Anyone here use metal detectors as a hobby?

outdoor board

Yes. I’m a volunteer TSA agent on the weekends.

I've used one for a few months and had fun but it was hard finding property to search on. You can't just trespass on people's property.


I found quite a few buffalo nickels, a silver piece or two, and a TON OF JUNK metal.

I live near some major Civil War battlefields. Always thought it would be cool to go searching for buried relics. But I'm guessing they have already been thoroughly scanned and combed over by now.

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Thinking about getting a good metal detector. Anyone here have that as a hobby? Where do you use it most? Show pics of cool things you’ve found please

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I always see guys using them at the beach, and I'm sure they find quite a bit of lost jewelry. Last year, somebody probably found my dumb arse wife's lost ring.

My metal detector isn’t too hot, but it gets the job done. If I had one tip, it would be to pop for the good Garret pinpointer. They make life so much better.

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it would be to pop for the good Garret pinpointer. They make life so much better.

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10000% support this. Best purchase ever.

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Anyone here use metal detectors as a hobby?

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Not as a hobby but to find lost metal items, yes.

Yeah, I guess so, one credit given.

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I live near some major Civil War battlefields. Always thought it would be cool to go searching for buried relics. But I'm guessing they have already been thoroughly scanned and combed over by now.

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Detecting on the battle sites themselves is illegal if they have been designated some sort of park or historical site; however, lots of places where fighting took place are private land now. Even the sites of big battles have possibilities; the private land next to the parks can be hunted with permission and the routes that soldiers walked to get to the battle will have relics too. There was Civil War fighting in the sugar cane fields by Donaldsonville and read up on the Battle of Baton Rouge to see where that took place (there was more than one)!

The concern you have that all the good stuff has been found has been around for decades but it’s almost always false. Technology improvements help you find things where others couldn’t find things in the past. Facebook groups for older areas of town give you a good way to advertise that you’ll metal detect someone’s yard to help uncover the unique history of their home. The internet makes it easier to do research. Etc etc etc.

Get a good metal detector, a good digger, and a pinpointer. Look online for groups or individuals who hunt in your area. Find out what the rules are for detecting in parks. If it’s not specifically prohibited, go for it. Don’t call the Parks Dept for permission because the Karen you talk to will say No without researching. Go to old school playgrounds. Focus on sites that were populated prior to 1964 so you have a better chance of finding silver.

If you drive around downtown Baton Rouge very early on weekend mornings, you’ll see other detectorists out hunting at construction sites. Cops might run you off - just say someone else was hunting and told you it was okay and apologize.