~Becoming a Successful Nuggetshooter~
Tips that may help you find more gold ....

Research-  Without a doubt, research is a key factor in becoming a more successful electronic prospector.  Today with access to the Internet, you can find tons of material about various gold fields throughout the world. Prospectors can benefit by books, old bulletins, publications,  Geologic Maps, and researching your State Universities.  The old saying is, "To find gold, go where gold been found."  I believe this is an accurate statement.  Find the old placer workings (if present) and extend your search to possibly find overlooked areas.  Contact the governmental organizations regarding the area where you intend to prospect.  Also, find out the land status, driving hundreds of miles to find out the areas is off limits could be a real heart breaker!!

Quality Detector-  Purchase a detector that is known to find gold nuggets.  Many detectors are multi-use detectors, and these might not be the best choice for searching for gold nuggets in mineralized areas.  Old BFO & TR detectors are things of the past.  Purchase a good VLF or PI detector to have the best results.  There are at least a dozen manufactures of quality detectors, find the one that suits you best.  For mineralized areas consider the Pulse Induction (PI's) detectors.

Quality Accessories-  There are many accessories that may increase the detector's performance.  A good set of high impedance headphones is a must.  Try to match the impedance of the headphones to your detector if possible.  Some headphones work great on certain detectors, while not as well on others. 

An Audio Booster/Signal Enhancer can increase faint target sounds, but could also increase background noise while detecting.

Most detector manufactures make a variety of searchcoils in different sizes and configurations (DD, DD Pro, Mono & Salt).  Coiltek & Nuggetfinder make aftermarket accessories for the Minelab SD/GP series detectors.  Generally smaller loops work best for tight areas and smaller gold near the surface.  Larger searchcoils cover more ground, have less sensitivity to smaller gold, but get much more depth (depending on the size of the coil and target). 

A good digger (Prospecting Pick)  will increase digging speed.  Consider a lightweight metal pick, or a pick that has a strong wooden handle. 

A strong Super Magnet is also helpful in areas that may have a lot of iron trash.  A Super Magnet will save time when digging in areas with an abundance of iron rubbish.

GPS (Global Positioning)-  The use of GPS handheld units are great.  Now you can mark a spot of interest or even places where you find nuggets.  You will never get lost and you can always find your way back to a particular point that was saved on the GPS unit.  Technology is only making prospecting easier and more fun!!

Knowing your Detector-  It is best to learn how to use your detector before entering the gold fields.  Read the operating manual very thorough and make sure you understand what it's telling you.  When in doubt, contact the manufacture for more information or help.  Some manufactures have Videos and Audio Cassettes available.  Consider field instructions from the dealer you purchased from, if available.

Proper Coil Movements-  A common error is coil speed and movement.  Many detectorist detect like they are swinging a golf club.  Keep the coil as close as you can to the ground and move over and around obstructions to maximum your chances.  Don't worry about scratching the bottom of the coil, most searchcoils have a factory skid plate.  Over lap swings to eliminate missing possible nuggets. 

VLF detectors seem to respond better with a quicker coil swing, while PI's are much slower. 

The old saying for a PI detector is, "Low and Slow!!"

Relax and enjoy-  Don't tense up, enjoy the outdoors and all that comes with it.  Occasionally, take breaks to avoid exhaustion.  Be observant, look for signs such as red soil, iron stones, rusty or rotten quartz and even vegetation to select the direction in which you detect.  If you have a "gut feeling," go with what your mind & body are telling you.  Sometimes you might just surprise yourself!!

Old workings-  Look for signs of old workings while detecting.  These areas may hold potential for nuggets that have been missed.  Dig, rake and even kick down old dry washer piles to see if there are any missed values.  A few inches removed, are a few more inches that you can detect.  Sometimes, just an inch, can make a big difference.

Keep Reports or Records-  Always keep notes on where you have found gold.  Keeping a log on your finds can allow you to refer back to the places where you have been most successful.  Technology is always advancing, and going back to old spots with newer technologies can be rewarding.  The GPS is an important tool for keeping records on specific spots of interest.  Consider maybe even a computer spreadsheet to log recent finds.

Keep a Positive Mind-  Confidence is very important in electronic prospecting.  Believe in yourself and the equipment that you are using.  Negative thoughts are the first steps to failure.  Believe that there is going to be a nugget on the next search coil swing.  When you get discouraged, take a break, don't give up too early.  Trashy areas can be discouraging, but sizable nuggets have been found in trashy areas such as placer camps.  Dig all targets, when you start overlooking and not digging targets, it's time to go home.

Spare Parts- Murphy's Law, when your finding gold, something is bound to break or go wrong!  Always carry extra parts and accessories to eliminate down time.  Extra batteries, lower shafts, spare power cords and even a backup detector might be worthwhile.  A general rule that I use it to make sure everything is working properly before heading away from your vehicle.  Too many times I have hiked several miles to realize the detector is not working for some odd reason.  Take a few seconds before leaving the vehicle to inspect your detector and gear.

Get Access or Permission-  High grading is not taken lightly in this field.  Technically it's stealing, and you may get into serious trouble.  Always try to get permission or access to an area before nugget hunting.  A general rule:  If the area looks claimed, then it probably is.  Areas such as State Trust Land and Patented Properties are off limits to metal detectorist.  Obtain a land surface map to find out the status of the land in which you intend to prospect.  Local BLM offices usually have them in stock.   Honesty is the best policy!!  Tell the claim owner your intentions and you may get permission to hunt freely.

Fill in Your Holes!-  Over the years the BLM, Forest Service and other Government agencies have gotten much stricter on rules and regulations.  Leaving open holes when prospecting only gives them more firepower to use against us.  Remember, refill your holes, it only takes a few seconds at best!

Webmaster Note:  This article was written many years ago, so I'm in the process of updating a bunch of it. 

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