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Date Posted: 20:49:26 03/15/02 Fri
Author: Ralph
Subject: ARTICLE - The Secrets of "Becoming" a Good Detectorist!

The Secrets of "Becoming" a Good Detectorist!

Repost From The Original NuggetShooter's Gold and Prospecting Forum -- July 16, 2000 at 21:25:27:

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Imagine for a moment the vast numbers of metal detectors that have been sold by the various manufacturers over the years. Thousands ? Tens of thousands, or even HUNDREDS of thousands ?

Now, think of the large percentages of those same detectors that were used a few times and then relegated to the hallway closet.

Why ?

There are many reasons. Lack of interest or a quick "loss" of interest is the most common, whether because the detector was received as an unwanted gift, or simply because the fantasy of "getting rich" and finding all of the fabulous "treasures" constantly paraded throughout the treasure magazines and detector advertisements just never materialize overnight.

Most of those fabulous finds are the result of hard work, and LOTS OF IT. Of course there are other factors involved too, but what REALLY are the secrets of becoming a good detectorist ?

I think we can safely separate the "basics" into three categories.

1. Knowledge

2. Persistence

3. "Luck"

Knowledge is one of the first basics involved, obviously. You cannot realisticly expect to pick up a good metal detector and instinctively know how to use it. This is especially true for the beginner. It takes dedication and a willingness to learn your machine in the beginning, but more than that, the persistence to keep on learning more and more about it each time you use it.

Learning the basic controls of any detector is fundamental, obviously, but the "understanding" of the internal and external conditions that effect how and why a metal detector works in the first place is just as important if you ever expect to achieve much more than a passing proficiency with your machine.

Still, having the best detector in the world and the most comprehensive understanding of how and why it works are of little benefit if you do not know WHERE to detect. In very simple words......"If there ain't no treasure to be found, you ain't gonna find it......" Too many times the industry "HYPE" tends to make some think that there are fabulous riches buried anywhere you happen to want to search. Unfortunately, that just isn't so. Like your knowledge of the machine itself, the knowledge of "where" to best put that machine to use is an acquired skill.

But now that you have that "acquired knowledge", or at least a good basic understanding of how and where to use your machine, keeping at it, or "PERSISTENCE", will have a great bearing on your success. You can't expect to sit down at a piano and begin playing perfect classical recitals on your first try. Metal detecting, just as any worthwhile endeavor, takes practice, patience, and persistence.

The more you swing your coil, the more you learn about your machine, that's true. But the more you swing the coil, the more ground you cover, and the better your odds become of running your coil over that "once in a lifetime" target or group of targets. But "detecting" in and of itself is only half of the equation.

DIGGING is the other half, and the more targets you dig, the better you learn your machine as well as increasing your odds of finding the better "treasures". All too many times, people buy detectors expecting the rewards to be handed to them on a silver platter. That is akin to buying a hammer and expecting IT to build a house for you.

The "tool" is only a part of the entire process, and persistence, practice, and "patience" are the most important keys to your ultimate success.

Finally there is the one factor in successful detecting that most of us refer to as LUCK.

But what exactly is "luck". Surely it's not anything bestowed upon us indiscriminately by the Gods as so popularly believed in ancient days. I think more likely, it is the "culmination of the rewards of being prepared".

That involves all of the above factors, including the basics of knowledge, knowing how and where to hunt, how to use your machine, how to make it do what you need it to do under particular circumstances, being persistent and not giving up when every once in awhile (or more often) you happen to come home empty handed, and having the patience to keep on trying, to keep on practicing until you understand your detectors language even better than the day before.

"Luck", in reality, is being ready and able to take advantage of any situation that might present itself, and the knowledge to "recognize" it when it appears.

Becoming a good detectorist is just that..... "Becoming" !

It doesn't happen overnight, and it is something that takes dedication to achieve. Any skill or ability worth having is worth learning, and understanding that we never really reach the point of "perfecting".

It is a constant and never ending learning process, and the sooner you will admit that to yourself, and understand from the very start of your detecting hobby that it's not always "easy", then the sooner you will be on the road to becoming one of the perhaps 5 or 10 percent of those who ever become truly proficient and successful with a metal detector, whether your interests be coinshooting, relic hunting, or gold prospecting.

Take the time to learn, never give up, and most of all, "GOOD LUCK"........

Ralph

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