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The US metal detecting field guide

Know the ground before you dig.

Explore state-by-state detecting guides, check access rules, match your detector to the ground, and identify your finds—in plain English.

Explore the map Start your first hunt
  • Source-checked
  • Legal-first
  • Beginner clear

One practical route

From legal ground to a better find.

No treasure hype. Just the decisions that make your first—or next—hunt safer, simpler, and more rewarding.

  1. 01Ground

    Find a place

    Start with source-checked access guidance, land-manager links, and a clear next step.

    Explore state guides
  2. 02Gear

    Choose your detector

    Match the machine to your budget, soil, targets, and the places you actually want to hunt.

    Compare beginner gear
  3. 03Signal

    Read the ground

    Learn what tones, target IDs, depth, and ground balance are telling you in plain English.

    Learn the first signals
  4. 04Find

    Identify it safely

    Use visual clues to sort coins, buttons, relics, jewelry, and the junk that fools everyone.

    Open the find guide

Launch atlas

Six states. One clear first check.

Each guide begins with who manages the ground. That answer matters more than a pin copied from a forum.

Permission firstSouth

Texas

A permission-first guide for parks, beaches, private land, and the agencies that set the rules.

First check
Site manager and written local rules
Open Texas guide
Varies by managerSoutheast

Florida

Separate public beach access from protected land before choosing a place to swing.

First check
Beach, city, county, or park authority
Open Florida guide
Varies by siteWest

California

A land-manager-first route through a state with many overlapping local and protected-area rules.

First check
Exact managing agency for the parcel
Open California guide
Designated areasMidwest

Michigan

Start with the designated-area question, then check the rules for the exact park or shoreline.

First check
Current state recreation-area guidance
Open Michigan guide
Local check neededNortheast

New Jersey

Beach rules can change by town, season, and land manager. The exact entrance matters.

First check
Municipality plus property manager
Open New Jersey guide
Area limits applyPacific Northwest

Oregon

Use the official area list and check cultural-resource limits before detecting.

First check
State park and land-manager guidance
Open Oregon guide
See all launch statesHow we check access

New detectorist route

Your first good signal starts before you switch on.

Choose legal ground, pack the small essentials, keep the first settings simple, and learn one repeatable swing.

Read the beginner guide
  1. 01
    Confirm the ground

    Find the manager and read the current rule.

  2. 02
    Run a simple setup

    Use a stable mode and moderate sensitivity.

  3. 03
    Cross-check the signal

    Sweep from two directions before you dig.

  4. 04
    Leave no trace

    Recover carefully, refill, and take your trash.

Built from real questions

Learn the skill, not just the settings.

Short, visual explanations built for the moment you need them—in the yard, on the beach, or beside a mystery find.

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