If you had the money to go to a pay dig which, would it be ,and would you pay the extra to see more dirt,or hand-dig? And of coarse, why? Thanks for the help ahead of time,I cant seem to make this decision on my own, need help.

Do you mean screen dig verses hand dig? If so, the wife and I got into a deep discusion on the matter. How much dirt can a digger dig in an 8 hour day? How much dirt can a screener go through? I'd just emailed Hal on it. Let's say you can dig the equivelent of two bobcat buckets at Palmers (previously priced $125) and 10 buckets on the screen at Nacho's or TJ's for $200. Think the screening would be a savings of $400 on that amount of dirt. It's just my personal feelings, but a point dug,screened, or surface found, is still exciting. And the chances are probably only a little more on a point being broken by a front end loader verses an eager wiggle pick swinger. At least on the screen you can blame somebody else for the break. I know Melvin was kicking himself when he chipped that double based point he found on his first dig attempt.

Cant help you out I have only been to one of those pay digging places and It was not to dig Just BS and meet people.

I have my own dirt with several levels of occupation I dig when I want as long or short of timesome times it is enough to fill a 5 gallon bucket one time or 50 times sorry I cant help much with your decision.

I have had most my luck with TJs dig sites sifting but have seen good points found at Nachos to. If I had the money for a pay dig I would go back Campwood and help finish TJs current dig .I like to hand dig a good midden but sifting is the most productive way I think

I just noticed my name IS on your list, I thought you didnt want a reply from someone whos name starts with
"shallow " [ digging ! ]

Would help all participants to know more details of your situation.

What are your personal priorities ?
Are you selling the finds to cover costs ? Are you looking to only improve the types of TX points in your collection ?
Is the cost of a dig a major factor ?
Have you ever been on a pay screen dig ? On a very productive hand dig ?

We'll put the answers on a wheel of fortune wheel and give it a spin !

Thanks for the input guys,Iappreciate it. I also have my own dirt ,but its hard and not as deep as I would like,but the points are in there. ANSWERS TO SURVEY Priority is to fullfill this nagging little arrowhead fetish I have. No, have no interest in selling they have to much meaning to me.YES,definatly want to expand my Texas artifact collection...BADLY! Cost is kind of afactor but I'm saving. I would give a body part to go to TJ's before they are done.No, I havn't been on a pay screen dig before , and finally SH,nope never been on a productive hand dig. Ionly dream of coming up with the stuff you guys find. Been to the Junction dig 2 times not productive, but the last time I went the find of the day was the base of a BASE TANG! most of the points Ihave in my 1 case came from my property.Anyways ther you SH ,give it a good spin! Thanks again to all.

Here's my spin Will using your first post objectives then backed up with your resume details.. . .

Find 100 bucks plus gas money and try to get a 1/2 day at the TJ Camp W site before Monday.
Thats a rare site, almost everything is Early Archaic to a smattering of mid Archaic & Transitiional Paleo.
The pics you see of Flo's half day is excellent value.
By the book, just that Angostura alone is in the $300. range. With the bonus' all those other old
points [ even old brokes are collectables ]

After Monday [ make it or not ] I would recomend a couple of "normal" screen digs. They will quickly grow your collection and get you some experience.
I know people that do screen digs ONLY.

Even in the best of hand digs you may be confronted with variables you cant control which in turn means
more work, less points per day thus wasted money. like; ; ;
Is this a good spot for me to dig ?
How long will it take to clear the last diggers leavings ?
Am I going deep enough ?
The direct sun is killing me, wonder if there is any good area under the trees ?
The flint flakes I see is in the concrete layer.
The flint I see occasionally after the rain is all in this black jelly !
There are more challenges.

After the Camp W cleanup, TJ has got a new site linned up a lot closer to Bandara. Look for what type of points they will be finding.

Another neat suggestion for your situation would be if TJ still kept some operation going in Vanderpool.
Do a half day hand digging then half day screening.
Long day but you'll be a veteran after 12 hours !.
Look at the last few months postings, I think the Te & Mel army did it that way once.

A huge major flub I see many times from folks in your situation.. . . They properly do the right
homework, like what was the last finds, how's the WX,
what kind of flint etc, all info readily gotten from
the dig operator.[ not necessarily posted pics that could be who knows how old ]
The FLUB is to say, " right, thats for me, soon as my Obama recovery money comes in. . . I'm gone "

No site lasts forever and the reported good area can change to poor in one single day.
Once you see what you like , , , do it.

See Ya at Digfest.

I agree with Hal. On one of our trips to Vanderpool, the morning was great, the afternoon was nothing but load after load of midden rock and ash. Then right at quitting time Victor found a 5" base tang. He gave a quick quesstimate on it and figured he could easily get $800 for it. We've gone through many a load with zero finds, then all the sudden a perd or andice would pop out. Just never know where the old Indian dropped that favorite point and couldn't find it.

Thanks again for the advice guys , all that's left to do is sell it to my wife Hope I'm able to go. how many people to a screen at TJ's?

Each site is different. At Vanderpool, TJ was just running 3 - 4 tables. The wife and I had a table to ourselves, and Melvin's group had their own table. There normally were 8 - 12 people each time we went. Our group and one or two other small groups. They usually had a table each. At Camnpwood, he had his tables and groups and Nacho has his. Wife and I had a screen to ourslelves again, as did a couple of others. Hal was by himself. I think Hal counted 20 people. I didn't count the tables, but I figure 8 to 10, kept the operators busy keeping dirt on the screen. At Vanderpool, you can switch between screening and digging.

Thanks Tehuacana, be awesome if I could just get 2 to a screen . Is your group going back before it closes?

Unfortunately no, we have a casino trip next month and are putting our resources into that. I'm already having DT's on not going one more time to Campwood, but we're planning on hitting TJ's Vanderpool site when we get back. My screening buddy Melvin is already $2,500 in the hole, school clothes for his kids, etc. So he said it would take him a week or two to get back to being just broke. May catch you at Vanderpool or his new site opening later this year. It'll be closer to you.

Sounds like you have a bit of inside info.Besides vanderpool, how close are you talking ...say fom Kerrville? that,s pretty exciting news Tehuacana, Good luck at the casino! duhhhh,just saw SH said closer to Bandera,I'm blind. How soon?

TJ said it was near Palmers there in Pipe Creek. Think Cyrus said around November. Lot of great finds came out of Palmers, so I hope TJ has the same on his new site.

close enough for me , thanks Tehuacana ! And november is just perfect

If I remember correctly, I think you were out in the Mountain Home area. When TJ told us, I thought of you. It's a little further for us, I have in-laws in Bandera, so we can stop in on the way back for a quick visit. But as Scrat Hal can tell you, we looked like Pigpen from Charlie Brown when we came back from Campwood. Just a cloud of walking dust. So they may not want us to stay for long. Yee Haw.

Your right Tehuacana, Mt. Home it is! Hope to meet you in person some day. Happy diggin' Oh, and I like dirty!