13 Common Places To Go Metal Detecting

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Cory Haasnoot

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When you are new to this hobby you are probably wondering where in the world can I go metal detecting that is near where I live and that is legal? In the following article, I give you 13 common places where you can go metal detecting. You first want to make sure that you have permission before metal detecting at any of these sites. If it’s not your own property you want to leave the grounds as if you never were there. You do this by making sure you fill in any holes that you may have dug and put any grass clumps back the way they were.

By following some basic metal detecting ethics and abiding by all the laws then you will more than likely be asked back by the property owner.


Quick View: 13 Common Places To Go Metal Detecting

BeachesWoods
Your Own BackyardGardens
DitchesNeighbors Yard
ParksBattlefield Sites
Farm FieldsStadiums and Bleachers
Abandoned LotsDeserted Towns
Churches

1. Beaches

Beaches are an excellent place to take your metal detector to. Many beaches have hundreds of people that visit them every year and you could find a small fortune in coins and jewelry that people have dropped or miss placed.

The best part about metal detecting at beaches is that there is no clean-up afterward. No holes to fill in or grass divets to replace. Just make sure you have permission before metal detecting on private beaches and for public beaches, you might need a permit so check your local laws to make sure you have the right permit before you dig.

Check the areas where people lay down their towels because this is where people will have lost most of their valuables and they also take their valuables off like rings and earrings before they go swimming. A treasure trove can be found at beaches so definitely give them a try the next time you go treasure hunting!


2. Your Own Backyard

Your own backyard or a piece of land that you own can be a great place to metal detect. Even better if people have lived there before you and if there were other buildings on the land that have been taken down.

When metal detecting on your own land you don’t have to worry about filling the holes back in if you don’t want but you probably will want to do that anyway to keep your property looking nice.

On your own land, you don’t need permits or permission and you can go treasure hunting anytime you want day or night! 

Before digging you will want to call your electric company and have them mark off where the electric cables are buried in the ground. The last thing you want is to dig into an electric wire in the ground and get electrocuted. No treasure is worth that!


3. Ditches

Ditches alongside the road are overlooked places to go metal detecting. Vehicles end up breaking down and people get out and might lose change or other valuables.

Make sure to watch for cars when metal detecting in ditches because you don’t want to get sideswiped or hit. 

You also will want to wear bright clothes or a fluorescent green vest for your safety. Check the laws in your state before hitting the ditches to make sure that it’s legal.

Other than alongside the road drainage ditches are an excellent place to metal detect. Coins and jewelry can be washed away and end up in the drainage ditches so check them out as well.


4. Parks

Many people congregate at parks because parks will have fairs or concerts and with all these people going to these events they will be losing coins and jewelry that fall out of their pockets or off their person. 

Great places to detect first around the area that vendors might be selling things or around trees and bushes where people will sometimes lay out a towel and have a picnic.

Usually, you will need permission or a permit to metal detect in parks so make sure you do your due diligence before digging in parks and have your documents on hand before you start treasure hunting at parks.

It’s very important that you fill back in any holes that you have dug so that you will be able to come back again for more treasure hunting adventures. I would have to say that parks are probably one of the best places to go metal detecting because of all the people that visit parks each year.


5. Farm Fields

Farm fields can be an overlooked area to do some metal detecting. You want to look for fields that have had old trade posts on or old farmsteads. Do a search of the history of your area and you could come up with some very valuable information.

Make sure you get permission from the landowner before you start digging in farm fields. Fields that have been plowed are ideal for finding metal that has been brought to the surface.

I have gone on digs on my parent’s farm fields and have found coins and old tools from long ago. You will never know what you might find until you start detecting.

You might have to do some traveling to find farm fields to treasure hunt at but there are millions of acres of farm fields across America and you shouldn’t have trouble finding a valuable place to dig at.


6. Abandoned Lots

Abandoned lots where buildings once stood are a great place to go metal detecting. Lots that once had businesses on are perfect because where there once was a business people exchanged money there.

You could end up finding a lot of old coins that might have fallen out of people’s pockets or that were lodged in the floorboards of old buildings and have since fallen into the dirt when the old buildings were taken down.

If your a coin collecting then abandoned lots would be a perfect place to go coin detecting.

Before detecting abandoned lots ask permission from the owner of the lot and or get permits if necessary in your area. 


7. Churches

Old churches and the grounds around them are some of the oldest places people have congregated. People give financially at churches so you know some of those offerings have fallen to the ground.

People visit the graveyards as well as loose coins and other valuables. Don’t disturb the gravesites themselves but you can certainly detect around the fences and walkways.

Chances are you will find a wealth of old coins by digging in the dirt around old churches.


8. Woods

Check out wooded areas where people hunt. People for centuries have used the woods as gathering places and millions of people hike every year. So if you can find a footpath in the woods you have found a great place to do some metal detecting.

You will want to ask permission from the landowner before detecting in the woods. And make sure it’s not hunting season because you don’t want to get shot! Any time you detect in the woods you should wear bright orange clothing just in case there might be someone hunting.


Digging Deeper: How to Metal Detect in the Woods


9. Gardens

One place you might overlook is metal detecting on gardens. Especially old gardens where people have congregated in the past. Gardens used to be a place where families spent their time. You could find old coins, toys, and other valuables from the past.

Old estates that have huge abandoned gardens are also a great place to dig. Like always ask permission before digging on other people’s land.


10. Neighbors Yard

Don’t forget about your neighbors. If you know your neighbor they would probably let you metal detect in their yard. Just make sure you are courteous and fill in any holes you have dug and don’t overstay your welcome. The only thing about metal detecting in your neighbor’s yard you might have to share any major finds with them.

And when metal detecting in your neighbor’s yard you don’t have to carry your metal detecting tools very far.


11. Battlefield Sites

I have to say that battlefield sites are an exciting place to metal detect at. You can find old bullets, belt buckles, coins, metal military decorations, tin cups you name it anything metal that was used during wartime. There are all kinds of finds that you might come across at an old battlefield site.

There were thousands of fights during the Civil War so there are many battlefields around the United States. Do a search on these sites and you will find plenty. You can also metal detect in the armies camps as well.

Make sure you get the necessary permission before digging at historical sites and you will have to report anything you find and where you found it.


Digging Deeper: Metal Detecting For Civil War Relics


12. Stadiums and Bleachers

Millions of people go to sporting events at stadiums and there are tons of metal things you could find in the bleachers and under the seats.

You could also detect the bleachers at your local school. Many people go to high school football games and they have money that they spend at the concession stands.

Get permission before detecting on public school grounds or sports stadiums. You could come away with a nice chunk of change from these places.


13. Deserted Towns

Remember the gold rush day? There were hundreds of old towns set up to appease the people with gold fever. Just do a search of old abandoned towns out west and you will find plenty.

In and around the old buildings of these towns you will find a treasure trove of old coins and artifacts. Place your metal detector around the door frames and floorboards and you will more than likely find something of value.

The transportation towns and old mining towns had thousands of people go through them during the gold rush. The history that lies around these deserted towns is amazing and exciting. If you get a chance definitely check these towns out and you could go home with some valuable finds!

Before detecting in these towns make sure it’s legal and you have permission. First and foremost make sure it’s safe to enter and be around the old buildings.


Conclusion- Common Places to go Metal Detecting

So now that you know 13 places to go metal detecting where will you go next? Metal detecting is fun and exciting, especially with all of the various places you can do it at. If you have any questions, comments, or would like to share where you have metal detected in the past please post them in the comments sections below.

Thanks for reading and Happy Treasure Hunting!

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Author: Cory Haasnoot

Cory Haasnoot is an author, entrepreneur, metal detecting enthusiast, antique, coin collector, and founder of Treasure Seekr.

2 thoughts on “13 Common Places To Go Metal Detecting”

  1. Thank you very much, my brother
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    5000 Hz to 8,500 Hz
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    Reply

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