Metal Detecting Guides & Reviews

Civil War relic hunting is legal mainly on private land with permission. Learn the federal and state rules, how to research camps and routes, and how to hunt safely and respectfully.

Found treasure is generally taxable income when it becomes undisputedly yours, and later sales can trigger capital gains. Here is what detectorists and prospectors should know.

The core rules every detectorist should follow, from getting permission and filling every hole to respecting historic sites, with the legal reasons behind them.

There is no simple finders keepers rule in the US. Ownership depends on state law, the landowner, permits and how a find is classified. Here is how it works.

City park metal detecting rules are set locally. Here is how to find your town's ordinance, how permit programs like New York City's work, and how to dig responsibly.

A plain-English guide to the Archaeological Resources Protection Act for detectorists: where it applies, the 100-year rule, the coin and bullet exclusion, and penalties.

How to find the landowner, ask the right way and agree on finds, plus a free permission to metal detect letter template you can copy and adapt.

Many US public beaches allow metal detecting, but national seashores do not and state rules can change at the waterline. Here is how to check beach rules and permits.

State park metal detecting rules vary from outright bans to designated areas and permit systems. Here is how to check your state's rules and what to ask the park office.