If you find simple trinkets on a public beach or private property, then you can probably keep those items. Some counties and parks require you to report any found item (in case someone has reported it lost), but most public beaches do not have that stipulation.
You can literally legally detect anywhere if you have permission. Federal and state lands are usually a no-no unless you can get permission. Beaches are usually a safe place for metal detecting, but regulations may restrict you from certain parts of the beach or from going in the water.
Very low-frequency metal detectors work through water and wet surfaces, but the circuits are more affected by mineralized ground. You can adjust sensitivity settings as you search to ensure VLF metal detectors work through mineralized surfaces.
20 Places to Metal Detect: A List of the Best Places to Go Metal
- Your own front and back yard.
- School Yards or Grounds.
- Sporting Fields.
- Old Drive-In Theaters.
- City Parks.
- Hunting Camps and Lodges.
- Beaches.
- Renaissance Fairs and Fair Grounds.
Underwater detectors can be used anywhere, both on wet and dry land. A popular hunting location is the beach, as there are lots of opportunities to find something valuable.
Best Beginner Metal Detector Reviews
- Nokta Makro Simplex+ The Simplex+ is our most expensive model in this lineup and will attract beginners who have a generous budget to start with.
- Garrett ACE 300.
- Fisher F22.
- Bounty Hunter Land Ranger Pro.
- Bounty Hunter TK4 Tracker IV.
- RM Rico Max GC-1037.
Not every creek and river out there has gold. From a practical sense it would be fair to say that most of them don't have any gold, or there is so little gold that it would be a waste of time trying to find it. Taking some extra time to research good locations is time well-invested.
Mapping Gold in Creeks
- Check where the shallow parts of the creek are.
- Search in between crevices and cracks of bedrock.
- ​Search along river bends or around objects like boulders that obstruct river flow.
- See if the river leads to an intersection or confluence.
- Check if the creek or river leads to a waterfall.
This leads to an important point: metal detectors will not detect non metal items such as gemstones, diamonds and pearls. What a metal detector can do is lead you to indicator minerals, which are used by prospectors. So, if you find gold, there may be a diamond rock nearby.
Every river in the world contains gold. However, some rivers contain so little gold that one could pan and sieve for years and not find even one small flake. After rigorous chemical analyses, rocks that are found to contain gold in levels where only one part in one million is gold can be professionally mined.
Everyone has their own reasons when it comes to starting a hobby. Metal detecting is no different. Regardless your reasons whether it be metal detecting for profit, for exercise, to explore the outdoors, or to just make some new friends, metal detecting is most certainly a hobby that is worth it.
The most common places to find placer gold is on the river beds. Usually when a gold-bearing vain get exposed due to weathering of the top rocks and other forces of nature the gold in the vain doesn't move far from the source.
Most metal detectors can detect objects about 4-8ʺ (10 - 20 cm) deep. In ideal conditions, a mid-range metal detector can reach 12-18ʺ (30-45 cm) underground. Some specialized detectors can go as deep as 65' (20 m).
The Antiquities Act of 1906 and The Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 are federal laws that were created to protect history and make it illegal in almost all cases to metal detect on federal land.
If you wish to metal-detect on land which is not your own, you must get permission from the landowner before you do so. If you metal-detect on land without consent, you may be charged with a criminal offence and you could be sued for damages.
Generally, it is illegal to surface collect, metal detect, or dig on any federal lands without a federal permit. Federal lands in Georgia include Corps of Engineers lakes and the lands around them managed by the Corps, U.S. Forests, National Parks, National Wildlife Refuges, and military bases.
There are some simple rules you can follow to make asking for permission to metal detect easier:
- Locate the Owner.
- Follow the Rules.
- Ask Face-to-Face if You Can Metal Detect on Someone's Property.
- Be Considerate When Asking for Permission to Metal Detect.
- Leave Your Gear in the Car When You Ask Permission.
- Final Word.
Churches – Usually Older is Better. Some churches, depending on who owns them and what kind of church they are, will let you metal detect on their land if you get permission beforehand.
