Treasure Hunting!

No, I'm not a slightly overweight, retired, white male with a beard who wears shorts with black socks and sandals. Although my sister, Heidi, began having her doubts when she heard that I had taken up the hobby of metal detecting. :)

Gold, silver and other shiny metal objects fascinate me! Add in the extra bonus of finding them buried in the ground where they've been long-forgotten and you have the special recipe that attracts thousands of people to metal detecting. I've only gone once, but I'm hooked. And even though I didn't strike it rich, the feeling you get when your metal detector beeps is still a rush - even when it's only an old battery. This is a picture of my first finds from a beach in Northern California: a shovel head, a battery, a quarter, a penny and a pull tab from a can of soda. Exciting stuff, eh?

Digging up treasures or relics from old wars or ghost towns is also a great way to learn your history. I've been quite surprised at how much research the super-successful metal detectors go through before they ever step into an open field or hear the telltale *BEEP* from their detectors, alerting them of a nearby find.

Some claim that people that metal detect are nothing more than modern-day thieves or pirates, but without the glory and fame. This erroneous line of thinking has led to most cities restricting where you're allowed to go metal detecting. National Parks are strictly off-limits. So are most historically-significant sites. What does this leave? The public or private land next to historic sites, beaches, or even your own backyard. ALWAYS get permission before you search a site.

Metal detectors actually do many things to give back to their community. Lose your wedding ring in the backyard? Call a local metal detector! That's how one woman found her wedding ring after 5 years! Most of the metal detecting websites have a code of ethics that list various ways to respect private property and nature and even encourage donating found objects to your local museums so many others can enjoy treasure from the past. Of course, you can always sell your great finds on ebay and turn your hobby into a gold mine!
Metal Detecting Links:
Go Metal Detecting - great place for beginners
Have Detector Will Travel - pictures of found gold and silver coins and relics
Metal Detector Reviews - reviews of different models and brands