Having spent mst of my life in New Jersey, I can relate to the winter blues. On those days when it was bitterly cold, there was a foot of snow on the ground, and darkness came early, how I longed for spring and summer, when I could get out and swing the ole detector. I literally counted the days,k but nothing seemed to make up for this dismal time of year. After about two years of this self-imposed exile I began to realize that there were indeed things I could do to improve my treasure hunting efforts.
First, I began to keep my detector near the dining room table, and almost every evening I would pass various items over the searchcoil, trying to ascertan patterns on the meter or variations in the audio. It did not take too longt to recognize the difference between nails, coins, bottle caps, and other metallic items. I didn't become an expert, but I started to become more familiar with my metal detector, and what it was telling me. I continued this practice for years, and while I am not faced with harsh winters here in Texas, I still periodically do this just to be sure my machine is in good working order. Instead a meter I now study the graphic readouts of my DFX, using the White's Test Stix.
Next I realized that while it was indeed cold outside, I could still get in my car and rive around the area, looking for potential detecting sites. Winter did not have to interfere with that, and it was also a useful time to check out those overgrown sites I had come ujpon previously. The vegetation wasn't so threatening, and it was even possible in a few cases to hack away some of the overgrowth, and detect some. Driving around your town, city or countryside can be extremely rewarding if you know what to look for...vacant lots, old homesites, old churches, possible swimming holes, just to name a few.
Winter was also a good time to clean up my clad finds, and to double check the dates to be sure I hadn't overlooked a key or semi-key coin. With all the various low mintage, overdate and double die coins, anything was possible. Likewise, it was a good time to roll and cash in those that were simply common date clunkers. The money I received I saved until I could afford to purchase a key or semi-key coin that would appreciate in value over time.
Take advantage of the winter months to clean your detector and accessories. Not big deal, but keeping it free of dirt, dust and corrosion will pay dividends down the road. Cleaning a metal detector is not an involved process, and usuall all that is needed is a wet cotton cloth and a small container of warm water with a drop or two of dish liquid.
Take your detector apart (coil, stem, control box, etc.) then wipe the control box down, being careful not to allow water to seep inside any of the minute openings. Clean all the nooks and crannies, and then do the same to the bottom of your searchcoils. Do not overlook the searchcoil cable itself. The can become extremely crusty and inflexible with daily, in-the-field use. Cleaning your detector along with your digging tools, water scoops and waders, will leave you with one less thing to do when spring arrives, and the hunting begins.
Winter is also a great time to obtain permission from those landowners you've meaning to contact. You've been drooling over the possibility of hunting that old picnic grove, one room school, or carnival area, so why not go find out if it's ever going to materialize? What do you have to lose? Remember you can't hunt the area now so a "no" merely keeps you at status quo. Don't bashful, and don't be pessimistic. Plan your strategy and then go for it. You might be pleasantly surprised.
If there's an area that intriques you, and you don't know who owns it, go online and find out. Check the communite tax records...they are available for almost every town or city today. Properties can be found by address or by their location on a map. Once found, the name and address of the owner(s) will be listed. All the information you need to take that next step.
Use Google or another favorite search engine, and type in keywords pertinent to you with the name of your town, county and state. Next try adding dates, and key words like one room schools, history, robbery, centennial, carnival, circus, grove, railroad, amusement park, and so on. The list is endless, and limited only your lack of thought or imagination. The internet is a limitless source of information, so e sure to take advantage of it as you prepare to pursue your favorite pastime.
While you are online get involved in the many forums available to the detectorist. You will find others who love the pastime as much as you, and who not only have many of the same questions you have, but may also have the answers. There's no better place to learn, and believe it or not, you will begin to make friends people you may never meet, but feel close to simply by sharing your ideas, tips, questions and experiences. This type of interaction does wonders for you spirit, especially over the long cold winter months.
Don't let the winter doldrums get you down. Let it be a productive time for you. Sooner or later the weather will break, the season will begin, if you've done your homework over the winter, you will be far ahead of the competition. Good hunting...see you in the field.
