Metal Detecting - advice for a beginner

I was hoping to get some advice on metal detecting.
Last year I bought a new metal detector. I did quite a bit of hunting around my house, the boulevard in my street, my neighbors lawns, the local public park and soccer fields etc...

I found a ton of clad coinage, bullet casings, and other miscellaneous stuff. I could literally find $5 in change every hour or so. I have never found any silver though in these places. I do go out on the lakes with my dad once in a while, but it is a big ordeal and takes all day.

So, without giving up your treasure grounds, does anyone have any suggestions where I should look? I live in a populated suburb. Any tips would be greatly appreciated. I don't mind traveling a little ways. But how does one determine that a certain area is better than others? Do I need to start finidng out where the popular gathering spots were a half a century ago? Where do I even begin?

Side note: I don't mind detecting in public parks and such, however it gets pretty annoying that all of sudden 10 kids are following me around and asking 1000 questions. 2 of them being my own!

If it matters, I live in a suburb of Detroit along Lake St. Clair.

-greg

 

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I havent metal detected in over twenty years now so don't know what the new detectors can do, however my best luck was locating abandonded amusment venues. This can involve library searches, historical societies and even trips to the county officies. The best I found was old carnival grounds.

 

i do some beach detecting, im uk so dont really know how far you are from the coast, also ive heard railtracks (disused obviously) are a good place to start.

try looking at adventureswithjim on youtube, he's funny and has some good talk shows regarding detecting in the US

 

talk to older people , find out where old swimming hole , ball fields were when they were young. I like the football fields , found many rings there that most have come off when throwing the ball

enjoy
DE

 

Gbroke,
My best luck for silver usually comes at old drive in movie theaters. You should be able to find some of those sites not too far from you, you may have to travel a little west of Detroit. I know of one in Jackson, and one in Albion that are not too far off of I94. Although I know those have been picked through pretty well. Also, if you can get to the library and find some older maps, I have also found some silver at old train depots. They are usually pretty easy to track down with a little research. The 3rd best place I have found is older homesteads (Find where the clothesline used to be). It'll take some looking but you'll know when you've found it. You'll have a lot of hits in a straight line.

For what it's worth those are my best 3 spots.

 

There is a series on youtube called Diggin' History, I watch it from time to time. They go to fields, wooded areas, old sports fields, and older houses. They have alot of luck--- here's a link, they have like 70 videos.

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Diggin+history&aq=f

 

Thanks for the responses everyone! I really have the itch right now. The weather has been absolutely perfect. 70's and sunny!

Those are some great ideas.

 

Thanks for the link. I will watch some for sure.

 

I check out old school yards and beaches. Parks do carry a lot of good stuff but its true that you have half the park following you

 

I really like this post because I have been wanting to go out metal detecting for awhile now! When I was little I did it for fun, and found some interesting things. Not always coins, but still...

Can anyone please tell me where you can buy a metal detector? Whether its online or in a store doesn't matter.
The one I have is really old and I doubt it even works now.

 

Try your local pawn shop. I have seen many in pawn shops here.

 

I will do that! Thankyou...

 

gbroke
I live in Florida. I am just now getting into metal detecting myself. I did some research and found a couple places that might be good for old coins. Find history in your area where there use to be colonial poplation. Forts and camps.
Big Ed

 

http://metaldetectingforum.com/

Anything and everything you could want to know. Where to go, how to hunt, specifics about your machine, ways to research, websites, books etc.

I just started last year and have spent a lot of time on this website reading up

 

Nice. Thanks fro the link. I'm registered.

 

I have been detecting for over 20 years now, and based on this experience the places I would recommend are wooded areas located close to towns or cities. Check the footpaths or trails in the woods, and also the woods themselves. Generally the closer the wooded area is to where people live, the better it is. This also applies to fields. One important thing: check regulations and do not trespass on private property.

 

The best places to look are places where people tend to gather. However, a word of caution, be aware of local, county and state laws, rules and regulations before going onto places like that. Many, if not most, are either private property (requiring permission) or public access areas like parks (which may require a permit, or are prohibited outright). There are also common sense considerations like not digging a hole without restoring the area to it's original condition. There are scores of web sites and perhaps a dozen magazines dedicated to the hobby. Read up on it.

 

This is what I hope to find. A nice wooded area where I can bring my six pack of beer and wander around without begin bothered.

 

I was surprised to find out that I can dig in every public park in my city. I cannot metal detect on school property though.

 

Hi gb. Going along with some of the other posts, I was thinking about parks from the past.. Have you looked for Edgewater Park? Somewhere north of Redford. Not being directional, I can't say for sure it was north, but it wasn't too far from Redford area (maybe out Grand River?) Can't recall, but it was an amusement part way back, and was when I was in high school. I'm sure the last time I was there would have been about 76. Couldn't have been too far from Redford High. Don't know when it closed, but long ago I'm sure. Also, Boblo Island comes to mind, perhaps a little closer for you. I know they went out of business, and then someone tried privately to do something with it, but I don't believe they succeeded. For all I know both are condo areas or something now. Surely you know of Boblo? That would be a neat place if you could get permission. Gee, maybe you could find out who got the boats! I have some Boblo Island paraphernalia, and the last time I was there as an adult was about late 80's, early 90's?

Good luck, and if you come across either of these, I'd be tickled to hear of them and what you found!

Lucy
(Detroit girl!!!)