submitted 3 days ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

3 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Glad I detected this community, good find!

I live in Northern California very near where gold were first discovered! My wife and daughter bought me a metal detector last year from a pawn shop, a Garrett brand, and I've only used it a few times but have found tons of pull tabs and several lithium batteries so far. It is legal here but only in certain areas as I understand it but living where I do now I'm excited to scope out my back yard and maybe the old rail road behind my house late at night 😉

Anyhow, open to suggestions or advice and I'll post anything I find as I go!

Good luck everyone!

top 3 comments

sorted by: hot top new old

[-] [email protected] 2 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Welcome! Thanks for choosing to be here :) Hope you have fun with your garette and post some good finds this season!

My advice is to get a pinpointer if you dont alrewdg have one its a lifesaver. Practice plugs in the backyard is a good idea. Get a feel for the process.

Detectors have lots of buttons and options for discrimination it can feel overwhelming/confusing at times. Keep it simple! If it beeps when run metal under the head your good to go. If you know how, just turn sensitivity down a little thats all no need to worry about the numbers.

Even if you just find pull tabs and batteries in the yard don't let it discourage you. If you keep at an area of ground over a long period you bit by bit increase likelyhood of finding good stuff by removing all the trash in the ground.

I keep everything I pull out of the ground. Even scraps of aluminum and pull tabs have a spot in my collection. Get a cheap display case or trophy table and show it off!

[-] [email protected] 1 points 3 days ago

Yeah I read your posts and learned a lot just from that! I def save all my stuff. I haven't searched my yard yet, I only moved here recently but found all the tabs and batteries on a river bank near here. I'm planning on getting my daughter involved with the yard hopefully!

I've tried looking for stuff online about areas but it seems like a very gate keepy hobby, which I guess I understand, but I don't want to break the law. It seems to be restrictive here in areas but I live in Gold Rush country and can't think of a better place to learn!

Look forward to posting my finds!

[-] [email protected] 2 points 3 days ago

I'm sure your daughter and you will have a great time. People get touchy over legal grey area and what your allowed to do and where. Some people are sticklers, some see digging holes in the ground of abandoned/public places as 'eh, who really cares?' Indifferent to local laws. Its up to you to decide how you feel about it and where you want to try your luck.

I personally have no problem detecting in public places I know nobody lives or cares about regardless of what tax/lot records say. Ive done a few side of the track runs, abandoned schools, big field lots that filled old public pools, riverside hiking trails. As long as you arent making nasty holes its not worth anyone's trouble.. Worst case scenario someone tells you to leave.

this post was submitted on 16 Jun 2025

6 points (100.0% liked)

Metal Detecting: Booty Seeking!

83 readers

20 users here now

Welcome to c/metaldetecting! This is a place to share the booty you have plundered from the seven soils!

The aim of this community is to offer a place for metal detectorist to talk about the hobby, share finds, and inspire prospective newcomers to pick up a detector and start plundering that booty!

Rules: General lemmy.world guidelines apply. No encouragement of detecting illegally or trespassing on private property in any way. Please check with your local laws regarding metal detecting if you are interested in picking up the hobby.

founded 3 months ago

MODERATORS

[email protected]