Metal detecting is a hobby that has been around since the 1800s. There are many ways to have fun with metal detecting – from finding old coins or jewelry to unearthing historic treasures!
It’s a hobby that can be very rewarding, but it takes more than just owning a metal detector. If you want to maximize your success rate, then there are 5 metal detecting tips for treasure hunters that will help you on the way:
1) Always use a quality metal detector – Investing money into a quality machine will save you time and frustration in the long run
It’s important to use a quality metal detector because they’re more sensitive and can find smaller objects, have better stability, are quieter, and produce less ground noise. With these qualities in mind, it should be easier for you to search – even if it’s your first time with this hobby.
Start small, though, with a simple beginner metal detector that doesn’t cost too much money, and then decide later whether or not you want to invest more money into the hobby. Either way, investing in equipment will only help. A quality machine can mean the difference between finding just old coins or jewelry and discovering historic treasures!
2) Stay on top of your hunting territory – Assign areas and stick to your plan for an organized hunt
A metal detector will only have a good success rate if you know exactly where to start searching. If you don’t assign areas and stick to your plan, then you’ll be all over the place and end up not finding anything.
Keep in mind that hunting should be as organized as possible. This means investigating every place where there may be old treasure (from little pieces of jewelry lost by careless people centuries ago to coins from modern times).
3) Expect the unexpected – You never know what you’ll find, so keep your eyes open
You never know what might turn up while using a metal detector because, during this search, anything is possible! So always keep an eye out and expect the unexpected because things could get really interesting at any moment!
Even with a good, quality metal detector, there are some things that might prevent you from discovering treasure. For example, items buried in shallow holes or near fences, copper pipes, or other metallic objects could throw you off.
As long as you know which mistakes to avoid, you’ll be able to find more treasures in less time and with less effort.
4) Be careful and patient – it takes time to become a successful treasure hunter!
Over time, most people who use metal detectors learn how they work. This means that with every search, you’ll get better at finding old coins and jewelry. However, no matter how many years you spend using a machine, it will always be difficult to know exactly where the most valuable treasures are buried. After a while, you start to develop your personal search techniques and don’t have to rely on others, but it takes time and patience!
5) Practice makes perfect – The more you search, the better you will become
A common myth about treasure hunting is that you need to have a talent for it. Now, while some people are born with a natural ability to find treasure (no matter what they’re looking for), most metal detectorists learn over time. As long as you use your machine often, then your skills will develop, and you’ll become better at finding old coins and jewelry. And it’s always a good idea to ask others (friends or professionals) for tips on how to improve your skills!
Metal detecting can be a rewarding hobby, but you need to know the basics of using a metal detector and what mistakes to avoid if you want successful results. Even with a small amount of knowledge, you’ll be able to find more treasure in less time.
6) Never forget about safety – Being safe is more important than anything else
Safety precautions are essential when you’re searching for treasure! If you don’t follow these rules, then the potential benefits of using a metal detector will be outweighed by the risks. Some basic safety tips to keep in mind include:
- Always wear comfortable shoes and clothes that won’t get caught on exposed roots, branches, or other obstacles.
- Don’t forget about sunscreen and bug spray, even if you’re just going treasure hunting for one day! Remember too that metal detectors can be heavy and extremely long, so don’t carry it in your hands while moving around rocks/trees to protect yourself from injury.
- Always keep track of where you’re metal detecting – Bring GPS coordinates with you or use a smartphone. This way, you’ll know where to go when you finish your search.
- Most importantly, let someone else know the area that you’re going metal detecting in, and bring a cell phone with you just in case something happens!
7) Always take notes – It’s good to record all of the treasures that you find
It’s important to keep track of the treasures that you find, so record them in your metal detecting journal. Make sure to note their location, size, and condition (if it was dirty or full of mud after being buried for a long time). By recording your findings, you’ll know where you’ve already searched and where spots are worth returning to. So if you’re a serious treasure hunter, then make sure to always take notes of what you find!
5 common mistakes made by treasure hunters
1) Not studying your hunting ground before you start looking for treasure;
2) Using a low quality or fragile machine that is not prepared to handle the terrain of your hunt, leading to breakdowns and lost time;
3) Setting unrealistic expectations for themselves leading to unnecessary disappointment when they don’t find anything quickly enough- if you want this as a hobby, then just take it slow and be patient!;
4) Believing that all gold has been found already- there are still many treasures waiting to be unearthed and discovered!;
5) Expecting too much from themselves- while having high expectations is great for motivation, sometimes stressing yourself out won’t get you anywhere.
Conclusion
Metal detecting is a rewarding hobby for treasure hunters, but it’s important to know the basics of using a metal detector and what mistakes to avoid if you want successful results.
Some basic safety tips include wearing comfortable shoes and clothes that won’t get caught on exposed roots, branches, or other obstacles, as well as always keeping track of where you’re metal detecting – bring GPS coordinates with you or use a smartphone so when your hunt ends you’ll know exactly where to go.
It’s also important not to forget about safety precautions – being safe is more important than anything else! Safety measures should be followed at all times in order to prevent injury while searching for treasures like old coins and jewelry.
Never forget about sunscreen and bug spray too, because even though there will be a lot of shade, it’s easy to forget about and could increase your risk for sunburn or bug bites.
Remember too, practicing metal detecting is just as important as keeping notes of the treasures you find- if you don’t practice, then how can you get better? Whether or not you decide to take this hobby seriously, there’s a lot of satisfaction in finding some treasure and just knowing that there’s a whole world out there to explore!
Also, don’t forget about your metal detecting journal- always be sure to make notes of the treasures that you find, so you know where spots are worth returning to. Record them by noting their location, size, and condition (if it was dirty or full of mud from being buried for a long time). It’s important to keep track of your findings because when you’re done with your hunt, you’ll know where the treasures are that are worth returning to.