Metal Detecting Forms

There are a variety of metal detectors on the market and there is not a metal detector that can do everything. That is why I own several different detectors. When looking for a metal detector, you want to have a basic idea of what you want to detect and where. Are you looking for gold nuggets? Do you want to hunt in highly mineralized soil? Are you a beginner and want a turn on and go detector? Do you want to hunt in salt water or fresh water? Narrowing down where and what you want to look for is key in determining which detector is right for you!

Once you have decided on your detector, you want to make sure you have all the accessories to get you going. A pouch, gloves, pinpointer, hand digger are important to have. If you are detecting on the beach, a sand scoop is a must have!

There are a number of places that you can detect but this varies from city, county and state. Starting in your own back yard and asking friends and relatives to detect in their yards is a perfect way to start out and practice on the perfect plug and leaving no evidence you were there.  

Pinpointers are a great tool to have. I am lost without mine! It makes narrowing down the target after you have dug your plug a lot easier. Sometimes we tend to dig deeper and the target is on the side of the hole and the pinpointer helps you recover the target quickly! 

If there was a detector that only found gold, I think we would all be rich! Unfortunately, gold is a low conductive metal so items like canslaw or pesky pulltabs ring up in the gold range. If you are digging those targets, keep at it because gold will come up eventually!

Joining a metal detecting club is something that I highly recommend. When I first started detecting, that is the first thing I did. I learned a lot from the fellow members and made a ton of friends along the way. 

Whenever you want to metal detect on a private property, you MUST have permission from the land owner. Not only is it part of the Metal Detecting Code of Ethics, but it is illegal to detect on someone's land without permission. You can knock on doors to ask for permission, look up the owners information via city records and call or email the owner. Do not be afraid to be told no when you ask for permission. Always look professional and not covered in dirt with a big shovel when knocking on the door of a potential permission. Always leave the property the way it was and take all trash with you. I personally always offer to show the home owner everything I find. Most of the time they are not interested in anything and tell me I can have it all. Some of my good friends carry a book that includes pictures of their finds and recoveries to show home owners which gives them credibility.