermen, joggers, surfers and dog walkers, etc go about. Even smaller beaches are good places to look.

Most people who metal detect work Monday to Friday, so the best time to go metal detect, on the beach is on Friday or Sunday nights. Friday nights to find the treasures left by everyone who visited the beach during the week or Sunday nights to find what has been left behind after a busy weekend at the beach. But you have to know that if you are metal detecting in a place like the beach, you are going to find a lot of worthless trash, but don't waste your time deciding what you think might be trash, dig up everything and sort it out at home.

However, remember that it won't be your metal detector that gets the credit here, it's all up to you on how much treasure you find on the beach, depending on how quick and thorough you are with your searches. Simply put, the more you dig up the better the odds of finding valuable treasures. But don't try and dig up the whole beach in one night. Work at a pace that you are happy with and make sure you don't miss something in an area.

The beach is one of the best places to find lost jewellery and change. Also remember to always go through all the junk you take home with you before you throw it away, you never know if there is something amazing in there that you didn't see the first time around.

Remember to fill up all the holes that you dig when you're done with them. You don't want someone to hurt themselves in a hole you dug. A big part of metal detecting is being courteous towards others during your adventures. Also remember, the closer you keep your metal detector to the ground the higher the chances of finding lost treasures.

John Wright is a metal detecting expert. For more great tips on metal detecting on beaches visit http://www.metaldetectingcenter.com.

Metal Detecting in South Carolina - 7 Places to Search

Being from South Carolina, I almost feel an obligation to publish this interesting article from Frank Pandozzi. Frank is a highly experienced detectorist, and you can trust that he has done his research. South Carolina, of course, was the site of the first shot of the Civil War, and was a pivotal state in the Revolutionary War. The number of relics and coins still buried in South Carolina is enormous.
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South Carolina has hidden treasure to be found. You can locate these treasures. But before you begin your search, there are a few things you need to do.

The first thing you should do is research the treasures I have listed in this article. Take the information I have given to you and research further. Use the Internet, historical societies, and the archives. "Knowledge is power." Especially when you are searching for a lost treasure. Professional treasure hunters never attempt to search out a treasure until they have enough information. Sometimes the research takes more time than the actual search.

The second thing you need to do is to purchase a metal detector. Do not spend a lot of money. A quality, new, metal detector can be purchased for between $350 - $450. You don't need a detector with all of the bells and whistles either. Once you learn how to use a less expensive model, then you should move up to the more expensive detectors. Read the owners manual as well as practicing using your metal detector. By doing so you will become proficient at locating items.

Here are seven areas to begin your search for lost treasures in South Carolina.

Drayton Hall - located on the Ashley River, near the intersection of routes 57 and 61. This colonial plantation was built in 1738, and later occupied by the British during the Revolutionary War. Supposedly, a few buried treasures are in the area.

Hunt's Bluff - located on the Great Pee Wee River near route 57, approximately five miles west of Blenheim. During the Revolutionary War, a large barge carrying military supplies for the British troops, overturned near this spot on the river. A military payroll may have been part of the supplies.

North Island - located in Winyah Bay. In 1781, a group of Tory raiders buried a large amount of their stolen loot in different areas. Much of the buried treasure is gold and silver. Before they could get back to the treasure, the Tories were caught and killed. Over the years, some of the treasure has been
recovered by treasure hunters.

Mulberry Plantation - located on the Cooper River, approximately thirty miles north of Charleston. In 1715, during the Yamasee War, a band of renegade Indians buried a large treasure of gold coins and jewelry in the area.

Fort Carey - located on the Wateree River, just south of Camden where the I-20 bridge crosses the river. During construction of the newer bridge, workers found artifacts and coins along the river bank. The coins may have been a part of a buried treasure. Many soldiers would bury their personal belongings for safekeeping.

The Williamson Plantation - located on route 322, approximately four miles east of McConnel. In July of 1780, the Patriots attacked and killed the ruthless Tory Captain Huck, and his raiders. Over a period of five years, the raiders accumulated a large amount of plunder. They supposedly buried it in the area.

Congaree River - located in this river near Columbia is a massive amount of cannons, rifles, muskets, ammunition, and more than one million musket balls. The supplies were thrown into the river by General William T. Sherman after he captured Columbia. He did not want the supplies to fall back into the hands of the Confederates. These relics are treasures worth in the millions.

It is important that you always ask for permission when entering private property. If you are going on to State or Federal Land, in search for lost treasure, be sure to check with your State laws about any digging.
Good luck in your search for hidden treasure.

© Frank W. Pandozzi

Frank W. Pandozzi is an author, TV Producer of Exploring Historys Treasures TV series, and a popular treasure hunter. He began his treasure hunting days thirty years ago. To learn more about Frank, please visit him at his website http://www.metal-detecting-ghost-towns-of-the-east.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Frank_Pandozzi

Shifting Sands

Wow.. there are so many topics to discuss. I've thought about this, my next post.. and wondered what direction to go. I've decided to try to keep to the basics, as I don't want to put the cart before the horse. My last post was all about research, and this one is about attitude.
 It's easy to think that a local park or school ground may not be worth your time and effort, as you have seen detectorists scanning the area on numerous occasions. Closing these areas off, in your mind at least, turns into an excuse to stay home.


I heard one detectorist ask another recently..." you still searching ___ ____?" . The second one just shook his head affirmatively. " I don't see how you're getting anything out of there, as much time as you and Bill spent searching there last summer." The second guy just continued to nod his head up and down, never offering an arguement and never defending his actions. I could tell the second guy was holding out. He WAS still finding items, but didn't want to invite competition. He was content to have others think the area was tapped out.


The ground is ALIVE.. Just as the beach shore constantly changes with the shifting of the sand and the rise and fall of the tides, the ground we search inland changes as well, just not quite as fast nor quite as obviously. I was raised in the country. I have gone into the pasture and picked up rock after rock and tossed them into a trailer pulled by a tractor. In a year or two or three we'd have to go back into the same pasture and pick up rocks again. 


I learnt early on that the earth is constantly pushing things out of the ground. I remember wishing that I could see how this worked, but I accepted the fact that nature was constantly re-arranging underfoot. On the other hand, nature also covers some items, making it impossible to see things that were visible only a few years earlier. So, I suppose  the best word would be 'FLUX'.. Nature is in a constant state of flux and rearrangement.


That's why detectorist's search the same locations over and over.


When they search a third and fourth time much of the 'junk' has already been removed, cutting down on the false reads. Yet, coins and relics that were not detectable months earlier have now moved enough, due in part to rain and heat and cold,that they are picked up by the detectors.


I won't even bring up the fact that one detectorist, searching directly behind another, will find items the first one missed. Maybe their detectors were set on different levels of discrimination, or maybe they simply misread the signal. Who knows...


I do know that the top practitioners in the world will be quick to tell you about the amazing finds they have unearthed the second or fifth time they searched a site.

So remember... NO excuses..   
  

Where to Find Real Treasure..

Metal Detecting is just like fishing... if you don't know WHERE to fish, I hope you enjoy the outdoors... because that's probably the only enjoyment you're going to get....

Oh.. you can probably find something of value almost anywhere. I'm not trying to be a killjoy. But a little research can go a long ways.

Although I've made a comparison between Metal Detecting and Fishing, I think you'll find metal detecting much easier. Fish move. I have a friend who does some serious striper (Bass) fishing. He lives about an hour and a half from the closest major striper lake. If he knows that he'll be on the lake the next morning, he will call several landings and get a heads up on where schools of striper are located. Then, he'll call a couple of friends who live on the lake and see what they have to say.   The point is... he does his research. Last time I went fishing with him, we caught our limit of striper, 10 each, that weighed out at 212 pounds. That's an average of almost 11 pounds each. As soon as we got the boat on the lake, he took off to a certain cove that was a solid 30 minute ride from where we put in. I didn't ask questions, because I knew he knew where to go to locate the fish. 

Have you been to the library to research local history books? They'll give you a great idea where businesses stood a hundred years ago. With a little research, you can discover where banks stood, where mercantile stores stood, and where people gathered to socialize, worship, work, and play. 

Here's an example of what a little 'extra' research will uncover...   

I'm lucky to live in a city that housed cantonments in both WWI and WWII. If you are into relic hunting, one of these locations would seem ideal. A quick search online will find you maps and detailed information about both camps.  One of the camps, Camp Wadsworth, served as one of America's primary army mobilization centers. Over 100,000 soldiers trained there from 1917 to 1919. In addition to the infrastructure necessary to support a vast number of soldiers, over 1000 wooden buildings, there were rows and rows of barracks (walled tents) and over eight miles of trenches for training purposes.

Aside from the infantrymen, who trained with the M1903 Springfield bolt action rifle, The 27th Division's 52nd Artillery Brigade was armed with three principle weapons; the French 75mm field gun, 155mm Schneider howitzers, and the British Stokes mortar. The French field gun in particular fired a shell that burst over the enemy and covered the immediate area with shrapnel.

Anyone currently searching this encampment with hopes of finding artillery shells will probably leave disappointed. Although they trained with live ammo, it was entirely too dangerous to train in the general location of Camp Wadsworth. 

They overcame the problem by building Camp Wadsworth's primary artillery and rifle range some 26 miles away, at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Artillery weapons were stored at the range, located some 5 miles from Glassy Mountain, now home to Cliffs of Glassy golf course (consistently rated one of top 5 Most Beautiful Golf Courses in America). Soldiers routinely had to hike the twenty-six miles to the range, effectively killing two birds with one stone.  The Artillery crews fired their rounds at Glassy Mountain and Hogback Mountain, while the infantrymen took aim on a rifle range constructed in the same area. 

A little research disclosed the church near where the artillery and rifle ranges were located. ( Oak Grove Baptist Church in Gowensville SC) The church is active to this day, so, it was easy to discern the exact location of the two ranges. Since it took the soldiers a full day to reach the range, it stands to reason that they had to continually pitch camp in the immediate area. This is where you search. Not Camp Wadsworth itself, but the secondary locations where soldiers actually ate outdoors, slept outdoors, and discharged their weapons. If the US military is good at one thing, aside from fighting, it's erasing any trace of their footprints at training  and data centers.

Again, all it took was a little research.

Like my friend with the boat, I want to hit the ground running. You can too, with a smidgen of insight...      

Metal Detectors - Where Do We Start?

I suppose the best place to start is a quick discussion of metal detectors for beginners. I'm not going to get into a discussion of specific metal detectors and what you should or should not buy. That's like trying to tell you to drink Pepsi instead of Coke, or drive a Ford instead of a Chevrolet.

In all honesty, if you are a beginner, I recommend going to a site that sells many different types of detectors, Kellycodetectors.com for example, and reading the reviews for the various detectors. Sites like this do not tend to 'play favorites', as they want to maintain their relationship with ALL their suppliers. Yes, you will get a wide array of opinions from the readership, but you eventually begin to see a 'trend' among those offering advise.

You are going to pay somewhere between $150.00 and $250.00 for a good, basic detector. Don't get sucked in by all the many features. (Use the KISS principle... Keep it Simple Stupid) Your first detector doesn't need all the bells and whistles, since you don't know what features you REALLY need and which ones you can live without. What IS important is that you buy a detector that will find treasure and has a quick learning curve. You don't want to go out your first few times and not have a clue what you're doing. That's a sure-fire way to become discouraged before you experience the joys of discovery. 

Look for a 'name' brand metal detector - something like a White's Coinmaster or a Garrett Ace 250 in the price range I mentioned.  I speak from experience. The reviews for both of these detectors are consistently good. Also consider Tesoro, Bounty Hunter, Fisher, and Technetics.   

Oh, there's always the odd sort who thinks that any detector less than $500.00 is junk, but you can ignore their diatribe.   With ground balancing preset at the factory, you can literally cut the unit on.. and start detecting immediately. You'll discern the fine points as you go along, but you'll have a blast in the meanwhile.

Although I'm not putting down or ignoring other brands, White's and Garrett, by virtue of their many years in the industry, tend to have a higher resell value if you decide you want to upgrade. But, like most serious detectorist's, you'll most likely keep your unit as a back-up, as you and your detector will have shared many a finds.

One last 'rule of thumb'... instead of trying to see how cheaply you can purchase your first detector, buy as expensive a unit as you can comfortably afford. As I said, this will probably become your back-up unit if you decide to upgrade. But, then again, this unit may prove to be all you need....     

Welcome to 'Metal Detecting For Fun and Profit'

Hi All... This is our first post, and the first of many. We are all about metal detecting, especially for the beginner to intermediate users who still have a gazillion questions and a real thurst for knowledge. Expert users will discover new tips and tricks from others as well. We want to include everyone of every skill level in the discussions.

Look for more posts in the next few days, as we set up the site design and layout. My names Rick, and I sincerely hope to be your guide into the world of metal detecting for fun and profit.