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5 Metal Detecting Tips and Tricks for Beginners

For centuries, people all over the world have been fascinated with the idea of digging for hidden treasure. Metal detecting is a legitimate hobby that comes with many rewards. Metal detectorists combine the past with the future by using high-tech equipment to dig up decades-old artifacts.

Why Is Metal Detecting So Popular?

The chances of finding a life-changing cache of buried treasure are very, very slim. So why invest time and money in a hobby that will only result in metal trash?

For metal detecting enthusiasts, the thrill is in the search and in connecting with history. Everything you excavate was placed there by someone that lived decades or even centuries before you. There is so much potential in searching relatively unexplored locations—you don’t know what you will find until you try. And once you start building a collection of coins or other artifacts, there is pride in finding something to add to it every time you go out.

Metal detecting also allows you to spend long hours outside, doing something that likely has nothing to do with your day-to-day work. It can also be an activity you can do as a group, a passion you can share with close friends or family.

5 Metal Detecting Tip for Beginners

Metal detecting requires a lot of practice and even more patience. The best way to get better at finding treasure is to learn from those more experienced than you and to go out there and apply that knowledge. Here are five crucial metal detecting tips for beginners:

  1. Expect Junk

As a metal detectorist, you will encounter a lot of junk. That’s just a fact, and it’s best to keep that in mind, especially in the beginning. As you practice and unearth your hundredth bottle cap and penny, you will learn to recognize features on a metal detector that will help you differentiate between common targets and more substantial treasures. Your patience will eventually bear fruit.

  1. Just Keep Digging

As you’re practicing and learning, it can be impossible to know if you’re getting a signal for trash or something more substantial. Dig everything and familiarize yourself with the response signals of different items. Sometimes junk can mask a good target. You don’t want to miss something valuable because of your frustration or impatience.

Good targets are usually found in pairs, sets, or groups. For example, if you find one coin, there’s likely more. Keep digging in the same spot and use your pinpointer to check if there’s anything deeper.

  1. Bring Extras

Before going out on a hunting trip, make sure to pack extras. An extra set of fresh batteries and even additional equipment will save you the hassle of having to buy more or cutting your trip short.

  1. Take Your Tool Box Everywhere

You need a lot of metal detecting tools, and it’s best to store all of them in one big, sturdy box. Even if you’re only searching a small area, it’s still worth taking all of your gear. You never know what you might find and what you may need to dig it up. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

  1. Rain Is Your Friend

The best time to go hunting is when the ground is freshly wet. Wet ground provides better conductivity, so target and depth detection are significantly improved. It’s also much easier to dig than hard, dry dirt. Bring that waterproof gear and find that treasure!

Conclusion

Metal detecting is a fantastic hobby that’s fun, healthy, and productive. You can easily pass hours looking for objects and finding treasures big and small. Follow these tips to help you improve, and you’ll discover some of your techniques to increase your success rate.

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