Hey guys! I would like to intorduce myself.

[bmelvin20]

Hey guys, how is it going? Well let me start off by saying the past two weeks have been my first time ever going out looking for one thing... Indian relics. I ran across this website about 4 weeks ago and it just struck me to be so amazing that with a little bit of time and knowledge you can go out and find something laying in a ditch that has not been touched in hundreds to thousands of years... WOW. After my 3 weeks and trying to do it totally on my own i decided to hit you guys up for some advice. By what i hear this is one of the hardest times of the year to hunt anyway but i cant wait till spring. I live in southern Illinois. Pretty much right in the middle between the Ohio and the Mississippi. Our creeks are high right now due to the rain and the fields are obviously not tilled up. Where should i be looking this time of the year? I have been thinking about taking a trip south towards the river (Ohio) every weekend but driving an hour without knowing where to start looking could turn into a big waste of time. I envy your guy's collections and can not wait to have one of my own... Heck i can not wait to hold my first point in my hand!

Brandon

[kirby]

Welcome Brandon. From the Little River Basin in Texas.

I am not familiar with your area, so I can't offer any good advice. But there are many people here that are and they undoubtedly will.

Hang in there. Once you find that first one, you're hooked!

[bmelvin20]

thanks kirby. I cant wait!

[ghost recon]

Welcome aboard Brandon. Sounds like you're in a productive area of the country to hunt and find artifacts. This time of year with high creeks and unplowed fields can be challenging and slow. In winter I look for spots that look promising and make a mental note of areas that might produce in the spring. Any naturally eroded areas above the flood plain near bodies of water can pay off. Also manmade ditches and construction areas around water can be promising as well. High spots above the ancient flood plain are what I focus on. Just a couple simple tips that really helped me out when I was starting out. Good luck on that first piece.

[Scotto]

Welcome to the forum, hope you have some spots to hunt and looking forward to seeing your finds.

[Steve Valentine]

Welcome aboard Brandon. You are in a prime spot to hunt for artifacts since you are in close proximity to the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. There should be a lot of potential for finding some nice pieces in your area.

Like Ghost stated, this time of year is hard to find spots to actually hunt since the rivers are up and the fields aren't turned, so I would concentrate on finding spots that look good and trying to obtain permission to hunt them this coming Spring. Look for fields that are above the flood plain, that have nice high ridges in them, and are close to rivers or streams and especially the confluence of the two. I would take a drive through your area and see if you can spot areas like this and talk to the farmers about getting permission to hunt them after they turn them.

Also, just a few tips when hunting. Get yourself a "flipping stick" to flip pieces out the ground. This will keep you from bending over to check every little piece of flint you see, which by the way you should do when you first start to make sure whether it is or isn't something. You stick can be as simple as an old broomstick with a nail in the end, and old ski pole, some use old golf clubs, and there are even some you can buy on the internet. I prefer the old broomstick myself.

If you wish to take "in situ" photos of your finds then either buy a decent digital camera or use an I-Phone if you have one.

Also, get yourself a pouch or packpack to carry your finds, some water, and other items you may want to take with you.

Most of all, just take your time in the fields. Try to walk one row at a time and back and forth row by row rather than just walking willy nilly through the field. You will cover the ground better and you will miss less doing it this way.

Just have fun and don't get discouraged if you aren't finding anything. Persistence is the key to this hobby. You may walk hours and find only brokes or nothing at all and then in the last hour find three killers. You just never know where that next find will be.

Happy Hunting!!!

[neralich]

Welcome from Missouri,,,

The area you live is archaeologically rich. Goodluck!!

Jason

[Rockit Man]

welcome aboard and keep your camera close so we can all enjoy seeing you with your first. good luck from Texas.

[lillyput]

Welcome Brandon, true sometimes all you get is exercise and fresh air Be patient and read everything you can find that relates to your area, the land, and what others have found. Nice paint!

[bmelvin20]

Thanks he's my buddy... lol I am just having a hard time cuz I want my first piece to kind of get the ball rolling. I wish I could find someone who also hints in my area who might take me along. Its hard to start something like this without any previous knowledge.