So I was out "free-styling" as the guys on American Pickers call it. I was riding around an area about 10 minutes from my house that's part of the "Civil War Trail" and just trying to find a place to hunt. Well there was this old looking house with a little stone building in the front and the building at the front of the property was definitely 1700's construction that is easily identified around here. So I said wth.. I'll go ask. (Completely ready to Break Contact once the shooting started) So I knocked on the door and guy came out, I put on my friendliest face, told him my name and told him I saw how historic his property was and that I would love the opportunity to do some metal detecting.. He looked pretty apprehensive at first and said he only let's these two guys from.. well we'll just say it's a state further north to come MD his property and that it was probably picker over, but he said he'd show me some areas within sight of his property I should probably tryout. After we kept chatting for a while he asked " well.. do you have your equipment here?" I said I did and he said oh wth.. you can give it a go.. those other guys weren't actually here for very long and as far as he knew I was only the 3rd guy to ever be here with a detector. He later came out and we talked some more and he told me I could come here anytime I wanted. I told him I would call first and he said don't bother. I asked him what he liked to drink he said beer and the more redneck the beer the better so I told him he'd know every time I had been there because a 12 pack would be under his patio. From my estimate the entire property is at least 50 acres. He said the original house was built in the 1700s and was probably built as a hunting lodge by Lord Fairfax. The barn on the property which you'll what's left was burned down my Gen Sheridan in the Civil War. We sat and talked a long time and he went into the details of the history he knew about the property and area... let's just say AMAZING and I couldn't have found a better place or a nicer couple (I met his wife later and she was as just as sweet and gracious as he was)
After about 4 hours of digging it was getting dark and I didn't find anything like buttons or civil war relics but I did find a lot of period artifacts and covered WAAY less than 1% of the property. Just that place alone will keep me busy for a year or more. I'll be hitting it at least every Saturday. I'll post some videos and pics of my finds.
So... never be afraid to ask. Yeah... you might get shot at.. but they just might say "YES"!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGdmMKgBt3U
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on asking and making some new friends. Please keep is posted on your future hunts,
Originally Posted by ODA 226
