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Thread: Gold detecting in Idaho

  1. #1

    Gold detecting in Idaho

    I have been invited to visit my cousin [both of us are retired |). I currently have used an E-trac and I am curious if they are effective in finding gold nuggets as they are finding coins. If they aren't can someone recommend a metal detector that would be suitable for idaho's soil conditions.

  2. #2
    Elite Member CODY's Avatar
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    Re: Gold detecting in Idaho

    Can't help you on that one. But please keep us updated on your hunt. I have always wanted to try nugget hunting. Good Luck & HH
    2013 28 Silvers
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  3. #3

    Re: Gold detecting in Idaho

    best of luck on nugget hunting,no gold in my state,bummer.and welcome to the forum.
    M6 / DX-1 / 6x10 DD & M6/DX-1/ stock coil
    Pontiac IL.

  4. #4
    Global Moderator Fire Fighter 43's Avatar
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    Re: Gold detecting in Idaho

    Welcome to the forum from SE Wisconsin. I'm not sure how the Etrac will respond on nuggets. If you can afford a new machine I know they make detectors just for nugget hunting. Good Luck.


    Minelab Equinox 800, 15”Coiltek, 11” & 6”coils

    XP Deus II , 11", 9” & 11x13 coils


    Detectors since 1977: Simplex, DEUS, CTX 3030, F75 Ltd, Etrac, Excal II, V3i, DFX, GTI2000, Eagle II, 6000DI, 6DB, AlaskanTR4B, Beachcomber

  5. #5

    Re: Gold detecting in Idaho

    Nice to have you here kurt.
    Sounds like you have a great time ahead of you. As Fire Fighter 43 has said, there are
    incredible Minelab machines out there geared specifically for gold and nuggets.
    Let us know how you do. :->

  6. #6
    Owner/Administrator Epi-hunter's Avatar
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    Re: Gold detecting in Idaho

    Hey kurt, and welcome!

    If I were specifically hunting for gold nuggets I would not pick an E-Trac. To repeat what several have said, if you are going to buy a detector specifically for gold, there are several made for just that.

    Minelab E-Trac/Sun Ray X-1 -- Minelab Sovereign GT/Sun Ray S-1 -- White's v3i/Sun Ray DX-1
    Fisher CZ3D -- Tesoro Tiger Shark -- Garrett ACE 250


  7. #7
    Administrator del's Avatar
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    Re: Gold detecting in Idaho

    hello Kurt , welcome to the forum . the e-trac wll find gold but only down to a certain size , if you plan on nugget shooting you might want to look at other machines specifically designed to find it as small as the size of a pin head. machines like the minelab gpx series , the 4500 ,4800 and the 5000 are great machines but expensive . Whites have the GMT and the TDI pro and sl machines that do very well , then theres the Garret machines the scorpion gold stinger and the AT gold.

    Dan
    "Honesty is an expensive gift ,
    so don't expect it from cheap people"

    XP Deus II , DFX ,TDI sl -

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  8. #8
    Global Moderator aloldstuff's Avatar
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    Re: Gold detecting in Idaho

    What everybody else said....welcome to the forum and please keep us posted. Nugget hunting is out of my territory (Mass) but its something I would love to do.
    V3i- Prism IV- Pro Pointer
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  9. #9

    Re: Gold detecting in Idaho

    My friend hunts with a White's V3i. And he has had trouble overcoming its learning curve. Would the White's machines you have suggested have a similar steep learning curve? With my e-trac, I just turned it on and started finding coins.
    That said I stared my metal detecting career with a Garrett machine, then went to a White's coinmaster in the early 80's. By the mid 80's I was using Fisher machines. Then my two daughters were born . Both just graduated from college and I have returned to the activity I love.

  10. #10
    Elite Member tanacat's Avatar
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    Re: Gold detecting in Idaho

    Welcome from Kentucky!

    I'm envious that you guys are retired I have about 20 yrs to go lol

    I'm a V3i user but want to try out the ETrac & perhaps get one... There are quite a few on this forum and boy do they pull out the deeeep silver stretcher:
    Oldest silver-- 1838o seated dime (no stars)
    Oldest copper-- 1820 LC

    White's V3i, Coinmaster, XLT, Prism IV, Whites new TRX PP- Love it!!! Garretts PP

  11. #11

    Re: Gold detecting in Idaho

    Retirement is great. We hunt everyday it doesn't rain. As I stated earlier my friend has a V3i like you do. I have found silver and he hasn't. >:# Getting back to Idaho, if I put a smaller coil on my e-trac would that help finding smaller gold nuggets? And if the answer is yes, which coil would you recommend?

  12. #12
    Owner/Administrator Epi-hunter's Avatar
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    Re: Gold detecting in Idaho

    Theoretically a smaller coil should be better, but I don't think you are going to find small gold nuggets with the E-Trac, no matter what coil you put on it, sorry to say :-\

    Try doing an air test with some gold rings, gold chains, etc. The machine will find gold but it doesn't hit well at all on small gold in my experience. I also own the v3i (although much less experienced with it) but I think it does better on gold than the E-Trac. Still, I don't think a v3i would hit on small nuggets either. You really need a high frequency gold detector to find the smaller nuggets in my opinion.
    Minelab E-Trac/Sun Ray X-1 -- Minelab Sovereign GT/Sun Ray S-1 -- White's v3i/Sun Ray DX-1
    Fisher CZ3D -- Tesoro Tiger Shark -- Garrett ACE 250


  13. #13

    Re: Gold detecting in Idaho

    Hmmmmm. Now I am forced into a big decision...finish remodeling the half bath downstairs or buying another metal detector..... tough decision...

  14. #14

    Re: Gold detecting in Idaho

    Welcome to the forum Kurt, did you go for the new detector?
    On Instagram- oxshoedrew

  15. #15

    Re: Gold detecting in Idaho

    Not yet. Trip has been postponed until the Fall. Still researching.

  16. #16

    Re: Gold detecting in Idaho

    You may want to also check out the Fisher Gold BUg 2, thats all a buddy of mine will use for gold.

  17. #17

    Re: Gold detecting in Idaho

    Welcome to the forum from Long Island NY

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