NWCindy yes I do that already. Sometimes I to dig up a target either to get it out of way or just out of curiosity. In a old fairground in a farming community there are a number of horse shoes and pieces of various farm implements that were and still are displayed there. The other thing that there is no shortage of are discarded empty food cans bottle caps, and common nails.
After all those year of thinking I was good I found out I wasn't as good as I thought. Now in my retirement that I have the time to devote to become good and proficient. Time to learn new tricks I have very little to do. Yard, garden, metal detecting sounds good to me. Exercise fresh air, the great outdoors. The only down side is Iowa in the winter with snow and cold temperatures. That will give me time for research and reading.
Thank you for your help. I will keep reading the forum and practice what you all preach.
Senior Deacon