Metal Detecting: "Secrets of the Pros!"

Metal detecting can be a fantastic hobby. It's just like fishing and hoping for the "big one." You may not always get the "big one," but every now and then you'll get a whopper! Many new metal detector owners turn on their brand new machine and excitedly start hunting in their own back yard. After a few pieces of tin foil, they typically decide to go to a vacant lot or the beach with big hopes of digging up coins, relics, or treasure only to be disappointed in the results. After a few more efforts producing an empty cache, sore back, and trash often ends up with their new metal detector on the shelf or on Ebay. When I first began metal detecting, I cornered the market on finding pull tabs, nails, and beer cans! After many disappointments, I got lucky. Let me tell you what "hooked" me on this hobby.

"Setting the Hook of Metal Detecting"

Metal detector enthusiasts are as secretive about revealing their "private hunting spots", as chefs are about their recipes. Luckily - I was fortunate enough to meet one of many individuals who shared their knowledge and expertise with me. My first break was meeting a local historian who worked for the County. He invited me to metal detect at a location where new construction was about to take place for a new business, and he obtained permission from the owner. He told me they would be excavating in a location that was known to have been occupied near a well known civil war site. Soon after the excavation was completed I was allowed to metal detect. Shortly - I had a "hit" on my machine! Within 5 minutes I pulled out of the dirt what appeared to be a rusty old useless railroad spike. After closer inspection and cleaning off the dirt, it was a civil war bayonet! Wow! Now I was hooked! And it got even better after that!

Facts Before You Dig!

First and most importantly before these secrets are revealed, you need to understand some important basic etiquette and facts before proceeding with your hobby.

National Park Land and U.S. Property is off-limits and forfeitures for hunting illegally on areas such as National Battlefields, etc. and the penalties are staggering! Don't even think about it! It's against the law.

Private Property - Private property is just that! Never hunt on land that is private, posted, etc. You don't want to be arrested for trespassing, do you? You must obtain "written permission" before you start metal detecting. How would you like to see some "stranger" in your back yard walking around with a metal detector and digging in your yard?

Don't leave holes! Nothing is worse than someone digging holes and not properly covering them up. Ask a farmer whose cow or horse broke a leg by stepping into the hole all because of you! The proper thing to do is to cut out "plugs" of sod and replace them. And if you plug and replace the sod properly you won't even notice the hole.

It really isn't hard to obtain written permission from folks. Early on during my hobby I luckily got permission from a farmer to hunt his property. He was done farming for the year. And I found hundreds of civil war relics. I did my best to leave the area in the condition I found it. Best of all I was allowed to continue relic hunting on this large farm until it was sold. I dug hundreds of civil war bullets, many civil war buttons, and several Eagle plates from this location.

Simple Secrets - Revealed!

Research! Take the time at your local library, searching the internet, and interviewing local folks to find where old houses, schools, churches, parks, celebrations, civil war sites, etc were in your area. Many old maps archive where all of these things once existed. And you can find these in your research. What may appear to be a grown up lot filled with briars and weeds may once have been a busy baseball field where bleachers used to be, and many old silver coins may reside in the ground there. See what sites "used" to be in your area by using old maps. The lay of the land today is "nothing" compared to what it "used to be." Develop eyes for seeing the past.

Find Other Enthusiasts

A great source for learning about your hobby and unearthing great finds is other folks that share your hobby. Most people I know in the hobby prefer to hunt with a partner. Why? Just like fishing, what good is catching a 9 pound bass if you can't brag about it and show it to someone? Plus - a metal detecting buddy helps for safety. I can't tell you how many snakes and bee stings I've encountered in the woods metal detecting. Safety is an important consideration. But most of all, you will learn chapters of hunting techniques and methods from a partner. And when they get "permission" for a "new spot"- you'll be there too!

More Research!

I used to dig up items that appeared to be junk. Not so! Some items that have been in the soil for over a hundred years may appear to be junk. They don't look like much. But my partner told me some items I found were old harmonicas, civil war flat buttons, cannon ball shrapnel, and rare civil war tokens. Fortunately - I learned from my partner what my unidentified finds were. Things I might have thrown away had value! My interest was in civil war relics. I ended up purchasing books on civil war buttons, civil war bullets, civil war projectiles, etc. If your interest is in coins then you should purchase books on coins. I used to wash off everything I found. But then I found out that the "patina" or finish on the relic may add value, and that washing it off reduced the value. Maybe you'll find a diamond ring, a gold ring, a rare coin, or whatever. Regardless of your interest - the bottom line is to know your machine and to identify your finds. Research all information available, quiz historians, and find a knowledgeable buddy before you put your metal detector on Ebay!