Metal Detecting Tips/Techs

     Right now, you're thinking, "OK, you've got my attention.  I have a pretty good idea about how a metal detector works, there is a good chance of finding something great where I live, and now I know what some of the laws are.  How can I find treasure that'll put me on the cover of a magazine?"

     That's a great question!  Why?  The road to success is paved with a positive attitude.  You will be successful metal detecting, regardless of where you live if you plan ahead, remain consistently diligent, and believe in yourself.  To start you off on the right foot, here's the secret recipe for treasure.  You see, being a successful treasure hunter is less about luck, than it is about a particular mindset.

1.  STEP ONE:  Go to the Library

     You're on the internet now, so why do you suppose this step is first?  There is absolutely no greater source of information about history or gold deposits than a book covering your local area.  The plus side is that you can take it with you into the field (unlike a website).  There are many events, battles, ghost towns, mines and etc that are so obscure that you won't find any information about it on a website.  

     As I've said before, the good thing is that most people are lazy, and if they can't get it at their fingertips, they won't bother with it at all.  That leaves you the golden opportunity of an unsearched site.  

2.  STEP TWO:  Talk to People

     Being an extravert isn't a necessary requirement, but it certainly helps.  I like talking to people everywhere I go anyways, but I always try to at least bring up that I like metal detecting.  Not only have I introduced people to this great hobby, but I've seemed to get more leads this way.  For example, when I visited my in-laws this past Christmas, they had company over.  It turned out that their company was a former state police officer who was friends with a landowner that knew the location of an old military fort on his land.  After talking to the guy on the phone that night, I went out the next morning and dug up buttons and bullets galore from the early 1850s.  The surprising thing about it was that I was originally from this area, but despite all my previous research, had never even heard of this fort before!  The great thing about it was that this fort was completely untouched, and even had the original bricks scattered all over the field.  It was a great day, and I now can't wait to visit the in-laws again (o:

3.  STEP THREE:  Get a Map  (For best results, get a few)  

     a.  Find a nice, large map of your city or local area, and also get another of your state.  Usually, your city / county assessor can give you a large local map, and your tourism bureau can give you a free state map.  Hang both of these maps on the wall next to your computer.  

     b.  Download binder-sized maps for your research binder (next step).

          1.) Visit the Peabody Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).  Search your city or state for names such as mine, beach, spring, church, fort, ruins, gold, park, school, and etc; and get the coordinates.  Since GNIS lists numerous place names, this is especially useful if you own a GPS receiver, but even if you don't....

          2.) Go to TopoZone.  If you are hunting old townsites, forts, gold bearing sites, or battlefields; a contour map from the United States Geological Service (USGS) pays off enormous dividends by allowing you to fully visualize the area. TopoZone enables you to download a nice contour map scanned from USGS maps.  From the coordinates that you wrote down off the GNIS website (described above), place a decimal after the first two digits, and enter them into the TopoZone section labeled "Decimal Degrees" or Click here.  Hint:  The first number from GNIS (i.e. 39.4343N) is the latitude.  

          3.) Next, go to USGS to download aerial photos.  After you search for the placename, and you've clicked the one you want, be sure to click on "View USGS Digital Orthophoto Quadrangle (DOQ)"

          4.)  If you can find copies of maps from the 1800’s, you'll be looking real good.  In this case, mark the old churches, schools, parks, railroad stations, & etc. to find later.  Sometimes they still exist, but more often, are now a vacant field - which I call FREE CANDY!  A great online resource is at the Perry-Castañeda Library which lists many historic maps for each state.  

          5.)  Finally, get roadmap atlases of your city and state for your car.  Otherwise, just download driving directions at MapQuest.

**TIP: To print out a nice, large map from your computer follow these steps:

     1)  Press F11 on your keyboard to bring the map full screen.  

     2)  Hit "Shift" and "Print Screen" on your keyboard (extreme top right of your keyboard).

     3)  Open either Microsoft Power Point, word document, or Paint.  Right-click and hit " paste."  

Now, print the map out and add it to your research binder!  You can even buy laminating, 8x10 sheets to make them last a long time.  Then, buy thin-tipped alcohol markers to draw routes and notes on the lamination.   Of course, you can always order a better quality map from the listed websites.

4.  STEP FOUR:  Cross-Link Information 

     At first, focus your research on your city and keep a log of promising locations.  I find that Microsoft Excel spreadsheets work great for organizing this information.   While you research, cross reference any troop movements, known occupied locations, mines, ruins, or etc. on your spreadsheet.   Number each location on your spreadsheet, and place a corresponding numbered sticker on your map.  I use one color for known locations, and another color for suspected.  As you find historical descriptions of areas and take notes, type these on separate word documents, and also number them accordingly.  

     At this point, you have developed a system of research.  Your map has stickers with numbers for known and suspected locations.  You can look up that number on your spreadsheet which lists all of your interesting location's coordinates, and some other very basic information.  This number then refers to an individual file folder containing the detailed information about that particular site.  All of these folders can then be put into a research binder.  Now, you're organized!

5.  STEP FIVE:  Conduct Reconnaissance

     You must get permission from the landowner, but this is often trickier than it sounds.  Once you've selected the site, just look for an adjacent house and ask them if they know who owns the land.  Most "country folk" are very friendly, but if you are searching around an old battlefield, they are probably tired of people asking.  It doesn't hurt to give it a try - the worst the they can say is no.  

     If you are relic hunting and/or coin shooting, once you've obtained permission, look around for for surface evidence.  This may be broken pottery, glass, iron pipes, and the like.  These are great clues that something really good is probably buried underneath.