Where To Go Metal Detecting
GETTING STARTED
Once you’ve made the decision to buy a new metal detector and get home with it, you no doubt can’t wait to get started with some detecting. But where exactly should you start? You can take your detector with you practically anywhere – the opportunities are endless and limited only by your imagination. Finds can be made anywhere; you only need to take a look at any recent detecting magazine or website and you will see that there is an abundance of amazing finds being made. This shows there are still plenty of treasures waiting to be found, but some sites are more productive than others, so it helps to know the best type of places to go detecting. All it takes is a little bit of research to identify the most promising and productive goldfields or treasure hunting sites to detect.
There are many different types of valuable objects you can find with your new metal detector, such as rare coins, ancient relics of past civilizations, lost jewelry and gold nuggets. Nuggets are generally found in different places to where you would typically find coins, relics or jewelry, so where you go detecting depends greatly on what you would like to find. No matter where you decide to begin your metal detecting adventure, you will need some of these essential accessories to help you along the way:
Metal Detecting Accessories:
RESEARCH
Ideal sources for research are the local library or historical society, Government Department of Mines, newspaper archives, local town plans, etc. Don’t forget to talk to the local elders. They’ll often tell you about the popular swimming holes they used when growing up, the field that used to be a sports ground or perhaps a park that was used as a local market. These links to the past are all potential hot spots for you and your detector. The older the site is, the better – as your potential to find coins and relics from long ago increases. Always remember to obtain permission to enter and detect on private property.
Also, find out if there is a detecting club in your area. Joining your local club is a great way to learn tips and tricks about how to detect and where to search. You can also make new friends who are passionate about detecting too. There are also plenty of published guides on some of the best types of places where you should go metal detecting.
Where To Go Metal Detecting:
- Finding Treasure: A Field Guide by W.C. Jameson
- Metal Detecting Previously Hunted Sites Book by Vincent C. Pascucci
- In Search of Treasure Book by Dick Stout
- Researching Ghost Towns Book by Daryl Townley
- Finding Civil War Campsites in Rural Areas by David Poche
Be sure to check out the rest of our large selection of metal detecting books and guides here!
TREASURE HUNTING
When detecting for coins, relics or jewelry, use your imagination – anywhere people are likely to have left things behind – you are likely to make good finds! Also, don’t forget the places right under your feet; you never know what you might dig up even in your own backyard. To help get you started here is a list of locations that are generally more productive for finding coins, relics or jewelry:
Where To Find Treasure:
- Showgrounds and racecourses
- Picnic areas
- Battlefields
- Camping grounds
- Swimming holes
- Parks, playgrounds and school yards
- Plowed fields
- Pastures
- Woodlands
- Ghost towns and ancient town sites
- Old homes and public buildings
- Sports grounds
- Beaches
- Jetties and piers
- Rivers and streams
- Seabeds
If you’re new to metal detecting, don’t feel discouraged! There is still plenty of valuable, interesting treasure to be found all over the world! All that you need is a great metal detector to get started on your metal detecting adventures.
BEACH AND UNDERWATER METAL DETECTING
Whether you are taking a leisure metal detecting trip along the beach shorelines or hunting for treasure in the deep sea, the type of metal detector you bring along with you is important. When you are metal detecting in the water, you want to be sure you have a high quality metal detector that will withstand the elements. If you are detecting in saltwater, a metal detector that can perform well through high mineralization is crucial. Serious Detecting offers the best waterproof beach and underwater metal detectors from the top brands.
Best Beach Metal Detectors:
- Minelab CTX 3030
- Minelab Equinox 800
- Minelab Equinox 600
- Minelab Excalibur II 1000
- Garrett AT Max
- Garrett AT Pro
- Garrett Sea Hunter Mark II
- Garrett ATX
- White’s TDI BeachHunter
- White’s Surfmaster PI Dual Field
- Tesoro Sand Shark
- Tesoro Tiger Shark
- Quest Pro
GOLD PROSPECTING METAL DETECTING
Metal detecting for gold can be a lucrative endeavor that will not provide an exciting adventure but can also be a very rewarding one. Whether you are seeking to find large gold nuggets or tiny gold flakes, the type of gold metal detector you choose is very important. A higher frequency VLF metal detector or a lower frequency Pulse Induction metal detector are both very sensitive to gold. However, VLF circuits are also very sensitive to minerals contained in the soil, which may hinder the detector’s ability to discriminate. Pulse Induction metal detectors are able to accurately discriminate through some of the toughest ground mineral conditions to find large gold nuggets at great depths. Serious Detecting has a wide variety of VLF and Pulse Induction gold metal detectors that are ideal for gold prospecting.
Best Gold Prospecting Metal Detectors:
Our Pick: The Best Cheap Metal Detector for Coins, Rings, and Jewelry Discovery
Detecting coins, rings, jewelry, and other objects people carry around with them is best done in high pedestrian traffic areas, whether that's an area still used or an abandoned area. These metal detectors need to have proficient target separation, which is necessary to filter out what you don't want to detect in these high-volume areas. You can tune the settings to pick up on coins and jewelry and ignore the tin foil and pesky bottle caps.
Coins, Rings, and Jewelry
Garrett Ace 300
Our pick of cheap metal detectors for the coin and jewelry hunters has to be the Garrett ACE 300. It's got everything you'll need for this type of isolated detecting, with its effective notch discriminator allowing you to hone in on our target and leave the rest. When you do find a coin or piece of jewelry, Garrett's reliable coin depth indicator tells you where it's located, so you can decide to unearth it or not. The Garrett ACE 300 typically comes with a complete kit of accessories, too, so finishing the job and collecting your treasures is one smooth process.
Our Pick: Best Cheap Metal Detectors for Relic Hunting
Advancements in detectors have replaced the need to dig for everything that you're alerted to, and you can now tune your settings in to find what you're looking for. Gold metal detectors solely identify gold by using a high frequency and being well equipped to highly mineralized soil – where gold likes to live. As a gold hunter, you might spend longer than usual out in the field, so your detectors should come with a harness to help you with the weight of the machine over long periods.
Relic Hunting
Minelab Vanquish 540
We suggest the Minelab VANQUISH 540 for those pairing archeology with prospecting because its diversity and related features make it easy to isolate the valuable options you're looking for. Its customizable frequency range settings and large coil help you see further into the surface while maintaining a good level of sensitivity, as relics can be old and positioned deep into the ground. But VANQUISH's most suited feature for relics is the durability of this machine – wherever you want to take it, it will gladly join you for the ride.
Our Pick: Best Cheap Metal Detectors for Gold Prospecting
Advancements in detectors have replaced the need to dig for everything that you're alerted to, and you can now tune your settings in to find what you're looking for. Gold metal detectors solely identify gold by using a high frequency and being well equipped to highly mineralized soil – where gold likes to live. As a gold hunter, you might spend longer than usual out in the field, so your detectors should come with a harness to help you with the weight of the machine over long periods.
Gold Prospecting
Nokta Gold Kruzer
Our gold metal detector of choice is the dynamic Nokta Gold Kruzer, based on its value and usability. Its stability and sparse noise in mineralized ground make it the perfect tool to detect for long lengths and concentrate your efforts. Taking this baby out to rivers, streams, and exposed bedrock is likely to deliver some encounters with the nuggets of your dreams.
Final Digging
The trick to finding the best metal detector for you is to know your budget and needs. You might not need all the tools that a top-of-the-range metal detector offers, and a cheap option like the ones mentioned in this article may be perfect for finding your valuables. Serious Detecting is here to help you find what you need, and if you're still unsure which tool suits you best, we're here to help you discuss your options. Or browse through our vast and varied range of metal detectors to do your best detective work.