Just like when buying Real Estate, location is everything when metal detecting. If you want a higher success rate, you will want to detect in locations where the potential for finds are greater. One of the mantras for this is to go where the people have been.
Below are the top five places to metal detect and reasons for why swinging a metal detector across those lands may prove more productive.
One thing to ALWAYS remember though: No matter where you decide to detect, be sure to have permission first!
1)Beaches
During the warm weather months lots of people head to the beach for fun! They are bound to drop and lose items—either in the sand or in the water.
Although detecting anytime on the beach can be productive in finding things, such as coins and jewelry, the two best times to detect on beaches is right after a storm or during the evening after the crowds have gone home.
One main advantage to detecting after a storm is that it offers potential for older artifacts to be discovered. During a storm, the ocean bottom has been churned in rough waters, and chances are greater that waves can wash ashore relics from shipwrecks or other items which have long been forgotten. Who knows what you might find! Plus, the sand is much easier to dig and retrieve items from on a beach.
2)Churches
As mentioned, go where the people have gone to detect. Often churches are one of the oldest locations of a town and grant a detectorist older finds. The surrounding lawns, parking edges, and paths of a church can be very productive for a metal detectorist.
A great time to detect around a church is when renovations, like a new sidewalk or landscaping is being done. Items which were lost long ago may resurface from the area which is being newly worked, allowing items once buried deep to be detected.
3)Parks
Like the beach, many people flock to the parks to enjoy the outdoors. Besides being a place for people to gather, parks often hold various events during the year; like carnivals or sport competitions. These events offer additional traffic and opportunities for detecting afterwards.
When visiting a park, some of the best places to detect for a higher return are shaded areas (where people have gone to get out of the hot sun), picnic areas, sport fields and spectator areas, paths to and from parking lots, trails, play areas, and benches.
4)Old and Abandoned Places
Old forgotten places with only foundations left or other places where people gathered in the past can be excellent locations to find older relics.
Researching the library or visiting the local historical society could reveal, for example, where an old train station used to be or where the past mill was in a town. Often these places haven’t ever been metal detected before and can present interesting finds. In case of an old homestead, maybe even a buried hoard of coins could be found! You never know!
5)Construction sites
When renovations are being made to an area, the ground is being overturned and relics of the past may be tossed closer to the surface. Items which might have been hidden deep in the ground or under cement may now become accessible to a detectorist. Depending on the type of construction area determines the potential finds.
For instance, installing a new sidewalk may bring up old coins which were lost ages ago; while building a new house where an old battle occurred could bring up lost shell casings, knives, and other war relics.
6) Bonus: Camping grounds
A person is bound to misplace items while staying in one area over a time. This makes camping grounds a great place to detect.
MW Video on Top Five Places to Metal Detect:
Metal detecting can be lots of fun!
Best of luck with all that seek and remember to always treasure the adventure!
Thanks Jenny, as always sound advice. And don’t forget to cover your holes.