Metal detecting has become more and more popular over recent years. With the recent global situation, people are not going so far for relaxation and realizing there is so much to do on their own doorsteps.
Add to that the fact that you don’t need to have special skills or special ability you can buy a high-quality metal detector that won’t cost you a fortune and be out treasure-hunting in a matter of days.
So aside from being pleasurable and rewarding, metal detecting is also an inexpensive hobby that can be fun for adults or kids, and a great way for families to get out of the house into the fresh air.
Before you get started on your way to discovering buried treasures, keep these tips in mind:
1. Check For Permission
Some locations don’t allow the use of metal detectors, and this is especially true if your chosen site is private property. Always check before you start detecting, and if be sure to get permission from the owner. Sometimes, this act of common courtesy in asking first may even make them agree if they wouldn’t normally do so. You can even agree to share some of your finds with the owner. At the very least, they may be interested in what you find as it gives them some insight into the history of their property and surroundings.
2. Do Your Research
It’s worth doing some research first to know if the area has already been popular and, maybe drained of good finds. Even then, things could have been missed, and there may still be great things to find there.
There are plenty of sites dedicated to metal detecting and some very active Facebook Groups for metal detecting enthusiasts you can join – they’re great for getting tips too.
3. Look at some old maps
If you do some digging through the internet, or second-hand book stores, you may be able to find some old maps of an area of interest. These older maps often have places marked on them or hints to some forgotten history, that new maps may not have. They may also show some great spots for detecting metals such as scenes of historic battles, old churches, old schools, settlements, and many others.
4. Rain can be your friend
A heavy downpour of rain can bring great finds ner to the surface so don’t be afraid of getting wet or a little muddy because it’s good to do your treasure hunting when it is raining or right after the rain. Also, when the ground is wet, the detector becomes more sensitive due to the ground’s higher conductivity so the chances of hearing that exciting beep increase. It also makes digging much easier (though a little messy) so don’t forget to take a change of footwear and some warm clothes. If you do venture out in the rain, take a good waterproof coat and a waterproof cover for your detector.
5. Try your detector on a beach before using it in a field
This is a great way to get started, especially if you’re metal detecting with kids, as it’s easier to detect treasure in the sand. It is also much easier to dig in. What ki dent love digging in the san – and it’s so much more fun f tey find some treasure after all their efforts. Since the beach is a place where more people spend all day sometimes, there’s a good chance that you’ll find more valuable items there that have fallen out of pockets or purses as people change in and out of swimwear or search for food or snacks in bags.
6. Use headphones
It is always best to wear earphones when out with your detector as the tone can be really annoying to people in the area, and the small variations in that tone as you hover over potential finds will be tough to notice if there is a lot of background noise like on a beach.
7. Be Prepared
Having a backpack of all the key things you need such as small bottles, plastic containers, bags, digging tools, and other accessories will be really useful. Also, it can be very helpful to keep a logbook so when you go back, and discover you have made a great find, you can make a note and go back there again. Here are some popular metal detecting logbooks but note, these aren’t guides to metal detecting but logbooks which are a great way to keep track of your treasure finds. Kids love doing that as it keeps them engaged. We have a very popular Metal Detecting Logbook For Kids available on Amazon in paperback and hardback so they can keep memories of their treasure hunting forever.
8. Protect your equipment
If you get into metal detecting and invest in more sensitive search coils can be expensive so it’s better to give it a protective cap or case for them.
9. Wear knee pads
Metal detecting is great fun, but there is inevitably lots of time spent on your knees or at least bending and resting on one of them. It’s therefore worth wearing thick jeans, or knee pads.
10. Know the history of where you live
You don’t have to travel hundreds of miles to find treasure when metal detecting. Spend some time researching the local history where you live. As more and more estates get built, lots of treasures ay have been disturbed that have lain hidden for hundreds of years. Look for old battlegrounds, settlements, or abandoned ports and marinas in your area.
These are just some of the tips that will help you in finding more treasure using your detector in 2022 and beyond. If you’re already familiar with your detector and other metal detecting accessories, you can try to find deeper targets and the fun will keep coming.
