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.
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!
